The City Walls EP launch

With a line up including some of the city's best musical talent, Friday 1st November saw The City Walls launch their brand spanking new EP, Homefires, at one of Liverpool's premium music venues, Leaf Tea Shop & Bar. The perfect autumnal setting, complete with low lighting and antiquated surroundings bound together by the mutual love for wholesome music.

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On arrival, an almighty buzz filled the room, an overwhelming feel-good factor hit as you clambered around the mass of eagerly waiting music lovers, still turning up as the night grew longer. Amongst the chattering and drinking it was soon enough time for Red Sails to take to the stage. First on the bill, the five-piece brought their melodious simple sound into the very heart of Leaf's upstairs space. Velvety vocals and overpowering acoustic vibrations absorbed each and every one of us, ever-growing, their tracks became more than just your average anthems, taking us on another level of amazement. Uncomplicated but oh so powerful, the Liverpool soundtrack I once said they created was brought to life, their intimate set took away any boundaries that were present, warming up the eager audience for the night ahead. 

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Red Sails brought the room to a standstill, bewildered by the sound they produced. It was then time for another eagerly awaited bunch, Sugarmen. Their heavy chugging start created a sure sign of their arrival, notable foot-taps and hips swaying were noted as, like before, the audience admired the power held on stage. Multi-various tones and rough harmonies attacked the audience coming sharp and fast, defining a brilliant showcase of what real musicians should be. Complete with harrowing electric echoes instrumentally and vocally, proving their true right of being one of the best bands around in Liverpool to date, especially after only forming this year. Their set could have lasted forever and I doubt anyone would have ever felt a sense of boredom, cleverly, Sugarmen took each and every emotion in that room and twisted it into their own portrayal of revolt towards the bog-standard chart music we hear today. 

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A surrounding cuddle of music overlapping with a radiant gaze of talkative onlookers, it was now time for the well-known, Hummingbirds. They held the audience and provided us with the definite strength of talent but I failed to spot any progression on my part, certainly not as much as I expected after hearing about them long before this night. On the contrary, of course they were admirable, complete with their new bearded suit image, but I was left craving for more, I indeed had hoped for slightly a bit more exhilaration. 

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We then come to our hosts, The City Walls, a quartet who have been attracting ears recently with their bizarrely bridged acoustic folk feel. Melodious in sound and body, armed with their fantastic control of the audience, held captivated by their rich invigorating sound. Brilliantly, the music shone through, providing a psych slant on the softly exaggerated vocals and fantasising guitar rituals. Truly impressed was the overall emotion of the night, audience members found themselves questioning when they had ever been to a gig such as this before, full of such promise and exciting talent, just tasting each and every bite of success.

This launch was mega, I mean flawless, I doubt I will ever be at a gig so meaningful and exciting ever again. It's the sure determination of these artists that shine through, they love the music and the city. The City Walls never had to prove anything, yet they most definitely have shown us, they're not going anywhere quietly.

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Photographs courtesy of Dave Turley at www.dave-turleyphotography.com

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