Review
Reviews of Liverpool music, restaurants, bars and more
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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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The Brink; Food & Drink Review
It’s no secret that Liverpool is famous for its pubs and clubs, but recently I was lucky enough to have lunch a completely revolutionary venue on the Liverpool food and drink scene – The Brink. It’s Liverpool’s (and Britain’s) first dry bar and cafe, and was set up by Action on Addiction in 2011 to provide a safe and welcoming place to socialise without alcohol. Most of the staff have suffered from alcohol addiction in the past,…
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A Man Vanishes: Review At Liverpool’s Small Cinema
Japanese New Wave filmmaker Shohei Imamura’s 1967 documentary A Man Vanishes had a one off screening as Small Cinema Liverpool this Friday and it remains a treat for any cinephile. Imamura had been an assistant and pupil of the great Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu, working with him on such classics as Tokyo Story. However, Imamura soon began to disagree with Ozu’s vision of Japan and A Man Vanishes is his acidic and biting pronouncement of his view of mid…
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Afternoon Tea At The Baltic Social
Update August 2022: The Baltic Social is now permanently closed. The Baltic Social is a firm favourite in the heart of the Baltic Triangle and known for serving up some of the best breakfasts in town, as well as a fresh new day and evening menu every season, I was quite literally drooling from the mouth when I read up about their ‘Punk Afternoon Tea’. And with friends telling me about their experience of when they last…
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The Brink To Host Merseyside Recovery Awards
Action on Addiction is set to play host to this year’s Merseyside Recovery Awards at the charity’s flagship social enterprise The Brink Café on Friday, July 17. Members of the recovery community together with the general public alike are set to descend on the popular Parr Street venue to recognise and honour individuals who have overcome drug and alcohol addictions – while commending those who have helped to aid recovery for others. Karen Hemmings, Head…
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The Jackobins 'Waiting On The Sun' Single Review
The new single, ‘Waiting on the Sun’, is another indication of just how far The Jackobins have come musically. The track begins with a spare yet catchy melody, which quickly fills out as different instrumental sounds add more and more texture to the introduction. The tune gains momentum as each new layer falls into place. By the time Dominic Bassnett’s vocals join the fray, the listener is already ensnared by the complex and sophisticated harmonies…
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Last Heart 'Blood & Bone' EP Review
The Liverpool band Last Heart have brought out an EP called Blood and Bone. The Lomax stalwarts have even managed to get Frank Hedges to sing on one of the tracks, making this a very personal record for the people supporting the re-opening of the grass-roots music venue. The band play a loose, rock/blues, and the tracks here showcase some fine slide guitar and clean, up- front rock vocals, especially on my favourite of the…
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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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Threshold V: Weekend Review and Bay TV Special Tomorrow Night
It was a festival to remember last weekend as Threshold put on its biggest and most successful event to date at venues all across Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. But don’t just take our word for it…you can catch a special episode of ‘The Guide’ on Bay TV this Thursday night – channel 8 on Freeview and Virgin Media channel 159 – at 8:30pm, which looks at the whole of the weekend’s festivities. Be sure not to…
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Threshold V; Mutant Vinyl Steals The Show At 24 Kitchen Street
Mutant Vinyl produced our favourite performance of Threshold Festival, in his set at 24 Kitchen Street he managed to win over the entire crowd and left everyone wanting more. The saxophone wielding singer mixes jazz with electro sounds. He needs to be seen & heard to be believed and appreciated. He owned the stage with his presence and sense of humour shining through, he’s a natural born performer, captivating and entertaining; he certainly knows how…
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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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Band Feature; Cavalry
Based in Liverpool, the ‘Alt-Folk’ band Cavalry had a whirlwind year in 2014. With support from BBC radio 1’s Huw Stephens who labelled them as ‘a BBC introducing discovery’, plays on BBC radio 1 and BBC radio 6 whilst also acquiring a large fan base with over 900 likes on facebook; it’s slightly puzzling as to why the guys have remained so quiet come 2015. Regularly gigging around Liverpool, the band has played venues such…
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Paul Wilkes 'River Running With Me' EP Review
The new EP by the accomplished singer-songwriter Paul Wilkes features three soft and beautiful tracks, ideal for days when you just want to sit back with some soothing music on. Paul’s voice is clear and soulful, ideal for these fabulously well produced pieces. With suitably subtle yet luminous backing featuring guitar, strings or piano, all the songs work perfectly to showcase the lyrics. The tracks have a personal feel, essential in this type of music,…
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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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David Gaffney’s Latest Release ‘Pocket-Sized’ Is The Perfect Track To Take You Into Spring
Producing the kind of music you’d hear played in a cafe on a rainy day, David Gaffney’s smooth voice has that quality about it that instantly makes you relax. Having received airplay on Dave Monk’s slot on BBC Merseyside already, fans can begin to get excited for further releases. With the pitter patter of spring showers to come, what better time for him to release his upcoming EP ‘Our Canons Of Green’. First single ‘Pocket-Sized’,…
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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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New Music; Gold Jacks – 'One Kinda Woman'
The new release from the Gold Jacks is good, paired down rock. The repetitive riff which forms the backbone of the track is catchy enough to prevent it from becoming annoying, instead providing a perfect foil for the lyrics. There are few embellishments, the track relying on insistent rhythm, crystal clear vocals and minimal, but rather fine guitar licks. Vocally, the track put me in mind of some of the finer bluesy type rock tracks…
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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…
