Originally published by L.S. Media. October 1st 2011.

Arguably one of the great and iconic Liverpool bands from the 1980’s would surely have to be Echo and the Bunnymen. Although they may have divided opinion on their style and delivery there can be no doubting that to their fans, they were unrivalled and without equal. A fusion of the anger that built up in the city after many years of negativity and powerful imaginative story-telling, wrapped neatly in a bubble of soaring synths and early gothic guitars.

The final night of the tour can be a riotous affair, normal convention goes sailing out of the window and this is magnified when the band comes home and plays ina venue that may be alien to them when they first got the idea of forming a group. However with the added and sensuous appeal of a superb string section playing alongside them, they appeared at home, at ease and gave a show that was just a little special.

The Philharmonic Hall was too play host to two sets, the first a mixture of the band’s great and much loved tracks and then the second; another chance to relive one of the early albums in its entirety. Such was the success of this last year when they played at the Echo Arena, it was bound to happen again, this time with the much loved Ocean Rain as the band’s gift to the lively and eager audience.

The first half of the show consisted of songs that were highlights of a career that has lasted well into its fourth decade. With tracks such as Pride, Stars are Stars and the much loved Rescue from the 1980 album Crocodiles being performed alongside Stormy Weather from the Siberia and the classic Bring On The Dancing Horses there wasn’t a silent voice in the Philharmonic as the crowd lapped up the excitement and tremendously dark and shadowy atmosphere.

After a small break the band came back on performed the whole of Ocean Rain and with the crowd on their feet for most of the evening it could have become stale and worn but Ian Mcculloch and the band are made of stern stuff and the way they carried on in oppressive heat that hit Liverpool all day was nothing short of brilliant.

One of the classic nights at the Philharmonic Hall with one of the classic 80’s bands from the city, it was never going to fail.

Ian D. Hall