I’m quite excited about tonight’s event for many reasons. Liam Frost is appearing at the Leaf Tea Shop and Bar. I was first enchanted by Liam last year at his spring shakedown at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge. This event is being organised by Culturepool, an initiative that exists to provide an environment in the city to reflect on experiences of art & culture. Visits to galleries, theatres and cinemas are organised and members get together afterwards with the artists or performers. They have linked up tonight with Mellowtone who provide live music & DJs on every second Thursday of the month. The venue is the newly popular Leaf Tea Shop and Bar, a truly versatile night and day venue that does everything from serving cakes to open mic nights. Additionally on the bill for tonight’s bill of acoustic fare are Sarah Hayden, Ragz. All these factors combine to provide a truly unique atmosphere and camaraderie in Liverpool tonight.

Sadly we arrive too late to see Ms Hayden but in time to watch Ragz, a local songstress with a cellist, an acoustic guitarist and a man playing a tea chest accompanying her. The melodic guitar lines of her band sadly have to compete with buzzing from the monitors. Yet after a while you fail to notice. She has a strikingly captivating voice which keeps the audience under her thrall. Her set veers from the angsty insistence of Alanis Morrisette to Baboushka era Kate Bush. She also performs a simple yet effective cover of The Stones ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want.’

The main draw tonight is the well known Manchester songwriter who has collaborated with Martha Wainwright and Ed Harcourt. In the tradition of Elbow and I Am Kloot Liam writes and performs from the heart. Now without The Slowdown Family, he is here to perform an unplugged set on a bare stage with his only prop being an old standard lamp. He has just released his second album ‘We Aint Got No Money Honey, But We Got Rain,’ a title he later informs us he has ripped from a Charles Bukowski poem. He begins with the opening tracks ‘Held Tightly in your Fist,’ and ‘Younger Boys, Older Girls.’ He then dips into first album ‘Show Me How The Spectres Dance.’ By this time he has produced a Harmonica and is doing a pretty passable impression of a one man band. A highlight for me is ‘Sparks,’ my favourite track from the current album. It’s a moving little ballad with his trademark lyrical twist. ‘With true composure poise and grace, those kisses taste of sharp disgust they keep on pulling at your gut,’ he laments. ‘Skylark Avenue,’ is a track he wrote after he was dropped from his record label and was thinking dark thoughts. When ‘all hope fell South now it seems each well wish only further served to amplify my doubt.’ The first of his songs I ever heard was the popular single ‘She Painted Pictures.’ It’s rollicking addictive with a hint of Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ about it.

For ‘Orchestra of Love,’ he has the audience finger clicking in accompaniment. Then he points out that Martha Wainwright who duets on ‘Your Hand in Mine,’ is not here so he’s got to make it sound good without her, which of course he does. ‘If Tonight Could Only Sleep,’ leaves us with the image of marionettes dancing in three four time. His emotional finale is The Mourners of St Pauls, which encompasses the intro from Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World.’

He eagerly bangs the acoustic guitar and asks if he can be allowed to play one or two more. You get the feeling he’d be here all night if they let him. Then he apologises for the long set. ‘I forgot to write a short one!’ The songs have engrossed the audience. He has even managed to attract a posse who clearly follow him wherever he goes. One guy animatedly mouths the words to every song. Yet who can blame him? Liam is a find; a truly gifted songwriter once described by Guy Garvey as the UK’s answer to Bright Eyes. As he says in the poignant tribute ‘Try, Try, Try,’ ‘Love is the only certainty and it’s here in front of you.’ As we leave tonight even the most cynical are believers.
culturepool
mellowtonenight
ragz
liamfrost

Mandy Williams