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There is a mixed crowd in Bumper tonight, a wonderful sign that Liverpool Sound City is upon us.
In the front room a pop-tastic collection of artists get the crowds bouncing whilst in the back room, well – it’s more of the same. The timetable alternates between rooms allowing the audience to experience every band as well as a change in scenery creating a festival within a festival.
The Hip Parade fill the venue with endless merchandise showing nous and a determination to succeed that is reflected in their polished, radio friendly guitar songs.
As the drink flows and the punters ping-pong back and forth between the rooms the response to artists becomes warmer and more raucous. The power-pop of Kids Love Lies brings out the inner teenager and the propulsive fuzz of The Heartbreaks recalls the Indie club sound of the last five years before The Real Dolls mash it up with a brash but joyous mix of cutesy female vocals and abrasive electronic beats sounding like Crystal Castles do Karaoke.
The final and most captivating act of the evening is Goldheart Assembly.
It is instantly apparent that GA have a knack for songwriting in the vein of Mamas & Papas or much closer to home, The Beatles. The songs flow so naturally as the two-part harmonies echo through the room.
There are a couple of unforced errors that go relatively un-noticed and can be put down to this being the first night of the extensive GA tour and to be honest add a cheeky endearing quality to these young lads that manage to laugh off any faults before breaking into a glorious sun-soaked chorus.
It seems easy for these guys to bang out a pop stonker such as King Of Rome or The Engraver’s Daughter. There is an honesty in songwriting that makes for instantly likeable music.
The set is too short but certainly leaves the mob wanting more. All told a revealing and heartwarming evening that proves to the naysayers that homegrown pop is not dead and is very much here to stay.