Liverpool Carling Academy 2 December 2004

In the last seven days attending, or more accurately, attempting to attend a gig in Liverpool has become a bit of a guessing game. Let me explain. There are now two Academy live venues in Liverpool – The Liverpool Carling Academy (formerly the Lomax) and the Liverpool Academy (Liverpool University). Within no less than seven days I have managed to get the right Academy wrong on two occasions. “Yeah, happens all the time” said the security guy at Liverpool University, as he pulled out the rest of the year’s programme for the Carling Academy. “Tom McRae’s playing here tonight but This Girl is playing at the Carling Academy just behind Lime Street Station. Can I direct you?” “No” I replied, adding, “Deja vu mate, deja vu.” “Whatever” he replied (I’ll kill the fucker who invented that word…).

So finally I arrived at the right Academy only to find some poor confused soul trying to get in to see Tom McRae. I puffed out my little chest smugly and explained “No, no, no… you want the Liverpool University Academy dear.” In response to a look of despair from the punter, I added “Can I direct you? It’s opposite the cathedral…”. “Oh I think I know where that is” she replied rushing off. “Whatever” slipped out and I immediately punched myself in the mouth…

Back in the summer I received This Girl’s debut album UNO and have to say I was nonplussed about it. There was undoubtedly something there but whatever it was had eluded me, and I ended up giving it to a mate to try and work out. He must have liked it ‘cos I never got it back and he’s avoided me ever since. I was therefore hoping that the night’s gig would ‘put meat on the bones’ and perhaps help solve the mystery.

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The band was second-up and main support to International Noise Conspiracy. Due to my late arrival I missed a few songs but must have caught them in storming mid-flow, and well-warm. With drummer Ryan Jenkinson a pale shadow in the darkness at the rear of the small stage, my attention was initially drawn to rotund, perspiring bassist Matt Wesley who seemed to be writhing around in an orgasmic state. Shit he was good, I thought, and then vocalist Liam Creamer appeared from nowhere and commenced to give one of the rock vocal performances of my live performance reviewing year.

Then I noticed guitarist Christopher Shepherd burrowing deep and intense on the other side of the stage, giving it large and expressive as his fingers twitched viciously across the guitar strings. Mystery solved! This band is far better live than it sounds on record, and methinks that album production just hasn’t quite captured the essence.

Super-strong melodies, passionate and expressive performances, total playing unity and tight? Tell me about it! The sound at the Lomax (sorry, Carling Academy) has always been pretty good but the band’s soundman had managed to squeeze it dry on the night, and the band sounded superb. Did I know any of the songs? Did I fuck, although I guess the newest single Master Blaster was in there somewhere. But it didn’t matter because the band played great songs with such intensity, authority and maturity that titles were irrelevant. The band’s generic style is undoubtedly rock but played at diverse pace and mood to suit sincere song sentiments.

I stayed on to watch a couple of songs from the bouncing and orange/black festooned International Noise Conspiracy as they ploughed a traditional heavy rock furrow, but the night belonged to their main support. This was a masterful performance from a band I suspect has been honing its performing and writing skills for a few years. Now I wonder if I still have my (former) mate’s phone number…