Wild Swans - Static Gallery, Liverpool, 23/7/2009

  by Alan O'Hare

published: 10 / 8 / 2009

intro

Guest writer Alan O'Hare watches the reformed Wild Swans make a stunning return to the stage after a twenty one year absence at the first night of a two evening residency at the Static Gallery in their home town of Liverpool

Twenty one years in the making and Liverpool's musical past is flashing before my eyes. Pity its future isn't, but I digress. The Wild Swans are on-stage for the first time in over two decades and I'm cursed with mixed feelings. On the one hand, Paul Simpson and his rejuvenated band are sounding great. As the six-piece, however, race towards the pulsating coda of recent single 'English Electric Lightning', it hits all souls gathered squarely in the eye: there hasn't been a band from Liverpool that sound this good, for a long time. The Rascals? Please. The same goes for the Wombats and even the Zutons. But this is a night for nostalgia, right? Wrong. This was way more important than that. The Wild Swans sound vital. Alive. And full of grace and charm. The twin guitar assault is working a treat - with Ricky Maymi from the Brian Jonestown Massacre firmly establishing himself as Simpson's second-in-command and the main artery of the resuscitated rockers. But there's subtlety too. The keyboards are bringing the sounds of nature, with fills and riffs floating around Static Gallery like dark clouds. And the rhythm section are quite simply a revelation, with ex-Bunnymen bass player Les Pattinson tight in the pocket. The front man? Well, all eyes were on him for sure. And the high priest of English poetry didn't let anyone down. Sure, the singing will be fuller and more confident as gigs come and go, but this night was about something else entirely. True perfection has to be imperfect, after all, and Paul Simpson has that kind of charisma that you can't develop. You've either got it, or you ain't. Quite simply, he's a charmer and he doesn't even know it. Perhaps that's why. Whatever. In a world of phonies, fakes and fat cats, the Wild Swans' comeback is a triumph. And has left us with a taste for more. Surely the point of all rock and roll. Rejuvenated, for sure. Resuscitated, without a doubt. Rededicated? Let's hope so. The world is a better place with an active Paul Simpson and the Wild Swans. The colour photographs that acommpany this article were taken by Dave Evans, while the black and white photographs were taken by Gary Lornie.

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