On 24th May, Jizzy Pearl, the former lead singer of LA-based hard rock band Love/Hate, performed the first of four all acoustic ‘Songs n Stories’ shows, featuring Stevie R. Pearce on guitar, concluding a string of dates on Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate’s UK Sticks n Stones tour.

Supporting at Manchester’s Gullivers NQ was Irish singer-songwriter Matty James Cassidy, accompanied by sax player Bret Barnes. I’d seen Cassidy perform at the end of last year when he played with Tyla’s Dogs d’Amour. Getting back to his Irish folk roots, Cassidy sang and played acoustic guitar and came across as a wholly genuine, amiable character, who was born to excel in this genre of music as it clearly came so naturally to him.

With a considerable set-list, songs included Same Old Me, which inspired audience participation with Cassidy singing “It’s a brand new you” and the crowd, by this time well warmed up, promptly replying “Same old me!” There was some superb sax playing from Barnes, whose long golden locks were probably the envy of most of the men (and women!) in the room. His playing culminated in a terrific solo during the final song, which received a huge round of applause.

Review posted on Manchester Rocks. Written by Anne Estella.