Monday 25/11/02 The Veils @ Academy 3, Liverpool

There's something strange afoot with London four-piece The Veils, have you ever heard the expression selling sand to the Arabs? Well these guys are kinda selling Scousers to Liverpool. The band manage to produce a sound that is so reminiscent of all that is Lee Mavers, John Powers et al and that has been continued stylistically by the likes of Paul Wilkes and The Crescent that I'm wondering how the **** they ever managed to be based in London.

But something else is niggling me here, I'm certain I've seen this band before. In fact I have seen this band before. Under the name Godboy, The Veils have supported Liverpool's own The Crescent on several occasions both in Liverpool and touring the UK. So it's not surprise then that they've managed to pick up the vocal mannerisms of Huyton's most wanted.

What is weird though is (obviously we're in a university) this gig is pretty much full of students who wouldn't be seen dead down The Picket watching a proper Scouse band, but add the smokescreen of a name change to cover your Liverpudlian tracks, add a short walk from the student digs and a London pedigree and hazaa, instant crowd. Brilliant.

All in all, not a bad impersonation from this southern foursome who craft gentle acoustica around their northern styled vocals and judging by the tender beauty on their recently released three track EP 'More Heat Than Light' and what I've heard from their soon to be released album these guys could well impress a few of the gentler folk amongst us.

Photo by Dave Evans