Sound Music Group presents – Guise at the Jacaranda Club, Liverpool 

Friday, 4th March 2021 

A band that is taking Liverpool by storm, Guise, is our headliner tonight.  Liverpool – Sound City – and the famous Jacaranda or JAC Club is tonight’s host. A huge part of Liverpool’s music history with early incarnations of iconic bands like the Beatles and the Merseybeats starting out at jam sessions here back in the day. With its American jukebox (which is still here) and the first espresso coffee machine in the city, it really must have been some hangout! It’s still a cool place with a laid back and very welcoming vibe. Photos and music memorabilia adorn the walls, impressive chandeliers provide lighting, it’s a very bohemian feel…of Parisian coffee shops in the early 1900s, there s a vibe of creativity throughout. Spread across 3 floors, with bars on each, we find the band set up in the basement. Of course, Liverpool is famed for its basement clubs and sound so it’s very fitting, more so given that all 3 bands tonight are Liverpool based, and 2 of them are from Liverpool and are proud Scousers.  A different feel below ground, it’s darker, smaller, a cosy feel with red lighting, an L shaped stage, cool bar and tiki and jungle inspired murals on the walls. There s one massive crowd here already. Guise are not to be sniffed at. I’ve heard a lot about these guys and how they really bring something different, so I’m eager to see them tonight.

The Matriarchy: Credit Christabel

First support – The Matriarchy 

Charlotte – vocals, Jack – bass,Thomas – lead guitar,Chris – drums 

Liverpool based, 4 piece, indie rock/grunge band, The Matriarchy, are first in support tonight. A band I’m seeing for the first time tonight, and this is a band that is off and running right from the start. With ricochet effects, screaming guitars, banging beats and squawking bass lines, it’s brilliant. Crossing over many genres, it’s predominantly grunge/indie rock but there’s skater sound, modern punk, art rock and even a hint of metal in there with a real androgynous pop feel running throughout. Subtle sounds and soft undercurrents build with hard basslines and really impactful lead riffs, with diverse and steady vocals sitting on top. Charlotte easily transcends from low, angst ridden growls to a much higher vocal range with ease. A cover of the Darkness ‘I believe in a thing called love’ is no easy feat, but she pulls this off effortlessly and this really demonstrates what a strong voice she has. 

Great audience interaction, this band certainly come across as genuine, and as an audience, we instantly love this band. The crowd are dancing, clapping and singing, it’s safe to say this set got smashed big time. Original material mixed with fun covers with their own personality on, its all going down very well. Extended instrumentals and a spoken word section really shakes things up. I’ve loved what I’ve heard here from Matriarchy tonight, I’m hooked. A very vibrant, really fresh sounding band.  Loved it, thank you.

Setlist: Bullet, I believe in a thing called love (Darkness cover),  Jack’s,  Ish,   Gimme (Abba cover), A w B, Toxic (Britney Spears cover)

Dead Rebel_Credit: Christabel

Second support – Dead Rebel 

Rob – guitar/vocals, Dylan – lead guitar, Dan – drums/backing vocal 

3 piece Scouse band,  Dead Rebel, are next. They describe their sound as ‘doom dance’ – doom you can dance to. This band hit you right between the eyes from the off. From the moment they start to play it’s a musical shock to the system in a big way, but it’s a good one! Loud, banging, hardcore, it’s all guns blazing and it’s not slowing down any time soon. These guys play, I mean they play so hard, it’s like their lives depend on it. It’s quite something to see. It’s a hard hitting sound, very impactful, you can’t not sit up and take notice. It’s the kind of sound you can feel as well as hear. Crowd members are moshing, lead guitarist Dylan is a cloud of long blonde locks flying about as he bounces about the stage. This energy is immense. It is BOUNCING in here, heat levels are soaring.  A very retro feel, to me it’s so reminiscent of that very early 90s American grunge movement. It’s perfect for dim, sweaty basements…that spirit is definitely here during this set. Mumbling, angst ridden, it’s wailing, moaning but also an outcry…it’s fiery and statement making. There’s also a bang up to date newness to this sound and at times a bit dark, dance anthem feeling with the beats. All original and brilliant tracks, Dead Rebel have an e.p: ‘the Hole in everything’, which is out now and well worth investing in. This crowd is hooked, this set is spectacular…moody, atmospheric sounds, but banter, chatting and joking from all 3 band members. Hard, fast beats, guitars are weeping, then crashing; vocals are low end of the scale, mumbling but even and steady and melodic, all working brilliantly. It’s shoe gazing at its best, but with an added optimism, more up tempo. 

Honestly, this is really one hell of a band to go see live. Dead Rebel play again in Stockport on 18th March at Blossoms. I urge you to check them out…be ready for a bang! One action packed, full throttle, live performance. Musical craftsmanship at its best and one hell of a set….thank you, explosive and brilliant Dead Rebel

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Setlist: Animals,Don’t need your low, What you are, Laura, Hole in everything, We’re already dead, Down

Guise_Credit: Christabel

 Headliner- GUISE

 Louie James – vocals, Jassy G – lead guitar, Michael Berry – bass, Alan Jacob – drums

I’ve heard a lot about our headliner tonight, Guise…I’m intrigued and have really been looking forward to seeing them finally, having already met the band members this evening, and having been wowed by the outfits.  I mean Jassy (lead guitarist) has sprayed himself gold, so I can already see this is going to be something different and special.  Liverpool based, 4 piece, Guise, are a genre transcending band like no other. Rock being at the heart, it’s another enthusiastic, straight in, no nonsense start, completely different sound to what we’ve heard so far tonight. It’s a real glam rock vibe to it.

This venue is properly rammed now, and everyone’s up for this…it’s a great atmosphere. The party is in full force and this latest performance just builds on what’s already been brilliantly supplied by the 2 previous bands. It’s a happy-making set, feel good, the band bring sassy and cool and are very likeable. Louie wows in lycra, star spangled catsuit with tasselled arms, super cool in platform boots -it’s retro 70s glamtastic. Her voice is impressive, very smooth and rich in tone, very full, with high tones reached very well. The sound is bouncy, up tempo, glittering, anthemic, platform stomping greatness. Jassy is every inch the Rock star, clad in gold lycra to match his gold skin, he really amps it up on stage with epic guitar solos with shimmering lines. The bass is banging from Michael, it’s that thumpy, electric 70s sound, and new addition to the band, Alan, on drums is going for it, hammering out those beats with real passion and energy…even delivering a samba style solo which the crowd loved.

Guise_Credit: Christabel

Although glam rock in the styling, the musical genres and sounds alternate hugely. There’s an underlying rock n roll theme of the early 60s, that aforementioned basement sound, then a more 70s, honky tonk feel, then the obvious 70s rock and glam, but also art pop/alt rock, the shimmerings of indie and at times a slight dream pop and androgyny to it all. It all binds together impressively and creates one epic sound, which sure is popular, tonight’s gig having sold out fully days after going on sale. The sugary sweet at times vocal really leads the way, floating over screeching guitars. Think the Sweet but with Debbie Harry vocals!  Original songs which are real hard hitters, bangers, banter and humour, brilliant interaction with the crowd. The stage presence is off the scale along with performance. It’s cool and charismatic. Lovely, approachable band members, all 4 had been mingling, having photos taken and chatting to followers throughout the evening. There’s that feeling you get when seeing a huge band…it’s a full of content set and a lot of trouble has been taken. These guys really brought the party tonight and I’m guessing that’s true of every performance. 

In one epic but impromptu encore Slade’s ‘Feel the noise’ is belted out, with chanting, shirts thrown into the audience and feedback….to one hell of a crowd response!!  I’ll be seeing Guise again…fact.  What’s not to like?  Original tracks, so many styles seamlessly blended together into their own unique sound, with real performance and a huge style element and super tight performance on top. In the words of the lycra clad Messiah (Jassy) himself  “Come ‘Ed, get your banger on this one ..it’s fat banger city”… Enough said.

Setlist:

Do it Again, Don’t Want your Love,  Breakout,  Kids in America,  Lifelong,  The Other Side,  By your Side,  Favours,  We’re Not Gonna Take it,  Bardo,  Push it tonight,  Watchin You, Identity Crisis, Saturday,  Come on Feel the Noise (Slade cover).

Words: Janet Harding 

Images: Christabel