Concert review: Drew & Ellie Holcomb | 03.08.26, The Pageant

Photo of Ellie and Drew Holcomb by Laura Jerele

Sometimes a show just feels good from the moment it starts, and that’s exactly what happened when Drew and Ellie Holcomb rolled in with their band, The Neighbors. I’m really glad I got to cover this one because it was my first time seeing them, and right away it was obvious this wasn’t going to be some overproduced, production heavy, lights-first kind of night. Their show opened simply, with just a couple of chairs, a couple of guitars, and quite literally a couple. Drew and Ellie aren’t just musical partners, they’re partners in life, and the easy chemistry between them made the whole room feel like we were being let in on something personal and special rather than just watching a performance.

Their sound lands squarely in that indie-folk-rock world, not quite americana, but it moves around more than you might expect and it does have some punch to it with some edge! And then, some songs felt almost gospel-like and a little solemn, others leaned into that classic singer-songwriter warmth, and then every now and again they weren’t afraid to kick things up and let the band rock a bit. Ellie’s voice is big and clear and beautiful on its own, Drew’s has that grounded storyteller vibe, and when they sing together the harmonies just lock in and fill the room. It’s one of those pairings where you can tell they’ve been singing next to each other for a long time.

Another thing that stood out was how generous they were with the stage. At one point they stepped aside and let The Neighbors take over for a song from their recently released album, which was a really cool moment and showed how much they value the band as a whole. It didn’t feel like a “backing band” situation at all.

Together as a band, they were all about creating positive vibes, that’s for sure. And while Drew and Ellie Holcomb aren’t trying to reinvent music or blow the roof off with some huge spectacle, they put on one hell of a great show! They’re really, really good at writing songs, singing them together, and surrounding themselves with a band that makes it all feel alive. And honestly, that kind of authenticity is pretty damn refreshing and in this day and age, welcomed! | Laura Jerele