Sound City Review: The Rascals, Sound of Guns, Go Faster and Bicycle Theives

As with every festival the trouble with Liverpool Sound City's opening night was that the plethora of talent playing in venues across the city made it difficult to choose whom to see.

However, The Rascals' late addition to the Sound City bill made them one of the more obvious choices. Miles Kane may have become more famous for his moonlighting on The Last of the Shadow Puppets project with Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner but his own band are already an accomplished act.

Ahead of their second album, due out later this year they returned from a few months off writing to give an excellent showing that included a solo performance of a song Kane said he had written that very morning.

Support came from the much talked about Sound of Guns. Their lead singer Andy Metcalfe, whose voice is a real talent, easily took the most charismatic front man of the night award as he immersed himself in the crowd.

Go Faster literally went faster with their energetic, poptastic, synth packed tunes and song about Kerry Katona getting the audience going. They even sold their CD outside the hall at £5 a pop or "£4 if I like you!"

Bicycle Thieves made a competent first festival appearance considering they went on first and without a sound check but as singer and guitarist Tom Hammersley explained afterwards: "I think we're getting a bit tighter now."

"We're just learning our craft, playing gigs like this is perfect. To go on first is hard, even getting people to come is hard but there was a good crowd there tonight. It's been good, we've nearly played 20 gigs and they've all been good."

The currently unsigned band are making great strides considering they've only been together just over six months. Along with Sound of Guns they will be supporting The Zutons at Saturday's main event at St George's Hall.

In the course of their performance Kane thanked Sound City festival director Dave Pichilingi and rightfully so. A huge four days has got off to a great start.

Hugh O'Connell
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