COW 

with support from

 Ben Whitley

 KETWIGS and The Good Host

At OUTPOST

10/12/22

It’s Saturday evening and iv been invited to see one of my favourite local bands, ‘COW’ at Renshaw streets ‘OUTPOST’. I have not seen these guys live since well before the pandemic hit and it really doesn’t feel that long ago.

Looking out my window before leaving for the show I’m feeling a sense of trepidation due to the cold weather blast and the snow and sleet we have had all day so I opt to wear my Chelsea boots, I have not even worn these in over 4 years and they needed a bloody good dusting off! I’m glad I have chosen to wear these though because as soon as I step out the front door I realise if I’d had worn trainers I would now be skating down the street and falling on my ass as the ground is so slippy with ice.

I arrive at OUTPOST a little bit before the bands arrive as I’m planning to have a little chat with COW’s frontman Kyle Lee about an interview in the coming weeks, (watch this space). It’s actually the first time iv been to ‘OUTPOST’ and I’m pleasantly surprised as I enter the Shebeen-style venue, having a look around the bar room and the gig room I’m strongly reminded of ‘SOUND’, an old well known Liverpool music venue that was sadly lost to the pandemic, it makes me really happy to be in a very authentic grassroots venue again! They also have a fantastic selection of craft beers so it’s definitely worth a visit for any of you craft beer fans and it’s extremely well priced, I stayed on diet coke tonight and had three pints of the stuff, costing me a measly total of £4.50! Impressive hay!

(Ben Whitley_Credit: Billy Vitch)

So on to the show and tonight’s first act, which is the fantastic ‘Ben Whitley‘ who is an acoustic guitar and harmonica playing singer/songwriting Liverpool native, Ben is only 18 years old and I have got to say, at that age, it defiantly takes a lot of guts to open a show!

Ben starts off his set with his song “I Guess” and I’m instantly reminded of Bob Dylan and Jake Bugg, the song starts with him playing harmonics on the intro and is a fast passed folk-infused song that gives me a protest song vibe! It kinda reminds me of “Crucify Your Mind”, a song by Rodriguez, AKA ‘Searching The Sugerman’ from his iconic album ‘Cold Fact’, although Ben’s song is a faster tempo the similarities are definitely there and I’m super impressed.

Ben treats us to several more of his songs from his recently released album “Maybe It’s A Way Of Life“. He is definitely one to watch and I honestly can see this young man doing big things in the very near future.

(KETWIGS_Credit: Billy Vitch)

Next up we have the extremely flamboyant ‘KETWIGS’ that’s made up of members, described in frontman Jamie’s own words as Jamie Roberts lead weirdo, Mike Edwards guitar man, Mali Anthony guitar woman, Brad bass and Tom shand on drums.

KETWIGS is a newish band with serval members being in other bands, to describe them is hard, but I’ll say they definitely remind me of another well-known Liverpool band you may have heard of called ‘SILENT-K’. They are a very energetic bunch with 3 guitarists, a bass player and a drummer, with a frontman who runs around the venue doing somersaults whilst still playing his guitar! Some songs they played that really stood out to me when ‘Fairy Tale’, ‘Dm’ and ‘No Notes’.

Although quite new these guys play amazingly and I’m excited to see what more they have in store over the coming year. If you see them on a show poster, definitely go and see them, you won’t be disappointed!

We are now introduced to a band whose lead singer, ‘Jason Baxter’ is also one of the guitarists of ‘COW’. The band who go by the name ‘The Good Host’ and compromise of members Simon Cooke on Drums, Tony Ferguson on Vocals and Bass and Jason Baxter on guitar and lead vocals.

I’m really taken aback by this band as they take us through their set, the vocals and harmonise between Jason and Tony are sublime, to say the least and honestly, Jason’s vocal range is magical, and the songs have a magical otherworldly feel, they are sung like haunting little tales of love, depression, wonder and magic and some of them wouldn’t be out of place in a Tim Burton or Guillermo del Toro film!

Some songs, like D.N.R vocally sound and remind me of Paul McCartney and without sounding over the top, I’m absolutely mesmerised by the entire set as my mind wanders off into a little dreamlike world that’s being created by the songs. An exciting and unique band that’s going straight to the top of my personal Spotify playlist!

Some songs from the set that really stood out to me included “The Son”, “The Lake”, D.N.R and “So So Sorry”. If you’re looking to take a trip into a magical, yet a little haunting wonderland, give these guys a listen.

(COW_Credit: Billy Vitch)

And here we are at the final of the night, the mighty COW!

If this night had ended with just the three previous bands it would have been a night to remember anyway, but to now get COW too makes for a really special night indeed.

COW has been around for a long time and anyone who is into the local music scene will know these guys well.

The band consists of members Adam Doug Jones on drums, Matthew Webster on bass, Jason Baxter on guitar and Kyle Lee on lead vocals and Guitar. To describe this band I’d go for heavy and melodic rock but it would be hard to compare them to any other band as they are so unique and each song is so different from the last one, although I am reminded of early Biffy Clyro and even Inhaler at times when these guys play! 

 I feel with them, you get a little bit of everything with their genre-bending songs like “Sick And Tired Of Being Lonely”, “Notemakers” and “Better than I am”. These guys just work so well together and you can see that being close friends really does bring the best out in them musically and man do they rock! Anthem-style songs like “On And On” leave you imagining them playing in an arena with everyone singing along!

(COW_Credit: Billy Vitch)

I’m a big fan of major rock bands like Biffy Clyro and Inhaler but honestly, I’d prefer to see ‘COW’ if given the option because their music takes you right back to the really cool underground rock music vibe of being in a small, sweaty and intimate venue of the early 2000s and that feeling is just magical, its a feeling that if you could bottle and sell it, you’d make an absolute fortune!

An epic and magical night of real grassroots music that has definitely been one of the most enjoyable shows I have been to this year.

Review and photography by NSGs Billy Vitch

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