The Liverpool Psychedelic Society put on a small event based in Liverpools Baltic Triangle area. There something of a showing on the small triangle of grass know as the Baltic Green, there’s DJs, Art and Records for sale at the Baltic Roastery coffee shop but the main event is at the unique pub that is the Hobo Kiosk.
Once you get over the fact that the bar is somewhere over the rainbow, down the rabbit hole and what happens when you take both the red and blue pills… a venue that competes with the performers as an act in its own right. Once you acclimatise and realise you are in a fabulously friendly environment surrounded by a cornucopia of art…
First up on acoustic guitar is Jamie Roberts, he’s solo with an acoustic guitar. He sings songs about drinking too much. His voice is reminiscent of Jim Morrison in parts and then riffs off elsewhere to become less bluesy knowing and show off a more pop melodic sensibility. Sharp blasts of wry humour punctuate the gaps between songs, as knowing as his lyrics.
The Welcome Addition have already played outside on the green in a cut down two piece but the acoustic guitar, vocals and flute are now boosted by cajon and electric guitar. The songs are shiny and bright, the lyrics full showing a sense of fun and the band don’t appear to have any badness in them at all. Its sharp though and everything merges together into one fused entity with fantastic harmonies floating on the top.
Dominic Lewington is a duo today, acoustic and electric guitar with Dominics voice giving the songs form. He really does the unexpected melody, you hear the chords and there’s almost and expectation of what comes next so when its vocally subverted its at first a pleasant surprise and then it becomes the obvious melody.
Ivan Thunders is on acoustic armed with a lot less effects pedals than he would in his full electric configuration in Thee Lucifer Sams but they are still much in evidence. The songs are simple and wistful and can stick in the mind for some time after.
Anna Kunz (of Torture and the Desert Spiders) is a bombastic, full on performer. Confident and extremely capable. At the point were her songs reach a peak, Anna then goes up a gear and takes melody and performance to a level that not many would dare to emulate. Great songs with strong lyrics played superbly.
Texas Bob hits us with some of his own Sparklestars material and ends on a great sing along version of his ex-band, TV Personalities’ ‘Part Time Punks’. He really is a performer and can whip up a room to join in a sing along.
Blue Eyed Crows are in an altered format for a near acoustic performance tonight but you can’t hide the size of singer Emmas voice. Tonight its a three piece, electric guitar, vocals and balalaika (!)There’s cut down versions of existing songs which transform successfully and a new piece written for this format (‘a couple of days ago’) which reminds me of Led Zeppelin or some such in full on folk mode.
An entertaining evening in a fascinating venue.
Words: Richie Yates, Photos: Richie Yates
Links:
The Welcome Addition: https://www.facebook.com/thewelcomeaddition
Anna Kunz (Torture and the Desert Spiders): https://www.facebook.com/TortureandtheDesertSpiders
Texas Bob: https://www.facebook.com/texasbobjuarez
Blue Eyed Crows: https://www.facebook.com/BlueEyedCrows