My adventures continue in Liverpool with a visit to the British Music Experience, which is basically a history museum of British music. I have to admit that this museum was not worth the price of admission (around $20 US), but was a fun time none-the-less. They have a path that you go through in chronological order from the 1940’s to present day. The older decades were more interesting to me…probably because I live in the present day and also remember the 1990’s The biggest crowd gathered around the 1960’s because…let’s be honest…nobody remembers the 1960’s Nobody.
It was neat to see the genesis of music throughout the decades. Starting in the 50’s, the youth were getting sick of the jazz movement and moved from the skiffel genre to what led to rock ‘n roll. It was also interesting how the music reflected the time which it was popular. For instance, the 70’s flamboyancy of Elton John and David Bowie was born out of an economic depression. Life was plain and desperate, so the entertainment was bright and captivating. Then the hard rock and punk genre moved in in response to the Margaret Thatcher political situation in the country. Perhaps I’m getting too analytical about just really great music. But it was interesting.
And I could not complete my entry about the British Music Experience without mentioning The Spice Girls. Yes, they have their own display at the museum. I was always a Baby Spice guy, myself. On a side note, there is an entire Spice Girls exhibit in London right now…and for the record I did not attend. It must not have been what I really, really wanted. I did, however, take some snapshots of Adele’s set list from one of her concerts. Adele is awesome.
From there, I visited Mathew Street, which is the address of The Cavern Club and is generally a pop culture lightning rod. Here I took a picture of the Cilla Black statue (lover her!), and the various clubs and pubs with catchy Beatles names (because who wouldn’t want to eat at “Sgt Pepper’s Pub?”). But the star attraction on this neat little street is the Cavern Club itself.
Built on the same site as the original Cavern Club of the 1950’s and 1960’s, this new version does it’s best to recreate the magic of its predecessor. As I walk down the three flights of stairs from the street, it almost feels as though I am going back in time to the 1950’s and 1960’s. The music playing and the posters hanging on the walls sure don’t hurt with this feeling either. A lot of the bricks from the original club were used in making the new one. I sit inside and listen to an acoustic band play Beatles songs and talk about their favorites, etc. It’s a fun but crowded atmosphere (pretty much what I’ve heard from the original days). There are lots of pictures on every wall…not just of the Beatles, but of lots of other performers who performed here over the years. Michael Jackson, Oasis, Adele…Adele?!!?! Yeah…I knew I liked her for a reason. The club’s marketing proclaims they are the most famous club in the world…and they just might be right.
As I ascend the stairs of the club into the sunlight (or as much sun as Liverpool will give up), I look around this little street and just imagine all of the musical genius that flew out of this one block and captivated the world. And then I realized I had to pee.
Jeff
Aug 13th, 2018.
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