Live Review

SDR Unsigned – O2 Academy, Liverpool

• 20th May 2009

Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be the headliner at a showcase gig. I have to start this review with an apology to Titus Andronicus.

Silver Story take the stage as part of the SDR Unsigned give-bands-a-chance night, following openers The Constant Beat who have brand new songs and some well known cover versions, “This one was written two weeks ago,” Jack introduces a new track.

Despite their tender young age when I catch up with Jack and Jonny from the band they tell me they’ll be good to enough to play anywhere in two years. They’re only sixteen but they aren’t afraid to get down to the nitty gritty of life’s true subject matter, “This one’s about a prostitute drug addict who’s also an alcoholic.” They’re young, brash and through their cheeky quips the guitarist has the decency to apologies for one out of tune track.

SDR nights are clearly a bit hit and miss. St Helens’ Silver Story have a single deal with London label The Animal Farm whereas this seems to be one of The Constant Beat’s first performances. The upside for new bands that with enough hard work i.e. ticket sales they are able to play at one of the cities top venues thanks to promoters like SDR.

The New Haze follow in a haze of things can only get better and their groovy blues rock isn’t about image, style and charisma of which they have plenty but it’s entirely about the girth of their WOW. Led Zeppelin and Brown Sugar meets John Lee Hooker. Here it comes and there it goes, a real party band lost in a blues warp.

And the arrival of Silver Story sparks high-pitched squeals causing tinnitus worse than the feedback from the soundsystem. The band have developed a variety of sounds that range from power ballads to three minute pop-punk tracks. Drop and Frantic being the best of these respectively. A band to knock the spots off Busted and shake the stars out of McFly. You won’t be plastering Silver Story all over your bedroom walls but you might be treating the CD with the same amount of respect.

www.myspace.com/therealconstantbeat
www.myspace.com/thenewhaze
www.myspce.com/silverstory