poppedmusic

The Post Romantics

Jimmy’s, Liverpool, 16 July 2021

Words and photos by Gary Lambert

“Are you coming to my gig?” is the easiest question to be asked of me.  Partly because I’m always going to answer yes instinctively and then worry about my diary; and partly because sometimes it is people like Connor, the lead singer in The Post Romantics, asking you and there’s no way you’re going to miss that.  The follow up “tickets are free” was just a bonus.  A test event for Jimmy’s Liverpool to get back into the swing of things in terms of live music was the ideal way to spend a Friday night.

Also on the bill were Turquoise Noise, a band I had never heard of but came highly recommended by Jonny Quinn of Spinn no less.  The recommendation was bang on the money.  Turquoise Noise are one of those bands who have managed to mix talented musicianship and an ear for pop sensibilities with a heavy booming sound.  In song structure, the six-piece reminded me more of Metallica or Pixies than the expected “indie” synth band like The Killers or Blossoms.  The noise-quiet-noise motif that often appeared was in fact very similar to Black Francis and his cohorts.  I loved it.  The delicate inflections which appeared in the sound as a precursor to walls of sound and fury were heavenly.  Like the moment when the horn has sounded but the waves have not yet come when you’re in a waterpark on holiday.  Joyful.

The Post Romantics are one of Popped Music’s favourite bands going back to the days they were more inspired by guitar bands than Drake.  Now the hip hop beats lay down the path that the guitars follow, graffitiing the way with beautiful neon threats.  Apart from a couple of songs, the set was made up of tracks that the quartet had not performed in front of an audience before but you couldn’t tell.  The Post Romantics were tight and got the balance of the night just right.

It wasn’t the most heated and raucous night that they will will perform given the small audience numbers and supportive friends in there, but that didn’t dilute the feeling that The Post Romantics have used the time since their last gig to hone and shape their sound into a soundtrack of danger, tequila and heartbreak.

It’s shit like that which gets us coming back to live music, and now live music (properly) is coming back to us (hopefully). I think Jimmy’s past the test.