Chez Kane – ‘Reckless’ Album Launch

31st March 2026

The Jacaranda – Liverpool

Word and Pictures – Phil Ingham

Instagram: @philshootsfromthepit

The iconic Liverpool bar / record store / gig space The Jacaranda was the venue for the album launch of Chez Kane’s third album ‘Reckless’. For the uninitiated, Chez has attracted significant attention by putting out quality rock music with its heart very much in the 80s. Think Pat Benetar, Vixen and Lita Ford and you won’t be far off.

Here, in a packed Jac, she took us through an acoustic selection of tunes from her recently released album as well as some covers and old favourites.

Initially, I was disappointed that we would be deprived of the full guitar-forward versions of the tracks. In hindsight it was the perfect set up to let the real star of the show shine – Chez’s incredible vocals. Ably backed by James Ready and Harry Scott Elliot on guitar, whose bromance was a joy to watch play out on stage, Chez opened with the title track of the new record ‘Reckless’. It was a high bar to set.

The small-but-perfectly-formed set consisted of seven songs, including four from the new album (‘Reckless’, ‘Personal Rock and Roll’, ‘Tongue of Love’ and ‘Love Tornado’) as well as a fantastic version of Pat Benetar’s ‘Love is a Battlefield’.

Chez is a powerhouse in image and delivery. She looks like she’s been lifted from the cover of a vintage rock album, all big hair and denim. The killer lines of each song are belted out without it ever sounding like she’s pushing too hard. Each chorus could be straight from the heyday of glam rock and AOR, and they land with the melodic pomp you’d hope for. The crowd lap up every one.

For such a stripped-down show, Chez manages a big stage performance. Her energy is infectious, and while she doesn’t have much of a stage to move around, she makes the little room she has count. She is enthusiastic about her influences, with Def Leppard’s ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ getting plenty of reference. Lyrically, her music mirrors this era of excess, full of not-so-subtle innuendo – ‘Tongue of Love’, anyone?

Three albums in, you get the sense this could be the one to expose her to a much bigger audience. She has built up a growing and loyal fanbase, and it is easy to see why. The music somehow manages to be fresh and nostalgic simultaneously, and she leans heavily on genres that simply leave you smiling. It’s a captivating combination.

Chez Kane proved tonight that she doesn’t need a full band to make an impact. It was an impressive half hour indeed. That said, the set did leave me keen to see how the songs transfer to bigger stages and louder guitars. I will be watching closely for tour dates near me.