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.

Not so with Pavilions, who sounded as fresh as the day they burst onto the musical radar, who gave a very good account of themselves at the 02 Academy on Hotham Street and kept the audience’s attention peaked ahead of Decade’s appearance on stage.

Following on from Buckle Tongue these days is a huge ask, it’s the equivalent of asking somebody to give a small talk on the absurdities and folly of World War One after you have been lecturing them for six weeks on the inadequate responses to the theory of Schrödinger’s Cat. In fact so perplexed by the sudden change in question most people might just crawl into the box with the upstaged feline.

However, follow on they did and as always it was worth watching the response to vocalist Tezz Roberts, Tel Earthey’s drums, Matty Daley’s bass, Alexander Headen’s and Ryan Cooper’s stonking guitar as they played like impressive maniacs, the unwound and uncoiled jack in the boxes with a stride in the step and more bounce than Tigger.

To watch Tel Earthey smash on the drums, to pound on the cymbals and kick seven bells out of hell out every available piece of kit that surrounds him, whilst all the time have a smile on his face as wide as the lies that come out of Westminster every Budget Day is to feel alive. You cannot help but be carried away by the ravaging beast that is his rhythm and when accompanied by Matt Dealy’s growling bass and Tezz Roberts beautifully poised vocals, there doesn’t seem much that Pavilions cannot do.

The o2 stage, which had only just recovered from the thrashing that had been delivered to by Buckle Tongue, once more bounced in time to great tunes. Songs such as Moron Mountain, Doing A Jamie Lee, The Wave and the charming Futures more than made a mockery handed out to Brazil by Germany in the World Cup, this was a true lesson in hammering out a gracious result.

Time may fly past, time may stop you from seeing a band or artist evolve as closely as you would like but for Pavilions, there is nothing better than catching up with the outrageous talent they have to offer. Never a dull moment!

Ian D. Hall