Category Archives: Live

Last Reserves, Gig Review. Johnsons’ Pavilions, Bootle.

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

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7.5/10

You cannot help but feel that Charles Dickens missed a trick by being born a hundred odd years too early, for surely had the literary genius been around today, instead of getting Oliver Twist to ask for more gruel and thereby setting a tone on all that is be seen as insidious in the Victorian era, he instead would have had the young urchin say of the great Punk era that died in many ways too soon, “Please sir, can I have more of this terrific display of out and out rebellion and scintillating and controlled riot”.

Last Reserves, Gig Review. Johnsons’ Pavilions, Bootle. full post

(434 words, 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Mia Wakefield, Gig Review. Johnsons’ Pavilion, Bootle.

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

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The art of putting on a festival, especially for the first time is one that is shrouded in mystery, known to so few it seems and yet when you come across one that knows instinctively how to keep a crowd entertained during a changeover of rock acts, then it is one to praise and make sure it doesn’t run away in the distance, like too many others in these days of arts cuts and some people using the genre as if it should be a free commodity.

Mia Wakefield, Gig Review. Johnsons’ Pavilion, Bootle. full post

(484 words, 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

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)