Author Archives: admin

The Beast Wore Garlands.

 

In winter, you are a naked beast

that makes the imagination run

and tumble, no matter the age.

This exposure as the first drifts

of snow stand fast against your body,

parting the branch and making the harsh light

of the torch explode and reflect

upon this desolate season, a monster hiding in the shadows,

ready to reach out, twigged gnarled fingers

groping in the dark and bitter air,

catching the passer by with surprise

as the light dies early in December’s grasp.

Yet this beast, of old Nordic tales,

The Beast Wore Garlands. full post

(145 words, estimated 35 secs reading time)

Othello, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Emma Bispham, Patrick Brennan, Paul Duckworth, Marc Elliott, Cerith Flinn, Leah Gould, Emily Hughes, Golda Rosheuvel.

Photograph used with kind permission by the Everyman Theatre and Jonathan Keenan.

Change a moment, whisper down the ears of others around you words of sweet poison, let the drip of misinformation gather pace and be content in watching the world, which was at peace, rip itself apart and burn itself to a cinder. It is in such actions that happiness falls, that death is chased by murder and hatred festers.

Othello, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(477 words, 1 image, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

Steve Hill, The One Man Blues Rock Band. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There is no history to the overnight sensation, the back story, the will and the desire are rarely played upon, it is all very sudden and instant, the immediate that gives way to the soon forgotten, the very best are those that gradually come up through sheer hard work, determination and set back after disappointment, hard times after frustration. It is in the satisfaction of knowing for a while that you were your best friend, harshest critic and withstood the pressure of being the only one to believe that makes The One Man Blues Rock Band you pursued, all the more sweeter.

Steve Hill, The One Man Blues Rock Band. Album Review. full post

(436 words, 1 image, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Lews Castle College UHI, The Musician’s Nest. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

We don’t place enough emphasis on the young, that in this day and age is an intolerable act that will come back to bite other generations hard, by reducing vital services down to the bare minimum we are sending out the message that they mean nothing to us, that we don’t want them to succeed and pass on their knowledge in years to come. We are not considering their welfare, we are not contemplating the knock on effect and it is a powerful enemy we as children of the Baby Boom years and the so called Generation X have allowed to sit and fester in their own brooding shell.

Lews Castle College UHI, The Musician’s Nest. Album Review. full post

(380 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

The Sharpeez, Wild One. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

There is never the possibility of taming the Wild One, the person that leaves you breathless with anticipation, that leads you down paths you know you shouldn’t venture but you know in your heart it will be the best of times that you have, that the Wild One will enthuse your lust for life as well as sing you songs in which you will remember till you finally discard the leather jacket and bid a regretful farewell to the vehicle that served you well.

The Sharpeez, Wild One. Album Review. full post

(402 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

The Poozies, Punch. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

It takes a distinguished personality to be a Poozie, to able to reconcile the individual style to the distinctive sound that inhabits the soul of one of Scotland’s much loved folk bands, a trait that is hard to come by, one that is hard to muster and ask to be perfect at the same time and yet when it does so, the Punch that the listener feels is warmth, surrounding exquisiteness and pleasure.

The Poozies, Punch. Album Review. full post

(364 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Jill Jackson, Are We There Yet? Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It is the cry of the incessantly bored child, eager for the adventure to begin, impatient for the journey to end and the destination to appear, the sound from the back of the car getting louder, more edgy and irritated, and by the time the goal is in sight, the temper has got to the point where those around the child wish for nothing more than the day to end, never realising their own dreams and wishes.

Jill Jackson, Are We There Yet? Album Review. full post

(442 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Sponsored Silence.

 

It felt right

to sponsor you

anonymously, your walk

from fresh as a daisy point A,

soldering past every stopping

post that the letters held to

bone tired destination z,

and I wished you well in my head

even though

in the next minute I saw someone else

then take claim and oh gosh

I meant to put it under mine, silly

Me, I said nothing, I let it go,

and as much as I dared you to succeed,

I hoped they tripped over their ego

Sponsored Silence. full post

(98 words, estimated 24 secs reading time)

Liza Pulman Sings Streisand, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

“A little bit of Babs, a whole lot of brass”, is how Liza Pulman cheekily described the evening, the sparkle in her eyes giving the game away from the very start and the polished brass of The Brighouse and Rastrick Band giving the evening the absolute beauty that an appreciation of Barbra Streisand deserved.

Liza Pulman Sings Streisand, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(423 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Anthrax, Kings Among Scotland. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There will be those that remember with absolute fondness and the Heavy Metal spring in their step, the times when one of the American big four of the Thrash genre came to Britain and almost stole the show of the band they were supporting, pulling the rug out from underneath their feet and catching them in their fall, only to pull back at the last moment and defer with grace in their hearts to the main reason why the fans had made their way to the various arenas and venues in the first place.

Anthrax, Kings Among Scotland. Album Review. full post

(439 words, 1 image, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)