Liverpool music gig guide: Gomez, Amanda Palmer, Pinkshinyultrablast and much more

Mayday, mayday, we’re going down and we’re taking the Bank Holiday with us, as Getintothis’ David Hall brings the weeks live highlights straight up in your grill.

Time is money, unless you’re waist-deep in the Merseyside gig scene this week, in which case time is something you don’t have much of. It’s in short supply with the ongoing draws of Sound City and the Smithdown Road Festival.

Even if you’re reading this on the other side of those events (or maybe on your phone while traipsing from one stage to the next – hi!) there’s little time to come up for air this week.

We get cracking right away on Monday night. It’s bewildering array of gigs on offer across a busy city centre on Monday, from the Echo Arena to St George’s Hall Concert Room and everywhere in between.

There’s a mid-week pit stop, with plenty to keep you ticking over while you refuel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Think of it as an amber light, glowing with goodies to experience.

But then we go straight back out for a hot lap on Friday, burning rubber throughout next weekend with club dates and small venue gigs around every corner. Full throttle stuff.

Gomez: O2 Academy, Monday May 7

Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Mercury-winning debut album Bring It On, everyone’s favourite sandgrounders Gomez are set for an O2 Academy show this week.

Home to singles like Whippin’ Piccadilly and Get Myself Arrested, the indie rock five-piece will perform Bring It On in its entirety, plus a selection of hits and fan favourites.

Amanda Palmer: St George’s Hall, Monday May 7

Amanda Palmer has moved to London. Her husband – author Neil Gaiman – is there working on a BBC adaptation of his 1990 collaboration with Terry Pratchett Good Omens, while she finishes her first solo album since 2012’s Theatre Is Evil.

A tour of the UK’s “deeper cities” (thanks for the backhanded compliment) awaits, with Palmer previewing songs off that new upcoming record. A note if you have tickets, the show is scheduled for a late 11:30pm finish.

Read our full preview here.

The Waterboys: Philharmonic Hall, Tuesday May 8

It might be a surprise to some, Mike Scott’s band of traditionally-influenced Celtic rockers The Waterboys have never taken a break since they formed in 1983.

Their latest album of anthemic ‘big music’ hit the top ten of the UK album charts last year, and they play a midweek Philharmonic Hall date on Merseyside. Yeah mate, they do play The Whole Of The Moon.

Bully: Buyers Club, Friday May 11

The fact that the world fixates on singer/guitarist of Chicago three piece Bully Alicia Bognanno’s blonde-haired look and is shocked by her signature yowl shows exactly how far punk hasn’t come since Cobain’s time.

Never mind (no pun intended), as the trio are set for a Buyers Club show to begin the weekend for those who like their punk bristling with hooks.

Beans On Toast: Invisible Wind Factory, Friday May 11

Evergreen acoustic bloke Beans On Toast – or, Essex’s Jay McAllister if you ask for his ID – has released nine albums since first arriving on the scene in 2005.

Almost a decade on from his 50-song album Sitting On A Chair – McAllister sings snappy, painfully honest songs about love, drugs and politics – Beans On Toast is back with his Standing On A Chair tour, and heads to local shores for a solo show in the Mersey docklands.

Pinkshinyultrablast: Shipping Forecast, Saturday May 12

Neo-shoegaze hailing from Saint Petersburg, Russia, Pinkshinyultrablast bring Warm Digits with them in support for a weekend Shipping Forecast show.

Their dreamy noise pop will surely be something to behold, and we’re expecting great things from this show.

Read our full preview here.

Don McLean: Philharmonic Hall, Sunday May 13

Yep, THAT Don McLean. Real life legend Don American Pie McLean comes to Liverpool next weekend for a Philharmonic show.

Having learned his trade from the late Pete Seeger (writer of songs including Where Have All the Flowers Gone? and If I Had a Hammer), McLean will next year celebrate a half century in the music industry, and tours the UK extensively this month. Ignore his apparent attitudes towards women? Sure, I guess.

The headliners are great, but as well all know it’s worth checking out the support act too in Getintothis’ Gigbites:

• Nickelback, Seether: Echo Arena, Monday May 7
• Lower Than Atlantis, Boston Manor, The Faim: Hangar 34, Monday May 7
• Paul Dunbar & The Black Winter Band – Album Launch, featuring Paul Dunbar, Camilla Sky, Reid Anderson: Philharmonic Music Room, Monday May 7
• The Deep Dark Woods, Kacy & Clayton: Leaf On Bold Street, Wednesday May 9
• King King, Steve Hill: Epstein Theatre, Thursday May 10
• Bennett Wilson Poole, Steve Roberts, Mudcat Landing: 81 Renshaw, Friday May 11
• Sam Brookes, Christof Van Der Ven: Sound Food And Drink, Friday May 11
• The Takeover featuring Am & Skengdo, Geko, Don-e, Tremz, Young Adz & Dirtbike Lb, Tizzy X Brandz, Ard Adz, Wez: Invisible Wind Factory, Saturday May 12
• Coco And The Butterfields: Arts Club, Saturday May 12
• Colour: EBGBs, Saturday May 12
• Jeremy Olander, Mia Mendi: North Shore Troubadour, Saturday May 12

Upcoming gigs to keep an eye on:

The Stairs: O2 Academy, Tuesday September 11

A seminal scouse band in the era of seminal scouse bands, 1990 saw the formation of The Stairs. Made up of guitarist Ged Lynn, drummer Paul Maguire and bassist/regular face on the Merseyside gig scene Edgar “Summertyme” Jones, they split having released just one album and a few singles in ’93.

Never let that keep a good bluesy garage rock band down though, and The Stairs reformed for a Kazimier date in 2015, followed by a UK tour the next year. All has been quiet recently, until Evol recently announced a one-off O2 Academy show featuring the trio, with Silent K and Peach Fuzz in support. Tickets are on sale now.

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