The relationship between a musician and the demands of society have always ebbed and flowed, a mass of appreciation that is given freely, but then one which is tempered, almost costing the artist the substantial amount of their soul; it is when the outside interference comes along that the musician may feel that they owe more than is necessary and that is the sadness which waylays, perhaps even destroys many a marvellous mind.
Tag Archives: Liverpool
Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
There are times in life when you find yourself kneeling on the steps that lead to another human being’s alter and understanding why you are praying for the type of intervention that only a symbol of creation can bring to your troubled soul; in that moment of revelation you become a follower of the bright light that has been exposed, your breath quickens and your mind is laid bare of all that you thought you recognised and appreciated.
Heart Of Darkness, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Keicha Greenidge, Matt Prendergast, Morgan Bailey, Laura Atherton, Morven Macbeth.
Heart Of Darkness holds a distinction in literature, arguably one that was perhaps unintended by Joseph Conrad as he delved into his own life and created, what would eventually become, one of the most iconic characters to dominate early 20th Century literature and further on, a representation of symbolism in cinema. There are few books that have been as dissected and scrutinised as Heart Of Darkness and there are few that are seen in the right climate that we exist in today that are now considered un-filmable.
My Fairfield Lady, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Helen Carter, Jessica Dyas, Julie Glover, Danny O’Brien, Michael Starke, Matthew Walker.
Whether we like it or not, we are not eternally assessed by our efforts or our accomplishments, our standing or our points of view, but we are judged by our accents and manners, the way we talk is immediately weighed and measured and for most of us this unfair conclusion keeps us in a place to which their no escape, we are immersed into a world which prizes the idea of class, even though we fight against it at every possible moment.
Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Duncan James, Joanne Clifton, Ben Adams, Laura Harrison, Beverly Callard, Kristian Lavercombe, Miracle Chance, Callum Evans, Ross Chisari, Rees Budin, Shelby Farmer, Katie Monks, Jake Small.
It is the high point of excess and frivolity, the moment when counter culture rubbed shoulders with the inexhaustible and the merriment of cartoonish sing a long, producing without a doubt one of the finest pieces of musical theatre to see the light of day.
Dragged Across Concrete, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, Michael Jai White, Thomas Kretschmann, Jennifer Carpenter, Laurie Holden, Don Johnson, Udo Kier, Fred Malamed, Justine Warrington.
Robbery against the large faceless institutions, unlike murder, is one when presented in either fact or fiction produces a dichotomy of feelings for the average person, on one hand is rejoiced as a blow against the system which will happily see all bend under the strain of financial constraint whilst those that impose economic sanctions continue to thrive and prosper, on the other hand, the moral indignation takes hold and inside asks what makes such actions necessary, why should a thief get away with their actions when all the rest of society behaves and hopes for better days.
Red Joan, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Tom Hughes, Laurence Spellman, Tereza Srbova, Ben Miles, Robin Soans, Kevin Fuller, Stephen Boxer,
The declaration and labelling of being a traitor is one that is arguably fraught with the agony that comes with not being able to present your side of the story to the nation without it being lost in the clamour of calls for your neck, to die at the hands of a public spurred on by mass media and the urging of government to dole out maximum punishment.
Around The World In 80 Days, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision rating 9/10
Cast: Pushpinder Chani, Kirsten Foster, Matthew Ganley, Dennis Herdman, Michael Hugo, Nyron Levy, Joey Parsad, Andrew Pollard, Stefan Ruiz.
Time was when travelling meant more than just getting on a plane and complaining that the seats weren’t wide enough, the chance to leave a half-baked witticism on a website that gives you free reign to vent steam or to take the obligatory picture of your legs as they start to resemble sausages left in the frying pan for longer than is safe to do. Time was when it meant adventure, and whilst some still lovingly cling to that idea, now the over-riding thought is that it a holiday deserved, not a moment to be taught a lesson or to have your mind expanded.
Sweeney Todd, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision rating * * * * *
Photograph by Marc Brenner, used with kind permission by Everyman Theatre.
Cast: Liam Tobin, Kacey Ainsworth, Emma Dears, Paul Duckworth, Keziah Joseph, Dean Nolan, Bryan Parry, Shiv Rabheru, Mark Rice-Oxley.
Musicians: Tarek Merchant, Daisy Evans, Samantha Norman, Alex Smith.
Wild Rose, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound and Vision rating * * *
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Julie Walters, Sophie Okonedo, Craig Parkinson, Jamie Sives, Gemma McElhinney, James Harkness, Bob Harris, Ashley Shelton, Tracy Wiles, Daniel Campbell, Blair Kincaid, Janey Godley, James McElvar, Rachel Pearl, Vanya Eadie, J. Thomas Bailey, Sondra Morton, Lee Ann Maloney, Justin Hand, Patti Aagaard, Stuart Nisbit, Neil MacColl.
A film that relies on the visual cliche, no matter how well intentioned, is going to surely, and regrettably, be seen as nothing more than touching the very basic of emotions in an audience more than used to a more than likely ending, series of conflicting acts that lead up to the resolution and the moment of telegraphed outcomes that are going to be signalled from the opening scenes.