You would never have assumed it during their upcoming performance, but Paint Me In Colour were tired. Not the miserable kind of tired, but instead the kind that comes with achieving something fantastic. This evening marked the end of the band’s debut headline tour, which had taken them to the likes of the far-flung lands of Leeds and Sheffield. Liverpool marked the end of this tour, and whilst the band were ready for a well-deserved sleep, they still had just enough energy in their tanks to make it a celebration to remember.
The venue is decorated in the manner of a party; silver streamers and bunting that reads ‘let’s party bitches’ are hung from the walls, whilst decorative paper balls are hung from the ceiling. A variety of cakes are available to purchase alongside the merch, whilst glow sticks are handed out to concertgoers. As a way to wrap up their debut headline nationwide tour, Paint Me In Colour certainly ensured that the night felt suitably celebratory.
Proceedings opened up with SYLLO, the solo singer-songwriter project of Liverpool musician Joel James. On stage, he was joined by Jake Baxendale on guitar, and Joe Pink on drums. Immediately, the audience is hit with a glittering cross between pop punk and alternative rock, with punchy, rolling percussion providing a strong backdrop for some gentle riffing and pleasant yet understated vocals.
Their presence is playful, with their clear understanding of their instruments and roles shining through; these are three commendable musicians who perform with a real polish. One track brings forwards a gorgeous guitar solo that is performed with enough pizzazz to make it shine, without feeling self-indulgent. Another features a bouncing percussive rhythm decorated by subtle, shimmering synths, almost lending something of a Tears For Fears feeling to the whole affair.
James is a grounded, humble, and warm presence, with a genuine soft likeability about him that ensures his music remains engaging and earnest. SYLLO’s latest single, ‘All You Need‘, wraps driving retro rock around heavy grooves in a compelling display of indie rock goodness. Their closing number brings a dance-rock bridge that is certain to remind listeners of The Wombats or Courteeners.
Despite the small crowd, SYLLO performed with the conviction of a band playing to a packed room; it is clear that they understood that, even if you are only playing to one person who has never heard of you, that one person is a potential new fan. There’s an earnestly to their music and performance that will be received well by audiences, and the act may well prove to be that an indie darling yet.
Just as Paint Me In Colour supported them on their debut headline show, it was now time for The Drivers Club to support their musical comrades on their debut headline tour. The four-piece have been riding high from a busy few months on the north-west circuit, and the end of the year sees them taking part in Liverpool’s Favourite Days festival, headlined by Sprints and Yard Act. It is clear why they are in demand from the moment they step on stage; The Drivers Club might the coolest band around.
Kicking things off with their most recent single ‘Y R U SO LOUD‘, the band display a commanding stage presence, with each member giving you plenty of unique reasons to watch them. Vocalist Adam Johnson possesses a brilliantly theatrical voice, but not to an overbearing degree; dare I say it, there is an element of Queen to the band’s performance, especially as they move into an unreleased track packed with a blistering finger-picked guitar solo.
‘Stop Telling Me How To Dress‘ is a slack, laid-back affair containing some gorgeous grooves, with every member of the band feeling every ounce of music that they produce. Johnson’s vocals rise up from seemingly nowhere, and consume the entirety of the room with a vibrant sense of charisma and wit. Bassist Liam Brady lays down one funky bass line after another, whilst maintaining the cool, calm, swaggering energy that bassist so desperately aspire to possess.
Their big singles ‘So Fine‘ and ‘Lost In Your Mind (Psychokiller)‘ go down well with the audience, with a portion of the band’s solid following showing up to support them; those who know the songs singalong with every word, whilst those who don’t are easily swept up in the slick grooves and wickedly catchy melodies that the band are already masters at crafting. Certainly, it is hard to imagine Paint Me In Colour choosing a better band to warm and audience up with.
The set is rounded off with one final unreleased track, entitled ‘Oh My Love‘. It’s a commendable closing statement from the band, featuring a particularly brilliant slap bass performance from Brady. If any doubts existed that this band is one of style over substance, then certainly they will have been extinguished by the superb musicianship on display during this song. It’s all incredibly well received by the audience, which has steadily built in number as the performance has gone on, and is certain to mark another step towards an incredibly bright future for this outfit. The Drivers Club are simply too cool to not succeed.
Even on small stages such as that of the Kazimier Stockroom, there is one fact that has remained true for Paint Me In Colour across all of their performances: they possess a powerful sense of ambition, and a real appreciation for what simply being fun can do. The set is commenced with a grand orchestral overture like something out of a Disney movie, layered with a playful narration that encourages people to truly take in the spectacle on stage. From here, the band commence their traditional percussive introductory piece, drummer Sam Pierpoint and guitarist Matt Johnson providing thumping rhythms beneath snippets of vocal recordings from Olivia Springer, all the whilst Springer and bassist George Higgins provide their finest dance moves.
Immediately, the band launch into their set proper, showcasing their phenomenal sense of groove, and the pitch perfect vocal talents of –. Members of the audience whom had turned up for the prior supports remain in the room, snagged by the immediate captivating and welcoming energy of Paint Me In Colour; whilst this night represented a celebration for their tour, the band still remain acutely aware that they must do everything in their power to win over newcomers.
From here, the band break out one of their big singles, ‘Ugly‘. As expected, Springer provides a stunning vocal performance, with a captivating and strident sense of confidence that makes for a particularly impactful contrast to the lyrical themes of self-doubt and hating one’s own appearance. Higgins and Pierpoint make for a brilliantly fun combination of characters to watch, as their rhythms bounce around one another in a dazzling display.
An unreleased cut that speaks of refitting into society after a depressive episode makes for a wonderful new addition to the band’s set; swinging retro rock vibes paint the room as bouncing percussion and glittering guitars collide in a wonderfully theatrical way. As if rewarding newcomers for entertaining their original material, the band then offer a choice of covers: ‘Please Please Please‘ by Sabrina Carpenter, or ‘About You Now‘ by Sugababes. By means of cheering, the audience overwhelmingly vote for the latter, and the band perform the 00’s anthem with a bristling pop punk edge that gets the audience truly moving.
Two more of the band’s singles, ‘Pity Me‘ and ‘Pick Me Up‘, go down well with the audience, with the latter in particular standing out; there is something about the track’s punchy walking rhythm and Springer’s playfully sarcastic vocal delivery that seems to ensure that, no matter the audience, the track goes down a treat. Another unreleased number is then provided, and the audience is provided with instructions on when to sing-along; for once, as opposed to their previous shows reviewed here, Springer remembers when to signal the audience to join in throughout the performance, and the volume of the concertgoers nearly matches that of the band. There is a charisma about Paint Me In Colour, an electrifying, contagious energy, that makes it impossible to not find them enjoyable; regardless of whether members of the audience had been with them from day one, or just for that set, they were all thoroughly engaged with the band’s antics on stage.
Now came time for the band to close off their set, and as is tradition for them, they chose to do so with their unreleased anthem, ‘Try‘. It is a song that desperately deserves a studio recording, representing the sheer talent of this band in its purest form. From the truly phenomenal vocals from Springer, soaring with a strength that seems impossible to achieve this late on into a live set, to the simple yet incredibly impactful instrumental performances that explode with each chorus, ‘Try‘ remains the highlight of Paint Me In Colour’s live set, and perhaps their entire discography; the admission fee is worth it for this single track alone, let alone all of the joyous fun that comes before it.
Unfortunately for the band, as tired as they might have been after a lengthy tour, the audience remained eager for more, and demanded a genuine encore from the outfit; the earlier offering of ‘Please Please Please‘ remained unfulfilled, and so to round out the evening on a suitably uplifting and playful note, the band laid down their cover of the track. Some may consider this sacrilege, but between Springer’s killer interpretation of the vocals, and the minimalist rock interpretation of the instrumental, this version may well outshine the original, and the rapturous applause the band received following it indicates that the audience may well stand in agreement.
As with every live review conducted of this band, the conclusion is the same: Paint Me In Colour are an outfit deserving of stages far, far bigger than this. This degree of polish, ambition, and pure work ethic is something to marvel at, and it is easy to imagine them opening for bands far larger than themselves, such as Crawlers or Dead Poet Society. For now, however, the band have earned themselves a well-deserved rest, and if it all goes wrong, they can certainly make a career as cake bakers.
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SYLLO
The Drivers Club
Paint Me In Colour
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