Taylor, wonderful human being and my dear friend, was selected from the crowd to come and play drums for a song.
0:49 Nicole and Max (friend and bandmate) cheering in the crowd
1:54 Me and Lou (very proud friend and bandmate) singing & celebrating our buddy!
[This video, recorded by me, has been used in numerous media outlets who chose to report on this experience. As long as it brings more positive attention to my friend and his band, I am fine with it.]
#TheKillers #Holloway #TaylorCriscuola
In 2018, 17-year-old Taylor Criscuola attended The Killers concert in Wellington NZ as part of their 'Wonderful Wonderful Tour'.
Knowing the band invite fans from the crowd to play a specific song with them he took along a sign that read "I can drum For Reasons Unknown".
Lead singer, Brandon Flowers saw this and selected him from the crowd stating "You look like a drummer".
Taylor then proceeded to smash the song and wow the crowd. Footage of him drumming circulated The Killers Fan Groups online and quickly garnered him much praise. Many agree that him and one other young child are the best two drummers ever pulled on stage at a Killers concert.
That night, after the concert, Taylor met Lou Valentine who invited him to start a band. They created *'Holloway Holiday',* an amazing band who quickly released 2 incredible EPs and opened for New Zealand's best band OPENSIDE for their Hamilton show in 2019.
(This is where Taylor and I recognized each other and became fast friends).
Max Long joined the band and they changed their name to *'Holloway'*
They proceeded to drop 2 of 2021's best songs and are easily one of the best bands in New Zealand.
Their shows are unbelievably entertaining and their music is exciting.
I love them as people and as musicians.
November 21st 2022, while attending The Killers Auckland concert at Spark Arena, Taylor again held up a home-made sign reading "I'm Taylor from Wellington, can I drum For Reasons Unknown'.
When the time came in the show's setlist it was clear that they weren't planning on performing that song tonight. But he held his sign high, while myself and other shined our phone lights on it.
Taylor's friends and band mates, Lou, Max and Nicole began chanting "Taylor! Taylor! Taylor!" Soon a good chunk of the crowd joined in.
And after a quick deliberation between Brandon and Ronnie, Taylor was once again invited on stage to perform with The Killers... AND HE ROCKED THE HOUSE DOWN!!!
Taylor's talent and stage presence captivated the audience and The Killers' members alike.
And to add an extra layer of sweetness to this story, Taylor's parents were in the audience that night as well.
Lou, Max and Nicole rushed to the front to join me in hugging and congratulating Taylor for this monumentous moment.
After the show, he was stopped by well over a hundred people asking for photos and congratulating him. Some even assumed it was all staged because of how good he was.
Throughout the whole experience he remained humble.
If you feel a certain way about the same person getting to drum on stage with The Killers TWICE, *I assure you* this could not have happened to a kinder, more genuine person. Taylor is a wonderful person who has gone through a really rough time these last few weeks, so this was more than well deserved.
Thank you The Killers for this amazing experience!
Thank you Taylor for being such an amazing person.
Thank you to Lou, Max and Nicole for being such wonderful and supportive friends.
And thank you to the crowd who rallied around getting Taylor up on that stage!
Now, GO SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR BAND *'HOLLOWAY'!* They've got new music releasing early 2023.
https://youtube.com/channel/UCOdDcgj1DM2bltw7W863ELQ