The Mysterines

At Future Yard

With Support From

Astles + Ambedo Blue

02/02/23

“C’mon, no one’s here to see the support bands” someone sounding bored complains behind us.

It’s Independent Venue Week and tonight’s particular show is brought to us by BBC Introducing. Two very important pillars giving smaller bands a lift. We’ve seen The Mysterines previously support both Red Rum Club and Peter Hook a number of years ago and even more recently they’ve supported Primal Scream and Bloc Party. Everyone has to start out somewhere and here they are headlining and supporting major UK acts. Always listen to the support bands you never know who you might catch, we’d be nowhere without support bands.

Wirral sensations The Mysterines played to a sold-out crowd on their home turf at Future Yard as part of Independent Venue Week.

(Ambedo Blue_Credit: Lucy McLachlan)

First up are local band Ambedo Blue with some sunny guitar pop. Noting that their bass player decided he’d rather be in Sweden than play this most important gig, their singer’s dad stepped in on bass duties for the evening. And what a fine job he did. Ambedo Blue were the perfect bit of Merseyside indie to kick off the evening, check out songs like ‘You Got It All’ and ‘…This Time’ for some sunshine on a grey day.

Praised for his beautiful ‘balloon moon pop’, Astles is well known around the Merseyside music scene. Recently supporting Bill Ryder Jones and Willie J Healy, he’s even put on his own show with his Balloon Moon Orchestra in St Brides Church. Captivating an already full Future Yard, Astles music is dreamy and inspiring, almost memory evoking to another time or place.

(Astles_Credit: Lucy McLachlan)

2022 saw The Mysterines release their long-awaited debut album ‘Reeling‘, extensively tour the US and UK and release their most recent EP ‘All These Things‘ which includes live recordings from a Rough Trade performance.

Tonight they enter Future Yard, a venue smaller than the gigs they’ve been playing in Liverpool lately at least, throwing flowers over an adoring crowd to a background of The Beatles song, “Helter Skelter”.

Blazing through a set not so riotous as we’ve seen before but just as powerful. Through extensive touring the world they play as tight as we’ve ever seen them before. George Favager’s bass is pounding from the speakers, enough to make the whole room shake. Guitarist Callum Thompson towers over the audience on the edge of the stage decked out in a western shirt. Drummer Paul Crilly gives it his all from underneath blinding white lights whilst Lia Metcalfe intensely prowls around the stage standing cooly over her bandmates. Their sound is destined for arena-sized venues.

(The Mysterines_Credit: Lucy McLachlan)

“In My Head” and “Hung Up” are saved for last and bring to a close a short but incredibly powerful set. It feels like this should have been an Independent Venue Week closer but we’re not complaining, it’s a mid-week jolt of energy.

Catch the Mysterines supporting the Arctic Monkeys this year. And never forget to catch the support act.

Review and photography by Lucy McLachlan

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