Category Archives: Live

Kadence, Gig Review, Johnsons’ Pavilions, Bootle.

Kadence performing in Bootle, July 2016. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

‘Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Bootle rarely gets an alarm call in such an usual manner, the town founded on its proximity to the Mersey, older than Liverpool and in its day, several generations back, one of the most prosperous towns reduced in essence to one that doesn’t get the funding, nor the good vibes, that it so richly deserves. Sandwiched between the cosmopolitan serenity of its neighbours, Liverpool and Southport, the arts in the town doesn’t really get the exposure it needs, and yet like the introduction of a new memory into the world of beige, the first sound of a heavy guitar pounding against the buffeting world of past glories, the town was given its wake up call.

Kadence, Gig Review, Johnsons’ Pavilions, Bootle. full post

(411 words, 1 image, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Dusky Grey, Gig Review. Johnsons’ Pavilion, Bootle.

Dusky Grey in Bootle, August 2016. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Up the road, just past the city centre of Liverpool and beyond the gates of expectation, the Liverpool International Music Festival, a noble cause, a social event in the ever increasing diary was gearing up for another year; established and full of flavour, it is a highlight for the music fan.

Dusky Grey, Gig Review. Johnsons’ Pavilion, Bootle. full post

(429 words, 1 image, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Ian Prowse, Gig Review. The Music Room, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Summer, in all its British damp and rain soaked glory, in all its burning one day haze, which with nostalgia over time becomes as sweat driven and lethargic as the one that hit the nation in ’76, long, luxurious and never ending, summer is only possible to dream about because festivals give the music lover hope and certain musicians always make sure they play in the same place each year, around the same time, to give thanks to their fans, the ritual is one of cool dynamic, of mutual thanks.

Ian Prowse, Gig Review. The Music Room, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(456 words, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

Jo Bywater, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Jo Bywater has been away from her own walk of life for too long, the dedication to helping others achieve their own goals, whether through collaboration or intense work ethic has not been lost in the appreciation of the adopted Merseyside singer/songwriter but it has meant that the local area has missed with much inevitable sadness Ms. Bywater’s own insightful lyrics and contribution to the acoustic scene.

Jo Bywater, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Mark Pountney, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is an air of laid back assurance that is mixed freely and without argument the declaration of studious musical intent that comes across with great attitude whenever Mark Pountney comes to the forefront of any stage in the city. The much travelled, both in physical journeys and the cerebral voyages, musician is a man to be enlightened by, to enjoy and take in to your heart, after all, not many musicians can claim the pedigree of country background whilst having walked the walk in the fiery pit of the genre in its own backyard.

Mark Pountney, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(409 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Herringbone John, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The stage is always ready for musicians such as Herringbone John, the Blues come calling and the undisguised answer of the just and informed is always where and when and of course yes. The stage, no matter where, will give lofty inspiration and the eternal notion in the minds of those who witness such musicians, that they too can be true to themselves and hold a branch of cool slow groove to the next generation.

Herringbone John, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(396 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Maddie Stenberg, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Like many young women before her in the Liverpool area, Maddie Stenberg has dreams, it shines in her eyes and shivers with anticipation in her voice as she prepares to hit the stage, the front of the room. It is an anticipation which is sincere and raw, one that cannot and should be contained. Like many young women, the confidence oozes out of her, not in way that would be noticeable at first, not at least till you hear her sing and then the teenage cool comes rushing out and the audience, timid at first, soon understands what beats in her heart.

Maddie Stenberg, Gig Review. Underground Acoustic, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(432 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Joe Bonamassa, Gig Review. The Old Naval College, Greenwich, London.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

If there is royalty around that is still to be admired in the 21^st Century then surely it is those who take a genre of music and revive it to the point where it actually becomes a living breathing entity again. The Blues, arguably considered by many of a certain age and below had had its day, it was just quietly wheezing under its own lethargic weight, under its once bloated self importance and slowly dying of excess; the dreaded and fatal disease to which all must it seems eventually succumb to.

Joe Bonamassa, Gig Review. The Old Naval College, Greenwich, London. full post

(407 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Joanne Shaw Taylor, Gig Review. The Old Naval College, Greenwich, London.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

On the grounds in which the stage stood inside the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, not far from the ruler of the high seas and one of the nation’s much loved ships, The Cutty Sark, now spends her well earned retirement in perpetual adoration, once roamed and played the childhood Queen Elizabeth, arguably the finest monarch the nation has ever had on the throne of England, came the sound of the reign of the new sovereign as she played her guitar in such a way that across the Thames, in the deep vaults of The Tower of London, they were looking up the line of succession into which Midland’s born Joanne Shaw Taylor was now and undisputedly the Queen of British Blues.

Joanne Shaw Taylor, Gig Review. The Old Naval College, Greenwich, London. full post

(420 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

The Christians, Gig Review. Grand Central Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There is a night out, the all guns blazing, bring the house down and sweat pouring off the worthy and the thrilled and then there is the night out where the gig becomes almost regal, hosted by the statesman like quality of the front man whose very smile leads you down a path of hope and faith.

Both nights are always well attended but there is something about the latter that really brings home to the attendee the power of music, its ability to make you cry true tears of regret, make your heart bleed and yet grow wings to soar above the petty and the ignorant at the same time. It is a virtue that Liverpool’s The Christians have in abundance.

The Christians, Gig Review. Grand Central Hall, Liverpool. full post

(525 words, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)