I disagree mate, I think that over the last few years the lads at Harvest Sun, EVOL, Wingwalker, Mellowtone etc have totally revitalised the Liverpool gig scene getting some really interesting bands and getting them to play in some brilliant venues. Far better than your chain ripoff joints like the Academy or Ritz.
As an example in July Harvest Sun have managed to get Dawes to play at the Kazimier, discounting festival slots their only other UK date is at the Scale in that London. I confidently expect that in the busy autumn season I'll be going to a gig a week up until the several gigs a night splurge that is LMW.
Just looking at September, I have already got Cate Le Bon, Sleepy Sun and the Liverpool Psychelia Festival on the calendar... should rename it Psychetember. There will be more to come I reckon
I think there's some really good stuff on in Liverpool too.
I've lost count of the number of great Harvest Sun gigs, a lot of which I've missed, but in various venues of the last year or so I've seen War On Drugs, Kurt Vile, Eleanor Friedberger, Jonathon Richman, Widowspeak, lots of out of town bands who have come a long way to play Liverpool.
I agree we do get missed out a bit in the mid-range, I think the o2 academy thingy often has poor bookings, but then again it's a poor venue now - crap beer, over-priced, and they kick you out before the last note has finished ringing. Saw The Strokes there back ni the day, and Cornershop a few years ago, they should have better bands on I agree there.
It can be a little frustrating to see the likes of Beach House, Phosphorescent, Grizzly Bear, Lambchop etc. miss us out on their tours, but I think it's better than it has been, and looks to continue on the up.
