Young Musicians at the Brink

Liverpool rejoices in a reputation as the UK's Capital of Music.  The musicians of this city collectively have had more Number 1 records than anywhere else in the country.  That is an amazing achievement for a city of less than half a million people.  Its either something in the air or something in the Mersey water that nurtures that talent.  Luckily for the future our young people are proving even more talented, not just covering songs, but writing their own material.  Perhaps its the nature of a place with the historical and social background of a port city like Liverpool that lends itself to telling a story.

On Saturday The Brink held it's monthly Young Musicians Session, organised by Dave Barnicle and Dominic Dunn, with James taking care of the sound desk.

First up was Millie Courtney, just 12 years old, but with a voice which showed amazing maturity for her age, singing her own compositions.  I especially loved her second track "Love Struck".  Millie is heading into the recording studio next week to record the last track she had for us today "Storybook" and you can follow her on Facebook.  And we rounded off with the house in full chorus to wish a Happy Birthday to Millie's Nan :-)

Second on stage was Nadine McGhee, a 15 year old with a haunting style, her first track I could imagine being played as a train pulled out of a station, pulling the couple apart with tears in their eyes.  Her third track was an acoustic cover of Titanium, and she smashed it.  She played a good mix of covers and own material, and one of the latter "Breathless" is also on YouTube:

The afternoon's entertainment continued with Madelaine Kinsella who opened with an acoustic rendition of The Cure's, "Boys Don't Cry" which she really made her own.  We were then treated to a first performance of her own song about growing up - when you get old(er) you forget what a traumatic time your teens can be as you find your way in the world, Maddy's lyrics of "Where's my place again" really resonated.

She then stepped it up with a cover of Arctic Monkey's "Arabella", followed by Peter Andre's "Mysterious Girl" as you've definitely never heard it before.  Maddy finished with her own song "Ambiguous"

Next up was the lad behind the evening, Dominic Dunn.  If you read anything I write you'll be familiar with Dominic and of course his brilliant video "Keep Them Tight"

Dominic opened with another song about boxing "I'm On My Way", followed by "La Vie et Belle", before we all joined in, some better than others :-), with "Can't Take My Eyes Of You".  Back to sanity then with a song I'm now word perfect with... the aforementioned "Keep Them Tight".

Next a singer I've been looking forward to seeing for a while now.  Rosh, a lad who is doing what I thought was impossible and persuading me to enjoy rap and grime.  Here is his video "Demon"

What I like about Rosh is all his songs, which he writes himself, have a strong narrative.  He also mixes in some cool backing tracks which align perfectly.  His song "Alien" used Stings "Englishman in New York" to great effect and his take on "The Power of Love" was a joy to listen to.

Last act of the afternoon was Matty H, another young singer who's maturity of voice belies his age
He opened with a cover of Jessie J's "Who You Are".

Matty's backing track wasn't working so he did an entirely acoustic set, which was the best thing that could have happened, as it allowed us to really concentrate on his vocals.  After a couple of covers courtesy of Adele and Bruno Mars he gave a really excellent version of Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" which he owned and gave an insight to how powerful his voice can be.  Matty finished with one of his own songs, and it would be good to hear more of them.  Definitely one to watch

If you want to hear more of Matty or Nadine McGhee, follow Artist Management on Twitter.

As Dave mentioned during his intros, it's not easy for people in their early teens to get on stage and perform, and it's fantastic that The Brink is offering them a showcase in such a friendly environment.

Young Musicians takes place every month at The Brink, Parr Street, Liverpool.  Check out their Twitter or Facebook page and do not miss the next one!

Of Saints and Go Go Boys

Warning: contains Spoilers - If you're going to see this in Belfast on the 16th Nov, you may wish to read this afterwards

Warning: I may use words/descriptions that some of our younger and/or more prudish viewers find distasteful, if that's you go away and read something else.


Perusing the Homotopia brochure I thought "Of Saints and Go Go Boys" sounded interesting, so a quick check if anyone else wanted to go and I was booking tickets for myself and fellow performer Peter Jacobs for last Thursday.  There were only going to be 3 performances - although now I can see why, because you run out of fingers otherwise (more on that later).

Arriving at the Unity Theatre, you were pointed to a poster advising that the show contained Nudity (fine by me), Sexual Content (oh if you must), and Real Blood (what? I don't do blood! what do you mean real blood?).  The guy in the box office said just a little, you'll be fine.  I wasn't convinced!

Anyway up to the bar, met Peter, and then we were handed audience cards, reminding us about the nudity, sex and BLOOD!, and that it was a promenade performance so feel free to walk around and through the set, but don't sit on the furniture or touch any objects (unless told to do so).  They didn't mention not feeding the actors, but as it turns out I wish they had.

We entered the studio space and there followed the usual uncomfortable few minutes that British people have when they haven't been given regimented instructions.  Just stand anywhere, no you don't have to walk around in a single file queue, no we're not forming a healing circle, just fucking move!  Yes there is a naked man lying on the floor, yes you did nearly trip over his legs, no there's no need to giggle.

Anyway, the audience eventually got the hang of their role, and with a change in music, those who'd actually rehearsed their part starting playing theirs.

We were introduced to the three characters, Darling (a very cute Canadian, played by a very cute Canadian), Divine (the Third) and Our Lady of the Flowers (hereinafter called "Fuck Me He's Gorgeous")

Right I'm going to quote from Homotopia now as they are professionals at this sort of thing:

"In an hedonistic world decorated with cheap glamour, three outcasts create their own distorted version of a family as they search for a different kind of Sainthood through glorious self-destruction.... the show recounts the trio's wild and spirited final chapter"

Yep, they did all that, there was plenty of nudity, from FMHG, played by Jordan Lennie; drug taking by Divine, played by Zachariah Fletcher, who was also our shower cubicle narrator throughout the show; all suitably controlled by the cute, if somewhat evil, Canadian Darling, played by the show's creator Joseph Mercier.

The blood came towards the end when a naked FMHG was dripped on by Darling, who having sliced his finger, recounted his father's bull castration technique to a member of the audience, I'd moved around the set out of line of sight for that bit, but what shocked more people came earlier when another patron was called upon to choose whether FMHG got to eat a delicious trifle or a bowl of dog food.  What do you think? Jordan gagged a few times but not as much as the woman standing next to me.

Eventually FMHG (have I mentioned that he was gorgeous?) having been paraded to his fate, was put on a pedestal and we were all given Dollar Bills to attach to his semi-naked body - although British reticence took a few minutes to work out you needed to move to do that.  And with that all three went off to shag backstage.  Well I think officially they went off to die, but I was horny as hell after all that, so shagging fitted into my imagination more easily.

The End

I've ignored huge parts of the show here, but it's definitely one that "you needed to be there" rather than read about, so check PanicLab's website and catch it if you get the opportunity.

To my shame it's the first time I've seen anything by Joseph Mercier, and also the first time I'd been to the Unity.  It won't be the last.  Of Saints and Go Go Boys was challenging and uncomfortable; beautiful and erotic.  And utterly brilliant

p.s. It was Caesar dog food, which is probably more appetising that whatever shite you get in a sausage roll from *****'*

The coal train

Dark morning
Wet streets
I can’t feel the rain
Look straight ahead

Dark morning

I can’t feel the rain.
Turn left
Look straight ahead
First light
I can’t feel the rain

An open gate

Stairs
I don’t count them
Stand on the platform
Wait for the sound
The engine, the wheels, rising
Hauling black diamonds
Walk to the edge
Look straight ahead
Louder
Louder
Just one step
Just one step
Louder
Just one step

 

Stairs

I count them
Twenty Eight
It’s always twenty eight
I feel the rain
I feel the never ending rain

Merseyrail Soundstation

Well that's the first time I've been to a gig in an underground station, and apart from no seats and no bar, it was a rather enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Merseyrail Soundstation has been scouring the county to find the best of Merseyside's new and upcoming bands and singers and this was the culmination with 10 finalists competing for a first prize of a year of mentoring, professional advice and studio time.  I'm not going to give chapter and verse on all the different genres of music filling the station, but it was a good mix of styles, and this was the line up, I've included twitter links for all the bands/singers so you can embark on your own voyage of discovery... station, train, embark... oh please yourselves...

The Haze

Second time I've seen this band, and impressed me again with their sound.  I had these down in my top 3 to win.  Definitely one to watch on the scene.







The Roscoes

I've heard some good things about The Roscoes but never managed to catch them until now.  I'll be looking out for their gigs though, like to listen to more of their material in a more traditional setting.






So Sexual

Another "new to me" band (I really must get out more).  Bit of Spandau Ballet bobbing around in there, I liked these guys. On my expanding list of bands to see.








Dominic Dunn

On top form with I'm On My Way; Keep Them Tight; and The Angel.  I have to admit I wasn't totally sold with The Angel when I watched the Live TV session, but live it really worked and captivated the audience.  Dominic is only 16 (or so he tells us lol), so its exciting to know he's going to get better and better as he gets older.











Filter Distortion

Another band I'd never heard of, but with a really cool vibe, reminded me in parts of Roxy Music (cue loads of younger readers saying "who?").  Very professional sounding.  If they are "up and coming" I have to ask, "where the hell have you been hiding?"





Beanzy 

As you may know I'm not the biggest fan of Rap or Grime, but Beanzy had some good lyrics and a decent backing track.







The Willz 

These boys definitely turned up the volume with some good old fashioned punk.  Even though I lived through punk the first time round it was never my thing, and I'm still agnostic about it.  But if its your style of music check these guys out.




Sophia Ben-Yousef 

A 17 year old singer/songwriter.  Really nice mature voice, and another singer producing some good quality material






Soho Riots 

Appearing without powder paint (presumably even Merseyrail draw the line somewhere).  By coincidence I'd seen their video for Sweet Spot the day before so was pleased to see them in the flesh too.  In my top 3 to win and win they duly did.  Well deserved.  You can read more in their winner's profile




Veyu 

Yet another band I'd never heard of, although in my defence they are quite new, 4/5ths of them were appearing, and I was impressed with their sound.  I'll make sure I catch them at full strength, and you should too.





I didn't have time to head to Hopskotch Street Kitchen & Bar - hopskotchliverpool.com - for the results, so I began heading for the exit to walk up to the Ropewalks, then remembered I was in a station and turned round and caught a train instead!

Its really good to have Merseyrail running this, make sure you catch their monthly podcasts on their website