Tag Archives: Gig Review

Laura James, Gig Review. Palm Sugar, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7 ^½/ 10

There can be no doubting the utter class in Laura James’ voice when she sings as she simply radiates warmth and musical sincerity when she performs.

In Palm Sugar on a Sunday afternoon in which the wind had finally blown away the dark clouds that had got in the way to an extent of a tremendous Liverpool Pride the day before, the sound of Laura James’ voice carried out past the expensive decorative windows and out onto Chavasse Park. Looking out of one of the windows it was possible to see an elderly lady reminisce at the sound of Ms. James’ second set of the afternoon and see her fix on a point in time in which music carried all before it, in the days when numerous and in some cases insidious so called talent shows spat young gifted performers out or swallowed them in the hope of producing pound signs.

Laura James, Gig Review. Palm Sugar, Liverpool. full post

(344 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Gold Jacks, Gig Review. St. Luke’s Church, Liverpool Calling. Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Gold Jacks at the St Luk’e Church as part of Liverpool Calling 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Effortless, a joy to listen to, as naturally showman like as you want and uncomplicated, this pretty much sums up what it is like to hear Manchester based band Gold Jacks for the first time.

Gold Jacks, Gig Review. St. Luke’s Church, Liverpool Calling. Liverpool. full post

(403 words, 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

The Next Life, Gig Review. St. Luke’s Church, Liverpool Calling. Liverpool.

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.

The Next Life, Gig Review. St. Luke’s Church, Liverpool Calling. Liverpool. full post

(555 words, 1 image, estimated 2:13 mins reading time)

Pavilions, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. (2014)

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Even the most optimistic of music lovers are fully aware that to not see a band for around a year and expect them to play with the same consistency, the same richness that attracted you to them in the first place, could be seen as neglect, musical carelessness, a certain mistreatment. After all if human beings can change and grow then why not the artistic endeavours that we pursue. Those same artistic impressions can often lead to a downhill path, the choices made seemingly poor as band politics come into play and ego’s get bruised and battered.

Pavilions, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. (2014) full post

(487 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Buckle Tongue, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. (2014)

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

To sit infront of a young band who has come out fighting on all fronts since their inception and knowing that each time they appear before you, they just get more sleek, more smooth and unbelievably good is a feeling that warms the heart of even the most ungracious of hearts.

Buckle Tongue, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. (2014) full post

(461 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)

Reva, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Reva at the Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. July 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

If only the so called Brit Pop phenomenon of the 1990s had been founded in the heartland of pop, the public houses, the bars and clubs that cosy alongside the River Mersey it would have arguably been as colourful as the Mersey Beat era of the 1960s. It would have also arguably been more substantial and lasted with more ferocity than what eventually fizzled out between a few bands, sometimes with the British press over egging it to the point where there was a farm somewhere in Lancashire on 24 hour production schedule to meet the near selfish demand.

Reva, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

(520 words, 1 image, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

The Akalites, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

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

The Zanzibar Club has had so many bands and musicians pass through its large metallic doors that if there was to be a roll of honour made up, carved out of the same wood that adorns the walls at Lords Cricket ground when a player takes five or ten wickets in an innings then amongst the names of Alan O’ Hare, the legendary Pete Wylie and the sensational Mersey Wylie and a thousand fold others, the one that might catch the eye is the exciting The Akalites.

The Akalites, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

(522 words, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

Eagles, The History Of The Eagles, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The Echo Arena in Liverpool was built for nights such as this, the Midsummer sun starting to wind its way back to the southern hemisphere, the evening glow of June racing its way across the Irish Sea and on its way America to the home of some finest rock bands you could ever hope to see play in the place where legends were born. A city that gave legends its British meaning to the country rock scene of the Eagles, legendary music that if written down in a book would be classed as fable, too fabulous for words but with a spirit that endured for over 40 years. You might never see the Eagles in Liverpool again, for those who took advantage of the summer sun giving its warmth to the city below; they were further warmed by the afterglow of some of the finest music to ever come out of America.

Eagles, The History Of The Eagles, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool. full post

(884 words, estimated 3:32 mins reading time)

Doodah Farm, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The turning of the year, perhaps in some ways even more important, more evocative to those who live by the natural setting of the Sun than the human construct of December 31^st and January 1^st, the day when for those in the North; the clock starts to slide towards the darkness once more. The minutes start to chip away from both ends until the chaotic beauty of the world becomes shrouded in darkness for a few months.

Doodah Farm, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

(542 words, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

Selfish Lovers, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Amy Bielizna of Selfish Lovers at the Zanzibar, Liverpool. June 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The close, muggy feeling of trapped heat that enveloped the city of Liverpool, heat which made normally persistent shadows perspire with sweat and groan under the Sun’s blessed fury would normally eat into the energy reserves of anybody finding themselves out and about on a June day. For some artists an understanding audience would forgive and forget if they gave a slightly subdued performance because of it, However inside the Zanzibar Club, the members of Selfish Lovers gave an altruistic performance which jumped off the stage and straight into the welcoming arms of a relieved audience.

Selfish Lovers, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

(383 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)