Barfly Liverpool: 15 November 2006

I love rock n’ roll, I hate rock n’ roll, sometimes at the same time, all the time or some of the time, but no matter what the time I seem to be able to find the time…

So I get through the door a sampler CD from an act called Tiny Dancers. It’s fabulous! I’m sitting listening to it while checking out the myspace page, and it’s looking like I have something really special in my player…

One week later and I get an invite to a ‘New Music Day’ hosted by EMI Records, which consists of a bunch of industry types spending the day at Liverpool’s famous Parr St Studios, checking out some brand new spanking music, grabbing a butty, and then later heading on out to check out one of EMI’s future hopes live. The band chosen for the live set? Yep, Tiny Dancers!

So after a day checking out some fab new songs it’s time to see if Tiny Dancers can build upon the impressive E.P. start. Rolling into The Barfly around 9pm I’m greeted by a local act, followed by a boy/girl duo called Slow Club who hand out fairy cakes, neither of which impressed me much. Then without a by or leave the stage is set up with a b/w TV, old style living room lamp, fairy lights, fake ivy, huge soft toys and more - this looks interesting and gives the impression of some thought going into the appearance of the show to make it more of an event than just another gig. Artists only seem to do this when they get to theatre and arena level, so it’s good to see it here.

Tiny Dancers hit the stage running with ‘20 To 9 and the eladman bombarding us with balloons. This song on record is impressive, and live loses none of its impact. The band follow it quickly with ‘I’ve Got To Go’ and ‘Bonfire Of The Night,’ then say hello, how you doin’ etc and it’s evident that we are watching future stars. Each band member has a red-Indian war-painted face, which adds to their overall look and feel, and with a frontman who seems to have ants in his pants, the energy level is high.

They move on swiftly through ‘Sun Goes Down’ and ‘I Will Wait For You’ complete with some amazing guitar work, hand claps and harmonies. It’s then back to the drawing board with ‘Hannah We Know’ and suddenly it’s ‘this is the last song’ time and they ride off into the distance with ‘Ashes & Diamonds.’ It’s all over before it starts, seven songs, with only two taken from the five-track E.P. in my pocket - so I know they have more in their engine and I want to hear it roar. But for now I am left under no illusion that the future is bright for these guys; they have a retro feel in their delivery and song approach, but a future style and twist on the melody and structure.

I am a 70’s/80’s child and three of my favourite bands from that time were The Waterboys, The Alarm and Big Country. I hear the ghost of all three in this band, Celtic undertones with American overtones. Radio should lap up the songs on offer from Tiny Dancers, whose melodic sensibility sweeps over you and leaves a footprint on your skull. This is just the beginning and after tonight I can’t wait to hear what comes next.

We leave the rest of the EMI pack to wonder into the vast city wasteland of Liverpool’s clubs and bars, girls and cars, while we head back over the border, under cover of night, home sweet home, dancin!

Jj 2006.