Review: Sumo Cyco @ Jacaranda Phase One, Liverpool 13/6/19 by Graveyard

Return Of The Portoloo / Best Gig Of The Year
(Your choice of tagline)

My 3rd gig in Liverpool (2nd in a club venue) and by far the best gig I have been to this year – yes including Metallica! Every act toppped the previous and with Papa Roach, when I felt like an old man – too tired (Not to say they were bad), but I this night was longer and all 5 bands just created this great, energising atmosphere.

JACARANDA PHASE ONE
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This was a great venue and you could tell straight away it suited Sumo Cyco. Entry was a little different with no actual tickets used, they just checked names off a list (Quite good). The bar was cheap too (For venues, just £4.50 for a pint of Estrella or £2.30 for a shandy pint – Don’t know why it was charged as a half as bars usually charge the full price for a shandy. But this is what it should be).

This was a great venue and you could tell straight away it suited Sumo Cyco. Entry was a little different with no actual tickets used, they just checked names off a list (Quite good). The bar was cheap too (For venues, just £4.50 for a pint of Estrella or £2.30 for a shandy pint – Don’t know why it was charged as a half as bars usually charge the full price for a shandy. But this is what it should be).

Nice little club venue, not as big as the usual ones but had one of the best atmospheres I seen – just dead relaxed and friendly, with people there to enjoy the music and have a good time. The bands were amongst the crowd, which is always good.

Only downside was the portoloos – Never had to use them before Saturday and then I have to use them twice within a week (These were much better and cleaner – No 75,000 plus people making a mess).

SOUL DESIRE
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I got there just after the first act started. They were good. I saw 3 songs and all three were good. I arrived just before the played ‘Ignite’ (This song hasn’t been uploaded as for some reason it is much a bigger file than the others… damn it)*. They are on tour (North-west only) in September – I shall be keeping an eye on the dates. They were an excellent choice to start the night off with – Loved the cheeky little solo (during the unknown song I recorded) from the the guitarist, sounded like the beginning of ‘Sleep Tight’ of Sumo Cyco. It was their final song, so suppose they get everyone rallied up.

*Uploaded straight to youTube

CRAWLERS
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(If this is not their official YouTube channel do let us know)

They sounded like a mix between The Pretty Reckless (Throw-back there) and The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Duffy or Amy Winehouse (That jazz-connection).

Couldn’t quite hear the song names but I think after Sumo Cyco and Bronnie they were the best band of the night. Definitely, see these guys again – The singer acted like she was pissed (drunk) and doesn’t give fuck. Like that! The trumpet was a nice touch, something different, giving them a jazzrock feel. (Check our YouTube channel for more of Crawlers songs from tonight!)

It was their guitarist’s 18th birthday – Happy Birthday – Bet she had a great night after the show!

OUR DIVINITY
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They were good, a bit more heavy than the Crawlers – back to the usual music after the nice, different approach from the Crawlers. Sounded like Skarlett Riot (can’t go wrong there!)

I couldn’t make out the song names, but I would see them again… defo. I also liked what looked like the tri-colour Irish flag shorts she was wearing – A little Metallica throw-back. Unfortunately, my ipod decided to save the second video as a much bigger file so it is unavailable for now.

If you would like to contribute with the names of the songs played, please do. The Gigzter is all about sharing experiences. Better yet, why not sign-up and become a fellow Gigzter – writing your own reviews and share your gigs with the world!

Bronnie
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Never heard of Bronnie before but what an act. There were only three members and all three put on a show to rival any other headline act (Just unfortunate, they were on the same bill as Sumo Cyco). ‘Total Outcasts’ was more my type – It was like going back to 2002-04 when you had the indie/pop/punk/rock era – They were good times!

They even let the lead singer from the previous band come on stage to do a bit (They must be good friends). I held the door out for Bronnie (On my way outside) thinking she was just one of the crowd (Thought she was Skye for a second when I first noticed the blue hair) but I have left knowing what a bloody good singer and group they are!

Again,the videos aren’t loading because of the file sizes. We’ll get them sorted and they’ll be up!* (The footage/sound quality isn’t the best, which is a hug shame as it’s doesn’t give a good showing of how good they actually were). Bronnie were a fantastic act and their performance should be shown to show their good work. I WILL see them again and get better videos, so they can be showcased as the amazing trio that they are! Keep it up, guys!

(*Uploaded straight to YouTube)

Sumo Cyco
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(Swapped cameras here! Sorry for the poor quality, of the previous videos. Not intentional. Just that my phone was charging through the previous acts!)

What can I say but the best performance of Sumo Cyco I have seen! Their Go-Home show before Download and they certainly gave everyone a fantastic send-off! I though Metallica were good (And in a completely different environment), Sumo Cyco managed to better their previous shows – And probably their best since I first saw them in Chester stealing the show from a certain Fozzy! As well as the first time I got be in the actual front row since that gig too! Glad they played a lot more of ‘Lost In Cyco City’ songs – compared to December. Just need to hear them play ‘Give It Away’ at least once in Liverpool.

They opened with ‘Cry Murder’ (Got a special close up with Skye on this video – and a thumbs up! She doesn’t ignore you like a certain Fozzy front-man). Next was ‘The Ugly’ and ‘My Name Is Rock ‘N’ Roll’.

They did a good hour and a half on stage, playing ‘Crowd Control’ , ‘Undefeated’, ‘Brave II’, ‘Rivaly’, ‘Sleep Tight’ and their latest single ‘Love You Wrong’ and a new song ‘Speaks To Me’. Their cover of choice this time (as stated before) was ‘B.Y.O.B.). Other songs were ‘Anti-Anthem’, ‘The Broadcasters’ and ‘Free Yourself’.

Surprisingly, they didn’t finish with ‘Fighter’ this time, but at least they did play it (No doubt they wouldn’t) and I was deciding whether to record it this time, but I decided to. (And sing a long with it!) (Love to get involved with this song – My favourite!) – Even Matt took got in the crowd – taking a page from Rich Ward doing is own spot in the crowd (He did this back in Berlin) and putting Skye on his shoulders, with the pair of them going on walkies. The last few shows he (Matt) has been getting more involved with the crowd – before it was just Skye (Not complaining, but it’s nice to get the whole and involved!).

Skye did her usual in the crowd routine and the crouch/jump tradition (Even had a our own stage invader on this occasion, then is mate joined in!) . Even Matt took got in the crowd – taking a page from Rich Ward (He did this back in Berlin). The last few shows he (Matt) has been getting more involved with the crowd – before it was just Skye (Not complaining, but it’s nice to get the whole and involved!). They ended with ‘Move Mountains’ – Need to see them with Skindred just to see Benji come on stage for a cameo.

In December, I got kicked (Just a nudge from Skye when she did a crowd dive. Didn’t get ‘attacked’ this time, instead Matt gave me a bath from his sweat (Thanks for that!) and then got got Skye’s hair in my eyes! Just need the drummer and the backing guitarist to do something to me and then I’ve got the whole band!

I have to say no band interacts more with the crowd than Sumo Cyco – even back when they were the opening act (Only on for half an hour) they still got the crowd going. Now, with more time, they just keep getting better and better! Over the past year Fozzy have come the closest to engaging with the crowd, but they are still far behind Sumo Cyco (I’ll have to ask in November where they got that name from – Maybe they will let interview them? I can only ask!).

SUMMARY
Another 5 band special!

My last two gigs (Papa Roach and Metallica) I felt tired and couldn’t wait for them to be over, this night all of the bands contributed and made it an amazing night – I didn’t want it to stop. I was up since 5.20am but all of them, culminating with Sumo Cyco, just seemed to give you the energy to keep going – I was still buzzing off it the next day.

Not a bad night especially for a weekday show – weekends are still better (well preferable) as you can enjoy a few more drinks and make a night of it. Can’t really do that on a Thursday night then get up at 5.20 the next day. Would have gone to Stafford if I new about Metallica in Berlin, but absolutely glad I came here – Stafford wouldn’t have been half as good as this night.

I got to speak to the lead singer of Soul Desire, she was a nice perspn. I got to say hi to Matt and Skye (again), and again asked Skye “Where was Give It Away” and if they could go back to The Live Rooms (Chester).

I have no idea how Sumo Cyco still haven’t been signed to a label; they just keep getting better with each show.

Matt announced at the end how they will be back for Part 2 of their 2019 tour in November (So could be November/December again). Can’t bloody wait!

Never went to gig in Liverpool before December (Didn’t know we had any music venues apart from the O2), but Liverpool is right up there with Berlin as a great gig city – even the mosh pits are civilised, no arseholes like in Manchester and Chester. I’ve had people duck when I’m recording, but pretty everyone ducked – very considerate. Liverpool does get a bad reputation, but the city sure does have the best music fans around! (The O2 and Bryan Adams were the same).

You know you’ve been to fantastic gig, when your ears are still ringing and you’re still buzzing from it the next. I think the photos (some) and the videos turned out better – I like to give all bands as much equal time as possible (It is hard to do).

I wish every group the best in their upcoming tour dates and hope that Sumo Cyco enjoy and steal the show at Download!

This ended a weird, but run of gigs this year – starting with Bryan Adams and ending with Sumo Cyco! I started with a Canadian and I finish (Until November at least) with Canadians!

Thanks for reading. I shall return… Probably for (Hopefully Bon Jovi – if I can get a ticket) Alice Cooper if not it will be for one of Soul Desire’s September tour dates and, of course, Sumo Cyco in November. (I will be checking for Bronnie dates in between, as well as, the others too. I will try and check out Bronnie at the Zanzibar Club in July.

For a full playlist of the songs recorded tonight check out The Gigzter’s YouTube channel here.

Photo Gallery below. The blurred (movement) ones have been left in to give some kind of effect. I’m not bloody photographer, but I think they look different.

(If this is my final gig until September-ish what a bloody incredible way to finish on!)

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