Liverpool Barfly

What happens when you have released a great debut album, followed up with a killer second album which has got journo’s knickers in a twist? You have built up a ‘buzz’ with some stunning live shows, and you possess a mental singer… you play Liverpool.

Another wet, windy night and we are speeding down the M53 on our way to the city that never sleeps; ‘We built this city on rock n’ roll’; and when Liverpool doesn’t roll it certainly rocks. We get to the Barfly and disperse with some support acts whose name I can’t remember, and through the walls of the bar they all sounded the same, sad but true…

It becomes very obvious from the moment the band walk on the stage that they deserve to be up in the premier league; before a note is played they have an aura around them that simply glows. The crowd, squeezed into the theatre part of the labyrinth that is The Barfly, has had plenty of time to soak up both beer and atmosphere, it’s a 14+ gig and the crowd is nothing short of fired up and ready to bounce.

Front man Matt Caughthran runs out onto the stage and within the first minute is in with the crowd; he wants to be the audience and it’s a theme that continues throughout the gig. At one point he sings an entire song while standing in the crowd; he is a man of the people and the people love him; and if he was not the singer in this band he would be in the crowd watching this band. This means he has an insight and understanding far beyond the boundaries of your usual rock vocalist.

Comparisons are easy think an indie Queens of the Stone Age meeting AC/DC and you are in the zone; Matt’s vocals are often distorted and sound like they are sung through a loudhailer, and it’s sometimes hard to understand, but I watched a girl at the side of the stage sing along to every word perfect! The band ends the night with ‘History’s Stranglers’ which tears a huge hole in the roof of the building and leaves everyone with a massive smile on their faces. Tonight The Bronx showed just what’s expected of a band at the top of their game, and the hype and praise in the media is, for once, justified. Expect them to be on quite a few festival lists next year - you should see this band!

Jj 2006