I was nervous enough ahead of this live show, let alone the band. Four fellas with deserved acclaim for their own adventures in music tackle a tribute set to a much-loved Liverpool outfit with such a revered back catalogue… and then word gets out just before stage time that the legendary guitarist behind that iconic group has showed up to see just what’s in store.

As I caught up with a couple of mates in the corridor on the approach to the Boatyard venue at the rear of The Conti, there was Scott Carey, bass player of some repute (latterly of West on Colfax and prior to that Paris Angels) balancing a couple of pints on his way past.

‘Ah, didn’t expect to see you here,’ I remarked, with a little of that poorly executed dry humour that is often my downfall.

‘And I didn’t expect Will Sergeant to be here,’ he responded, a little of that thousand yard stare associated with Viet vets in his eyes.

A few minutes later, queuing to go through, there’s past WriteWyattUK interviewee Will in front. What must he have been thinking… and what must the band have been wondering? Too late to pull out now. And yet, any fears on ours or their part were soon proved unfounded, this very public unveiling of Echoes of the Bunnymen – comprising WriteWyattUK favourites The Amber List with the aforementioned guest bass player – something of a triumph, and hopefully to be repeated again soon.

They didn’t go about this as any ‘run of the mill’ tribute act might. l was going to start this post with, ‘I don’t usually do covers bands, but…’ I’m sure I’ve already done that though. And in this case, we’re talking a four-piece of considerable merit and pedigree with a proper respect for the original group and the songs covered, their set spread across four vital LPs between 1980 and 1984 that paved the way and influenced so much more great post-punk indie magic beyond.

I guess as I knew he was there, I was listening – in my head – with Will’s ears and eyes, wondering just what he might make of it all. Yet if he or us were just expecting hits, we’d have been pleasantly mistaken. ‘Going Up’ and ‘Show of Strength’ saw us away, followed by my first real highlight, ‘Heads Will Roll’, all the proof needed that we were in for a storming gig, ‘Turquoise Days’ then leading to the wondrous ‘Silver’ before ‘Stars Are Stars’ and ‘Crocodiles’ brought us to the sublime ‘Ocean Rain’.

As is often the case at such social events, softer touches lead to incessant talking closer to the bar, but that was neatly shut down – with more polite humour than most of us could manage – by frontman Mick ‘Mac’ Shepherd, that latter fourth LP title track reminding me I’m long overdue in playing that wonderful album in full again, to dive back into its many depths.

Honourable mentions for the afore-mentioned Scott Carey and drummer Simon Dewhurst. Les Pattinson and Pete De Freitas’ shoes, and all that. As for Mick, his voice lends itself well to the experience, and not at one point did I feel this was beyond any of them. Turns out Tony Cornwell, on lead guitar, didn’t know Will was there until after. Probably a good thing on his part, confidence wise. He certainly cracked it though, and word has it the guest of honour loved it, fully endorsing the project and by all accounts happy to bask in the glory of those songs from a distance (not least a few they don’t tend to play these days). He was certainly swapping notes by the bar later.

There were plenty of A-list hits, ‘Killing Moon’ and ‘Seven Seas’ lovingly rolled out before ‘Villiers Terrace’ led to ‘The Puppet’ and ‘Do It Clean’, then ‘The Cutter’. ‘Rescue’ was in there somewhere too. Wonderful. ‘Is this the blues I’m singing?’ asked Mick. Certainly was, and in some style.

They’d hardly walked a few yards from the stage before they were back to close out, ‘Pictures on My Wall’ leading to a lap of honour on ‘Bring on the Dancing Horses’. Hopefully we’ll see them back again soon, and a fair few of us will be there again. ‘Wherever they may roam,’ you could say.  

For more about Echoes of the Bunnymen and forthcoming shows, head here.