Julian Cope at The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool 5th February 2015 photograph David Munn. www.davidmunn.co.uk.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

When you come home, or at least the place that loves you like no other, then you are allowed to be yourself and be rewarded with affection, the hearty laugh and the biggest, most heartfelt slap on the back imaginable. For Julian Cope, a son of the Midlands, a musician who just knows instinctively how to write songs that captures essence and stirs emotions, is more welcome in Liverpool than the sight of a European Cup Final Trophy atop of Red Rum and at the Epstein Theatre, that essence came out of the pumped out mists and gave the packed out audience an evening in which no one would have left with anything but gladdened heart.

Liverpool audiences are discerning, they are not so easily impressed with just anybody coming along in the middle of the week and performing for their musical supper but to witness the conviction of a crowd’s rapture in applauding someone that they consider their own, perhaps after Kenny Dalglish, arguably the most adored adopted son of them all, is enough to make anyone understand what music, quality lyrical poetry set to a well played guitar, means to Liverpool unlike any other city in the U.K.

As he said during the evening, Mr. Cope will be spending more time in his adopted home over the foreseeable long term but it feels, thankfully, that he has never been away. Even after what feels like an eternity since his last gig at the University of Liverpool, in which he blew the young students in attendance minds away with his electrifying set, time never seems to get the better of him and even running late due to traffic issues on the way into Liverpool could not deter the man from being on absolute top form throughout the night.

Irreverent to authority, always willing to push boundaries and a keen sense that’s willing to investigate and ask questions others would shy away from, his music reflects that undiluted heroism. In a packed set, made even fuller by some great tales from a life that cannot be argued with, Julian Cope performed songs such as I’m Living In The Room They Found Saddam In, the brilliantly observed They Were On Hard Drugs, Sunspots, Double Vegetation, the twin drinking songs of As The Beer Flows Over Me and the humour filled Liver As Big As Hartlepool, C**** Can F*** Off and the anger inducing but played with sincere joy, Cromwell In Ireland to earnest vocal approval and audibly whispered praise all night.

Julian Cope at The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool 5th February 2015. Published with kind permision by www.davidmunn.co.uk.

Perhaps to understand how appreciated you are, you have to come home every so often. It is the place where they ground you, the home where they can inspire you too great things but more importantly it is the place where the heart knows it is loved, perhaps revered, but always with that look that says, step out of line here and it won’t be pretty. It is the most honest appraisal of your life you can expect. For Julian Cope, a musician who is a man of the world, first and foremost to everybody in the Epstein Theatre, he is one of them.

A great night of music and much laughter delivered in great form and appreciated by all.

Ian D. Hall