Spear of Destiny – Tontine
Rob Harrison reviews Tontine, the new album by Spear of Destiny, released on Kirk Brandon’s own Eastersnow Recording Company label.
Music Reviews
Ducking Punches
Rob Harrison reviews the gig by Ducking Punches, supported by Hello Mabel and Don Blake at Maguire’s Pizza bar.
Cosi fan Tutte
Joe Coventry reviews the production of Mozart’s Italian opera, Cosi fan Tutte, presented by Flat Pack Music at the Casa Theatre.
Sunflower Bean
Rob Harrison reviews the concert by New York band Sunflower Bean at the Invisible Wind Factory..
Tom Paxton and The Don Juans
Joe Coventry reviews the concert by Tom Paxton and The Don Juans at the Capstone Theatre.
Calli Hughes – Songs of the Poets
Joe Coventry reviews the concert by Calli Hughes doing the songs of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan at the Capstone Theatre.
The Necks, Centrifuge, Shatner’s Bassoon
Joe Coventry reviews The Necks, Centrifuge and Shatner’s Bassoon at the Interactions Festival at the Capstone Theatre.
The Outsider – News From Nowhere
Joe Coventry reviews The Outsider – News From Nowhere, the new album by Liverpool composer and multi-instrumentalist Neil Campbell.
Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo in Blue
Rob Harrison reviews Twentytwo in Blue, the new album by New York band Sunflower Bean, out on March 23rd.
Stick In The Wheel
Rob Harrison reviews the concert by East London five-piece folk band Stick In The Wheel at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room.
The Handsome Family
Rob Harrison reviews the concert by alternative country Americana duo The Handsome Family at Liverpool Leaf Cafe.
Liverpool International Jazz Festival
Joe Coventry reviews the Liverpool International Jazz Festival 2018 which included James Taylor, Aron Ghosh, Jason Robello, and Soft Machine.
Red Rum Club – Calexico
Natalie Romero reviews ‘Calexico’, the new single by Rum Club bringing a political edge to the unique Liverpool band.
Refugee and Asylum Seekers Benefit Night
Rob Harrison reviews the Refugee and asylum seekers benefit night presented by Migrant Artists Mutual Aid at the Atrium Cafe.
The Hit List – February 2018
The Screaming Target rounds up the record releases for the last two months. It’s a good crop you lucky people!
Mike Garson Plays David Bowie
Rob Harrison reviews the concert by David Bowie’s piano player Mike Garson, playing the entire Aladdin Sane album at the 02 Academy.
The Moulettes
Rob Harrison reviews the concert by The Moulettes at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Rooms.
Peggy Seeger And Family
Joe Coventry reviews the concert by Peggy Seeger and her son Calum on the First Time Ever Tour at the Philharmonic Music Room.
St Bride’s Church Musical Fundraising Evening
Joe Coventry reviews the musical fundraising evening for St Bride’s Church featuring Emma Dears and Roy Weissensteiner.
Pixels Ensemble: Remembrance
Joe Coventry reviews the special Remembrance concert performed by the Pixels Ensemble at the Hope University Campus on 13th November.
Oliver!
Darren Guy and Bobbi review the production of Oliver! performed by Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust at the Royal Court Theatre.
The Hit List – October 2017
The screaming target returns to review the good the bad and the plain sticky.
The Hit List – August 2017
The screaming target returns to review the good the bad and the plain sticky.
Modern Sky Sampler – The Future Influences The Present Just As Much As The Past
Rob Harrison reviews the compilation record of acts on the Modern Sky Label, The Future Influences The Present Just As Much As The Past.
Africa Oyé Festival 2017
Review and photographs by Colin Serjent of Africa Oyé Festival 2017 which had it’s 25th anniversary in Sefton Park over the weekend of 17th & 18th June.
The Thurston Moore Group and Mugstar
Rob Harrison reviews the gig by the Thurston Moore Group and Mugstar at St George’s Hall, part of the ‘Tonight At Noon’ programme which celebrates 50 years since the publication of The Mersey Sound.
Ultimate Bowie
Rob Harrison reviews Ultimate Bowie, featuring Ed Blaney as David Bowie, at the Epstein Theatre on 20th May.
The Liverpool Mass
John Owen reviews Pierre Henry’s The Liverpool Mass, presented by the Bluecoat at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Seán Street/Neil Campbell/Perri Alleyne-Hughes – Estuary
Tom Calderbank reviews the new CD Estuary, based on the poetry of Seán Street with musical settings by Neil Campbell and featuring vocalist Perri Alleyne-Hughes.
Cattle And Cane – Mirrors
Rob Harrison reviews Mirrors, the new album by Cattle And Cane.
Holy Holy featuring Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey
Rob Harrison reviews the gig by Holy Holy at the Philharmonic Hall, performing The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars in its entirety.
An Audience with Lesley Garrett
Joe Coventry reviews the English soprano singer Lesley Garrett at St Georges Hall, where she talked about her life and career and sang some of the songs that have made her a household name.
Elfin Bow Album Launch
Rob Harrison reviews the launch of Elfin Bow’s debut album at the Epstein Theatre.
Julian H Cope
Kevin Lea reviews the concert by Julian H Cope at the Arts Club in support of his Drunken Songs CD.
5th Liverpool International Jazz Festival
Joe Coventry reviews the 5th Liverpool International Jazz Festival, held at the Capstone Theatre from 23rd – 26th February.
Latestbanda / Naked Minds
Rob Harrison reviews Naked Minds, the album by Latestbanda, a new musical project based in Liverpool featuring musicians from across the world.
The Alpines / Another River
Rob Harrison reviews Another River, the new album by The Alpines.
James Yorkston
Rob Harrison reviews the concert by Scottish singer-songwriter James Yorkston, who played at The Magnet.
The Hit List – December 2016
Rob Harrison does a roundup of the tunes that are buzzing round the Nerve office at the moment.
Spanner in the Works
Pete O’Neill reviews Spanner in the Works, the eighth studio album by Beans on Toast, released on Xtra Mile Recordings.
Steve Harley Acoustic Trio
Rob Harrison reviews the gig by the Steve Harley Acoustic Trio, supported by The Mona Lisa Twins, at St. Georges Hall.
Applewood Road
Rob Harrison reviews the gig by folk group Applewood Road at Liverpool Academy.
Jeff Williams Quartet
Joe Coventry reviews the concert by the Jeff Williams Quartet at the Capstone Theatre.
Liverpool Music Week 2016
Rob Harrison reviews the gigs by Warpaint, John Carpenter, and She Drew The Gun who all played at Liverpool Music Week 2016.
The Travelling Band
Rob Harrison reviews the gig by The Travelling Band at the Magnet.
Heaven 17 and BEF
Rob Harrison reviews the concert by Heaven 17 and BEF (British Electric Foundation) at the 02 Academy.
Tina May
Joe Coventry reviews the singer Tina May and pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, who performed at the Capstone Theatre.
Different Trains Live
Rob Harrison reviews Different Trains, the concert by Steve Reich and the London Contemporary Orchestra which took place at METAL in Edge Hill Station.
Natalie McCool
Rob Harrison reviews the gig by Natalie McCool at The Buyers Club.
Apothek
Rob Harrison reviews the debut album by Norwegian duo Apothek.
Natalie McCool – The Great Unknown
Rob Harrison reviews The Great Unknown, the new album by Natalie McCool on release in September 2016.
The Fusion Festival 2016
Sarah Smith reviews The Fusion Festival, held at Otterspool Promenade and featuring names such as Olly Murs, Busted and The Vamps.
Matt Ford – By The Deathbed
Pete O’Neill reviews Matt Ford’s album, By The Deathbed, released on August 19th on the Crisis Ridden Label.
‘7’ – Futurejack
Lynda-Louise Tomlinson reviews 7, the new EP by Liverpool based urban indie band Futurejack.
From a Storm to a Hurricane
Arthur Adlen reviews the book by Anthony Hogan, From a Storm to a Hurricane, about Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.