Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt
We're truly in the deep throes of festival season now, and we couldn't be happier to be there after a warm welcome from Liverpool Sound City - an idyllic hive of action up by the docks.
From rising talent to bona fide legends, Sound City burst us into summer in the most life-affirming style. As the post Bank Holiday blues begin to hold, take a trip to happier times and enjoy the 16 best things about Liverpool Sound City 2015...
1. The site
Based in the crumbling Docklands Area, Sound City breathes new life into what would otherwise be a ghosttown area. A boutique vibe prevails, as we bounce between the many perfectly-curated stages, stalls and the grand Baltic warehouse stage. Where industry once thrived, now it is culture - as the sun beams down to bounce off the crystal waters, inviting Liverpudlian from miles around to bask and revel in this bustling hub of the best local and international talent.
2. Flaming Lips
"Come on, motherfuckers," teases Wayne Coyne as he stalks the stage in his frogsuit during a seemingly never-ending soundcheck. The sun sets and drones fly overhead as swathes on Liverpudlians in the true Saturday Scouse spirit start baying for action. Kicking off with 'The Abandoned Hospital Ship' into 'Fight Test', all that follows is a carnival of colour and celebration of life, complete with crowdsurfing in a balloon and even an on-stage marriage proposal. Masses sway and weep to 'A Spoonful Weighs A Ton' and 'Do You Realize', flanked by monsters and robots. It's a fantasy spectacle of freedom, one that hometown boys The Beatles would have been proud of. As the chorus of Coyne's balloon of 'fuck yeah Liverpool' is repeated well into the early hours, tonight alone is proof that all you need is love.
3. Thurston Moore
There's a certain amount of self-assurance that comes with having been on the scene, first with Sonic Youth and then as a solo artist, as long as Thurston Moore - and occasionally that self-assurance leads to a slightly trying tendency to drag one guitar riff into a 15 minute haze. The sense of rebellious energy left with Kim Gordon, but what Moore does still offer is an atmospheric, confident set of sparse rock 'n roll, punctuated by dizzying moments of brilliance. The perfect sunset performance.
4. Lonelady
Taking to Gigwise's Cavern Stage after hours, Lonelady and band pulled off a set with such compulsion that they demand every ounce of your attention. Piercing stabs of electro dart alongside an acerbic post-punk sound - but don't be mistaken. Lonelady's sound is far from a Manchester throwback. The sharper edges of debut album Nerve Up play up the more playful experimentalism of 2015's Bunker Pop. There's a spirit to her sound and a life behind her performance that makes her feel constantly in the now.
5. Beat Market
Performing twice across the weekend, this Montreal electro duo took Liverpool racing into the future, with a sound somewhere between the cinematic scope of the Drive soundtrack, a challenge in Tron and a twisted android disco nightmare. We found it the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure.
6. Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Though the aesthetic of the large, industrial Baltic warehouse in which UMO's set took place felt somehow fitting, the acoustics suffered. The subtle, interwoven sounds Ruban Nielsen and his band so expertly create bled into each other, and all too often sounded fuzzy around the edges in all the wrong ways. Still, this was of no fault of the band, and their set showcased the band's skill for placing poignant and catchy melodies on top of psychedelic instrumentals. New album, Multi-Love, was an utter joy to behold.
7. Blossoms
An aching cool from an age gone by matched with a universally loveable blend of psychedelia played within the realm of classic pop, rock and mod sounds - but not playing to the rules of either. A good tune is a good tune, and the future belongs to Blossoms.
8. Stealing Sheep
It was a risky move for Stealing Sheep to open their set with 'Shut Eye', probably their best known, best loved single. All too often, bands are forced to watch swarms of half-hearted fans drift away as soon as they've heard the biggest hit. Luckily for both the band and music fans though, the LSS crowd stuck around for the rest of Stealing Sheep's syncopated psychedelic folk set, and were richly rewarded.
9. PATiENTS
From guitar air kicks to crowd surfing, this Korean underground punk band had it all. Lead singer Sumin Jo fed off of the crowds enthusiasm and gave the performance of his life. Combining their tuneful melodies with semi-shouted lyrics and a Dragon Ball Z-esc hairstyle, PATiENTS captured the audience and delivered a set well worthy of future headlienrs. Even once the set was over, the crowd couldn't get enough - and Sumin Jo ended up with a line of people requesting pictures and hugs. What a way to represent your country.
10. Everything Everything
Dressed all in red and with their first performance in these parts in a very long time, Everything Everything were ready to please. With a new album on the horizon, you could sense the worry in the crowd that they may not play all your favourites, with one person even shouting "not the new stuff". But they did not disappoint, with classics such a 'Schoolin'' and 'MY KZ,UR BF', they dazzled Sound City - despite the near impossibility to sing along to the tongue-twisting falsetto raps of frontman Jonathan Higgs. In spite of the miserable weather of the first day and the amount of dead space in the crowd at the start of their set, Everything Everything had everyone in high spirits by the end. They continue to outdo themselves.
11. Belle and Sebastian
While they may have a reputation as charming indie tweensters, Belle and Sebastian somehow managed to pull off a true rock and roll disco. It's to their legacy that after nearly 20 years they still manage to pull a massive crowd to a cold and windy dock on a Sunday night, but to their consistency and ever-evolving class that their energy continues to radiate for miles around. The combination of Murdoch prancing around the stage inviting up numerous members of the crowd to dance alongside the band, and the seamless intertwining of new and old material, only seems to solidify their reputation as international treasures.
12. All We Are
Bassist Guro Gikling, whose vocals usually take the lead under the haunting harmony of drummer Rich O'Flynn, is the magnetic backbone of All We Are - gently shimmying from side to side as she churns out thumping bass riffs. Taking to both the main stage and headlining Gigwise Cavern stage, their brand of ambient, dreamy falsetto harmonies were ideal for both late night and a sunny afternoon - promising and charismatic throughout.
13. Tor Miller
Wrapped up in a brown suede jacket and hailing from the Big Apple, the miserable weather did not dampen the full voice of this 19-year-old. Armed with merely a keyboard and his voice, Tor Miller managed to pull in the crowds despite an early afternoon slot on the first day just as the Mersey mist was rolling in. With a voice to rival Tom Odell and Hozier, Tor Miller proved himself as the next dreamy balladeer to watch out for, with songs of trust fund kids and love.
14. Circa Waves
Despite the bad weather, the boys managed to lift everyone's spirits and really embrace the festival vibes with their summer-ready pop. People on each others' shoulders, crowd surfing and beach balls all adding to the overall experience and as soon as they burst into the wishful thinking of 'T-shirt Weather', well it just might as well have been.
15. Fucked Up
A feral celebration of the union between band and fan. Unadulterated menacing brilliance and a reminder of what it is to be alive.
16. Jennifer Davies
Proper pop loaded with credibility and Scouse charm. What more do you want?
17. White Room
Few band have the sound to back up that all-too-often-trodden Mod swagger, but White Room do. It was a pleasure to have them on the Gigwise Cavern Stage while we still can, much bigger venues are around the corner.
