‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore. Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 21st 2010.

Cast: Ken Bradshaw, Kevin Harvey, Matti Houghton, Paul McCleary, Eileen O’Brien, Emily Pithon, Stuart Richman, Nicholas Shaw, Hugh Skinner.

The Everyman theatre is well renowned for its staging of hard, gritty and sometimes disturbing plays. None so more perhaps than the opening play of the new season, John Ford’s ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore.

There may be those who would shy away from the subject of incest, murder and impinging insanity but director Chris Meads has built a reputation for getting the best out of actors even in the most unusual of plays and in Tis Pity he has struck gold again with a cast that tackles some of humanity’s base instincts and wanton desires.

‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore. Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(349 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Paul Heaton, Acid Country. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. Sept 22nd 2010.

Acid Country is the new studio album by one of music best wordsmiths. Paul Heaton has made a living from his use of intelligent and interesting lyrics set alongside some of the most upbeat music over the last couple of decades, whether from his time in the eighties with the Housemartins or in later years with the impressive and chart toppers The Beautiful South.

Now on his second solo album, Paul has once more reached the musical highs that are associated with him and produced an album full of charm and his own personnel stamp emblazoned throughout.

Paul Heaton, Acid Country. Album Review. full post

(371 words, 1 image, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

The Game, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Cast: John Branwell, Liz Carney, Jo Gerard, Catherine Kinsella, Ror North, Wendi Peters, Phil Rowson, Barrie Rutter, Matt Sutton, Jos Vantyler.

Harold Brighouse’s name might ring more bells with drama and literature lovers as the writer of the classic play Hobson’s Choice, however thanks to a dramatic find in a Canadian University, Barrie Rutter and his team of players that make up Northern Broadsides have breathed life into the play The Game.

Northern Broadsides have continued to thrill Liverpool audiences over the last few years, with productions such as The Man with Two Gaffers and their own take on Romeo and Juliet, it seems as though the company can do no wrong in wrong in local eyes.

The Game, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(385 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Hayseed Dixie, Gig Review. The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 24th 2010.

There are two bands on the circuit right now that have changed the idea of playing rock/metal and punk tunes, turning them upside down and inverting them to the point that the meaning of the songs has changed. The first is The Bad Shepherds with their folk versions of classic punk tunes; the second is America’s Blue Grass sensations Hayseed Dixie.

Mixing their distinctive style with tracks that have been loved by the Metal/Rock community for the best part of 35 years has led the guys to become much loved by their legions of fans and a guaranteed enjoyable night out.

Hayseed Dixie, Gig Review. The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. full post

(388 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Calendar Girls, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 28th 2010.

Cast: Denise Black, Elaine C. Smith, Julia Hills, Rachel Lumberg, Anna Charlston, Jennifer Ellison, Susan Bovell, Joe McGann, Bruno McGregor, Bruno Langley, Mikyla Dodd.

Surely there is no better way to get some of the leading ladies of British theatre and television on one stage that by bringing the celebrated Calendar Girls to the Liverpool Empire.

Based on a real life story, Calendar Girls tells the tale of a group of Women’s Institute members attempt to create a piece of work that will raise much needed funds for a hospital sofa, the same hospital in which one of the member’s husbands had been treated for Leukaemia.

Calendar Girls, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(403 words, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Megadeth, Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Live Recording. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 1st 2010.

In 1990, a seismic shift in the world of Heavy Metal was about to happen. For the later part of the eighties the genre of big hair and exuberant stage shows had ruled over the basic down and dirty inhabitants of Heavy and Thrash.

The likes of Metallica and Slayer had gone some way to bringing the days of early Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden back but with an American twist. Among those early pioneers of Thrash Metal were Megadeth. Fronted by the Californian colossus that is Dave Mustaine, the band went through several line-up changes during the first few albums and even though each album got subsequently more interesting and better produced, there was still the thought in some critics eyes that the band were nothing more than Metallica wannabes.

Megadeth, Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Live Recording. Album Review. full post

(460 words, 1 image, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

Richard O Flynn, Gig Review. Static Bar, Liverpool.

Richard O’ Flynn at the Static. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 1st 2010.

Seeing Richard O’ Flynn perform his debut album live at the Static Bar in Liverpool should go down as one of those I was there moments for the eager crowd that braved the onset of autumn and its blustery, dirty weather.

Richard O Flynn, Gig Review. Static Bar, Liverpool. full post

(394 words, 1 image, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Manic Street Preachers, Postcards From A Young Man. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 1st 2010.

The Manic Street Preachers have always been one of those bands that want to go from populist music makers to ground breaking visionaries that produce an album just because they can.

Postcards from a Young Man, the tenth studio album by the Welsh rockers, seems as if the band has managed to combine these two separate ways of thinking into one album. With instantly recognisable songs that have the Manic feel stamped all over them, to songs that don’t quite fit with the rest of the endeavour, one thing for sure is that this album will never be accused of being staid or neglectful to its core fan base.

Manic Street Preachers, Postcards From A Young Man. Album Review. full post

(360 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 4th 2010.

Cast: kara Lane, Haley Flaherty, Richard Meek, Christopher Biggins, Stuart Ellis, Ceris Hine, David Bedella, Julian Essex-Spurrier, Adrian Der Gregorian.

What’s the first thing you think of when somebody asks you to name something about the Rocky Horror Show? It could be the audience that throws away any pretence for the night and turn up for one of the best productions of theatre anywhere. It might be the fine costumes, stockings, high heels and feather boas that are in evidence wherever you look. Perhaps it is the musical numbers that make you tap your foot and sets the rest of the body off to join in or it could be the fine performances from a cast that obviously adore treating their audience to a night out that will live long in the memory.

Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Gold Mountain, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Cast: David Yip, Eugene Salleh.

What is never in doubt about Liverpool is how the city has survived and thrived as a hotch-potch of different cultures and ideals. From the Irish who disembarked at Liverpool docks during the potato famine and who arrived with not the slightest idea of what was going to happen to their lives or culture, to the Chinese who had to cross oceans and the thoughts of internal tyranny to arrive in Liverpool to face prejudice and suspicion at every corner.

Gold Mountain, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(325 words, 1 image, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)