8/10/2009 Livid @ The Vibe Bar

Subject	Livid @ The Vibe Bar
PostedDate	10/8/2009
	A rare chance to see Stoke's finest at a London gig. The venue is the east end's Vibe Bar on Brick Lane. The show is in a different and (slightly) more suitable room than when I saw Cherry Brakewells here a few months ago. It's a larger room with a stage and no tables and chairs getting in the way. The drinks are a bit expensive though, and they don't serve much that I want to drink anyway.  The band seem to have brought a fair crowd with them from home - I think they hired a coach. Unfortunately, there seem to be some technical problems and nothing much happens while the band are delayed for about an hour before taking to the stage. Livid really are an excellent live band with a terrific frontman. The music is very retro and oozes Aerosmith and Lep style cool - a lot of people would probably like this band if only they knew about them. This is always going to be a problem for good bands who don't live in or play in London regularly. You can be a big fish in a small pond in other towns and cities, but that's all you are ever likely to be however great your band is - if you don't make the big comitment of moving to London if you want to get any further. Some bands choose not to take this step - often because they just enjoy playing locally and having fun and aren't bothered about 'making it' - their choice. Livid put on a good show as usual tonight, but the venue doesn't really allow them to shine and show off their full potential - as you can see from the picture, the lighting was pathetic. I only had my phone with me to take pictures with on this occasion. Lets hope the band play at a better venue on their next visit to London. PS: I just remembered. Livid next play in London on December 17th at The Gaff - a much more suitable venue than the one mentioned above! If you couldn't get tickets for theGinger gig that night then I suggest you go to this instead!