Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Even if you knew the fact, to hear Pete Shoulder say with more than a hint of apology in his voice that it was The Union’s first foray into the Liverpool’s music conscious was still more than a little surprising. With two members of arguably one of the great British Rock bands of the last 30 years, the soul affirming and musically forceful Thunder, in The Union, it seems almost remiss that the o2 Academy or any of the other vibrant venues in the city have not had the honour of hosting this exciting group.

However when a band as good as The Union come to Liverpool, the crowds come out and all is easily forgiven, not there is anything to exonerate or pardon the four members of the band for, as they come out on stage the audience already anticipates that they are in for a great night of music and in every way they were not disappointed.

Comprising the incredible guitar work of Luke Morley, the welcoming bass playing of his Thunder cohort Chris Childs and the drumbeats of Dave McCluskey, The Union’s powerful bargaining chip to be thought of as one of the greats of the decade is the amazing voice of Pete Shoulder which is full of gusto and intelligence, a classic combination which on all levels fits the bill for The Union to be taken very seriously.

The band opened the evening with the song Step Up to the Plate from the eponymously titled first album before giving the audience more than a dozen reasons on why they should come back to Liverpool within the near future. With the new album, The World is Yours, already receiving great acclaim, it was only right that the audience were able to celebrate the new release on the band’s debut in arguably the capital of music in the U.K.  Songs such as You’re My Jesus, The Perfect Crime, the title track of the album The World is Yours, Tonight I’m Alive and the sensational Fading Out of Love were greeted by the enthusiastic crowd as much as songs from the band’s recent history such as Saviour, Black Monday, Obsession and the extraordinary Siren Song.

Judging by the audience’s reaction, this won’t be the last time The Union play Liverpool, they seem assured of a passionate and vocal reception when they do venture back this way.

Ian D. Hall