Liam Power

The Wirral

01Profile

A Liam Power Photo

03Interview

Liam Power (left) with Austin Collings photographed by Natalie Curtis

Name
Liam Power - (By The Sea)

Where are you from?
Meols on The Wirral Peninsula.

Describe your style in three words?
Loneliness, wonderment, dreams.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I recently caught Kraftwerk in the 3D in Liverpool’s Philharmonic, that was pretty special. It was nuts.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Pale Fountains and Cocteau Twins (currently).

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I’ve always loved the Bukowski/Fante beatnik scenes. Both different in their own ways, but the same in that there was an awareness in youth, not rebellion for the sake of it, but a rapid awakening to new pleasures that had been preceded by years of strict values that spills out into an overkill of self-gratification.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Sean Connery, we could talk Highlander over an expensive whisky in a luxury Japanese hotel lobby.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Probably the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool. We played it for our 2nd album launch. Probably our first (and possibly last) headline gig of that scale.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Mick Head probably. I’m not well versed on Shack's back catalogue, although I think they’re great, but 'Pacific Street' by his first band the Pale Fountains had a big impact on me.

Liam Power (AKA By The Sea) recently collaborated with writer Austin Collings and Photographer Natalie Curtis on the 'Blade Jogger' project.

Find out more about the project at www.bladejogger2049.com

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Probably 'Buffalo Soldier' by Bob Marley. A firm staple on Power family holidays driving across the UK.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Everybody’s Happy Nowadays' by the Buzzcocks.
I originally thought (before I knew the title) it was ‘Everybody’s Happy Now I’m Dead’, I was equally embittered/melancholic when I found out what it really was.

One record you would keep forever?
It’s been said millions of times but probably Pet Sounds By The Beach Boys. It’s otherworldly in its detail.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
‘The last train is nearly due/the underground is closing soon/and in the dark deserted station/restless in anticipation/a man waits in the shadows’.
'A Poem On The Underground Wall' by Simon & Garfunkel. It’s the most evocative opening of any song for me.

A song you wished you had written?
I think most musicians from Liverpool wished they’d written 'The Killing Moon' by Echo & the Bunnymen. It’s not of this Earth.

Best song to turn up loud?
Me and my girl often have a dance to 'Ice Hockey Hair' by the Super Furry Animals. It’s a total heartbreaker.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like (and why)?

1. 'Solo Dancer' by Mingus off Black Saint. Noir Jazz at midnight

2. 'Brazil' by Geoff Mulduar off the film of the same name. I love the traditional original but this version reminds me of my childhood. And it’s bananas.

3. 'I Would Die 4 U' by Prince. I think it’s off Purple Rain. Sends me spiralling into melancholy.

4. 'What’ll I Do' by Frank Sinatra/Irving Berlin, for the same reasons as above. I’ve shed a tear to this a few times when I’ve returned from a bar late at night. It’s my pissed sing a long.

Four new (or any) bands you are listening to now?

Nick Power - Caravan, my brother wrote this to accompany his new book, think some sort of northern Townes Van Zandt with Tom Waits on kitchen pot percussion. It’s great.

Gintis - the best since SFA/Gorkys Zygotic Mynci

Alvvays (debut) - Just great songwriting and sonics.

Bill Ryder-Jones - he’s my best mate and I play guitar for him, but his new album (unreleased) is something else

03Interview

Liam Power (left) with Austin Collings photographed by Natalie Curtis

Name
Liam Power - (By The Sea)

Where are you from?
Meols on The Wirral Peninsula.

Describe your style in three words?
Loneliness, wonderment, dreams.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I recently caught Kraftwerk in the 3D in Liverpool’s Philharmonic, that was pretty special. It was nuts.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Pale Fountains and Cocteau Twins (currently).

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I’ve always loved the Bukowski/Fante beatnik scenes. Both different in their own ways, but the same in that there was an awareness in youth, not rebellion for the sake of it, but a rapid awakening to new pleasures that had been preceded by years of strict values that spills out into an overkill of self-gratification.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Sean Connery, we could talk Highlander over an expensive whisky in a luxury Japanese hotel lobby.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Probably the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool. We played it for our 2nd album launch. Probably our first (and possibly last) headline gig of that scale.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Mick Head probably. I’m not well versed on Shack's back catalogue, although I think they’re great, but 'Pacific Street' by his first band the Pale Fountains had a big impact on me.

Liam Power (AKA By The Sea) recently collaborated with writer Austin Collings and Photographer Natalie Curtis on the 'Blade Jogger' project.

Find out more about the project at www.bladejogger2049.com

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Probably 'Buffalo Soldier' by Bob Marley. A firm staple on Power family holidays driving across the UK.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Everybody’s Happy Nowadays' by the Buzzcocks.
I originally thought (before I knew the title) it was ‘Everybody’s Happy Now I’m Dead’, I was equally embittered/melancholic when I found out what it really was.

One record you would keep forever?
It’s been said millions of times but probably Pet Sounds By The Beach Boys. It’s otherworldly in its detail.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
‘The last train is nearly due/the underground is closing soon/and in the dark deserted station/restless in anticipation/a man waits in the shadows’.
'A Poem On The Underground Wall' by Simon & Garfunkel. It’s the most evocative opening of any song for me.

A song you wished you had written?
I think most musicians from Liverpool wished they’d written 'The Killing Moon' by Echo & the Bunnymen. It’s not of this Earth.

Best song to turn up loud?
Me and my girl often have a dance to 'Ice Hockey Hair' by the Super Furry Animals. It’s a total heartbreaker.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like (and why)?

1. 'Solo Dancer' by Mingus off Black Saint. Noir Jazz at midnight

2. 'Brazil' by Geoff Mulduar off the film of the same name. I love the traditional original but this version reminds me of my childhood. And it’s bananas.

3. 'I Would Die 4 U' by Prince. I think it’s off Purple Rain. Sends me spiralling into melancholy.

4. 'What’ll I Do' by Frank Sinatra/Irving Berlin, for the same reasons as above. I’ve shed a tear to this a few times when I’ve returned from a bar late at night. It’s my pissed sing a long.

Four new (or any) bands you are listening to now?

Nick Power - Caravan, my brother wrote this to accompany his new book, think some sort of northern Townes Van Zandt with Tom Waits on kitchen pot percussion. It’s great.

Gintis - the best since SFA/Gorkys Zygotic Mynci

Alvvays (debut) - Just great songwriting and sonics.

Bill Ryder-Jones - he’s my best mate and I play guitar for him, but his new album (unreleased) is something else