Tea Street Band, Silent K, The Shipbuilders: North Shore Troubadour, Liverpool

Liverpool’s music scene is a hard one to conquer, but our very own Tea Street Band have done just that. A band that have probably paid a visit to near every venue in Liverpool, and even outlasted a few themselves.

Whether you’re a music-head or not, no doubt you’ve heard the name crop up on occasion – or perhaps, unknowingly walked by some not-so-artsy graffiti scrawled across the streets of Anfield and Kenny, all the way from the early ’00s. The words simply reading ‘The Maybes?‘, the bands former project, then with the addition of now solo singer Nick Ellis.

It speaks for itself, really. These lads are by no means strangers to the scene, and tonight we once again pay witness to the greatness that is Tea Street Band.

With their wonderfully Liverpudlian vibe woven into every ounce of their sound, Timo and friends powered through tune after tune, filling the room with such an infectious euphoria that even this timid writer managed to mingle to the beat.

Now at max capacity, the NST venue really got into the swing of things. What started off as a bitterly brisk, half empty garage space had now bloomed into a fully fledged, singing compulsory, social fest, complete with mezzanine escape to which you could settle on an overly worn couch.

As for new music, it was in abundance. With Tea Street demonstrating many of their latest guitar driven, psychedelic-esque ventures. Which, unsurprisingly, were warmly welcomed by crowd of 200 or so.

All in all, Tea Street Band have done what is expected of any live performer, control, keep, and relish the audience. All completed and excelled with ease.

Support for the night came in the form of The Shipbuilders, Liverpool’s finest gypsy-surf-rock band since, well… nobody, we guess? They are solely unique in every pleasant aspect. From the on-stage theatrics to sheer song writing skill. Although, influences from the likes of Tom Waits and Love are exceptionally clear – but only in the way you seem to catch every so often. An influence that doesn’t dictate sound.

Keeping the trend of Liverpool bred bands were new project from The Zutons Dave McCabe, Silent K, perhaps a bit more energetic than their previous backing, with tambourine headbanging and front man Chris Taylor donning a sea captains hat. Why? Who knows. It just worked. In fact, the five piece just about squeezed themselves on stage, with the keyboardist drawing the short straw and being placed sideways, slightly out of view.

It was a fully scouse line-up to complement what could have been a night of celebration for Mersey sound and its bands. Liverpool’s own slice of new music in this grand monopoly.

[paypal-donation]