Tag Archives: Liverpool

Wicked Whispers, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

photo by chester rocks.com

Originally published by L.S. Media. February 16th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

It must be one of the hardest things to do in the music business; it’s up there with deciding whether or not a young up-coming band is going to break through and be the success that you hope they can be. To open up for a long established band with incredible pedigree and a lot of love constantly being showered their way from fans up and down the country could decimate and partially destroy some fledgling groups.

Wicked Whispers, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(418 words, 1 image, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

A Musical Evening In Aid Of Cancer Research, Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool.

Barry Briercliffe at Studio 2. Picture by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 5th 2012.

In the area where some of the great albums of the last decade or so have been recorded, argued over, intense discussions over what musical note goes where, it’s always a relative oasis of calm when a night of music goes on, surrounded by the wooden panelling, pictures and awards and the sense of history.

Barry Briercliffe and Studio 2 sounds like a marriage made in heaven, add in the likes of the excellent Jo Bywater, Jessicas Ghost, Rae Clarke and Eddie Cooney, and that marriage is as close to a night of acoustic musical heaven as is near possible to experience.

A Musical Evening In Aid Of Cancer Research, Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool. full post

(841 words, 1 image, estimated 3:22 mins reading time)

The Stranglers, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

The Stranglers in concert at the 02 Academy, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 6th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

The Stranglers took a well-deserved day off from their latest tour, the adrenalin no doubt still flowing strongly through their veins from a Glasgow gig that would take some beating for all who were fortunate to witness the gig.

The band arrived in the city the night before the o2 Academy, Liverpool gig to catch up with friends and partake in deep conversation. By the end of the gig, talk may have been on other things, events that rarely happen at concerts any more.

The Stranglers, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(611 words, 1 image, estimated 2:27 mins reading time)

Rise to Remain, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 12th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Heavy Metal might not get the press coverage in Liverpool that is reserved for the excellent talent that gets covered and lauded over throughout the city but if any band that ventures west of Manchester gets as well received as Rise to Remain at the o2 Academy then not only will they have done well, they could consider themselves to have a future in the business.

Rise to Remain, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(404 words, 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

The Games. Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Picture by John Garfield-Roberts

Originally published by L.S. Media March 23rd 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Cast: Liam Tobin, Keddy Sutton, Mark Keemar Smith.

There are so few theatre companies that get the chance to put on a recently found classic by Aristophanes, lovingly restored with some academic attachments and a room of serious people nodding their heads and then talking about why Greek theatre is better than anything that’s written today.

The Games. Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Joe Bonamassa, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Joe Bonamassa at the Echo Arena, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 29th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

Somebody reminded Joe Bonamassa during his visit to Liverpool that the first time he played near the city, in the excellent venue that was just a well-aimed cannon ball shot across the Mersey to Pacific Road in Birkenhead. In that seemingly short time, Joe has gone onto be one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Technically stunning and with no short comings at all, not musically or as decent human being it seems either.

Joe Bonamassa, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool. full post

(417 words, 1 image, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

The Sums, Gig Review. Zanibar Club, Seel Street, Liverpool.

Peter Deary, Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 8th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

There are fewer finer sights than to see a man in full flight on a stage at the Zanzibar. Peter ‘Digsy’ Deary may appear understated but the man is a legend in Liverpool, a man who, like a few others from the area, commands respect and when he doesn’t get it, it not only rankles him, but the band and his legion of fans as well.

The Sums, Gig Review. Zanibar Club, Seel Street, Liverpool. full post

(408 words, 1 image, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Howard Jones. Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Howard Jones in concert at the o2 Academy, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 14th 2012

L.S. Media Rating ****

To say Howard Jones is a consummate professional would be something of an understatement. Even though he appears to be one of the most laid back men to ever play to a packed o2 Academy Liverpool crowd, don’t let the easy going nature fool you. This is a model musician who wants his night to be as memorable and enjoyable as possible.

Howard Jones. Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

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

The Endings, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Matt Breen of the Endings. Picture by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 16th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

When Matt Breen walked on stage at the Cavern Pub in 2011, armed with only a guitar, cracking lyrics and an attitude that you sometimes think is missing from new bands today; it wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to think of this young man, not even 17 at the time, and his excellent group The Endings, going further and better than is normally possible for a band so young.

The Endings, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

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

Carrianne Hayden, Gig Review. St. Brides Church, Liverpool.

Carrianne Hayden. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 29th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

It has to be said that to have Carrianne Hayden back in Liverpool and opening an expansive and incredible night of music at St. Brides Church is nothing short of heart-warming and a huge extra boost in the arm of music in Liverpool.

Carrianne Hayden, Gig Review. St. Brides Church, Liverpool. full post

(409 words, 1 image, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)