Hollow Souls - Tavistock Review

It seems to be a rule now that I will see the Torquay-based singer, guitarist, and songwriter Kris Barras live at least once a year. Despite having heard of him beforehand, it was not until 2021 that I was properly exposed to his music - when I saw the Kris Barras Band opening for Black Stone Cherry in Exeter. I pretty much became a fan that night - and since then I have seen him live a further five times, as well as enjoying both of the albums he has dropped since then. He has become a favourite due to his mix of blues and modern hard rock, his strong, often heartfelt songwriting, and his fun lives shows which mix raw hard rock power and his dry sense of humour. Last year was a big one for Barras, as he released his latest album Halo Effect (which I reviewed here) and undertook plenty of touring, both here in the UK and abroad, to promote it. I last saw him live in Exeter last December - and his 2025 has been somewhat quieter, despite a few gigs earlier in the year. Until recently, that is, as last night he finished his latest lengthy UK tour - but it was his first with his new blues rock project Hollow Souls. The Hollow Souls tour was announced earlier in the year - and last month the band released a six-track EP, which I be reviewing here soon. Barras' solo albums have gotten heavier over the years, and he has largely left the blues behind. Hollow Souls, then, is his way of getting back to his roots somewhat whilst allowing his solo career to maintain its current trajectory - as well as to work with different musicians. That being said, though, his right-hand man in Hollow Souls is Josiah Manning (guitar/keyboards/vocals) who is also his right-hand man in his solo band - but the main difference between the Kris Barras Band and Hollow Souls is the inclusion of frontwoman Phoebe Jane. Barras said that he largely wanted to focus on being a guitar player in Hollow Souls - so Jane acts as the project's main singer. Barras still sings occasionally, but this is very much Jane's vehicle from a vocal perspective - even if Barras and Manning are responsible for the songwriting. These three musicians are the core of the Hollow Souls, then, dominating the newly-released EP and they have been the focal points throughout the tour. Whilst Barras has quite a big reputation here in the UK now, I still wondered if booking a 20-date UK tour for a new project with little material of their own was a wise move. In fairness, all of the PR has made sure to note that this is a new project from Barras - but names do not always sell new bands. I would imagine that the band were a bit worried, too, but they need not have been it seems - as since the tour kicked off last month the reviews have been excellent. All over the country it seems that people have been checking out Hollow Souls live and enjoying the EP - and last night the tour came to an end in Tavistock. Barras generally either starts or ends a tour in the South West - with Torquay, Exeter, and Tavistock regular haunts of his. Despite the nasty weather, then, Tavistock's Wharf was packed out last night. A few may have stayed away due to the rain, but the hall was full from the off - which was the case with Barras last played there back in 2023. When I first got to the venue, though, the main hall had not opened - so due to the weather everyone was crammed in the bar area. Usually people sit outside, but given the pouring rain that was not on the cards - and there was a bit of a cheer when the venue's doors opened.

Kicking off the show, though, was blues guitarist Troy Redfern - who supported Hollow Souls throughout their tour. I first came across Redfern back in 2022 when he opened for The Quireboys - and I also saw him twice the following year opening for Dare. I remember enjoying his set with The Quireboys quite a bit - but since then I have never enjoyed him as much. Redfern's style and way of presenting his music has gotten more primal each time I have seen him - and the more primal the blues the less likely I am to like it. The first time I saw him he played with a full band and alternated between more traditional blues guitar playing and slide-heavy resonator guitar playing. The times with Dare he essentially stuck to the latter, and was only joined by a drummer - and this time he took that sound further by being accompanied by a drummer who only had a snare, a floor tom, and one cymbal. I am not sure that Redfern's sound could get any more primal whilst still remaining an electric rock experience. Redfern is a decent singer and a very talented guitar player, especially when using a slide, but I just find the way he chooses to present his music now difficult. I used to be known as someone who did not like the blues, which is no longer the case, but I still struggle with blues that sounds like it could have been recorded in the 1930s or 1940s. That is essentially the sound that Redfern goes for now, albeit a more rocked up version, and it is all just a bit lumped and caveman-esque for me. When you are so limited in terms of a guitar style and drum set-up, too, the songs inevitably all follow a pattern. There are only so many times I can hear a groovy, fuzzy slide lick being played over a floor tom-led beat before everything merges into one - and after a handful of Redfern's songs last night that certainly happened. The large Tavistock crowd warmed to Redfern somewhat, though, and there was a decent atmosphere during his set. Towards the end he managed to get a bit of a sing-a-long going, too. Despite my views on his increasing wish to make his music sound more old-fashioned, Redfern remains a talent - just one likely not for me. He did not outstay his welcome, though, and he warmed the crowd up nicely for what was to come.

When the lights went down later in the evening, some more old-school blues could be heard over the PA - before Manning took to the stage with Paddy Blight (bass guitar/vocals) and Chris Tilke (drums), a different rhythm section to the one that is on the EP. Manning then set the tone with some melodic, bluesy guitar playing - before Barras and Jane took to the stage, kicking off with Borderline from the EP. The bluesy, southern rock piece kicked the set off nicely. Jane's voice was immediately powerful, whilst Barras and Manning harmonised well with her. Despite sometimes taking a backseat in the set, Barras still shone as guitar player. His lengthy, bluesy solos were as good as ever - and Borderline was full of them. Manning likely played more keyboards than guitar overall - but his riffing was tight, too, and when Tilke started the iconic drum intro to Led Zeppelin's Rock and Roll the place went wild and the rollocking anthem was belted out by Jane. Setlist-wise, the show covered a lot of ground. All six of the EP's songs were played, alongside four songs from Barras' canon, and five covers. All but one of the Barras songs played were older cuts from his bluesier days - and I get the impression that the covers were ones that they had all played numerous times before in various bands. Barras had in fact done Rock and Roll at that Tavistock gig in 2023 - but other early covers included a slinky version of the old R&B classic I Don't Need No Doctor, which was surprisingly not rocked up in line with the Humble Pie version, and Jane delivering a soulful take on the blues standard Rock Me Baby - which also included a lengthy Hammond organ solo from Manning. Whilst the covers were a lot of fun, though, it was the original material which propelled the set. The six songs from the EP are all excellent, and vary from blues to hard rock. Songs like Shotgun, which Barras sang, are not too far away from Barras' current sound - but the duet Bad Things felt more soulful, despite a strong southern rock feel at times. Barras and the band proved that the blues could still rock pretty hard, and there were plenty of big riffs and shredded solos throughout, but there were also more reflective moments, too. One such moment was the smooth Tearing Me Apart from Barras' first solo album - which Jane actually sung originally. It felt right for the song to be pulled from the vaults, then, and Jane sang the bluesy ballad with ease whilst Barras added delicate melodies. She also took to the lead on Propane, another oldie, and turned it into more of an R&B-esque tune. The slightly changed arrangement worked well - and it transitioned nicely into the blues standard Stormy Monday which contained a sultry vocal and smouldering power. Sadly, though, the quieter moments of the song were ruined by some extremely loud people shouting some really quite obnoxious things at each other (they were not even arguing, just discussing extremely personal stuff that others did not need to hear extremely loudly) - which even the band seemed to notice. Thankfully they seemed to calm down after a while - but those around me felt a bit on edge for a while. The next couple songs were louder, though, with the soulful blues of Burn It to the Ground and the anthemic I Need the Fire again bringing the best out of Jane. The EP's last track, Chasing Ghosts, was also a highlight - with Barras singing the soaring ballad against a backing of electric piano, before delivering another big solo. There was not too much time left by this point, but a swampy blues take on Barras' My Parade conjured up quite a big sing-a-long, before the main set came to an end with Hail Mary - with Manning adding organ to it as he once did. There was time for one more, though, and the band came back out, with Redfern in tow, to deliver a jammed version of the blues standard Going Down, with Barras and Redfern trading guitar solos. It was a powerful end to a great set - and the crowd certainly made their feelings felt as the band left the stage. The setlist was:

Borderline

Rock and Roll [Led Zeppelin cover]

Bad Things

I Don't Need No Doctor [Ray Charles cover]

Tearing Me Apart [Kris Barras solo material]

Rock Me Baby [B.B. King cover]

Shotgun

Propane [Kris Barras solo material]

Stormy Monday [T-Bone Walker cover]

Burn It to the Ground
I Need the Fire

Chasing Ghosts

My Parade [Kris Barras solo material]

Hail Mary [Kris Barras solo material]

-

Going Down [Moloch cover w/ Troy Redfern]

It is unclear at this stage whether Hollow Souls intends to be a going concern or not. Barras said that he will be recording his next solo album in December - and he will also be on the road early next year opening for Smith/Kotzen. I would imagine headline shows to follow once the new album drops, too. Hollow Souls will likely go away for a while as a result - but I do hope that Barras returns to this blues project again one day, as it allows him to showcase a different side to his playing and in Jane the band have a great singer.