Midland Railway at The Cavern Club, Liverpool. International Pop Overthrow, 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7 ^1/2/ 10

There is arguably nothing better than coming across a band with a sense of humour when the day has been filled with powerful meaningful songs, tracks that have exploded your mind and set the bran on a semi quaver rush. The art of the whimsy, of lyrics that speak at times more eruditely than the impassioned unveiled contempt and derision quite rightly aimed at those the general public are forced to stomach being in power, whimsy and humour is a very powerful tool and in the hands of Midland Railway, led by Nick Lote from Harbourne in Birmingham, the humour of the band shines through.

As part of the International Pop Overthrow, Midland Railway gave a welcome musical distraction from the delightfully sombre and serious-minded and gave the visitors to the Cavern Club something different to think about. From the sublime and tastefully decorated David Novan on drums to the disarmingly intriguing Robert Hayton on guitar and the alluring Sarah Megarry on bass, Midland Railway are possibly one of the most flamboyant and friendly bands that will perform over the days and nights that the I.P.O. is in town.

Sarah Megarry of Midland Railway. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Harbourne doesn’t have that much to sing about in terms of producing music in Birmingham, even the smaller adjoining neighbourhoods of Selly Oak, Selly Park and Stirchley have perhaps made more contribution to the world of music that aside from Liverpool has added much to British Pop and Rock. Yet in the form of Nick Lote, they certainly have a hero in which to be immensely proud.

Their music was colourful, insistent, charming; the flow of lyrics down right interesting and enough to stir the passionate away from storming the British equivalent of the Bastille for a while. Tracks such as A Song For HB, the glorious Stupid Punk, Anna In wonderland, the very enjoyable Bedroom Analysis and An Attempt all captured the very big spirit in which the International Pop Overthrow was intended.

If any band deserves more notice then Midland Railway are on track to be that band, all the signals are there for them to generate new fans.

Ian D. Hall