Ste Reid of The Mono Lps at St. Lukes Chuch, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Liverpool called out, giants strode the roads and alleys as if they had appeared out of a C.S. Lewis manuscript and inside St. Luke’s Church another set of giants, ones not controlled by puppetry, man nor machine took to stage and showed once more just why they are such an exciting, tremendously warm and energetic band to watch live.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Gold Jacks at the St Luk’e Church as part of Liverpool Calling 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Effortless, a joy to listen to, as naturally showman like as you want and uncomplicated, this pretty much sums up what it is like to hear Manchester based band Gold Jacks for the first time.
Mark McCullough of The Next Life at St. Lukes, Liverpool. Liverpool Calling. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
If there is one thing amongst many that Liverpool and its people can do, it is an unerring ability to make the most of any space going and turn it into a theatre, an arena in which something artistic can happen. You only have to take a discreet wander round town and with eyes obviously wide open to see this happening everywhere.
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.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
No matter the festival, no matter the venue or size, there is a certain kudos and accepted pressure that goes alongside the honour and even though Liverpool Calling was just a day out for some, the chance to sit in the relaxing atmosphere of one of Liverpool’s memorials to the fallen of the Second World War, the iconic St. Luke’s Church, and take in the music on offer from the abundance of bands, for Obstacles the moment was precious and demanding. It was a demand they rose to.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Like The Shadow Theatre, Orange Room remain a secret held close to the chest of their adopted city and whilst the band may hail from the other side of the world, their roots are now firmly fixed in Liverpool. They have bided their time, made all the right moves and honed their set and for those that were fortunate enough to be in the confines of St. Luke’s Church during the afternoon session of Liverpool Calling they were treated to a fine performance that will live long in the memory.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
There is something about the majesty; the feel of the past and what the Bombed Out Church of St. Luke’s stands for that just makes it a great place to watch live outdoor music. The gothic look, the refusal of a city to bend its knee towards oppressors, doubters and the shameful is all around the city and the life blood in its people. No more so than Ian Prowse and Amsterdam and as the band come on stage as part of Liverpool Calling, the sound, the joy and defiance from the audience gets notably louder. If ever there was a man who can get a crowd thumping the air whilst placing one hand over their chest in remembrance of the fallen then Ian Prowse is the man and Amsterdam are quite rightly the band of the day.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
As The Mono L.Ps came on stage, the light changed over the Bombed Out church of St. Luke’s as if the changing of the guard was on hand and a brighter herald was needed to hail the excellence of this respected Liverpool band.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
One thing audiences inside the Bombed Out Church of St. Lukes may not have been expecting as part of Liverpool Calling was for a band to travel from Scotland, to take the long route march south, and perform for half an hour and then make their way back the same day north of the border. It certainly showed commitment and the music that Vasa provided in that short time on stage was not just scintillating but pretty awesome as well.