This is Merseybeat, compiled by Cavern Club resident band, The Shakers, is a fun, musical trip down memory lane, showcasing the songs performed by a selection of bands and solo artists on Mathew Street from 1962 onwards.
The first half of the show features a projection of the interior of the original Cavern Club, as host, Paul Codman introduces the venue, year and sound of Liverpool which changed the lives of a generation. The Shakers are wearing the suits and ties associated with the era and begin a high energy performance of Merseybeat songs from the early sixties. One left-handed guitarist and body language reminiscent of The Beatles recorded performances add to the aesthetic of a different time.
Lead guitarist, Liam Mannion’s vocals on a Quarrymen style cover of That’ll Be The Day, originally recorded in tribute to the late Buddy Holly, are excellent. Drummer and founder, Tony O’Keeffe really came into his own during a performance of The Contours’ Do You Love Me? Considering he’s sitting at the back of the stage, his passion and enjoyment of the music being performed is infectious and he’s clearly having a great time all the way through the show.
The band become the Pacemakers with the exuberant appearance of Gerry Marsden (Neil Ainsby) and provide musical accompaniment for Cilla Black (Daisy Gill). Ainsby’s emotional rendition of Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying is very beautiful and the audience were very excited with the inclusion of Ferry Cross the Mersey. Gill’s vocals are powerful, albeit in a lower vocal range to Cilla Black herself. The tender dedication of You’re My World to a couple in the audience celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary was very sweet.
Some notes on musical history are included throughout the performance, both by Codman and the performers themselves, such as during the introduction for Please Mr. Postman, originally performed by The Marvelettes and the first Motown single played on British radio, but the focus here is very much on the nostalgia of the time, rather than a history lesson.
The inclusion of Gerry Marsden and Cilla Black’s music, along with other Merseybeat performers, such as Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes, and The Big Three’s live album recorded at the Cavern, round out the show, but, as is often the case, the focus is on The Beatles and the impact of Beatlemania. The projection of the Cavern is replaced with screaming fans for the second half, and the popularity of The Beatles obviously dominated the Merseybeat scene. The band’s performance of The Beatles songs are absolutely brilliant, and at times, indistinguishable from the originals, however, there could be an opportunity to include more of the music from the almost 500 bands active in Liverpool at the time, and it would be particularly nice to hear music from some of the other female performers, such as The Liverbirds.
The banter between the band members was a nice touch which added a sense of fun to the performance. Cheeky interactions between the band, Codman, Ainsby and Jones create a sense of the enjoyable atmosphere in Liverpool at the time, and it’s clear that everyone onstage and in the audience are loving the experience.
This is Merseybeat is a really fun evening of music which will make you dance and sing along. The performers are clearly dedicated to and passionate about the era and are doing everything possible to recreate the feeling of Mathew Street in the early sixties. This is as close as time travelling back to that unique era as you can get, and it’s well worth the journey.
Reviewer: Donna M Day
Reviewed: 15th April 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★