Liquer .. Madame and Sirs?

Another review I wasn't intending to write, but tonight I attended an excellent gig by the cleverly named Liquer, and wonderful Cure tribute band. With the lead singer looking and sounding the Robert Smith part down to the lipstick and hair and an unfeasible array of guitars on a smallish stage for the amount of equipment that band played a storming set mixing hits and less obvious songs delighting the crowd.

Maz and Shev have turned the Doll at The Black Bull into an amazing venue and Shev's sound set up for the band was spot on. I got a video of the band playing "Head on The Door" but there is a lot of video online , but even better, go and see them live, and you will get a bit closer than the real Cure.

The gig was put on by Aly Smith to raise money for a Christmas Party for kids in Byker

Liquer's website is here so you can find more video and information on when they are playing.

An absolutely brilliant night, thanks Aly, Liquer, Maz and Shev for making this happen.

Life ... and Nadine Shah

I wasn't intending to write up this gig, but basically it was a stunner.

The support band were from Hull and and the name sort of didn't inspire me, Life. The bassist's T-Shirt stated "It's Never Dull In Hull", and were a basic guitar/ bass / drums / vocals four piece. Their sound was excellent and they won amn initially reticient crowd over in spades. The lead singer had obviously studied Jarvis Cocker but was his own man as he declared Life "Kings of Yorkshire".

I've included the excellent "In Your Hands" and go through to their site or get their album "Popular Music" here. Their Vevo channel is here if you would like to hear more.

Then Nadine Shah appeared. Her singing voice is amazingly powerful almost divorced from her friendly geordie talking voice. Her mum and dad were in the audience in teh packed Sage Hall 2. The sound of the band ais incredibly percussive , often the guitard being just hit, and the saxophone sound recalling Van Der Graaf Generator.

A Nadine Shah gig is an experience and if you get the chance of seeing her , you need to do it as soon as possible.

She is not easy listening but she is essential listening. The song "Holiday Destination" inspiredby the self serving reaction of holiday makers when refugess wer washed ashore on a Mediterranean beach.

Ig you can't get to a gig get her albums.