Jammed hip-to-hip, the audience was met with the ceremonial opener of Hollisters sets past, East Texas Pines. This is the Hollisters at their best. Barfield’s baritone pulling you in, Eric “Eddie Dale” Danheim breaking out some of this best guitar work and of course, Snit and Cletus keeping it all together underneath everything. When people talk about making bands, this is how you see it, four members at the top of their games pulling their equal weight.

Sure, the sound was a little shaky at first, but once the band put in their two-cents on what they wanted to hear, it all came together and from three songs in until the last note of the second set, the band sounded just as strong as the day Danheim headed up to Seattle.

As the night rolled on, Barfield felt the spirits of old re-enter his body and it was time to testify! Shouts of “Amen!” and screams filled the air as Barfield led the audience like a church congregation through something that could easily be compared to a religious experience. The sweat and sweet tones filled the air and lighted the path to redemption.

This was the music of Houston from the greatest band to ever grace its stages. At times you looked around for the cheesy lava-lamp projections of the Satellite, where the Hollisters held down the fort for years, they weren’t there, but the Continental has enough charm and cheese to make anyone smile and feel at home.

Yes, the venue was packed to the doors, but there could have been room for you. But do not fret, redemption lies but a week or so away as the Hollisters take the stage once again in their hometown to expand their land of rhythm and pleasure. Be at Blanco’s on the 15th or know you missed the greatest thing in town.