Ben Jones of Path Unknown. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * *

To perform your debut gig in the spotlight of the o2 Academy’s glare takes some supreme effort and fortitude, to achieve the appreciation of an audience when you are effectively a band member down and still sound extremely good takes a band that have a great future in front of them. For Path Unknown, all bodes well and they certainly won’t be unknown for long.

The three members of the band who were on stage, vocalist Ben Jones, Jack Wade on drums and Nathan Wheddon on guitar, gave a terrific account of themselves and the very fine music they have crafted. It was certainly an eye opener to see a band showing this type of honest integrity for a night in which they would have dreamed of and all in the space of a first night’s journey.

Path Unknown opened up the night at the o2 Academy, Liverpool with the songs Bones, Blink and This is Romance.  By their own admission, the members of Path Unknown would have liked to kick off their live career in the way they intend it go on but there was something very homely and intriguing in the way they performed. The very subtle hint of the odd progressive chord wrapped up in a genuine Scouse music appeal was a nice touch.

Other songs by the band were lyrically excellent and executed well, these included Trojan Horse and Little Seeds. The threesome finished off their set with the cracking number Sit and Wonder.

If Path Unknown can have this much stage presence and sound as good as they do with three of their members on stage, just imagine what they will sound like when they are all together and in the type of form in which they promise to reveal. It certainly will be a great show to attend. Path Unknown are one to watch out for.

Ian D. Hall