Originally published by L.S.Media. March 3rd 2009.
With a style that seems very heavily influenced by the old punk rock guard of The Boomtown Rats, The Jam and The Stranglers, the Kaiser Chiefs are fast becoming this generations must see and like the Rats and the Stranglers, The Kaiser Chiefs seem to have cottoned on to their audience’s and fans desire for clever social songs wrapped up in good guitar work and with a beat to die for.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 7th 2009.
Like most people the only time I have come across Chumbawamba is when they released Tub-Thumping in 1997, the wonderful moment when they chucked water over the then deputy Prime Minister John Prescott during the Brit Awards and their support of the Liverpool Dockers.
Chumbawamba are a band that have stuck by their convictions and politics, and more power to them for doing so and not selling out after they had they had a number two hit with the aforementioned song. Instead they have concentrated on making music that appealed to them and to the loyal fans, this shows with the diverse age and cross section of the audience that attended the evening for whom it looked as if that music was there to be enjoyed and not to worry about all extras which go with it.
Originally published by l.S. Media. April 24th 2009.
Opening the set with Only Time Will Tell and Wildest Dreams from their 1982 debut album Asia, the stage was set for the four men to provide one of their great shows that they are famous for; and as ever they didn’t disappoint.
As always, Asia started the gig as consummate professionals and as always never relaxed the tone as they turned back the clock to play The Smile Has Left Your Eyes.
Originally published by L.S. Media. May 14th 2009.
With over fifty years of experience of playing on stage and a song book that most bands would kill for, it is with no small wonder that Eric Clapton still manages to make the art of playing guitar look so incredibly simple. Even appearing on stage to no fanfare and looking more dishevelled than a tumble dryer full of wet clothes, he still manages to look the coolest man in the world.
Originally published by L.S. Media. June 23rd 2009.
From time to time if you are lucky, you get to see a young band on stage who just simply blow you away. Sometimes you think they might be a flash in the pan, that you just got fortunate enough to catch them on a good night. Not so with Hippy’s on the Hill.
These four local lads have got talent by the bucket load and an attitude that is refreshing and unexpected, especially when you see that that the average age of the foursome is just 16.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. July 6th 2009.
Another band to make this years Summer Pops is Idlewild, with six studio albums already behind them and a recording history of over 10 years, Idlewild took the brave decision to play a city that they don’t traditionally do well in, especially when you compare the fan base nationally.
The lads from Scotland opened the set with I Don’t Have a Map from 100 Broken Windows and the bouncy In Competition for the Worst Time from the 2007 studio album Make Another World before showcasing one of the new songs from the soon to be released studio album Post Electric Blues, the very enjoyable City Hall.
Originally published by L.S.Media. July 14th 2009.
The tour has been billed as twenty years and out! A commemoration and a memorial for one of the most consistent rock acts of the last two decades deciding for the second and final time to bow out from recording and touring. The previous night had seen the band greeted with some incredible emotion by a pumped up Wolverhampton crowd. On the last night of the tour and with only an outside appearance at Sonasphere for their faithful fans to look forward to, the Hammersmith Apollo played host to the final indoors gig by this great British band.
Originally published by L.S. Media. July 22nd 2009.
With a brand new album fresh out of the packaging to showcase to the loyal fans at the Liverpool Echo Arena, it was perhaps unavoidable and surprising for Jim Kerr and the band to dip their toes into nostalgia and open the show with the bass driven Waterfront, which from the very start had the assembled crowd on their feet dancing away and they didn’t let up till the very end of the show.
Originally published by L.S. Media. August 1st 2009.
Even before Ricky Ross and the rest of the band finished walking on stage, the Liverpool audience anticipated that they were in for a very special evening of soul/pop from one of Scotland’s finest musical exports, and from the very first words, they were not disappointed. With the aforementioned Ricky Ross and fellow vocalist Lorraine McIntosh coming on stage to sing briefly a vocal only version of The Very Thing which the loyal gathering lapped up totally and from that moment on the crowd never sat down.
Originally published by L.S. Media. August 4th 2009.
After a much publicised health scare, in which he nearly lost his life, Jon Anderson has taken the first tentative steps back to touring and recording. The Lancashire born entertainer shows a lot more of his spiritual side these days as he looked less tense and more happy with himself and his long admired vocal ability.
Coming on stage to some of the loudest applause the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool has seen for a one man show, Jon seemed surprised to see so many people there to hear him play. The audience knew that there might be a few awkward moments for Jon as he readily admits to not having been able to sing whilst recuperating but from the off everybody was on his side.