Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The invitation must have been sent round the entire Liverpool music loving public, the words command performance perhaps not quite in evidence as the letter, e-mail or text message was steamed open and poured over with great intent and undisguised glee, but the intention was inferred and undeniable. Hegarty expected and received a following inside the Zanzibar Club so large that Noah himself would have found it impossible to find space for a pair of glow worms to dance the night away comfortably without stepping on the shoes of the faithful.

With their new E.P. waiting tantalisingly in the corner, David Hegarty, Marty Nini, Waka Staffo, Ian Cousins and Chris McKeown took the abundant and fun loving audience through a myriad of songs that didn’t just catch the imagination but set the template out with full instructions on how life can radically alter in the blink of an eye or over the course of a decade.

There is a kind of elegance in some forms of expressed anger and whilst the sweetness of an acoustic guitar can find solace and peace for even the most savage beast, when placed with a set of drums being played as if a tornado had been taken lessons of the much missed Keith Moon and a set of guitars played out the sound to a new generation, the shock wave combination of sublime accord and naturally understated rebellion was enough to be recognised as the start of a great musical friendship between Liverpool and the band.

Armed with a set list longer than the length of recorded crimes arguably forced against the British people by the Westminster Empire in recent years, Hegarty gave all they had and that little extra which makes a night more than enjoyable with songs such as Won’t Go Down, Sink or Swim, the brutal beauty and near Beatles like tranquillity of Don’t Want Your Love, Redemption Can’t Be Found and the superb set closer of Black and White to crowd caught up in the moment and oozing relish.

A new set of heroes for the Liverpool crowd to enjoy and to spread the word upon, such things are sometimes too good be true, however the evidence before the eyes of all inside Zanzibar made each note played so real, so in tune with the feelings of many that anger and patience were seen to be leaving at the end locked arm in arm and with smiles upon the faces of all. A scintillating set and one in which to run into more often!

Ian D. Hall