As small grass root venues go, there are none more famous than the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Famous, of course, for The Beatles but also the multitude of artists and bands that have played this venue. Tonight’s addition to the list is the fantastic Lightning Seeds who are playing as part of the United in Music Eurovision tour.
The band, led by Ian Broudie, did a complete 90-minute set, much to the delight of the audience who were packed in like sardines in the back room of the Cavern.
The setlist was a mix of the band’s biggest hits, including “Lucky You,” “Pure,” and “Perfect” as well as some new tracks like “See you in the stars” and “Emily Smiles.” I must say, the new tracks blended so well with the more famous tracks that you would never have guessed they were new. The band’s performance of “Sense” was a definite highlight, with the catchy chorus getting the crowd singing along.
Broudie’s vocals were on point throughout the night, and his interactions with the audience were a nice touch. I did feel though that the audience were stagnated. Maybe this was due to the lack of space but apart from when “The Life of Riley” was played, there were very few people dancing and jumping around and it felt like a low energy compared to the band’s high energy on stage.
The band was equally impressive, with tight musicianship and great chemistry on stage. The sound mix was excellent. The only time this became an issue was during “Sugar Coated Iceberg“. You could visibly see Broudie wince at the volume level of the saxophone. Harmonious as it was, it was verging on drowning out evert thing else around it. But this was a minor glitch in an otherwise perfect light and sound display.
The encore consisted of Marvellous, Whole Wide World and 3 Lions. It was interesting to learn that Broudie covered Whole wild world because as a child he used to always hear it from Eric’s on Matthew Street.
A highlight of the encore was when Broudie was handed a replica world cup trophy during 3 lions. The fact that someone had taken time out to bring this along seemed to astound Broudie who automatically handed it to someone else in the audience when he was given it.
Overall, The Lightning Seeds’ performance was a testament to their enduring talent and popularity. Their unique blend of jangly pop, rock, and indie sensibilities have stood the test of time and they continue to make great music and influence a new generation of artists. Some, who hopefully, will also go on to play the famous Cavern Club.