Carling Academy, Liverpool. 19 July 2007

Increasingly I find I’m travelling to shows on a wing and a prayer, meaning that I don’t really know what to expect. It’s really not something I like to do as I often come away thinking, ‘why did I bother?’ But just occasionally I come away with a smile across my face. This was one such occasion.

As I stood at the stage barrier at Liverpool’s Carling Academy 2 a middle-aged fellow came up to me to ask how he could obtain a photo pass, as he went to loads of gigs in Liverpool with his camera. We chatted on until I asked him if he’d seen the two bands performing that night. He reckoned The Ting Tings were very good and hailed from Manchester way. “There’s only two of them in the band,” he said. “Like The White Stripes then?” I asked. “Don’t know The White Stripes” he replied. It was at that moment that tall, platinum blonde Katie White wandered onto the stage and parked her herself centre stage in front of a large, single bass drum. Then her other half, Jules De Martino, walked on and sat behind his drum kit, while Katie picked up her guitar. Suddenly, the place exploded and I thought, ‘you buggers have been here before…’

And that’s when the fun started. Fuck knows what the first song was but both players sang, and a powerful drum rhythm provided the ideal backdrop to an eminently danceable tune that had the crowd bouncing big-time. It was punky, rocky and funky and even this cynic could not stop his feet tapping. Katie looked exhausted at the end of it and I even wondered whether she could actually complete a six song set. I needn’t have worried because they played only three or four songs including an awesome ‘That’s Not My Name’ with the longest chorus I have ever heard. The song brought the house down and if you get the chance click onto MySpace and have a listen. It’s a radio and dance club monster! For the final song Katie shed the guitar and beat that big, bad bass drum as if her life depended on it. The vibe created by this pair (who incidentally are no White Stripes) was incredible and in the darkness at the back of the stage I could see a couple of guys dancing their little socks off.

That was fun and it was several minutes before the headline band techies appeared to empty the stage for the main event. I then noticed that one of them was stretching upwards to adjust the lead central mic. I have never seen a mic that high before; it must have been about six feet in the air. Then the lead man of Reverend & The Makers arrived (one of the guys who was dancing like a crazy thing at the back) to take up position behind that mic. Jon McClure is a very tall, frightening looking fellow who stood stock still with eyes stared unblinking over the capacity audience. Then the fun started all over again.

Now I’m not going to pretend to know the band’s songs ‘cos I friggin’ don’t, but when I got back home I emailed the PR company handling the band to have an album posted over to me in double-quick time. This Sheffield based six-piece band proved to be nothing less than explosive with their unique brand of indie funk electro rock. And it’s the first time I have witnessed a rock band get everybody dancing from the word go. McClure was magnificent with his powerful and expressive voice, and apparent desire to get in amongst the crowd. Laura Manuel looked and sounded great playing keys and providing both lead and backing vocals. During breaks between songs, McClure recited his own little, sad and very funny poems to an appreciative audience.

Underneath the thumping dance beats, solid melodies and soaring guitar riffs were songs with serious messages, but it was the vibe created that had me flabbergasted. I don’t believe I have ever seen a rock audience respond the way those punters did and when I left to catch the Mersey Tunnel before it closed, found that even people at the separate, adjacent bar were on their feet and dancing.

So there you have it, a night of unexpected pleasure and one that I can recommend wholeheartedly. If Reverend and/or The Ting Tings visit you neck of the woods and you need a bit of cheering up, you won’t find a better tonic.