MONEY, Leaf, Liverpool

Money first arrived on the radar when they sprung from the poetic headscape of Jamie Lee and co, their infatuation with the romanticised imagery of Manchester’s decaying industrial past entwining with it’s shiny glass-fronted future.

Tonight’s gig takes place in Leaf; a trendy tea shop located in one of Liverpool’s hippest streets. The comforting smell of tea wafts through the air before condensing on the glitterballs hanging on the ceiling making you forget the brutal cold. Upon arriving on stage, solo, lead singer Jamie begins “I’ve stopped drinking”. The location suddenly seems somewhat suitable. He continues, somewhat anxious, quipping with a smirk, “I’m always a little nervous to play to the Liverpool crowd”. His worry is unnecessary, finding himself shaking hands with old acquaintances - the room is securely on his side.

Their setlist is filled with familiar favourites such as ‘Goodnight London’ and new single ‘I’ll Be The Night’ as well as many an album track, which, much like the tea on sale, prove warming, rich and fulfilling for the most part. Their luscious orchestration, cacophonous and passionate resonates round the tightly-packed room, oozing their bittersweet watermark as violin strings serenade the haunting ring of acoustic guitars. Lee’s voice seems to act as the fifth instrument, reminiscent of the likes of Jeff Buckley with its ability to swoop up to impossible falsettos.

Though the band are extremely tight and create a sound which differs little from the record, the set does become slightly self-indulgent at times, almost verging on prog-like at points. Their monastic chants fling much of the audience in to a slightly agitated state as if waiting for something else; the self-gratification throughout leaving more than a few underwhelmed as they return to the cold outside.