Category Archives: Live

The Vinos, Gig Review. Zanzibar, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

As the music died down from what was in effect an outstanding, beautiful and admittedly cool set given The Vinos, somewhere in the back of the minds of those who attended Zanzibar on a day where the temperature seemed most oppressive and the sweat running off every citizen in the city collectively could have matched, if not bettered, the volume of the River Mersey at its highest tide, that this band, which has been together for less than a year, already needs to be thinking of performing in a venue that can really see them kick off and become the stars that their music more than suggests they can be.

The Vinos, Gig Review. Zanzibar, Liverpool. full post

(499 words, estimated 2:0 mins reading time)

Sirens, Gig Review. Zanzibar, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Liverpool is not known for its love of the heavier side of rock, the small dalliance that could be erring on the side of metal is something that local band Buckle Tongue has got round by performing with intelligence and guile whilst remaining true to their core belief, because of one band leading the way, Sirens can now tread in more harsher boots and start to crush their own path in the area.

Sirens, Gig Review. Zanzibar, Liverpool. full post

(368 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Dave O’Grady. Gig Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Dave O’ Grady is just one of those musicians that no matter how many times you see him during a year he still manages to make the gig you are attending feel as though it is the most important gig you will ever see him perform at. His manner is intoxicating and the voice he possess an absolute gift to audiences, so much so that whether you catch him on the street or in the acoustically dramatic venues such as Leaf or the main theatre inside the Unity on Hope Place, crowds will take him to their heart and the superb music along for the ride as well.

Dave O’Grady. Gig Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Anna Corcoran, Gig Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

No matter what you throw at Anna Corcoran; be it the sound of a blender going berserk in the background of an prominent gig during Liverpool’s Sound City, the raucous and ecstatic birthday celebrations that greeted her as she went on stage to celebrate the second anniversary of Ian Prowse’s Monday Night Club on Mathew Street or even the road system that connects the city that she calls home and the Northumbrian community in which she lives in, she gives her absolute and unfiltered attention to her work.

Anna Corcoran, Gig Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(392 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

Gary Maginnis And The Like, Gig Review. The Ship Inn, Hoylake. Festival Of Firsts.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It feels strange to go to a gig in a part of the country not normally known for holding concerts and seeing a group perform with the benefit of a marvellous new album behind them but not hearing any tracks from it. For Gary Maginnis and The Like it was a bold move that worked mainly because the music they played was on par with anything they have put down on Ghost Town Blues and executed with the same deft precision.

Gary Maginnis And The Like, Gig Review. The Ship Inn, Hoylake. Festival Of Firsts. full post

(376 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

Gary Gardner, Gig Review. The Ship Inn, Hoylake, Festival Of Firsts.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Hoylake might not rival its near big city neighbour Liverpool in terms of music history or of touring bands of musicians making their way to soak in the rich ambience and be part of the ever growing chronicles being reported on but in recent weeks it has held a couple of festivals in which musicians and audiences seem to have flocked to in large numbers.

Gary Gardner, Gig Review. The Ship Inn, Hoylake, Festival Of Firsts. full post

(437 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Debbie Richards, Gig Review. The Ship Inn, Hoylake. Festival Of Firsts.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Debbie Richards took to the stage at The Ship Inn and took the audience that had made their out of the ever increasing heat and quite simply blew them away with an entertaining and lively performance that erred on the enamouring.

It can’t be easy being a jobbing musician and regardless of what people think, for those who fit in their music around a demanding day job, it must be hard work and something to be considered challenging; especially when you have performed with what can only be thought of as great distinction for the fourth time in a week.

Debbie Richards, Gig Review. The Ship Inn, Hoylake. Festival Of Firsts. full post

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

Ian Prowse, Gig Review. Rodewald Suite, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

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.

Ian Prowse, Gig Review. Rodewald Suite, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(592 words, estimated 2:22 mins reading time)

Matt Breen, Gig Review. Camp And Furnace, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Whether Matt Breen is performing acoustically or as part of some big electric effort which blows the cobwebs from the eco-system around him, there is no doubting this young man’s incredible appeal and honest likeability when watching him on stage and off it when you are in his company.

As part of the afternoons musical entertainment laid on at Camp and Furnace and with the craft fair in full swing, Matt Breen once more showed his mettle, his guile and charming disposition as he followed Gary Edward Jones and Nighthowl onto the stage and gave his usual high octane, even for an acoustic set, performance.

Matt Breen, Gig Review. Camp And Furnace, Liverpool. full post

(370 words, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

Arkham Karvers, Gig Review. Zanzibar, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

As the temperature rises in Liverpool and fully announces that Britain is going to at least have some sort of summer in 2013 and the heat increases at Wimbledon to fever pitch levels, those two elements feel like a cold winters day compared to the music that has been generated by the bands in Zanzibar which has been slowly going off the scale.

Chief amongst these was Arkham Karvers whose polished and wild set was not only a joy to take in but as they hit the ground running with the blistering opener Heisenberg, the stage was set for a new set of hero’s to burn themselves into the hearts of those attending the evening’s Hunger Games session at Zanzibar.

Arkham Karvers, Gig Review. Zanzibar, Liverpool. full post

(331 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)