Himvisible presents Emerge Festival 2021 at the Clock Face Miners’ Recreation Club, St Helens. 

And so for another musical storm – tonight we return to see the amazing Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs, and genuinely we cannot wait! It’s St Helens in Merseyside for tonight’s gig.  Not far from the town centre (3.5 miles to be precise) is Clock Face, a small, now predominantly residential area, built on its once vast coal supplies. Named after a huge clock face that was a feature on the local inn, sadly no longer here, but there is another pub close to its place which in commemoration carries on the tradition, having a clock built into its facade.  There formerly were 3 collieries in the vicinity, one being named Clock Face after the village and the inn. An industry long gone from these parts now, the Clock Face country park is now situated on one of the former sites. It’s very fitting that tonight’s venue is a part of that history: the Clock Face Miners Recreation Club. The venue is exactly as you’d expect for a local recreation club.  The bar staff were very accommodating and super friendly, drinks were very reasonably priced and it’s a great intimate setting for a live band performance.  Ryan (Morris), Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs’ frontman, tells me the band used to use the club for rehearsal and practice, so again it’s a very fitting venue for tonight. 

Moonbow_Clock Face Miners_Warren Millar

1st support-Moonbow 

Louise-vocals/rhythm guitar, Peter Wood-drums, John Paul Randles-keyboard, Anthony Winrow-lead guitar, Jack Birkett-bass 

First, on our lineup tonight are Moonbow.  Firstly: wow this girl can sing!!  I’ll go all out here and say Louise’s voice is close to, if not actually, mezzo-soprano.  She’s that good!!  It’s a very tight, well rehearsed performance; on point the entire set. Very indie/folk, indie/rock in genre, great guitar lines with very atmospheric undertones. The vocals go from lilting, lullaby style to huge, piercing, almost yodeling type moments, with excellent range and control. The notes reached are spine tingling at times. We’re treated to back to back, full on playing: a varied selection of upbeat and slow tempo.  A great start to the night, thank you Moonbow. 

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2nd support –The Arlos 

Ruddock-rhythm guitar, Reverend Jay Ryder-vocals/lead guitar, Dan D2 Delgado-drums, Adrian Otero-bass 

This Huyton-based, 4 piece indie/rock band formed in December 2020.  With a real passion for music, the guys have played many venues and festivals in the short time they’ve been together. Ruddock and Jay are from Huyton, but Dan and Adrian are from Venezuela, so the band have a huge Latin American following. Ruddock explains how, although they are actually from different parts of the world, they feel like brothers and all share a love of music, songwriting, and playing.  Another very tight performance. I get a mixture of genres and influences coming through – from indie rock to Brit pop, to blues and rock’n’roll; solid drumming, excellent guitar lines, and very well written. “High on the nightmares,” in Ruddock’s words, “has many twists and turns, we like to leave people to their own interpretation of our music.” This is another great set, very well executed and the guys get stuck in and really play. Ruddick says “all our music has the many highs and lows of life, we create magic, a pill can’t cure the mind like the vibration of music can”.

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Headliner-Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs

Ryan Morris-vocals, Luke Hankinson-lead guitar, Tasha Clough-rhythm guitar, Liam Shrives-bass , Liam Hudson-drums

It’s my second time in as many weeks seeing chicken man and the bad eggs, and I don’t mind saying I’ve been looking forward to this.  I was totally blown away by the last performance, and I know they won’t disappoint tonight. This is home turf for the band, hailing from St Helens, which inspires much of their music, and is the backdrop to the material Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs produce. Formed in 2019, this 5 piece band have a diverse range of influences, ranging from punk (which is definitely the strongest theme), metal, and indie rock. In my opinion, Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs bring a unique sound, you can hear the obvious punk and indie rock themes, but there is something edgy, new, and fresh about their sound.  It makes you sit up and take note. It’s a brilliant fusion of influences and ingenious new flavours. 

The start of the performances explodes at us… literally…the drums are loud and fast in true punk style, the bass lines are out of this world, and the guitars are crunching and raw, but perfectly executed.  Frontman Ryan Morris is as ever on full form, barely recognisable from my last encounter, without the Halloween outfit and horror make up, but the performance is just as wild in content. On and off the stage throughout, dancing wildly, jumping and leaping about, he’s in amongst the crowd, swinging the mic about and giving it everything, his voice not faltering throughout! This band throw so much energy into what they do, their performance is a real credit to them.   All 3 guitarists, Liam, Tash, and Luke, are bouncing around, Liam is pounding his drum kit, often up on his feet!! It’s a totally different venue this week, totally in aid of the Himvisible community interest company, so it’s a mixed audience. Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs always bring many followers, who are here tonight, but, being a social club and a fundraising event, we also have under18s, pensioners, and younger kids present.  The band handles this mixed audience brilliantly. It’s not as raucous as last time, it would be inappropriate, but it’s still wildly chaotic enough.  We still feel like the Tasmanian devil has been through, it’s still fast lane, frantic and slightly unhinged, and we still love it!! 

Tonight some new material is being performed, some of which has only been written within the last week or so, with drummer Liam only having a day to learn it. You’d never know  – it was all seamless and brilliant! Luke (Hankinson) explains how the name Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs comes from Liam, their drummer:  he was known as ‘the chicken man” as he worked at Nando’s at the time, but the name stuck. Previously headlining at the Clock Face Miners’ Recreation Club, as part of the Clock stock line up, alongside DJ sets from the legendary Clint Boon, formerly of Inspiral Carpets, Clint (Boon) was so impressed by Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs that he now regularly plays their songs on his radio show. 

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St Helens and the working class background is a big influence on the themes of the band’s material.  “We sing about what life’s like in a town like ours, the struggles, but also how the community is. Our material is real, not just romance and covers, we do none of that”. The music is inspired by all generations, from the Hives, Primal Scream, and Joy Division to name but a few. The vibe the band gives off is infectious, people are dancing, the crowd has moved forward and the musical crazy train is full steam ahead.  You never quite know what’s coming next with these guys, other than the guarantee of great sound and great entertainment. “SOS (standing for same old shit)” is explained as being the most St Helens song ever: It’s about life in the borough, the good and the bad. Tonight’s performance is in full force, the volcano of punk has erupted and the wild musical lava engulfs us all. Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs have a way of including everyone at the venue. As an audience member you feel almost part of this whacky world of crazy punk rock performance. 

After an explosive set, it’s brought to an end, finishing up what has been another must-see, ‘what the hell just happened?’ performance.  We could honestly watch this band all night – Pure, unbridled energy and entertainment from beginning to end. Guitars are put down and the band leave the stage…but the gift that keeps on giving – Liam stays at his drum kit, continuing to smash out the beats, and he’s really going for it. The rest of the band are mingling and chatting, he’s still drumming up there.  The DJ set begins, so he starts playing to any and all songs in the DJ set, his energy seemingly boundless!  This is exactly what you get with Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs – it’s 100 percent, plus some, everything is put into what they do, and there’s usually some sort of twist !! Expect the unexpected, these guys will keep you guessing, and really give something different and to be remembered. Another mind blowing performance.

Thank you, Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs, for yet again delivering your very individual brand of madness, mayhem, genius, and style!!

Setlist-

The Take Over

Sleazeball

SOS

On the Run

Can of Courage (Walk of Shame)

Ode to a Nuisance

Cheshire Cat

Indian Pale Fale

Incredible Edible

Fools Game

Peter Piper

Himvisible

Tonight’s event, Emerge Festival 2021, has been organised by the community interest company Himvisible, entirely in aid of this men’s mental health support group, with all ticket sales and proceeds going toward the necessary outlet, facilitated as a peer to peer talking group, set within a relaxed, comfortable and non-clinical environment. The main aims of Himvisible are to assist and support adult males of all ages within the St Helens borough with issues concerning mental health: suicide prevention, early intervention, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health as a whole. It’s a support group run entirely by volunteers, which is totally non-judgemental, with a social element to complement the weekly groups. The pressures of today’s society mean that more and more men are suffering complex emotional and mental health problems. Males are less inclined to talk about such issues or to seek help for the struggles they face. Sadly, St Helens is actually the suicide capital of the UK due to death rates from suicide in males aged between 18-49.  Himvisible are the only completely voluntarily run men’s mental health group within the St Helens demographic and have now been operating for two and a half years. 

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Emerge 2021 is the first music event organised by Himvisible. As well as raising awareness and vital funding for this essential group and the assistance it provides, this event is about celebrating music and supporting grass roots talent, with headliners Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs being local and from St Helens. Music of course is known to be a great outlet for stress, can enhance good mood, and can have a huge positive impact on mental illness, often helping to relieve things like depression. Music improves focus, helps to relax, reduces anxiety, and can elevate both mood and motivation as well as being moving and inspiring. This resonates. 

Thank you Moonbow, the Arlos and wondrous Chicken Man, and the Bad Eggs for kicking off this first Emerge Festival in true style, and thank you Himvisible, and for the excellent support, you provide.