Gig Review - Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies and Tuppenny Bunters at Hobo Kiosk - 06 May 2022

Tonight we go down the rabbit hole for sure, both musically and in the choice of venue. Hobo Kiosk is one of the coolest small bars in Liverpool. Located on Jamaica Street in the Baltic Triangle and imbued with an artistic madhouse hippy bohemian feel as well as great beers. Its an absolute attack on the senses containing so much art and bric-a-brac and with its wild colour schemes that are getting brighter as time goes on. It also has a strict policy on how many it will let in, all patrons need to have seats available so this ensures a comfortable stay.

Tonight Pete Bentham and his more or less acoustic Dinner Ladies are hitting it up as the opener. Stripped down to a double bass, saxophone and an acoustic guitar and without much of their customary wilder stage show it allows the audience to appreciate the lyrical intensity of much of their work and the fact that they produce well crafted songs.

The Dinner Ladies have hosted tonight to give the Tuppenny Bunters a Liverpool show and the select seated audience are treated to the wild two piece bands modish and gothic take on music. They are two members, a stage piano and a drum kit. Each take turns on each instrument and singing duties. Their wild almost mediaeval take on rock is more than tinged with a 60s flavour, you can hear everything from Syd Barrett to the Move in there but their biggest influence I would reckon is the cool Mod scene from the more swinging end of the 60s. Its electric though, the keyboard is hit expertly with wild flourishes from both as are the drums and their songs are instantly memorable with tunes that stayed in my head for a long time after.