The Sonic Hearts - Live
[Liverpool Academy 2]

Four years ago a young saxophonist by the name of Abi Harding cut a demure and low-key figure on stage at Manchester’s Academy Three venue, as The Zutons were at the first rung in the climb to recognition, playing second fiddle to The Thrills. Little more than six months later, she rose out of her shell providing the party inducing touch and carefree enthusiasm for the crowd to feed off in a live environment and her voice appeared on radio more times than Terry Wogan’s.

Well, four months ago in the Roadhouse in Manchester, as Liverpool troupe, The Sonic Hearts cut their teeth supporting Kubichek, flutist Kirsty Donaldson, looked as though she was figuring out what it was all about. Tonight, she shows that she has done this with natural ease and the band are about to release their first single Hold On, on EMI - read our review.

Orchestrating the crowd participation for most of their time on stage, most noticeably during the slow swaying, rumbling pop celebration of ‘Hallelujah”. The refined Donaldson cuts a free spirited and confident figure, allowing the wild mopped front-man, Sean Francis Butler to concentrate on his 60’s pop vocals and plugged-in acoustic guitar chugging.

It is Donaldson’s deft fluting that steers the outfit away from the path well-trodden by The Zutons et al, well that, and a deeper lyrical pit that gives Butler the feeling to instil into his endearing, laboured and positively tinged vocal thrust. ‘Crooked Hair’ is a self-deprecatory, climbing pop swipe at his own mop and it gives The Sonic Hearts a Universal kick. This could easily see them be the band to get EMI out of the financial doldrums that they’re currently languishing in.