Pictures: Mark McNulty
“LIVERPOOL is such a generous place, it’s kind, it’s benevolent. As a city, it cares, it always has done. Liverpudlian people always rise to help. Music is one of our great strengths and this is an obvious way to show our support.” Janice Long.
In that spirit, Sound City's Dave Pichilingi co-ordinated this night in aid of British Red Cross to help enable it to continue its fine work, with, in particular, Syrian refugees.
Among the places this is happening is on our doorstep, at St Bride's church in Percy Street.
As ever, musicians and public reacted in the most positive way imaginable. That this event had galvanised people in such a way, in such a short time is nothing short of astonishing. The arena was packed and while the audience were primed for an evening of music, there was a palpable sense that they understood and were sympathetic to the cause. When speeches were made and videos shown, there was not a rush for the bars, it was all met with empathetic and rapt attention.
Space man Tommy ScottFirst up were Mic Lowry, these five young lads have a talent that the X Factor chancers can only dream about. They even breathed new life into tired old Can't Buy Me Love, their exquisite harmonies turning it into a sweet acapella street corner symphony.
Host John Bishop strolls on shaking his head, “All the parents here are now thinking, 'Jeez, my kids are shite!'”
Bishop was the perfect man for this job. He has a huge heart and it is slap bang in the right place, as evinced by his ubiquitous appearances at events such as the Justice Collective tour, Save The Casa benefit and his involvement with the Spirit Of Shankly Supporters Union. He is also very funny, far more so than when he is performing his usual routines. He filled in the between-acts longueurs splendidly. His co-host was Janice Long, who even managed to get the odd word in!
The Icicle Works blasted a splendid two-pronged assault of Hollow Horse and Love Is A Wonderful Colour. Ian McNabb in fine voice with Roy Corkhill, Matthew Priest and Richard Naiff proving themselves to be the second great line up of the band.
The Sense of Sound Choir brought their own unique vocal dexterities to a three song set that included Sting's Fragile: “That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could. For all those born beneath an angry star, Lest we forget how fragile we are”. It can rarely, if ever, been sang as well or been more relevant.
OMD's Electricity still sounds ahead of it's time. Perhaps it was the best song of the whole event
The first act to truly energise the crowd was Space. There was Neighbourhood, whilst Female Of The Species prompted the first wave of aisle-dancing and Sense of Sound joined them for You And Me Against The World. Tommy Scott is a consummate front man. They were away for too long, it's good to have them back.
The Christians had cancelled a scheduled gig to perform here tonight, that is the kind of commitment that motivated the whole event. Gary raised the crowd to their feet while they sang two wonderful Henry Priestman songs, Forgotten Town and Ideal World, before ending with The Isley Brothers Harvest For The World. Three of the most apposite songs of the night.
The Icicle Works Ian McNabbCast's John Power is another serial supporter of these events and his presence is always welcome. Accompanied by Jay Lewis, he ran through some of Cast's back catalogue, including a poignant Walk Away before leaving us with Alright.
Lawson are named after Liverpool-based surgeon Dr. David Lawson who performed life-saving surgery on lead singer Andy Brown. They are a bit formulaic and predictable, but they are hard working. There were many people there to see them and that will swell the coffers. The fact that they volunteered is more far important than any opinion of the music.
The Eric's generation were represented by OMD, pared back to the two piece of Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphries that they were during the late 70s. Launching into Enola Gay it was clear that they were in terrific shape. That song still has the capacity to shock, especially when there are stark visuals to complement it's anti-nuclear message.
“We are going to do a new song” McCluskey announced to a few audible groans, “From 1991!”
Sailing On The Seven Seas bounced along and he indulged himself by throwing the most ludicrous shapes that made the average dad dancer seem like Fred Astaire. Electricity still sounds ahead of it's time. Perhaps it was the best song of the whole event.
OMDThe Farm are the quintessential band for such an occasion. Here they were rejoined by Ben Leach on keyboards, after a two-year absence, and Laura Williams deputised for Roy Boulter. After the hugely underrated Love Sees No Colour and Groovy Train, there was, of course, All Together Now which aroused a mass singalong as all the performers joined the band onstage. It was a special moment form a very special night.
The communiqué was delivered with the greatest force and, as another Liverpool legend once had it, “We don't care what your name is boy, we'll never turn you away.”
9/10
