WORDS AND IMAGES BY DESH KAPUR
“This Man Just Oozes Cool!”
Tonight, it was Liverpool O2 Academy for Birkenhead Boy – the one and only Miles Kane – for what could be considered a homecoming gig for a lad from Birkenhead.
So, with that in mind and the fact that Liverpool FC had just won the FA Cup, tonight should go off like a firework.
But first, the main support band of the night needed to take her turn. The beautifully soulful Brooke Combe. Only 21 years old, Edinburgh-born and she is already signed to the legendary Island records. Add to that, she won the Breakthrough Female Artist prize at the Scottish Music Awards in 2021. No wonder there is a lot of talk about this young lady.
Strolling on stage, oozing confidence and smiling, she looked amazing in a black suit, white bralet and silver cowboy boots. Brooke then treated us to a set which was full of soulful tunes, with swaggering rhythms, hypnotizing hooks and beautifully smoky soulful textured vocals. It was very impressive, and I can’t wait to see her play again.
So, it was time for the main man himself. Ex Rascal and Shadow Puppet, a chameleon of styles and images; Mod, Pirate and now 70’s inspired Northern Soulboy, yup, Miles Kane was about to take to the stage.
By this time, the main room was packed, literally to the rafters, people shouting and chanting for the man they had come to see. As he arrived on stage to the Theme from Rocky, “Gonna Fly Now”, the place, of course, erupted.
Launching into high-energy songs ‘Don’t Let It Get You Down’ from his latest release ‘Change the Show, and then ‘Rearrange’ from 2011 long player ‘Colour of The Trap’ and you knew he was not going to pull any punches tonight. High energy all the way!!!
And from start to finish, he did not disappoint, launching into a storming set of Northern Soul-tinged Indie Blues-Rock, delivered in the coolest way possible. This man just oozes cool! Kane stomped through songs spanning his four solo albums, including his latest release ‘Change the Show’ plus a couple of Last Shadow Puppets tracks and a Beatles cover, and the place was rocking.
If Miles Kane had come to show everyone that he can write great songs – mission accomplished. If he came to show that he can serve up a set that could tear the roof of any venue and hold the audience in the palm of his hand – mission flippin’ accomplished.
Awesome night, a great set, performed to the highest order by a truly talented songwriter, ‘KEEP THE FAITH’ !!
SET LIST
1/ DONT LET IT GET YOU DOWN
2/ REARRANGE
3/ CRY ON MY GUITAR
4/ CHANGE THE SHOW
5/ COUP DE GRACE
6/ NOTHING’S EVER GONNA BE GOOD ENOUGH
7/ LOADED
8/ CAROLINE
9/ BLAME IT ON THE SUMMERTIME
10/ AVIATION
11/ NEVER GET TIRED OF DANCING
12/ DONT FORGET WHO YOU ARE
13/ INHALER
14/ SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA
15/ DONT LET ME DOWN (Beatles Cover)
16/ COLOUR OF THE TRAP
17/ STANDING NEXT TO ME (The Last Shadow Puppets)
FOLLOW MILES KANE
FOLLOW BROOKE COMBE
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
