LIVE: Liverpool Sound City, Thursday 01.05.14

I know very little about Liverpool, having been there only once, so upon arrival on Thursday I instantly got lost.  This moment of light panic subsided once I turned the corner onto Seel Street; the nucleus of Liverpool Sound City, an uphill climb of sexy bars in sexy buildings – each of them ready to showcase some (hopefully) sexy bands.  However, I needed to pander to my learning urge, so cautiously navigated my way to the Hilton.

MSJ Self Portrait I weaved my way through a sea of purposely disheveled looking press delegates into one of the many conference rooms, to spend an hour in the company of John Robb chatting to Michael Spencer Jones.  Jones is the seminal photographer responsible for capturing the images that have graced some of most important albums to come out of Britain since the 1990’s (including all of Oasis’), and a few snaps of Spike Island; his first proper photography job.  The discussion was insightful (stories of Richard Ashcroft walking through Wigan barefoot, Noel Gallagher jumping out of a taxi to kick off at Jones shooting Liam for the cover of ‘Wonderwall’), told in that wonderfully Manc way where nothing was ever too exciting, it just kinda happened and it was nice.  Although I did learn that two middle aged men with a Mac and no tech support can be tough, and that aspiring photographers will try to hijack a Q&A session (I had a bloody question too!).

On to the pub and to the songs!  Following a few ales in the Kazimier Gardens, listening to cracks and sways of a few sound checks and discussing inner city slum living during Victorian times (coz we’re rockin’) we headed up to Heebie Jeebies, having heard it was a top venue.  In the damp caverns that lie underneath the bar we stumbled upon the gem that is Welsh trio Houdini Dax.  Their beautifully sung, Mersey Beat via The Clash stylings sounded frickin’ epic in that wee basement.  It is impossible not to dance to, and I thoroughly loved the opportunity for an afternoon boogie!

PerformerDetail_uploads_darlia.jpgOn to a few other places, ales-a-flowing, and stumbling on a Lithiuanian musician playing an impromptu gig in a car park… I finally got the opportunity to see a band I have loved for a little while now, English indie’s Great Bleached Hope – Darlia.  ‘Candyman’ – as it should – sounded blistering.  I did, however, feel like there sound drifted of into the roof of the East Village Arts Club and wondered what they’d sound somewhere like Heebie Jeebies, where the sound swoops around that low ceiling to slap you in the face… I guess I’ll never know, but I’ll catch ’em again in Manc…

Off to get intimate and sweaty with The Cavern Club revelers to indulge my mate’s Beatles boner.  We saw one of the most aesthetically unconvincing John Lennon impersonators ever, and had a dance to the lovely Etches, before legging it for the last train, getting lost, and ending up where we started.

Overall, Liverpool Sound City is an effing wonderful festival, in a wonderful city, and I had a bloody lovely day – Thanks Guys!

Kate Tittley

Kate Tittley

Kate Tittley

When not making cocktails for Manchester's finest, Le Titts is most likely to be found the other side of the bar in a cloud of smoke and wine musing loudly over her fantasy band line up, love of the album format and why nothing is better than The Stone Roses. And then spilling the wine...Loving the ride with GigSlutz.
Kate Tittley

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