Mark McCullough of The Next Life at St. Lukes, Liverpool. Liverpool Calling. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
If there is one thing amongst many that Liverpool and its people can do, it is an unerring ability to make the most of any space going and turn it into a theatre, an arena in which something artistic can happen. You only have to take a discreet wander round town and with eyes obviously wide open to see this happening everywhere.
From the appearance of the much loved Superlambanana in various locations, the marking of Love Artuck’s personal stamp etched into a stone building or bench and even on a beach just a couple of miles outside of the city where silent men look forlornly out to sea in the vain hope of one day of being able to reach land in Wales, to the most iconic of buildings in which has over the decades has become a symbol of pride, resistance and rememberance. For the bombed out church of St. Luke’s to be under threat by developers when its shell withstood all the German Luftwaffe threw it seems almost cruel, degrading and serving only the needs of a few lined trousers, yet for the organisers of Liverpool calling it is a home in which the music on offer fills every space and an oasis of note, instrument and lyric can take root.
To open the second Liverpool Calling Festival inside St. Luke’s was a big honour for The Next Life and for Sam Nelson on vocals, Paul McKenna on guitar on lead, Mark McCullough on bass and Pete Edmondson on drums it was an opportunity to grasp whole heartedly.
As with any big city there are lots of demands on the attention of the populace, there is, no matter what, always plenty to do, see and revel in, so for those who made their way through the crowds that were lining the streets of Liverpool for a glimpse of several rather large and handsomely built puppets and into St. Luke’s for a whole nine hours of music would have been overjoyed to see a young act that has only been together since October kick starting the day.
Whilst with any young band, nerves do play a factor, The Next Life gave a good account of themselves and the ideas they have musically. The songs were fluid and flexible, they bounced around like a greyhound in search of a much chewed toy and the strength of conviction in Mark McCullough’s bass, Pete Edmondson’s very good drums and Paul McKenna’s guitar were a joy to listen too. Lyrically Sam Nelson is strong, he has a charm in which cannot be bought and with time, confidence will come in which the band’s songs, such as Would You Even Care, In All The Right Places, the very cool Letters Home and Time To Say Goodbye will flow with a natural ease.
Time is plentiful, it is on the side of The Next Life, confidence is always the key, the rest comes with time and for a band that has been going less than a year they already have some large musical weapons at their disposal. A very good opening act for what is surely a prestigious and worthwhile festival.
Ian D. Hall