Getintothis

Psyence, San Pedro’s Vision, Blind Operator, Black Smoke: Jimmy’s, Liverpool

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By on Live reviews

Psyence

Psyence came to headline a quality bill at Jimmy’s, Getintothis’ Lee Grimsditch was there on a steamy night in town.

It was a quiet night for Psyence and the three other acts playing in Jimmy’s basement tonight.

To warm up the night we had local lads, Black Smoke – a classic rock inspired outfit with a good twist of Americana.

They played tightly through a standard southern rock-inspired set and even treated the small crowd to a raucous cover of Roadhouse Blues that would bring the house down on any decent open mic night.

Next to step up on the night was Blind Operator. Self-described as ‘a three-headed experiment in heavy fuzz,’ they came on with a harder and heavier edge reminiscent of Queens of the Stoneage (Songs for the Deaf era).

And at times, Alice in Chains with their layered vocal harmonisations. They’re a 3 piece who, unlike Black Smoke, dispense with classic song structures for a more tonal, atmospheric centred approach to songwriting. One that ebbs and flows from soft and spacey to the type of heavy, muscular riffs that would make Muse fans do a double-take.

Just before the headliners came San Pedro’s Vision – an accomplished sounding Psych Rock band hailing from the Wirral. Immediately we were treated to a dreamier, more west coast vibe to the night’s music.

Their sound is expansive and the meaty underpinning of the drum and bass is layered with shimmering, otherworldly organ, and echoey vocals that bleed off and seem to follow the white rabbit down the hole. San Pedro’s Vision are a substantial sounding group with the kind of trippy vibe that drops you straight into that decadent 60s era of dancing hippie chicks and lounging long-haired dudes.

The Night Café talk debut album release, UK tour and Olympia date

Psyence are the main headliners this evening.

Described only as an alternative rock band, they are in the midst of a UK tour and have just released their self-titled debut album.

Unfortunately, by the time they stepped on stage at Jimmy’s, the already small crowd had begun to thin and they were left playing to a sparse audience of, mainly, travelling support. Nevertheless, they played energetically and received plenty of warmth from their fans.

They were tight and played enthusiastically despite the evening’s humidity. Their robust grooves were overlayed by ringing guitars that gave them a well-developed but a little well-worn, Stone Roses vibe at times.

At their best, they waded into more swamp rock-inspired territory with an infectious hillbilly bounce to the grooves. However, they had a tendency to meander into a few too many long and overextended instrumental passages that added little to their set.

The crowd, in fairness, still appreciated these moments. That’s good fans for you.

All-in-all, a quiet night at Jimmy’s but it was good to hear young, UK bands experimenting with the smorgasbord of classic rock/psych sounds in that both sides of the Atlantic have to offer.

Images by Getintothis’ Abi Moss-Coomes

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