‘Radical Liverpool’ Gig

Studio 2, Parr St
Saturday 10th September 2011

Reviewed by Ritchie Hunter

There’s a world of difference between live music and the digitally formatted sounds that come out of a cd player. Audience participation is essential for the full experience to be appreciated. It warms the heart and removes those free radicals that have been whizzing around in the blood after the stress and crap of everyday life. The experience is enhanced when radicals’ freely sing along with the likes of Roy Bailey. Roy has been playing for half a century and his records are great, but in the flesh he’s something else. His banter, his interaction with those in front of, and around him produces a feeling of comradeship and intimacy.

Of course this night was put on the right track from the start, with three songs from the Socialist Singers (being in the choir, I would say this though). Then came The Trestles (photo below). A band who sing political lyrics about destroyed industrial landscapes and ruined lives, all delivered in an upbeat rocky style. Alan O’Hare, the lead singer, relayed to us how they had just come straight form rehearsals and hadn't finished yet so, “We'll just carry on here”. Sounded fine to me.

Our Morals (photo below), a recently formed trio playing the first main gig, showed us a versatile range of instruments and harmonies.

All this provided the basis for our group participation during Roy Bailey’s slot, ending the evening on a high with songs including Palestine, Rolling Home, I Ain’t Afraid and Skin.

Thanks to Studio 2 for providing the space, the smiling bar staff, and the padded chairs.

“If it wasn't for the comfort, we would've got more people in!” Roy Bailey quipped.

Vinny Spencer, who introduced the evening, and plays in Our Morals, stated that one of the purposes of organising events like this was to get the artists paid, and it is certainly true that performers find it hard to survive by their art alone in Liverpool. Alan O’Hare told me that they rarely get paid for performing here, and other bands have echoed this. Why? Is it because there are so few venues? Is it that organisers of events expect performers to work for nothing? And how much should they get anyway?

Nerve would like to raise the subject of artists getting paid to do their work as a subject for discussion.

Radical Liverpool is a monthly event. See: radicalliverpool.com
For more on Roy Bailey: roybailey.net
For a review with Alan O'Hare of The Trestles: catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/nerve14/alan_ohare.htm or see myspace.com/thetrestles
For Our Morals: myspace.com/ourmorals
And the Liverpool Socialist Singers are at: liverpoolsocialistsingers.net

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Sorry Comments Closed

Comment left by Adrian Wharton on 28th November, 2011 at 10:58
Great review. Who took the photographs?