Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The look may have altered slightly, the line up somewhat different, however, there should be no doubting that the aspiration and kudos attached to the London band The Theme, the sound of a million marching ideas and clean cut lyrics remains the same, remains compelling and clear; this is still The Theme, this is still life as lovers of the International Pop Overthrow would know and understand.

The Theme continue the good work laid down in the recent past and whilst the band have changed some personnel, the commitment to the scene, to the rush of truthful grandeur and roughly inspired life continues unabated and with strength in depth.

The admired and much loved Gary Davis might have left the band but that didn’t mean to the audience at The Cavern that the set was going to be lack lustre, groping in the dark for a light switch that masked off and painted black; this was, if anything a night in which new powers were forged, in which the ethics of the band were built upon. What must not be forgotten is what former vocalist gave to the band because it is in that The Theme have been able to surge forward with Chris Daley on vocals.

Pounding with sincerity, respectful of the past and full of enthusiasm for the ethos of the I.P.O., The Theme gave the Thursday night crowd at The Cavern the urge to roar and rage at the world whilst never straying too far from the Mod mood of diligence and cool.

In songs such as First Thing I Saw Is You, the fighting Twisted Little Soul, I’m Falling, You’re The One and Take Me Away, The Theme took the audience, rampant with expectation, thrilled by the onslaught, on a journey that went beyond a line up change, it is after all the same band, just a different way of expressing the detonation.

A great return to the I.P.O., a crowd favourite always, The Theme argue the case of true music from South London with care and topical debate.

Ian D. Hall