Anaïs Vila, Gig Review. Leaf, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Liverpool will always throw open its arms to the adventurous, to the talented and the seekers of more enlightened thought, it is the nature of the city to do so, it is in entwined in the D.N.A. of its people to share it, to talk about it and not keep it a secret. To travel across Europe, perhaps in the most awkward of times to hit the continent in an era of peace, to play in the home of British popular music is to be saluted. It is the side effect of the vote to leave Europe that people forget that art cannot exist without an audience, to have the conversation and to learn is a prerequisite of being human, the inquisitiveness to learn something new from another culture an unalienable right to the open minded.

Anaïs Vila, Gig Review. Leaf, Liverpool. full post

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

My Pre-Existing Condition.

I was born with a pre existing condition,

passed down genetically and without selective behaviour,

I was born, hopefully like you,

with this specific snag

in my blood, in my genes,

not to want, to enjoy, to take any satisfaction

from pissing people off, to let them get on with life

and should they fall ill,

then not to be too blunt,

to not be a dick and hope that society cares enough

about all those born, to see them, to care for them,

to understand that the unseen ailment,

My Pre-Existing Condition. full post

(208 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)

A Chance Of Fresh Air.

A chance of fresh air,

just for a while to escape the house

to soak in the residue

of life, this point of it all,

to sit and gaze up at an old god

and thank him for dancing

with the moon.

The moon, I used to fear her,

hanging there like an afterthought,

blood soaked in my dreams,

far too many nights watching

Hammer House of Horror when I was small boy,

the Saturday night ritual

I was allowed wonderfully to explore

from such a young age,

A Chance Of Fresh Air. full post

(176 words, estimated 42 secs reading time)

Alx Green, Downhill From Here. Single Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

A certain age, a certain place in time and in your life, it can feel like the pinnacle of your achievements have been reached, the goals you set yourself or the dreams you may have once harboured with passion, suddenly fade, unexpectedly and forever, the seriousness of life sets in and the trudge towards home ownership, towards fiscal responsibility and other people’s aspirations suddenly become more daunting and demanding that your own.

Alx Green, Downhill From Here. Single Review. full post

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

Today, We Say Goodbye To Ted.

I imagine there will be no family there

at Ted’s graveside today,

as a single crow falls silent in respect

in Anfield Cemetery

the last of his line,

the last remaining soul.

I first encountered Ted some years earlier,

a man of smiles and intrigue

but now his days were spent

keeping warm in the taxi café

off Lime Street Station and drinking tea,

reading the paper

and occasionally telling a story

of his life…

now consigned to fading memory,

both he and the café alike.

Today, We Say Goodbye To Ted. full post

(153 words, estimated 37 secs reading time)

Joe Bonamassa At Carnegie Hall- An Acoustic Evening. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

For some it is the pinnacle of a career, the moment they step off stage and realise that they did make the journey to Carnegie Hall, that their talent, honed, sharpened over thousands of hours and perfected upon, this is the moment when it all comes together, in one of the most highly thought of venues on the planet. Along with Vienna Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House, to perform at the Carnegie Hall on the corner of 55th and Seventh Avenue is the dream that keeps many a creative mind going when the intensity of practise, practise, practise, starts to overwhelm the soul.

Joe Bonamassa At Carnegie Hall- An Acoustic Evening. Album Review. full post

(466 words, 1 image, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

Jen Gloeckner, Vine. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The sound of the soft and sensual is normally a reserved occupation, it bats its eyelashes, it acts coy, it trips over its words in an attempt to look beautiful and alluring and yet somehow it only comes off as requiring attention for all the wrong reasons. It may dress to impress but it still has the unfortunate moment of finding a piece of straw from a hay barn tucked in its shirt or blouse.

Jen Gloeckner, Vine. Album Review. full post

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

Valor, Arrogance: The Fall. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision rating * * * *

Arrogance is arguably amongst the worst of human traits, it is the child of pride and the father of destruction and yet we laud it as if it is a conquering hero, a warrior to whom the sword of destiny is fit to be carried by into battle; Arrogance can only lead to a fall, to its own plummeting collapse and the failure of humanity to keep such vices in check.

Valor, Arrogance: The Fall. Album Review. full post

(401 words, 1 image, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

The Racket, Faded Days. Single Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

To think of the young, the next generation, finding that life has already reached the pinnacle of their desires because they believe that the world is not ready for them, is one that can leave two different flavours in the mouth. The first being sorrow, that we as those that have gone before have allowed this group of creative people whose hopes and dreams perhaps matched our own in the past to bathe in the shallow end whilst we have neglected the opportunity to stand aside and let them tackle the issues of the day. The second is that with any luck, it has taught them anger, that the positive of such actions will lead them to understand that theirs in not to be Faded Days after all.

The Racket, Faded Days. Single Review. full post

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

Susan At The Keyboards.

I am in awe of you,

though you can only tell

by my voice

when I congratulate you

on your performance;

a woman of absolutes

and fingers on keyboards

playing as if guided by a rock

and roll angel,

you are magnificent.

 

I watch you burn the keys,

so nimble, so impressive,

I have to hold my breath as you play

and create images

that I could never offer

to a world,

though blind, you are not unsighted

as in my paused breathing,

Susan At The Keyboards. full post

(122 words, estimated 29 secs reading time)