Graham Gouldman, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There is arguably nothing as fulfilling in life as seeing a master, in whatever profession, guild or sense of artistic endeavour, play infront of you knowing that they are having the same effect on every other member of the audience and that their work still hold you gripped after many years of having the fortune to stumble across their legendary output.

Graham Gouldman and Heart Full of Songs at The Epstein Theatre. Photograph reproduced with kind permission by David Munn Photography.

Graham Gouldman, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(583 words, 1 image, estimated 2:20 mins reading time)

Vinny Peculiar, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There are many lyrical geniuses walking the Earth, and long there may be so, for the world would be a place of desolation and rampant fettered hegemony controlled by those with no sense of humour or in some cases not an ounce of poetry in their soul. Their main concern the next big hit that has been written somewhere in a mansion and something that appeals to the wallet rather than the feeling of what the lyrics and music combined mean.

Vinny Peculiar, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(444 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

Aquaman: Throne Of Atlantis. Graphic Novel Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It shows just how good an idea it was that the people behind D.C. Comics came up with the concept of the New 52. A re-branding or re-imagining, which ever you wish to grasp onto, of their super heroes and the way that they were looked upon, from the casual interloper that may have been a staunch fan of their bitter rivals Marvel or the mass and gratefully received comic books and graphic novel fans who had shifted their purchasing power of the independents such as Dark Horse, it was a change that they could get on board with.

Aquaman: Throne Of Atlantis. Graphic Novel Review. full post

(666 words, estimated 2:40 mins reading time)

Two Tides, Theatre Review. Writing On The Wall. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Lisa Parry, Carl Cockram, Joel Shipman, Daniel Hayes, Paul Duckworth, Laura Campbell, Lois Young, Tom Wilson, Nicola Bentley, Alice Bunker-Whitley, Andy Frizzell, Phil Saunders,

There are pivotal moments in history that may go unnoticed by the wider world in general but to whom are just as earth-shattering, just as profoundly important to the greater good of the community and ground breaking in the lives it touches upon that they also deserve a time of reflection, of wide-spread celebration and revisiting.

Two Tides, Theatre Review. Writing On The Wall. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(494 words, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Brother Firetribe, Diamond In The Firepit. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

The shape of things to come and a hell of a nod to the British Rock scene of the 1980s in an intensity breathing, fist punching, engine ready to combust and an energetically dismissive of the some of the pomp that parades itself in the rock banner of recent years. It seems that if you really want to rock, ask a band from the Scandinavian set of countries and if you want to rock hard then ask Finland’s Brother Firetribe.

Brother Firetribe, Diamond In The Firepit. Album Review. full post

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

Paddy Clegg, Head In The Clouds. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There are many reasons in which to enjoy Paddy Clegg’s Head In The Cloud E.P. Aside from it sounding like a well-oiled Formula One engine, purring with anticipation of the battle ahead and yet creative enough to avoid every pitfall placed before it by those out to do young musicians down, it also has the musical brain musing in what the young man sounds like. Or rather who he sounds like. By the end of the E.P. the dawning realisation of the comparison will explode in the head as if watching a series of Van Gogh paintings come surreally to life; that Paddy Clegg, the young Liverpool lad, has all the early hallmarks of a young, unpolished, unrefined and wonderfully cultured anger hanging in the back of the voice John Lennon.

Paddy Clegg, Head In The Clouds. E.P. Review. full post

(441 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Catch 22, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating: * * *

Cast: Daniel Ainsworth, Philip Arditti, Geoff Arnold, Victoria Bewick, Simon Darwen, Michael Hodgson, Liz Kettle, Christopher Price, David Webber.

Joseph Heller adapted his novel Catch 22 for the stage in 1971 and today the script is more or less unchanged. As it is difficult to get the rights to adapt the script, Northern Stage’s director Rachel Chavkin has done what other companies have shied away from, and has put her own mark on this classic war tale.

Catch 22, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Sue Hedges, Outta Party. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The person who said you cannot do it all, had either never met Liverpool song writer Sue Hedges or was perhaps so embittered by life, that they were doing all they could do to put anybody off trying their best and enjoying fruits of many labours.

Sue Hedges, Outta Party. Album Review. full post

(395 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Devil’s Advocate.

(Man:) Of course, it is regrettable. There is no doubt about that. The shock waves that rippled around the Palace of Westminster and other Government institutions this week when the news was leaked, unfairly in my opinion, that the Minister in charge of such a high profile department, a department might I add, which had made such sweeping fundamental and necessary cost saving changes to the way it was run, was in fact the illegitimate spawn of Satan. I won’t lie; it was of course a huge blow to morale.

Devil’s Advocate. full post

(423 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Walter Trout, The Blues Came Callin’. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There is a genuine light in the playing of Walter Trout that few can match or even should really be allowed to preoccupy themselves with. The light of a man who plays the Blues knowing he has lived it, not just existed in its shadow but breathed it in, made love with each note running through each finger and thrived in each display of melancholic artistry.

Walter Trout, The Blues Came Callin’. Album Review. full post

(410 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)