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Hot from their success as winners of Gareth Malone’s Naked Choir 2015 competition in October, the acapella group, The Sons of Pitches – who played The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool on Friday May 13th – have, all but one, given up their day jobs to go on the road.
Before you get excited, and despite their obvious boy band styling, there’s no nudity to speak of. Rather, what you get is a very polished act of tight harmonies and even tighter beat-boxing. The result is impressive. It’s also rather funny.
Their tastes are catholic, spanning everything from Kate Bush to Chaka Khan via Dub Beat, and often mashed-up together. We are treated to a History of Boy Bands through the ages, a nod to their pretty looks and boundless energy, despite their protestations that they drive ordinary cars and sport beer bellies rather than six-packs.
What the band clearly revel in, though, is their interaction with the crowd. They are both genuinely funny and genuinely talented so when they invite the audience to brainstorm what defines Liverpool and nominate musical genres, they have the improvisational skills to come up with (or at least deliver the rehearsed chord sequences) of “Scouse Brow” in a Gospel style. Joe B deserves a special mention for his ability to construct a ditty on the hoof around the lyric: “I’ve finished mine. I’ve stopped for diesel, then I’ll eat yours.”
It’s also clear that the band attracts a large and appreciative audience, who enjoy the boys’ patter, acting and antics as much as the boys themselves do. The fact that the crowd was grooving as one to “Aint Nobody” by the end of the evening is testament to that.
You might just, if you were being uncharitable, say that The Sons are a bit of a one-trick pony but, you’d have to concede, it’s a hell of a ride.
Sons of Pitches
The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.
May 13th, 2016
PR Rating: ****