Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Girls With No Faces at Studio2, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Obstacles are no permanent barrier, they only require the smile of the determined to shine before too long, like walls of made of clay and governments fashioned in panic, before they fall to the inevitable bull dozer being driven at full speed and aiming right for the weakest spot.

If Governments can fall easily with the right pressure, then so can pre-conceptions; arguably humanity might be better off without either but like criticism, some notions form without the validity of truth at its heart. When it comes to art, pre-conceptions are dangerous, the open mind is possibly the only interpretation one truly needs and it one that is grasped with affection and admiration when a band overcomes the hurdle of losing a member to illness not long before a looked forward to gig.

It was a case of the night of missing bassists across the board inside Studio 2 in Liverpool as the three support acts took to the stage in support of Jimmy and the Revolvers and in every case, whilst the person was very much missed, the fact that the bands marched on and played out of their skins, arguably made the audience appreciate them even more. That was never more true than with Girls With No Faces, or as with sparkling wit suggested, for one night only, Girls With No Basses.

It is to be considered a triumph of will and endeavour, the Morse signal sending out rapid and measured tones of congratulations and fighting alongside the applause and the still ringing out speakers, that Girls With No Faces gave a tremendous account of themselves when a rather big obstacle was placed in their way.

Studio 2 may well be a venue which carries the sound with care and attention but also it can be one that does not forgive if it believes there is no passion in the soul of the performer; this was never a concern for the Liverpool band, to rise above the sandbags and wave two fingers towards the enemy of indifference is always a good start to an evening and one in which the vibe was grateful for.

For one night only as a threesome, the band played songs which captured their high energy and Demi-God Punk attitude with absolute purity, taking in the chin of the regretful absence of the fourth member on the night, they played songs such as Dream Like A Genie, The Life That I Have Chose, Seduction and Disappointment and Young, Dum and Full of Kale with bursting and unremitting blows to the senses.

Obstacles are there to be pounded into submission, otherwise what is the point; for Girls With No Faces, it was a situation well navigated and beaten down with a metaphorical lump hammer.

Ian D. Hall