26 Bido Lito! <strong>September</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Reviews percussion, but these extra layers add shades of light and luminescence that give the Neville Skelly Experience a truly unique appeal. Evoking images of Atlantic sunsets, palm trees and secluded beaches, the tracks Colours Collide and Child Of The Morning are indicative of this, and the mood created by Skelly’s music is embedded in the crooning vocals. Deep and soft, his voice has a deftness that surprises me, not needing to hit the top decibels to have an impact, yet retaining a power that is restrained not overplayed. In particular on the Johnny Cash rumble of Poet & The Dreamer is this evident, as the song nearly gets carried away with the exuberance of the upbeat tempo, before Nev regains control. Control is perhaps the operative word here actually, with Skelly exhibiting a trait shared by fellow crooners and influences Sinatra and Williams (Andy, not Robbie). It is this that gives him a wider-scale appeal than just any old folk-style singer/songwriter as he is less introverted and more aware of the importance of performance to his work, the idea that he should connect with the audience rather than wait for them to connect with him. Neville Skelly is evidently a man who has talent and respect from his peers such is the turnout tonight. And that stretches to the list of collaborators on his EP, many of whom are here tonight. For me it is the melody of Will She Hold Another, covered with the unmistakable dirty fingerprints of co-writer James Skelly, that leaves me salivating at the prospect of further collaborations. But for now I’m just happy to be here, enveloped in the dreamy soundscapes, and you get the feeling that he is too. Nice one Nev. Christopher Torpey SHELLSUIT Dead Cowboys Williamson Tunnels Although the DEAD COWBOYS don’t cite The Smiths as an influence, lead singer Dave Jackson does a mean Morrissey. The mannerisms and the swagger are all there even if the vocals aren’t a perfect match. Musically, the band have looked to the likes of Johnny Cash, The Fall and T-Rex for their inspiration, with tracks such as Relent and Neighbour exhibiting a fusion of decidedly jingle-jangle British invasion rock, and rhythmic Americana sounds. A five-piece, the Dead Cowboys typically play guitar-loop heavy indie rock songs, while Jackson, for his part, brings largely narrative lyrics rooted in the blues and this often gives their sound a certain melancholic intrigue. There are moments where their debt to The Fall is clear for all to see, but this could possibly be their biggest shortfall: the guitar pieces, whilst melodic and contagious enough, seem to be trying to emulate the lofi, one level effect of Mark E Smith’s best work, with tracks occasionally bleeding in to one another, perhaps hinting at the limited scope of the band. They do have quality though and there is enough on show to make them worthy of further investigation. Taking to the stage at nine-thirty, top-billing SHELLSUIT provoke a swift exodus of the bar area. Dinner jacketclad they enter with a smile, and in the case of lead singer Ed Doherty, a dubious blonde hairpiece. This is a band creating genuine excitement at the moment, and in the cavernous wonder of the Williamson Tunnels there seemed to be a real buzz of anticipation. Taking a look through their website will tell you that Shellsuit aren’t just a band but a project, a concept even, with Budgie the actor and Farquhar the poet also coming under the Shellsuit banner, with the latter introducing the band tonight by way of an anti-American rant. There is also a written mission statement of sorts, espousing multiculturalism and pointing out the ludicrous nature of stereotypes. Musically, they are fresh sounding and vocally led; the songwriting itself seems purposeful and a little unusual. A common theme of sparse arrangements is complemented by subtle and pleasing guitar licks. Their strongest suit though, is the lyrics as they are a band with much to say, dealing with issues such as patriotism and immigration, and specifically in the excellent Iraqis In Shellsuits, the relationship between the two. Elsewhere, the subject matter becomes more introspective, Split Brain And The Whole Mind being a much more inward-looking affair. It may also be their most instantly memorable song, with a ruthlessly infectious tune and the mesmerizing repetition of the short chorus, ‘His brain’s got a brain of its own.’ Curiously, there are no obvious comparisons that spring to mind, showing that Shellsuit certainly don’t lack originality, already demonstrating it within these thirteen songs that are brimming with ideas. It’s difficult to say why but this band stand out, they’ve certainly got something about them. And this is one way of bringing the shellsuit back. Pete Robinson Shellsuit (John Johnson) www.bidolito.co.uk
Mellowtone and Canadian Blast TUESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER At The Shipping Forecast • Doors 7.45pm • £4 Featuring: Wilderness of Manitoba, Ragz, Karima Francis, The Mountains and the Trees Mellowtone meets Liverpool Irish Festival WEDNESDAY 27TH OCTOBER View Two Gallery Mellowtone WEDNESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER The Shipping Forecast Compered by Monkey, plus resident DJs Richie Vegas & Jonnie O’Hare www.mellowtone.info SAT.SEPT.4 SEPT. SEPT4 8PM ZANZIBAR THE MALADIES OF BELLAFONTAINE NEVILLE SKELLY| SERIOUS SAM BARRETT| DEAD CITIES wwwmyspacecom/liverpoolcompanystore
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