Friday 17/01/03 The Maxtones, Santa Carla @ The Picket, Liverpool

Opening proceedings this evening are the Maxtones, who have a very sweet, nice-as-pie presence. Singer Helen, when not wielding the violin, commands the stage well… yet it's all too clean and the Maxtones are therefore the kind of band who would go down nicely on a Sunday afternoon down the local. Which is no bad thing, but if they harden their act a little, away from the stage school stylings they currently exude, things will only get better.

With the Milky Bar Kid at the desk, the hard-gigging Santa Carla hit the stage. First song 'Mr Operator' clearly broadcasts their influences (Steely Dan, Dave Matthews, McCartney - for a full list see www.santacarla.co.uk), and they never really veer from the script. Each song is introduced clearly by frontman Simon and then despatched cleanly and professionally, whilst vocalist Vicky smoulders delightfully in the corner.

If the Electroclash 80's nostalgia trip broadens to include the white-man soul of that decade, then Santa Carla's ship will sail. Without that kind of mainstream exposure, the VH1 viewing thirtysomethings - within whose record collections 'Naked in the Rain' would take pride of place - may not stumble across their new favourite band.

Photos by Eventa :: eventa@gigwise.com