I skidded through the toilet doors on a fresh pile of vomit, and upon entering saw a group of girls all under 5ft with bad skin, braces and crop tops talking about texting boys. At only half past seven I questioning my decision to trek to Liverpool in search of musical creaminess. Having purchased a pint I began scanning the audience for an area to set up camp, preferably one near those who could grow facial hair and didn’t get ID’d for cigarettes.
The Sherlocks have been on my radar for a while as a band who stirred me. On Thursday my ears were pricked rather sharply with the sound of ‘Last Night’ coming from BBC 6 Music, so I decided that a Friday night pilgrimage to Mersey Paradise was most definitely in order to finally see if my positive assertions could be confirmed. And so I found myself with slightly sicky shoes and warm beer in the Arts Club.
To a chorus of “Da da dada, Sherlocks Army!” coming from an undulating ball of energy in the centre, the band took the stage. Sherlocks play with the rugged balance of angst and exuberance. Lead singer Kiaran Crook’s vocal, never too Northern and laced with a wisdom beyond his years, steers the incredibly sexy, early-Arctic’s guitars down the path of quality indie rock n roll.
‘Escapade’ is a prime example of this; lyrics about parties, bruises, regret and camaraderie told in beautiful baritone. The band have a delicious grasp of how a well constructed song can provide the audience with pure momentum. ‘Live For The Moment’ (a track now 2 years old) feels like the rhythm section are about to run away with themselves, until Crook reminds them to not “jump the gun”, harnessing the beast of a track on stage but giving the crowd the perfect impetus to start a wall of death – something I have genuinely never seen happen before at an indie gig. But then again they had been asked to “go for it” at the start, and youth seem to take instruction well. Current single ‘Heart Of Gold’ is dedicated to Viola Beach, who The Sherlock were meant to tour with in the Spring. It’s a sad reminder of such a tragic loss of kin, but with the melancholy lyrics layered over such a euphoric guitar lick I felt the song screaming as a celebration – that indie music still has the power to inspire.
So was my trip to the docks worth it? Absofuckinglutely. I tasted a slice of everything I love about a mid-sized gig – sweat, beer, tension, joy, and I even had a little dance myself. If you’re after a slice of perfectly crafted indie songs set to empower, The Sherlocks are the one for you.
Kat Tittley
@LeTitts
Kate Tittley
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