For those who pay attention to the bustling local scene of Merseyside, then the Boot Music name has rapidly become a seal of quality worth looking out for. The publication works alongside not only major names in indie and alternative scenes such as Crawlers and Yard Act, but champions the grassroots by not only platforming local talent, but inviting fresh blood from all over the country to perform in the region.
In celebration of the publication of their eight printed issue, which sees the team talking to not only the aforementioned bands, but also other rising stars like Kneecap and Wunderhorse, Boot Music put on a showcase of four more fantastic acts at the legendary Jacaranda. The basement venue is packed out with people long before the headliner even takes to the stage, knowing that if Boot Music are attached to an event, it’s well worth the entrance fee.
Liverpool four-piece Bite took the stage to open proceedings, and cracked their set open with their track ‘Turn Me On‘. Their sound presents as a familiar yet distinctive blend of blues rock, folk rock and psychedelic rock, acoustic guitar situated at the front and backed with rhythms that alternate between spacious and danceable. Their vocalist is a charismatic yet laidback individual who is instantly likeable; there’s a humbleness to their demeanour, but they certainly do not lack confidence.
Intricate bass lines bubble over the top of electrifying percussion, whilst guitar solos are delivered with a slick, effortless coolness. Vocals bristle with a gritty, smoky energy that is packed with character. The audience are immediately impressed; Bite’s music is accessible and catchy, but also inventive and stylish, hooking in listeners with ease and making it clear that the room belongs to them.
Retro rock flair dots the performance without making the band feel dated. Moments of harder rock feel reminiscent of late era The Beatles, whilst their pro-Palestine protest song carries the free-spirited and poignant energy of a young Bob Dylan. Their latest single, ‘For Love‘, is brimming with a funk energy, with a brilliantly slick guitar performances that weaves between the musical layers throughout.
Closing off with ‘I’m Losing‘, the band deliver one last high-energy and character-packed performance that ensures the audience leave this set with Bite’s name firmly ingrained on their memory. Whilst the band certainly demonstrate a love for retro sounds, their approach to their music keeps them feeling fresh and relevant; a re-contextualising of Merseyside’s musical roots, instead of a mere repetition of them. Bite is definitely a name worth keeping an eye out for.
Vinyl Fantasy Reviews has been championing for Carleigh Mack for a little while now. Earlier this year, the New Hampshire born musician put on a brilliantly captivating performance as part of LIPA’s 2ube Xtra events, and has since released a gorgeous EP in the form of ‘Growing Pains‘. It is wholly unsurprising that Mack has already been selected by Boot Music to take part in a showcase.
Kicking her set off with ‘I’d Be Better Blonde‘, Mack’s distinctive and charming vocals immediately land with wonderful impact. They contain not just power, but the subtle and wistful melancholy of someone far beyond her years, perfect for tackling topics such as the female experience, existential dread, and living with insecurity. Far from being dreary, however, Mack brings these topics to life with a wry charm and wit.
Excited nerves bubble beneath the surface as Mack performs to a crowd of people she is mostly unfamiliar with. As previously mentioned, it is increasingly common for people to attend a Boot Music showcase simply on the basis of the name alone; the promise of good music is implied. Her backing musicians provide a great support to her performance, with a clear understanding and appreciation of her music and artistic vision, performing each of Mack’s songs with the character and energy that they demand.
Tracks such as ‘What If I’m Not‘ and ‘Blu-Ray Disc‘ see Mack delivering some towering belted notes that induce potent shivers. The latter of these in particular acts as a phenomenal closing track that truly assists in demonstrating the beauty of Mack’s song-writing, and her incredible capacity for storytelling. Even in a small room such as this, a far cry from the ornate space of LIPA’s Sir Paul McCartney Auditorium, her star quality radiates brightly, and her presence demands to be placed on far bigger stages with far bigger audiences.
Nothing is certain, but Mack truly feels destined for success. A vital talent that Merseyside is blessed to have.
One important factor about Merseyside’s identity that should always be remembered is that Liverpool wouldn’t be Liverpool without the Irish, and the same can certainly be said for its music scene. If the previous two acts had simply been warming up the audience, then Irish-Liverpudlian four-piece GONDOLAS were here to kick things into the next gear, with a ferocious and fun blend of indie, punk, and alternative.
The punchy yet slick energies of the band are immediately apparent, although technical issues prevent the audience from being able to hear the band all too well. A brief intermission after the opening track is handled with humour by band, as the sound technician immediately sets to fixing the issue, and before long things are back on track as the band hurtle back into their set, unfazed by it all.
There is barely any room to move within the Jacaranda, but the audience do what they can, unable to resist the turbocharged alternative rock that barrels forth from the band. Their chemistry is undeniable, with some particularly amusing banter between their bassist and vocalist that truly makes their set feel the part for a proper night out. A broken guitar string is, once again, handled with good humour; GONDOLAS seem to have no understanding of the concept of nerves, taking everything is their stride with a cool confidence.
The set saw the band play their new single, ‘Spilt Milk‘, packing in some playful audience participation, and a brilliantly punchy pseudo-breakdown in the back half. Alongside this, the band debuted their latest effort which has yet to see release, which was marked by electrifyingly contrasting guitar melodies and devilishly infectious vocal hooks in the chorus.
The band close off their set with their debut single, ‘Swing And A Miss’, which seems to be familiar to a good portion of the crowd. It serves as a climax of energy for their set, as the band and audience feed of one another’s building enthusiasm in a positive feedback loop of pure, raucous fun.
There’s plenty to love about GONDOLAS. They feel like a band ready to take off, and wholly deserve the opportunity to open for bigger bands around the country. They make for the perfect start to your party.
The headlining act for the night took the form of Leeds based act Eades. Having recently not only dropped a brand new EP, ‘Fight or Flight’, but also provided support for Wunderhorse, there is certainly a sense that Eades could be the next big indie scene outfit to know about.
Immediately, their sound presents with a driving rock edge that demands a semi-truck and uninterrupted stretch of American freeway; it’s the sort of unfiltered rock’n’roll that immediately sets the blood on fire. Their stage presence is enigmatic, as if they are wholly captured by the whims of their own music.
Each member has access to a microphone, meaning that moments that require harmonies or gang vocals sound immense in their scope. The band’s scrappy punk energy is adored by the members of the audience who know them, and even those that don’t are easily swept up in the groove.
Ferocious guitar solos are thrashed out over the top of swaggering rhythms; the musicianship of Eades is phenomenal, with each member clearly having an appreciation for the finer details of their instrument. Performing not only material from their latest EP, but unreleased material, the band keep the energy levels high and maintain a moshing presence at the front of the audience.
The interactions with said audience are tactfully done; rather than coming across disconnected or overbearing, the band know exactly how to play the crowd, and how to get the most energy from the mass of people. Part of this is down to how the band ensure that there is as little silence from their instruments as possible; between tracks, the band frequently softly jam out as they prepare, giving the basement of the Jacaranda a bluesy bayou atmosphere.
’Constantly’ makes use of an organ feature, and brings some Fontaines D.C. vibes to the proceedings. ‘Fade Away’ sees the guitarist and bassist swap roles, and deliver a killer bridge segment packed with building instrumentals and fantastic vocal harmonies. Even the slower cut from the EP, ‘Loose Cliffs Edge’, lands with impact, and acts as a great moment of respite before the final incendiary climax of the night.
The title track of their new EP acts as the rapturous closing statement of their set. It’s hard to believe there is a single skeptic of Eades in the room. There is a charisma and sense of fun that they possess that crosses genre preference, age, background, or anything else that may make you think that Eades would not be for you. They possess a coolness that makes you wish you were up there performing. The band have not once asked for a pit but have once again been gifted a constant hurtling mass of bodies at the very front of the venue. That speaks highly of the pure infectious energy that inhabits every chord of their music.
Are Eades destined to be the next big thing? Perhaps. They’re a distinctive outfit both sonically and on stage. Yet even if they remain darlings of local stages, there is no doubt that they are worth the entrance fee. With their endorsement from Boot Music, however, it would be no surprise if you start seeing their name in lights in the coming years.
Featured photo credit belongs to @farcaspian
Follow the performers on social media below:
Bite
Carleigh Mack
GONDOLAS
Eades
VINYL FANTASY REVIEWS 
Leave a comment