Yearly Archives: 2015

Gig review: NIGHT RANGER – Islington Academy, 12 March 2015

NIGHT RANGER - Islington Academy, 12 March 2015

Once something of a holy grail for UK rock fans, Night Ranger visits are now regular on these shores – well London anyway. This was their third trip since 2011 but the band’s stock is high at the moment, last … Continue reading

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Gig review: EUROPE, BLACK STAR RIDERS – Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

EUROPE - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

I am still not convinced that two- or three-way bills are the best way forward for some of our premier bands.  The last time I saw Europe was a three-way with FM and Foreigner and notwithstanding poor sound (for the … Continue reading

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EP review: BULLETPROOF ROSE – Loud Hard Fast

Bulletproof Rose

Self Release  [Release date 27.04.15] If you are looking for some real feel good rock you could do a lot worse than to spin the debut EP, ‘Loud Hard Fast’, by Cumbrian rock band, Bullletproof Rose. Not the most original … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUN – Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, 10 March 2015

GUN – Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, 10 March 2015

Tonight was the first show of a short showcase tour for Gun’s new album ‘Frantic’ which is set for release on the 23rd March, a review of which can be found elsewhere on GRTR! The show was a Planet Rock … Continue reading

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Gig review: KING KING – The Globe, Cardiff, 8 March 2015

King King - The Globe, Cardiff, 8 March 2015

A Sunday night can be a tricky one for any gig but thankfully  the fans came out in their droves for an almost full house at The Globe in what I can only describe as a masterclass in musicianship.  This … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEVELLERS – Opera House, Buxton, 5 March 2015

Levellers - Buxton Opera House, 5 March 2015

Walking up to the majestic Buxton Opera House it was noticeable that the crusty old tour vans of years gone by have been replaced by posh tour coaches but were Levellers still true to their roots?  Well tonight we were … Continue reading

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Gig review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Alexanders, Chester, 12 March 2015

Eleanor McEvoy - Alexanders, Chester, 12 March 2015

Ten years ago we asked Eleanor McEvoy if she would continue in “acoustic” mode for the foreseeable future and whether she would ever consider going back to the more ‘electric’ format that she followed in the mid to late 1990s.  … Continue reading

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Album review: CREPUSCULE – Vivv

Crepuscule - Vivv

Self-released – Release Date: 18 July 2014 This is definitely an album of despites. Despite having a name that sounds like a pustulent sore, despite having a cover that Slipknot might well have found too scary and despite the entire … Continue reading

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Album review: RICK SPRINGFIELD – Stripped Down

Rick Springfield - Stripped Down

Loud and Proud Records/ear Music [Released 09.03.15] CD/DVD Rick Springfield is amazingly 65 years old having started in the music business back in the late 1960′s. He certainly doesn’t look his age and when you watch the DVD the predominately … Continue reading

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News: MARK SLAUGHTER, KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, MICHAEL MONROE – Wednesday 11 March 2015

Mark Slaughter, of Slaughter fame, releases his solo album ‘Reflections In A Rear View Mirror’ on May 22nd on Escape Music. The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band release an EP entitled ‘A Little Something From The Road, Vol.1′ on limited edition … Continue reading

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Album review: GUN – Frantic

Gun - Frantic

Morsecode Records [Release date – 23.03.15] Gun have been serving up their brand of pop tinged rock for the last twenty odd years and since their reformation in 2012 the guys have proved that there is still life in the … Continue reading

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Album review: KRISSY MATTHEWS – Scenes From A Moving Window

Promise [Released 02.03.15] ‘Scenes From a Moving Window’ finds young guitar slinger Krissy Matthews teaming up with former Cream lyricist and esteemed producer Pete Brown to great effect. This is the 22 year old’s 4th album and it’s a notable … Continue reading

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Album review: SIMPLE MINDS – Sparkle In The Rain (box set)

SIMPLE MINDS - Sparkle In The Rain (box set)

Universal [Release date 16.03.15] 5-disc box set If New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) marked the beginning of Simple Minds departure from their new waves roots, Sparkle In The Rain – their 6th album, released in 1984 and produced by Steve Lillywhite … Continue reading

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Album review: ALICE DiMICELE – Swim

ALICE DiMICELE - Swim

Alice Otter Music [Release date 04.05.15] www.alicedimicele.com It comes as little surprise that Alice DiMicele has been on the scene for almost 30 years as her sound – described as ‘groove folk’ and ‘acoustic soul’ -  echoes back to Joni … Continue reading

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EP review: CONSIDER the SOURCE – World War Trio (Part1)

CONSIDER the SOURCE – World War Trio EP (Part1)

Self Release [Release date 09.02.15] The thing about both prog rock and avant garde music in general is that sometimes it’s best not to take it too seriously. Look no further than Focus for an example of a band capable … Continue reading

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Gig review: WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED – Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED - Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

March is now an even busier month in the gig calendar with bands fitting mini tours around the Hard Rock Hell United extravaganza in North Wales, and this was a welcome London showcase for three of the current generation of … Continue reading

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Quick plays: SYLVAN, ROB MORATTI, KYSHERA

Sylvan - Home

SYLVAN – Home Gentle Art Of Music [Released 16.02.15] This is the band’s ninth studio album and their first in three years. It is a concept album based on the human quest for what is home. Those new to Slyvan’s … Continue reading

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Album review: ESOSOME – What We Thought Would Save Us

ESOSOME - What We Thought Would Save Us

  Self-released – [Release Date: 10.07.14] One of the joys of writing reviews is that every so often a little gem appears amid the general ordinariness of new material that arrives (mostly as a result of the joys of self-release … Continue reading

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Album review: IAN SIEGAL – One Night In Amsterdam

 IAN SIEGAL – One Night In Amsterdam

Nugene [Released 09.03.15] Like all the best outlaws, Ian Siegal aggressively sings about the kind of lifestyle that his fans love to hear about but wouldn’t want to live. ‘One Night in Amsterdam’ casts him as the perennial outsider who … Continue reading

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News: BRIAN WILSON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, EUROPE – Sunday 8 March 2015

Steven Wilson - London Royal Festival Hall, 4 March 2013

UK album chart placings w/e 8th March: Steven Wilson new at no.13; Europe new at no.50 Richie Kotzen is currently working on a live DVD for release this spring. Peter Gabriel releases his ‘Play’ DVD on May 18th on Eagle … Continue reading

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Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks

JOE BONAMASSA – Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks

Provogue [Released 23.03.15] The mission statement for this project comes right at the beginning of the credits under the ‘Keeping The Blues Alive’ banner, which is also the name of Joe Bonamassa’s charitable blues foundation for keeping music alive in … Continue reading

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Album review: JEFF HEALEY BAND – Live At The Horseshoe Tavern 1993

JEFF HEALEY BAND - Live At The Horseshoe Tavern 1993

Eagle Records – [Release Date: 26.01.15] Around eighteen months ago I reviewed Jeff’s ‘Live In NYC’ and questioned whether the world needed yet another Jeff Healey Band live album – given that there had been four releases of live and … Continue reading

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Book review: Sail Away Whitesnake’s Fantastic Voyage by Martin Popoff

Sail Away: Whitesnake

Soundcheck Books www.soundcheckbooks.co.uk Martin Popoff has written a few books in his time, this is his 45th, and this one covers Whitesnake up to and including their hair metal years. The author has some interesting insight from recent interviews with … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS/ EUROPE – 02 ABC, Glasgow, 5 March 2015

BLACK STAR RIDERS/ EUROPE – 02 ABC, Glasgow, 5 March 2015

The first quarter of 2015 is awash with gigs of all shapes and sizes but one tour which has been hotly anticipated since it was announced is the co-headline tour with Black Star Riders and Europe.  Two dates were announced … Continue reading

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DVD review: SHANIA TWAIN – Still The One Live From Vegas

SHANIA TWAIN - Still the One Live From Vegas

Eagle Rock [Release date 02.03.15] For the original country/pop crossover queen, and best-selling female country artist of all time who has shipped over 75 million albums worldwide – thanks primarily to the Mutt Lange trilogy of releases The Woman in … Continue reading

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