Liverpool Noise Presents Live At The Brink; Review

A dry bar might seem to be an unlikely place for a gig, but Brink has a lot going for it. The sound quality is amazing and when you have such quality acts as Elijah James, SPQR and Darma the event is always going to be special.

Elijah James has a beautiful voice and his lyrics are heartfelt and poignant. The acoustic set he performed included the excellent ‘Nightime’ as well as some of his newer material. The crowd appreciated the thoughtful and beautifully crafted music opening the gig.

SPQR are a prog rock sensation in Liverpool and with a strong fan base in the city. The experimental nature of the music and forceful vocals push their music way above the mainstream. The inventive way the songs are put together shows the talents of the whole band rather than the rhythm section being just a base for the lead and vocals, which makes the collaboration interesting and creative. The set was punchy and hard-hitting; a real hit with the audience.

Manchester band Darma produce an amazing wall of sound and some really top quality in-your-face rock. Their set is so good it deserves to be seen in venues twice the size of the ones they play and the crowd were lucky to have such a top quality headline act. Playing music from their two EPs, Darma thrilled the crowd with ‘What Are You Waiting For’, ‘Shadow’ and the title track from their latest release ‘Milk’. The band were consistently strong throughout the set and finished with a killer finale.

All the bands got a warm response from the crowd for their outstanding sets. The lack of alcohol at the venue didn’t stop those present from having a top night. The quality of the music shows just how much talent the Northern powerhouses of Liverpool and Manchester have to offer. A night to remember.

Roxy Gillespie