Green Day, Tre! Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating *

The trilogy is complete, Green Day have finally released the third and final album and all in all, it was two albums too many, roughly 25 songs that could have quite happily been written, composed and destroyed by any another band with half the talent that these three men have normally in abundance.

Tre! follows an unfortunate pattern that has arisen by the American band since they decided to publish three consecutive albums within a short space of time. It has also the inappropriate feel of a group deciding to go all out and make as much out of publicity and hype in a short space of time, by doing that, the quality they attained after a great career has now been dissipated and spoiled.

Green Day, Tre! Album Review. full post

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

The University of Liverpool’s Symphony Orchestra, Classical Review. Eleanor Rathbone Building, Liverpool.

Emily Ferrie at The University of Liverpool’s Eleanor Rathbone Building. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The University of Liverpool’s Symphony Orchestra is a wonderful sight to hold when in full flight, when tackling the works of Beethoven, Bartok, Mozart and Mussorgsky then it is a positive delight for the seasoned Classical music buff and interested novice alike.

The University of Liverpool’s Symphony Orchestra, Classical Review. Eleanor Rathbone Building, Liverpool. full post

(344 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Galloway, Culbert and Doyle. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

For lovers of traditional English folk music, there is a new name to get to grips with that has emerged from the halls of the University of Liverpool. The University may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of this genre of music, more known for almost every facet of composition available, traditional folk barely gets a mention. However in Galloway, Culbert and Doyle the scene has a new champion and their self-titled E.P. is an expression of all that is good in the youthful playfulness they exude.

Galloway, Culbert and Doyle. E.P. Review. full post

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

Orange Room, Always Get My Way. Single Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Following in a long line of great musicians and bands to come out of Australia comes Orange Room and their fantastic debut single Always Get My Way. The four young men may have swapped the climate and leisure life of a country renowned for its great guitar riffs and unceasing brilliant rock for the cold dreary shores of Britain but by making this choice they have done themselves a huge favour and also the rock/indie fans of the U.K.

Orange Room, Always Get My Way. Single Review. full post

(252 words, 1 image, estimated 1:00 mins reading time)

A Christmas Carol, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre.

Photograph by John Garfield-Roberts

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Mark Smith, Lewis Bray.

A Christmas Carol is almost akin to staple fare at this time of year. From the television adaptations to big budget films to the outlandish theatrical spectacles, Charles Dickens’ most famous creation, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge has spent so much time being dissected and discussed that it is always a constant surprise if anyone can get anything more out of it.

A Christmas Carol, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre. full post

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

The Human League, Gig Review. o2 Apollo, Manchester.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The Human League is one the seminal bands to come out of South Yorkshire and alongside Heaven 17 and A.B.C. formed a successful triumvirate that took the U.K. charts by storm in the 1980’s. Fast forward 35 years and the crowd at the Manchester Apollo are brimming with excitement at seeing Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Sulley stand on stage once more.

The Human League, Gig Review. o2 Apollo, Manchester. full post

(448 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Liverpool Sound And Vision: The Saturday Supplement, An Interview With Kaya Carney.

Kaya Herstad Carney is part of the tremendous band Science of the Lamps. Born in Norway, a six hour drive north of the Arctic Circle, she came to Liverpool to study at L.I.P.A. and graduated in 2003. Her band Science of the Lamps released a self-titled E.P. a few weeks ago and it has captured the imagination of all those have listened to it. I was able to catch up with this hugely likeable, talented and enthusiastic musician for a short while after one of her Threshold meetings at the Bridewell.

 

Liverpool Sound And Vision: The Saturday Supplement, An Interview With Kaya Carney. full post

(1524 words, estimated 6:06 mins reading time)

Madness, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Suggs at the Liverpool Echo Arena. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The curtain draws back at the Echo Arena and suddenly one of the biggest indoor parties opens up before an excited and fervent audience full of passion.  A collective desire to see one of the best bands of their generation perform their new songs and greatest hits for them, it can only mean one thing…that Madness are back in town again.

Madness, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(456 words, 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

An Old Scribe’s Tale.

A thousand upon a thousand books surround me whilst I try to lay down many a thought.

So many dreams that they desire me to write down for you

And yet, the despair I feel as I try to become a better scribe at your northern Isle court

As I recount tales in hieroglyphs of your bravery and beauty to praise and beguile to.

The descriptions I drive into the stone never quite feel right to show devotion

To a daughter of Pharaoh’s who has her people entranced

With her stunning splendour and smooth motion,

An Old Scribe’s Tale. full post

(184 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)

Jack And The Beanstalk, These Shoots Are Made For Walking! Theatre Review. The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool

Carla Freeman and Toby Lord as Pat and Jack.
Photograph by Robert Day.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Aretha Ayeh, Marianne Benedict, Carla Freeman, Matthew Ganley, Adam Keast, Toby Lord, Rhona McGregor, Griffin Stevens, Francis Tucker.

There are just times when you know the planets are aligned in the solar journeys correctly, that the world outside the window can take a break from the unceasingly bad news and that in the face of any adversity that the city may face, that the Rock ‘N’ Roll panto will just always be a shining beacon of good times and good music.

Jack And The Beanstalk, These Shoots Are Made For Walking! Theatre Review. The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool full post

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