Venue:
Liverpool Cavern Club & O2 Academy
Date: 14/11/2017
I not only got the opportunity to see Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul on Tuesday night, but I also was invited to a very special lunchtime show at the Cavern Club where the full band performed a short set of Beatles tunes.
So I was met at the back door of the Cavern Club by Steve’s Tour Manager who ushered us into the legendary crypt where sound check was under way (working their way through Good Morning). Trying to fit 15 members of the band onto the stage was a non-starter so they were split into two groups with the horn section and the backing singers stationed to the left of the main stage. I was front and centre when the doors were opened and was joined by a couple who had been queuing since 5.30 that morning and a guy who had been there since 7am. That’s dedication.
Little Steven and the band took to the stage and ripped straight into Magical Mystery Tour. Steven talked of his love of the Beatles and how if his religion was rock and roll then he was in his Mecca at the Cavern. The short set contained the following:
Magical Mystery Tour
Boys
Slow Down
Some Other Guy
Solider Of Love
Good Morning
Got To Get You Into My Life.
All You Need Is Love
The whole band clearly love being there and it was interesting to watch them prior to the set discussing the exhibits dotted around and having pictures took pointing at various posters and photos. We were swiftly cleared out as the instruments and set up had to be transferred over to the Academy for the evening show and what a show it was.
Opening with a cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Even The Losers and then straight into Soulfire (from the latest album) we were promised a journey through the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll and they delivered. Over two Hours including Doo Wop (The City Sleeps Tonight) Blues (Blues Is My Business) Funk (Down and Out In New York City) Reggae (Salvation) Italian Folk (Princess Of Little Italy) and a brilliant version of the song Steve wrote for Gary US Bonds, Standing In The Line of Fire given an new Ennio Morricone style arrangement.
Even with a considerably larger stage they were packed in tight but not enough to stop the backing singers (Jacquita (Jackie) Perkins, Sara Devine & Tania Jones) strutting their stuff and members of the horn section making regular trips to centre stage. Of all the shows I’ve been to this year this was the most fun, with a party atmosphere provided with the rock and soul review being played out on stage. Steve has said in interviews that the current Soulfire album reflects who he is and what defines him musically and these two shows can only enhance his reputation as a professor of Rock and Soul and a torch bearer for all that is good in music.
The audience:
Middle aged
It made me think..
Stood inches away watching Steven and guitarist Marc Ribler in the Cavern having such a good time on stage, I wished I had even the tiniest amount of talent and opportunity to follow suit just once. A massive thank you to @Bargepole for this opportunity
mikethep says
Great review, and what a great thing to happen! Colour me seriously jealous.
deckards says
I wish I had the bottle to go up and say hi before the show. It would have been worth it to hear him tell me to go f**k myself like Sil from the Sopranos!
Junior Wells says
Excellent – that’s a rare one.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
You lucky son-of-a-bitch!
niallb says
Brilliant. The Soulfire album is a corker and takes his vision of what he did with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, 40 years ago, and gives it some balls. Springsteen calls Stevie “the best band leader in the world’ and, based on your review, who are we to disagree?
dai says
I think Bruce may be being modest there …
Johnny99 says
A very similar set to that which I witnessed at the Roundhouse a couple of weeks ago. However we got Macca on “I saw her standing there” which was a bonus. Incredible band – it does show that Stevie is a lot more than just a sideman.
cleanersvenus says
I really enjoyed seeing him at the Roundhouse on the same night as Johnny99. I was a bit overwhelmed by the volume though, which was just a muffled roar some of the time. I was halfway back at the centre so it should have been optimum really. I also couldn’t help notice how lazy Steve’s guitar playing was. In fact every time he got involved it seemed to spoil things. His band are great and the lead guitarist is excellent. Still you’ve gotta love Little Steven.
Johnny99 says
So glad you mentioned the sound – I thought it was a bit rubbish too and was worried that it was me as I missed quite a bit of the top end.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Magnificent account that oozes atmos; I’ve got damp pits just from reading it. You lucky devil, what a blast!
deckards says
You are too kind sir.
Tiggerlion says
He isn’t being kind. He’s stating facts. You really bring the reader into the thick of the action with you and I’m not that keen on Little Steven.
Thank you.
deckards says
Thanks Tigg. I don’t write much on here (or anywhere to be fair) mainly because I never feel I would contribute anything worthwhile. With the few reviews I have done Itend to overthink before I post (I’ve have wrote too much or not enough, is it relevant etc.etc.) so comments like yours and Vulpes and all above a great shot in the arm for my confidence.
Tiggerlion says
Make sure you use that confidence to write some more.
Mick50s says
LS did a great gig in Bristol last week — 24 songs, 2-and-a-half hours, 15-strong band — and a version of The Bristol Stomp!
Ardnort says
I was at the Glasgow gig, and thoroughly enjoyed it. As I live in Shetland I rarely get away to gigs, and tend to be fairly choosy when I do. Great fun, great variety, and what came over from the band was how much fun they were having themselves. That transmitted to the audience. Whilst it appears that the setlist was pretty much the same at each gig, it did feel or look as if they were going through the motions. And as for the girl singers- they never stopped moving and grooving. A joy to see.