Editorials
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New Single ‘Feeling In My Pocket’ From The Shipbuilders
Categorising their own genre as ‘gypsy scouse surf’, the lads behind The Shipbuilders have definitely hit a unique spot with their music. At their core, the band retains their Liverpudlian roots with a Northern twang rippling through their music. But there’s a low-fi South-Cal vibe mixed in too. New single ‘Feeling In My Pocket’ is uplifting, no matter how low your mood might be from the winter weather. The four-piece – comprising Matty Loughlin, Danny…
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Lawoftheland Fill the Expanse With Their Instrumental-Only Sounds
It’s not an easy job for musicians to paint a picture with their songs, harder still if a song is devoid of lyrics and stripped back to just instrumentals. That’s where Lawoftheland have struck gold though – their songs fill an expanse that most musicians can only hope to. The Liverpool trio, Stephen Miceli, Adam Caine and Teddy Smith, evoke a progressive landscape in their title-track opening of EP Dancing Explosions. During the five minutes…
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Archie’s Burgers & Shakes; Review
Archie’s is the latest burger joint to shake up the Liverpool food scene – a pink paradise of extravagant burgers and decadent milkshakes – and last week I was lucky enough to try it out. Perched on the corner of Ranelagh Street, it’s the third venue in the Archie’s family (there are already two well-established restaurants in Manchester) but this is the first one outside of the M60, and also the biggest. And it’s not your stereotypical American…
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Five Guys Liverpool; Review
So Five Guys has arrived in Liverpool!! Many people including myself have been waiting for this moment for the last few years. It has a good reputation in London and of course the USA, oh and also the Trafford Centre. It is a fast food concept but the burgers are restaurant quality I had been told. So, I thought it was about time I found out what all the fuss was about at Five Guys. Me and my eating…
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Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015); Review
Kurt Cobain is a man that refuses to die. Even when all possible back catalogues, journals and interview subjects appear to have been exhausted, another wave in the oceans of culture will land the shriveled corpse of the revered icon back on the beaches of popularity once again. “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” is the latest biopic on the grunge godhead, released within a week of the anniversary of his death. The question on…
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Still Alice; Film Review
Still Alice, featuring an Oscar winning performance by Julianne Moore, tells the story of Alice Howland (Moore) a highly esteemed linguistic professor at Columbia University whose world is rattled when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Still Alice is essentially a fairly good lifetime movie elevated by a truly great performance by Julianne Moore (she deserved her Academy Award – although, I wish it had been won for Maps to the Stars). The direction is…
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Blossoms at The Kazimier; Review
Seeing that The Kazimier was offering a line-up that featured both The Vryll Society and Blossoms, it was an obvious choice to get to a gig guaranteed to brighten a cold, Winter Sunday night. For once I managed to get to The Kazimier in time to see all of the bands on offer. The first support Hidden Charms were a very pleasant surprise. Melodic 60’s style pop/rock topped by vocals just coarse enough to give…
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Baby Strange And Slaves At The Shipping Forecast; Review
Fessing up at the beginning of this review is going to save a lot of time later and, hopefully, go some way towards placating the Slaves fans out there. I went to the gig to see Baby Strange. They are one of my favourite bands. The bias is all mine, because I know I was in the minority. Having said that, I go to gigs with an open mind and have been won over before,…
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Pattersons Bar; Review 'Serving Up Chicken & Tunes'
With Independent’s popping up left, right and centre in Liverpool at the moment, it is no surprise that the variety of places to eat is so broad. Whilst there has never been a shortage of chicken here in Liverpool, something has always been missing – Pattersons. As it remains one the best-hidden gems of the city, it’s time to share the secret. Chicken restaurant by day, bar by night, these chicken experts have revolutionized the…
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Inherent Vice; Film Review
Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel of the same name hits cinemas this week and it has caused quite the stir. The Guardian has reported mass walk outs with audiences accusing the film of “being boring and not making any sense”. However, the film has found its defenders with some US critics hailing it as a postmodern masterpiece. I would argue that both and neither camps are correct. The plot, as much as…
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Whiplash; Film Review
The question shared by all – “how much can I enjoy a film about drumming, when I don’t know the first thing about it?” Whether you like music or not, Damien Chazelle’s Oscar nominated WHIPLASH is electrifying, gripping, and shocking in so many ways. It is story of the relationship between 19-year-old Andrew Niemann (Miles Teller), a male protagonist that astounds the audience with his devotion, and his complete dedication to drumming, and his unpredictable…
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Edwin Pope’s Alter Ego ‘Mutant Vinyl’ Combines A Number of Musical Aspects
With a successful list of musical names associated with him, the young musician shows off a truly varying musical persona. Having supported for the likes of Rudimental, Rita Ora, Kids In Glass Houses and many other high profile musical acts in just the past two years, Mutant Vinyl is proof that doing things a little bit differently can really get you noticed in the music world. Receiving heavy airplay on BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, as well…
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VYNCE Debut EP ‘Waves’; Review
After much anticipation, VYNCE release their debut EP ‘Waves’ and it’s a treat of indie-pop rock melodies. Four-piece, consisting of Peter Pegasiou on vocals and guitar, Ollie Foster on guitar, Alex Whittaker on bass, and drummer Tom Davis, VYNCE ooze youth. After their initial enthusiasm from fans their EP has already received good press. The band can rest assured they’ll be able to continue pushing their name across the UK. Opening single ‘April Showers’ sees…
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Cuthbert’s Bakehouse; Review
It was only the other day I was thinking that there isn’t enough vintage tea shops around, and then I came across a cute little bakery – right in the centre of Mount Pleasant. My friend and I were stunned when we spotted the little bakehouse, expecting a massive colourful sign that shows off and is a bit too much in your face, but instead it was a simple black sign that we almost walked…
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Milky Tea Studio Are Creating A New Game ‘Coffin Dodgers’
Liverpool’s Milky Tea Studio, the award winning team of highly skilled digital creatives, are producing a brand new game, Coffin Dodgers for PC, Mac, Vita, iOS and Android users. Set in the usually tranquil retirement village of Sunny Pines, the residents have found themselves forced out of their rocking chairs by the Grim Reaper. Help save their souls in the race for their lives. Arm yourself with anything from cod liver oil tablets to talc…
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Liverpool Homeless FC
Liverpool Homeless FC are a homeless charity which uses sport to help improve the lives of men and women across the city. We spoke to chairman, John Finnigan to find out more… Tell us a bit about Liverpool Homeless FC. What exactly do you do and when did you start up? The club was set up in October 2007. We are a Community Interest Company which is a non-profit organisation. We provide sporting opportunities for homeless…
