Merseyside is notable for many things more than just its excellent Liverpool man and van services. It is a rare occasion when one hears the name of the city not to think about pop music, and Beatles in particular. The four rock and roll stars are the most emblematic people hailing from Liverpool, and it’s been long since they have become symbols of the city.
But the Liverpool music scene has produced many popular bands and artists in addition to the Beatles. You may not have heard of them, which is a shame, because their music is really worth it. Let’s take a look at five bands that you should start listening to as soon as possible.
- The Little Flames were one of the most interesting indie rock bands to emerge from the Liverpool underground. They were active in the period between 2004 and 2007. Their music was heavily inspired by the 1960s psychedelic rock movement. If you think that such a short lived band cannot be influential, wait to hear that one of their biggest fans were no other but the guys from Arctic Monkeys, who ever covered The Little Flames’ best known single – Put Your Dukes up John for the B-side of their single, “Leave Before the Lights Come On. Intrigued? We thought so.
- Amsterdam have a long and steady career that began with the formation of the band in 1999. Their style can most accurately be described as pop rock, and probably the best known song of the band is the 2005 single The Journey. Last year they had a great gig at the Liverpool International Music Festival. Up to this day Amsterdam have released three LP album, most recently Arm in Arm in 2008.
- Many people call Anathema “the most important band to come out of the Liverpool music scene after the Beatles”. This description is fairly accurate. Formed by brothers Vincent and Daniel Cavanagh in 1990, Anathema started as a doom metal project called Pagan Angel. Recent releases of the band mark a drastic shift in direction however. Their sound is softer and much closer to the alternative and progressive rock movements than to Anathema’s roots. The music, the lyrics and stage presence of those guys blend is such a way that every performance of theirs becomes a little moment of magic. Raise your hand if you need more of this in your life.
- Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?” and “Valerie” are the best known tracks by The Zutons, yet another band from Liverpool you should definitely check out. Three studio albums, countless gigs that were fun for everyone and tons of good vibes – and music. That’s the essence, right?
- The Rascals were formed by Miles Kane, the singer from The Little Flames after the former dissolved. The Rascals are, coincidentally, one of the best loved bands in the most recent history of Liverpool’s scene. They have one album, released in 2008 – Rascalize, which was very warmly accepted by the critics and the public.