Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
For the seventh successive year, Ian Prowse stood upon the tight but much loved stage nestled in the heart of the Rodewald Suite at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Armed with his guitar, a few special guest musicians and the biting wit and emotion that makes him stand out as one of Merseyside’s favourite sons, started work at tearing down the walls, the ceiling in readiness for the refurbishment that is due on the grand old lady soon with a set of music and local acerbic passion which will be hard to match during the year.
Just a few short weeks ago the whole of Amsterdam gave a blistering performance at St. Luke’s Church as part of the one day festival Liverpool Calling. A few short hops to venues away from the city he loves and he was back in the Philharmonic with some older classics that display a positive anger that burns brightly and almost unlike anybody who straps on a guitar and with feeling and with the surprise of four new tracks hiding away ready to be unleashed onto a very receptive crowd.
Joined by stalwarts and friends on stage for most of the evening, Ian Prowse kicked off a set that buzzed and groaned under the weight of brilliant urgency; that showed off his generous spirit and showed the heart that resides in all who are passionate about their city and the music that is contained within.
With the splendid Mike Neary on piano, the sensational Helen Maher on accordion, the energetic Grant Walker on the drum and the beautiful violin playing of Anastasia Worrall, Ian performed tracks such as Lifestyle, The Glorious Day, the rousing Arm In Arm, Hey Hilary, Pele’s Fireworks, the fantastic new track Envy Mountain and a superb version of The Jam’s hit Eton Rifles in which he dedicated to a certain ex-pupil.
Ian is nothing but generous with his time and when he spots a fellow musician who he believes in he will go out of his way to embrace their music ability. In Dominic Dunn, who earlier in the year had opened up for Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls with a riveting performance, there is the latest in line who as Ian says one day will supplant him, Ian invited him up on the stage as he sat down for a well-deserved break in the proceedings. The audience were once again gasping at Dominic’s intelligent and well thought out lyrics and music. It is rare for anyone to get a standing ovation other than Mr. Prowse when he is the main act but Dominic full deserved his moment with the applause ringing round the room.
With this being the first of a two night stand at The Rodewald Suite, nobody would have surely minded if Ian had taken it easy but with great strength of character, Ian pulled of possibly one of the great versions of his classic song Does This Train Stop on Merseyside and there was a lot of people in the room who were wiping their eyes free of the tears that had collected by the end of the track.
It is always a pleasure to catch Ian Prowse perform and it never seems to matter what venue it is but there is something about the Philharmonic Hall and The Rodewald Suite in particular that captures the very best of his psyche and writing. A classic night of Liverpool music turned up as far as it was humanly possible to go.
Ian D. Hall