Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It was always going to take something magical, something just as interesting and musically terrific as the blindingly excellent Natalie McCool, to keep the evening at Leaf in the same rich vein of form that the audience had enjoyed all night. Sound City on its first day had lived up to its billing as being one of the best city festivals the U.K. and in the Leaf venue it had more that surpassed the high expectation thrust upon it. With Natalie McCool having departed the stage after her blistering and sensational set, perhaps it was only fitting that the cool Rachael Wright and The Good Sons took the challenge that lay before them.

For those in the audience, and there were quite a few, that had stayed after seeing the woman that everyone wanted to see they were not to be disappointed. The music supplied by her band which consisted of Steve Pilgrim, Michael Oates and Jamie Brewster was the perfect accompaniment to Rachael Wright’s voice, stunning in parts, beautiful overall and dipped in the creativity that flows through the city like honey dripping seductively out of a hive. You just know though that this voice can break hearts. Imagine the American singer Marcella Detroit crossed with the demure beauty of Marilyn Monroe and you are half way there.

The group rose to the challenge laid down by both previous acts and met it with aplomb, songs such as the opener Dig, the exceptional On Honorata and Black Heart were greeted enthusiastically and with great applause. The real diamond though lay in the final number, the striking Where You Are which Ms. Wright performed as a solo spot. For those that caught the song, the heart-break had begun.

An enormously successful appearance at Sound City and by a long country mile a group to make sure you catch next time they perform in the city.

Ian D. Hall