There could only be one way to travel to this gig; by boat of course. The ferry across the Mersey; chugging along the river in the company of seagulls and the sound of Gerry Marsden warbling his way through his own song named after this feted passage. A sense of occasion that's not lost on the gathering minions.
We get a taxi the on the other side only to discover that the driver doesn't know where the the Big Top is! We get a bit worried when we reach New Brighton to find the place mostly deserted and no sign of any large tent! It is only when someone mentions 'Middle Dip' that 'drive' springs into life; "I Know where that is squire" he says and sure enough we arrive at the venue; a great sprawling big blue canvas on the banks of the Mersey looking out towards the sea.
We get inside the gates just in time to see THE ZUTONS take to the stage. Looking like a cross between the 'Red Hand Gang' and the 'Kids from DeGrassi Street' they stroll through their set and it's hard to decide which one to watch. It's like 'one of these kids is doing their own thing' from Sesame Street, only here, all of these kids are doin' their own thing and they do it good. The highlights come from the happy go lucky singalong of 'Let the feeling in'; the Doorsesque 'Where you gonna sleep tonight'; second single
'Creepin' an' a Crawlin''and 'Rumblin' Ramblin' with it's magnificent
climatic outro. The best though is the finale; 'Zutonfever', a masterpiece in progress with an inspired melody that's full of eastern promise and a McCabe vocal that's frighteningly good especially when laid bare for all to hear during an acapella break in the tune. Magnifico. Still no details of an album as yet, but it's going to be worth the wait, I can feel it
Next up are THE BASEMENT, a real blast from the past pedalling their retro Bob Dylan stylee take on folk/bluesy rock. It's entertaining enough but there's nothing that leaves any lasting impression. The singers voice doesn't quite cut it on the day and while the band hold it together pretty well as they bounce along there's nothing much that is new. It was time to check out the food options which I'm sorry to have to say were limited as
were the booze options at the ridiculously understaffed bar; lager, wine or vodka kick! Not good! but we soldiered on like we've learned to do and the chips were ok....
THE BEES were next on and I didn't mind their jazz funk meets sixties pop with attitude. I hadn't heard much by them before and it was an entertaining turn with some good jams. A good would-be festival band and great for a first see.
I wasn't looking forward to seeing THE THRILLS after hearing their last two singles; Big Sur reminding me of the Lightning Seeds attempts at sixties folk pop that ends up sounding twee and lacking the desparation of Gene Clark or the addled introspection of Dave Crosby. So no, they are not The Byrds and they sound too clean and polished to be the Flying Burritos but by the time I get to Pheonix and they're finishing their show with first single 'Santa Cruz' I'm left wondering that it might be worth checking out
their forthcoming album after all.
THE LIBERTINES are next to take to the stage and do so without one time main man Pete. Apparently he thinks that no one wants him in the band anymore and apparently the rest of The Libertines aren't denying it! A will he? wont he? kind of rumour that circulates through the site all day, along with 'are The Kings of Leon playin'?' Anyway neither are true and no one suffers for
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it. The Libertines put on a power packed punked up performance that sends their die hard fans mad. They go totally apeshit and turn the temperature inside the tent right up! It's hundred mile an hour, hi-energy stuff that causes a steady stream of punksters to take off their shirts and head for the exits to 'Calm Down'. Ok , so if you're not in the mood after this then it's doubtful even a visit from the keeper of the blue pills could arouse your attention! You're gone...go home!
All this of course was merely killing time leading up to the day's main attraction; THE CORAL. The band had said that they wanted to play a real homecoming show, 'one of those shows that everyone says you lose money on'; the cosmic scouse swashbucklers returning home with the spoils from their
seafaring and skyscraping adventures. It's for the fans!
They start off with 'Spanish Main'; still sounding fresh and even better for us being besides the sea. After this it's a run through most of the tunes from their debut album, played with the same infectious enthusiasm all the way through.
Now anyone waiting for this skankin' great bubble to burst is going to have to wait a little longer. The new 'darker' songs are a clear sign that the toys are back in the pram. The lads are growing ( probably their own weed! ) and taking the sounds and the ideas in all directions. It's indicative of both singles released after the last album that neither have the quirky Zappa like middle eights and breaks that have featured prominently in their songs before.
Both 'Don't think you're the First' and 'Pass it on' possess
the same sad and reflective tone; Gram Parsons riding shotgun to Lee Mavers with Lee Hazlewood and Jim Reeves bringing up the rear. 'Pass it on' in particular is a highlight of the evening, a cool vaudevilian tinged moment, short and bittersweet; another hit?
They end with a ten minute plus version of 'Goodbye' in which they groove out in the finest Led Zeppelin/Hendrix tradition of psychadelic magic and mayhem. There's no encore but then what's left to say? apart from maybe......now lets see..........fuckin' superb!
A great day out, great line up, shit facilities and an absolute nightmare getting home, just the thing to get you in the mood for Glastonbury or not as the case may be.
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