Originally published by L.S. Media. March 21st 2011.
There can’t have been a more important building on Saturday night than The Casa on Hope Street. In the last few years it has played host to some of the more important gigs to have taken place in this city, not least the much liked and influential folk/protest singer Alun Parry.
Stepping into the limelight and fast becoming part of the collective heart beat that keeps this city’s cognisant firmly in its place was the next generation, a Liverpool band that is here for more than just a reason, they will point the direction for the next ten years if we are fortunate.
The Trestles released their debut album, What Do You See? to great applause at a packed Casa, invited guests and curious onlookers attending what is quite honestly one of the most important and finest debut albums by a Liverpool band in years.
Alan O’ Hare was joined on stage by the wonderful Micheal Tetlow on bass, Howard Northover on drums and the silky skilled guitarist Tom Carroll. They began to make their way through a punishing set of just over 80 minutes. Their set included tracks from the new album including Ghosts of Redundancy, Maggie’s Farm #2, The Boy up North and the amazing Thirty.
Strangely for an album launch, the band had managed to fit in two new songs into the evening’s entertainment, and it makes you wonder how they managed to do it. To be so busy in preparation for a gig and an album launch and still find the time to write an instantly toe tapping and thought provoking song such as Oscar Wilde (Stole My Mourning).
It can only go to show the versatile nature and dedication to their craft and to the city as a whole that these four men seem to be constantly coming up with ideas and putting them into practice.
The band also defied normal conventions to play a spirited and genuinely heartfelt plea to keep Rockin’ in the Free World, this song by Neil Young would have had the great man nodding in approval as it rocked The Casa’s walls and foundations.
The night was brought to a glorious but poignant end with one of the finest songs on the album A Drink of Water, this song alone was worth the entrance fee and as those who had collected inside The Casa to hear The Trestles either made their way to the bar at the end of the set or made their way home, not one of them would have gone away without thought of pride or wonder at what these four men had achieved.
Ian D. Hall