You could say it’s been a long time coming…
I’ve seen Preen live once before – they hosted their Spring Special at The George Tavern a couple of years ago. I knew I’d have to get tickets again if they ever ventured up north and, well, here we are.
I get to The Jac for around 9:30, pushing open the old black door and heading down to the basement. It’s such a cool space, with its low ceilings and a small soundboard at the back that screams grassroots venue.
The London-based quintet arrives about 15 minutes later, kicking off their set with some new material before heading into ‘Song About A Car’. This was the first Preen track I ever heard, having stumbled across it in early 2021. A few months later I found out that I know one of their brothers – we were in the same History seminar at university. Small world.
But that’s completely beside the point – ‘Song About A Car’ is a fantastic track, full of atmosphere and rich harmonies. It’s one of my favourites. (Another is ‘The Last Act (Goodbye)’ – this one sadly didn’t make it onto the setlist tonight, but I had to mention it here.)
Preen are storytellers; clever lyricists with a warmth and classic sound that seem to have been inspired by the likes of The Beatles, alongside more modern influences such as Big Thief and Aldous Harding. Their stuff is gorgeous – timeless and effortlessly melodic.
It’s clear that the three voices of Robin Finetto, David Lawton and Evie Tarr are at the centre of pretty much everything Preen do. I’m interested in their songwriting process, and whether they write around their harmonies – because it certainly feels like the vocal melodies might come first.
Back to tonight’s setlist, it’s crammed full of Preen’s singles and what appears to be their substantial unreleased catalogue.
‘English Sun’, one of the first songs they ever wrote together, is definitely a fan favourite. Other highlights include the moody ‘I Know’ and an unnamed track inspired by the person who voiced answering machines across the US. The standout of the night, however, has to be ‘Face Down In The Pool’ – a brilliant track Tarr wrote about an episode of Midsomer Murders.
After a good few minutes of us all calling for “one more song”, the five musicians onstage look expectantly towards the back of the room – a dark shadow shrugs their shoulders and admits that there isn’t time. Curfew is curfew, so Preen begin to pack up – but not before reassuring us that they’ll be back soon. Let’s hope so.
I had the best time tonight and can say for certain that Preen’s Liverpool debut was one of the coolest gigs I’ve been to.
A bunch of talented musicians and firm favourites of the capital’s indie scene, Preen really are ones to watch. If you get the chance to see them live, do it! (They’ve promised a return to Liverpool now, so keep an eye out for that.)
But if you can’t wait that long – understandable – I’d highly recommend checking out their state51 and Green Man live sessions on YouTube. So, so good.
Review by: Ayla Hewitt
Images credit: Ayla Hewitt
Follow Ayla on Insta: @aylagoestogigs @aylaratesalbums
