Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Sheppard, Don Johnson, Vinessa Shaw, Wyatt Russell, Nick Damici, Brianda Agramonte, Lanny Flaherty, Ken Holmes, Kristin Griffith, Tim Lajcik, Rachel Zeiger-Haag, Joe Lanza, Laurent Rejto, Brogan Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
The Echo Arena in Liverpool was built for nights such as this, the Midsummer sun starting to wind its way back to the southern hemisphere, the evening glow of June racing its way across the Irish Sea and on its way America to the home of some finest rock bands you could ever hope to see play in the place where legends were born. A city that gave legends its British meaning to the country rock scene of the Eagles, legendary music that if written down in a book would be classed as fable, too fabulous for words but with a spirit that endured for over 40 years. You might never see the Eagles in Liverpool again, for those who took advantage of the summer sun giving its warmth to the city below; they were further warmed by the afterglow of some of the finest music to ever come out of America.
Originally published by Ace Magazine, June 2014.
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is only the third time the country that gave democracy to the world has qualified for the final stages. There is though something very pleasing in that in their third tournament they upset the form book and make their way into the last 16 thanks to the man who has been a great servant to Celtic the last few seasons. As Georgios Samaras stepped up to take the penalty that would either send his team marching on or see them trip up in the group stages as they did in 1994 and 2010, what emotions must have been going through his head? What emotions must have been going through the mind of Didier Drogba and the Lion of African football, Yaya Touré?
First published by Ace Magazine online. June 2014.
If the world of football, and its many critics, were shocked by events in the match involving Uruguay and Italy in the afternoon then surely there would have been many a smile on the same faces a few minutes before the end of the near one sided game involving arguably the best team from South America so far in this tournament and the men from Japan.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr, Amy Sedaris, EmJay Anthony, Russell Peters, Chase Grimm, Will Schutze, Gloria Sandoval, Jose C. Hernandez.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Carly Bawden, Audrey Brisson, Andrew Durand, Rina Fatania, James Gow, Martin Hyder, Giles King, Patrycja Kujawska, Dominic Marsh, Justin Radford, Ian Ross, Sarah Wright.
First published online by Ace Magazine online June 2014.
For a few brief minutes there was real hope in every Mexican heart that they would go and get at least a couple of more goals against Croatia and equal amount of dread that Brazil would somehow slice open the Cameroon defense simply at will in equal response. Such were the margins for error that the Gods of expectancy and the false idols of the disappointed held Damocles’ Sword of all four of the squads in this particular group.
Forst published by Ace Magazine online June 2014.
The atmosphere for most of the games so far at this World Cup has been as electric as witnessing as a supernova explode with fury or finding yourself at the most sought after party in history where every drink was free and yet nobody got the slight bit inebriated and the conversation flowed like millions of tonnes of water over Niagara Falls. Yet somehow that same supernova was somehow lacking as you watched knowing that as you safely hid behind enough material to keep you safe from the harm, the explosion that would leave countless worlds destroyed was inaudible because your earphones had decided to pack up just before the mass of fury cascaded throughout space.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Like the good old 45 R.P.M single, the bastion of pop charts past, there are times when an E.P. can leave you trustingly wanting more. You love them; they speak to you in the same way that a novella or well-written Ernest Hemmingway short story can grab your attention for a while but you just cannot help knowing that a little more would send you over the edge into some sort of exquisite dream. Like the child only being allowed one small sweet lest the sugar content send them going into a crazy spiral of juvenile energy rush, the listener has to limit themselves to knowing what has been put out is enough, even if it is with a shrug of musical despondency.
Alastair Clark never seems to sit still. Even if you have known him for quite a while or five minutes, what impresses you is his constant searching, questioning of the norm and deep down the stark truth that he is an exceptionally funny man. Having graduated from the University of Liverpool, he has become an ambassador on the comedy circuit, highlighting the excellent name of the city he lived in throughout his time doing his degree but also the great county of Lincolnshire from which he hails.