FIELD NOTES: Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul, The Cavern Club, Liverpool, 14th November 2017
Yesterday… a gig review from the archives
The Lunchtime Gig (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Because…
A few days prior to his appearance in Liverpool at the O2 Academy, Little Steven announced that he would be also perform a lunchtime gig with his full band at the legendary Cavern Club that same Tuesday.
It would be done to fulfill his long held dream of playing at the venue, given his love of the Beatles and 60’s music scene.
Tickets would be free but only available on a first-come, first-served basis, limited to 200 people.
Having found out about the gig I debated whether (a) I could get time off work and (b) would I have any chance of getting there and getting in; living some 75 miles away from the famous Mathew Street site.
Ticket To Ride…
With (a) successfully achieved I engaged (b) and set off on the train to Liverpool with my alphabet now extended to (c) a possibly misplaced high degree of optimism and (d) no real contingency plan for potential heartbreak.
Wait…
Arriving around 10am into Liverpool, I rapidly headed over to the Cavern Club and was greeted with a reasonably long, but not ridiculously lengthy queue.
Joining the back of the line, I figured it was just a case of chancing things and praying there weren’t either 200 people in front of me, or worse, that some time honoured queue jumping wouldn't take place as I waited!
The Cavern Club queue (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Finally reaching the front of the queue I was delighted to be directed to the steps down to the basement where the Cavern stage and bar is located. In the euphoria of successfully dodging a no-entry bullet, I made my way rushed down, making an immediate beeline for the bar, ordered a pint of Guinness and tried to get myself a suitable vantage point for viewing.
Tell Me What You See…
As the venue was pretty packed by this stage I chose a space towards the back of the main section, right next to the mixing desk, which was shoe-horned into a corner.
Not too bad a spot and it also provided a sneak preview of the set list to boot.
Sneak Preview of Set List (and Sandwich) (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
It Won’t Be Long…
Before long the band made their way to the stage to rapturous acclaim.
We Can Work It Out…
Now, if you know the layout of the Cavern Club, you will be well aware of the small size of the stage. With Little Steven’s band consisting of 15 members there were some logistical nightmares to house not just the band but all their instruments and kit.
With a degree of innovation the band was spliced; Van Zandt, his guitarists and drummer (pictured below) squeezed onto the main arched stage with the rest of the band situated to the right, on the other side of the wall which divides the room - almost creating some sort of primitive stereo set-up with the immense horn section and backing singers under the second archway and down one side of the furthest wall!
The Cavern's architecture created its own unique version of Stevie's signature 'Wall of Sound'!
Enter Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Rock and Roll Music…
Bandana clad as ever, Van Zandt, looking genuinely thrilled to be on stage at a place he described as a Rock and Roll Mecca, promptly invited the audience to a “Magical Mystery Tour”, kick starting his wonderful band and the tiny venue erupted.
We were then treated to a run through of some of the songs that the Beatles would have played at their Cavern lunchtime sessions all those years ago - “Boys”, “Slow Down”, “Some Other Guy” and the lesser known track “Soldier of Love”.
The band powered through these with the passion of fans on hallowed ground and confidence of a group in the synchronised groove of familiarity and virtuosity that a long tour together brings.
Dig It…
Despite the physical limitations of the venue, it also sounded gloriously authentic and raw.
Little Steven & (some of) the Disciples of Soul (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
All Together Now…
To sign things off, the “Fab 15” performed a trio of latter day Beatles classics, “Good Morning, Good Morning”, the horn-laden “Got To Get You Into My Life” before bringing the lunchtime session to a triumphant crescendo with “All You Need Is Love”, which 200 people gleefully sang along to!
Let It Be…
All over far too quickly, but a massively unique and amazing experience to say the least.
A great “I was there” gig In My Life!!
Help!: It’s also all captured in a DVD/CD (“Macca to Mecca”)
Seat: Standing by the mixing desk, rear of venue
Set List:
Magical Mystery Tour
Boys
Slow Down
Some Other Guy
Soldier of Love
Good Morning, Good Morning
Got To Get You Into My Life
All You Need Is Love
