I was lucky enough to attend this years Liverpool Sound City festival. The whole thing was huge success and a credit to the organisers. No ordinary festival, Liverpool Sound City consisted of music industry conferences and discussion forums during daylight hours followed by a host of bands and live acts carrying the party on into the wee hours of the morning.
Audio Bounty got to see a few bands over the course of the four day festival so here’s a run-down of our Sound City experience.
Wednesday 20th June – o2 Academy
The Gay Blades
Ten points for effort go to ‘The Gay Blades’. Coming on first to a fledgling crowd of almost pre-pubescent ‘Cage The Elephant’ devotees is no enviable task but a task that they duly took to with some vigor. The two-piece from Brooklyn NY played their hearts out regardless of audience reaction. Lead singer ‘Clark Westfield’ did his utmost to get the crowd into gig mode, recruiting a “mop haired” fan to lead the crowd in smashing their “cigarette stained hands together harder than they have ever done”. Star of the show was undoubtedly drummer ‘Puppy Mills’ who beat the living daylights out of the skins. Turns out they are two cool guys to boot, more than happy for a chat and photo after the gig admitting their biggest worry was the crowd “not knowing who the fuck we are”. It’s safe to say the majority of this crowd couldn’t care less who any of the bands were if they weren’t ‘Cage The Elephant.’
White Denim
Without doubt the highlight of the night was the performance from Austin, Texans, ‘White Denim’. A sentiment that may not have been echoed by the whole of the O2 Academy audience but one that the music fans present will surely be in agreement with. It was another show stealing performance from a drummer. I found it hard to cast my eyes away from ‘Joshua Block’s’ frantic driving rhythm; he was at it like a banshee on crack. Constantly switching up styles and tempo’s, ‘White Denim’ are music chameleons. Singer ‘James Petralli’ lost a stone in sweat, his vocal was perfectly executed and guitar frantic. In my humble opinion, this band has set the standard for Liverpool sound city.
Cage The Elephant
Enter the top billed band with an army of adoring fans squirming to their every breath, movement and heartbeat. ‘Cage The Elephant’ are wound-up like a wasp in a coke can, they work the whole stage taking out camera equipment in the process. They had the crowd in the palm of their hands, the lank hair of fans crammed to the front rail whipping beads of sweat across the arena. The band from Kentucky dropped in a couple of tracks from their new album that led the crowd astray at times, but they glued the whole thing together with their powerhouse singles from their hugely popular debut album.
Thursday 21st June – o2 Academy
The Red Deltas
This local band stepped up to the sporadic crowd with much energy. Kitted out like the aftermath of a scrap in Topman it just proves you can’t judge a book by its cover or indeed a band by it’s skinny jeans and kneck-scarves. They delivered a heady brand of danceable guitar rock. Singer Mats Devik worked the stage with almost ‘madchester’ like swagger removing the crowd from their stagnant state.
Strawhouses
This was all about three string bass in your face. Losing a bass string early on could have quelled this bands hopes of success but that wasn’t to be. The bassist played on with three strings, stealing the show in the process. Gripping melodies and Sourcing guitars led the way.
Alma De Cuba – Late Night Show
Heartbreak
A band made up of an Argentinian muso and a mustache adorned hipster from Chester wouldn’t normally muster up much anticipation on my part but I found Heartbreak strangely entertaining. They dished out 80′s electro pop with expert delivery and showmanship.
Metronomy
One of the highlights of the festival for me was Metronomy at Alma de Cuba. Firstly, this venue is simply amazing for live music, the place was packed tighter than Jordans bra and the crowd comprised of intoxicated party-going revellers. Metronomy have now expanded into a four piece which I believe adds even further to their heady brand of electro pop. The crowd sang along. The venue was awe inspiring. The sound was amazing. Close to a perfect gig I’d say – an inspired booking from the Sound City lot.
Friday 22nd June – St Peters Square – Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage
Lucky winners of Red Bull Bedroom Jam competition got to play an open air set on Friday evening at St Peters square. We went along to cover the gigs for the official Liverpool Sound City newspaper ‘The Liberator’.
Area
The Doncaster quartet rocked up to the Red Bull Bedroom Jam stage to a somewhat bleak audience early on, but managed to conjure up a crowd through their powers of music. Dishing out their own style of punk flavoured indie which dabbled in the realms of Arctic Monkeys and The Cribs with an almost Ian Brown esq vocal at times.
Saving Aimee
These six lads from Hertfordshire dispensed pop/punk seasoned with electronic elements. Audience numbers multiplied and bopped to their bubble-gum, dance/punk track ‘Small Talk’. They engaged the giddy audience, sharing banter with some of the emo clad female members of the crowd – clearly enjoying their time in Liverpool.
Sound of Guns
Straight up tight musicianship, record perfect vocal delivery and anthems big enough to fill the Grand Canyon twice over is what’s to be expected from these hotly tipped local lads. Singer Andy Metcalf, ever the consummate professional belted out uber-anthem ‘Architects’ with the gusto of a seasoned town crier. Sound of Guns never fail to impress and with records that propel with such tenacity it’s clear to see they are destined for big things. It’s no wonder Andy Metcalf’s voice was starting to feel the strain with the band gigging several times across Liverpool Sound City in just a handful of days.
