The Mono L.P.’s, Gig Review. Leaf, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There seem to be bands that somehow stay a secret far longer than they deserve to be. The clandestine way of the Universe just keeping them under the radar for just a little while longer before unveiling them with a flourish and watching the world go wow! Though by no means a cult band, The Mono L.Ps have been plugging away and getting huge attention, now is surely the time for the universe to say enough of the secrecy, this is the band, deal as you may find.

The charm lies in the sound, the attractiveness of the different; the altered perception of having the cello as the main driving force. It is this cello in the hands of Vicky Mutch that gives the framework for the group to be exceptional, to give each of the male members of the band the complete freedom to be astonishing as they want to be. It is radical but you cannot deny that it works, especially when Ste Reid is a very entertaining and wild beast of a performer.

Watching Vicky Mutch take her cello to task is as fascinating as watching two international rugby teams play, they tentatively probe and explore, searching for any weakness and finding none and then slowly but surely grapple each other to the point of exhaustion in which only the strong surviving. The Commander of the bow Vicky Mutch never seems fazed, the cello always obliging to be bent to her will like a master sword fighter in search of peace at any cost, the exhaustion is all in the eye of the watcher, they are the ones so mesmerised that the subtle art of hypnotism couldn’t hold a candle to the effect that Ms. Mutch has on an audience.

In time with the beat, she can flash her bow across the cellos taught strings as though the instrument had sinews, muscle mass and tendons, a knife through melted butter would meet stronger resistance. It is no wonder that Ste Reid calls her the band’s Jimmy Page.

If that’s the case then what does that make the vocalist? He is far more impressive to some than Mr. Page’s cohort and it would be difficult to argue with that. Of course to many that is almost akin to some sort of rock and roll blasphemy but just watching Ste Reid on stage, the comfortable manner, the ease in which he places his Scouse grin and fixes anyone in the crowd with a wink and well- aimed smile and plays his guitar as if it is the key to life itself. He is more in keeping with the great Ian McNabb, incredible to watch, dynamite to listen to  and with lyrics at his disposal that just make you sit up and beg to be played as loud and frequently as he dare.

As part of Ace Magazine’s first foray into the world of hosting a night of popular and incredible music, The Mono L.Ps played a set that could burn a hole in the middle of the sun and leave a smoking trail to be seen for a hundred light years. From the opening tracks Watch the Games You Play, The Flame and the awesome Look At Those Legs, Vicky Mutch, Ste Reid, the superb Chris Barlow on bass and the very talented Daniel Beech on drums  sailed headlong into the dark sky and lighting up the Liverpool night and kept the audience very much on course towards full enjoyment with songs such as Die A Little Death, the excellent Giving It Up, I Don’t Love You and the blistering You Make Me Sick gave all inside Leaf that tingle of excitement when you know the gig has gone completely to plan.

If The Mono LPs can continue this unrelenting pace then surely their noble and admirable aim of performing  Glastonbury will not be too far from coming true.

Ian D. Hall