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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – The Grace, London, 26 November 2024
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Monthly Archives: April 2017
Gig review: LONELY ROBOT – Sub89, Reading, 27 April 2017
Sub89 is a decent sized venue in a less than salubrious part of Reading, McD’s and Nandos being the classier places in the street! It has a decent sized stage and the only downside was the sound which wasn’t great … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged 27 April 2017, Craig Blundell, gig, John Mitchell, Lonely Robot, Louder Still, progressive, reading, review, rock, Sub89, the Big Dream
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Gig review: THE QUIREBOYS – Islington Academy, London, 23 April 2017
There is a danger we can become blasé about the Quireboys, and it is easy to form a stereotype around the lovable, shambolic rogues with the singer in a gypsy headscarf and glass in hand, who turn every gig into … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Dave McCluskey, gig, Guy Griffin, Keith Weir, Last Great Dreamers, Nick Mailing, Paul Guerin, Quireboys, review, rock, Spike, Twisted Love
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Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – White Knight
The full version of this interview is broadcast as part of the 500th ‘Assume The Position’ presented by David Randall on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Repeated Monday 29 May, 22:00 GMT and Friday 2 June, 22:00 GMT (5:22) Now … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Daryl Hall, Donald Fagen, Joe Satriani, Joe Walsh, review, Robyn, rock, Todd Rundgren, Trent Reznor, White Knight
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Album review: BOBBY KIMBALL – We’re Not In Kansas Anymore
Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records [Release date 21.04.17] For many, Bobby Kimball is the definitive voice of Toto and performed with that band during the halcyon years of 1978-1984 (rejoining and touring 1998-2000). Since that time he has forged a semi-cabaret existence … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bobby Kimball, Derek Sherinian, melodic rock, review, soft rock, Toto, We're Not In Kansas Anymore
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Quick plays: BURNT OUT WRECK, CHESS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
BURNT OUT WRECK Swallow Cherry Red Records [Release date 24.03.17] Gary Moat was the drummer with Scottish rockers Heavy Pettin’ and for his new band, Burnt Out Wreck, he leaves his drum kit behind to head for the mic stand. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged AC/DC, album, alternative, Anna Coogan, Bo Diddley, Burnt Out Wreck, Chess, Chuck Berry, compilation, country, folk, For All Our Sins, Gary Moat, Heavy Pettin', Just Go Wild Over Rock 'N' Roll, KROKUS, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Sound of the Sirens, Swallow, The Lonely Cry of Space and Time
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Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Grimspound
English Electric Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] www.bigbigtrain.com Following hot on the heels of last year’s excellent ‘Folklore’ album Big Big Train are back with another album featuring tales of national heroes, the countryside and family dramas. This album also sees … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Big Big Train, David Longdon, Fairport Convention, folk, Greg Spawton, Grimspound, Judy Dyble, prog rock, progressive, review
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Album review: AYREON – The Source
Music Theories Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] It’s 12 years since Ayreon’s first album ‘The Final Experiment’ and the key elements of a conceptual sci-fi story with prog rock underpinnings remain at the heart of the new album ‘The Source.’ It’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon, Ben Mathot, blues, David Bowie, Floor Jansen, Frank Zappa, funk, Guthrie Gavan, James LaBrie, Jeroen Goossens, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, metal, Michael Eriksen, Mike Mills, Nils K. Rue, Paul Gilbert, Pink Floyd, prog, Queen, review, Russell Allen, Simone Simons, The Darkness, the Source, Todd Rundgren, Tommy Karevik, Tommy Rogers, Trace, Utopia, Yann Souetre, Yes
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News: STEVE HACKETT on tour in the UK from 28 April
Steve Hackett commences his UK tour on Friday 28 April. Promoting his new album ‘The Night Siren’ the tour is also billed as “Genesis Revisited with Classic Hackett” and culminates in a sold out show at The London Palladium. The … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
Tagged Genesis Revisited, gigs, guitar, guitarist, may 2017, prog, Progressive Rock, Steve Hackett, The Night Siren, UK tour
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Gig review: ECLIPSE – The Borderline, London, 22 April 2017
With each album Eclipse’s reputation is finally spreading beyond the confines of the small but loyal melodic rock community. There was a significantly higher crowd to see them at a packed Borderline than on their previous visits, and yet what … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Andre Linnan, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Franklin Zoo, gig, Magnus Henriksson, melodic rock, One Desire, review
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Album review: HANK MARVIN – Without A Word
Demon Music Group [Release date 02.06.17] Hank Marvin is a guitar legend of that is there no doubt, having influenced many other guitar greats like Brian May, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler and even those not associated with guitars like Jean-Michel Jarre, who … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Cliff Richard, Dr Who, film sountracks, guitar, guitarist, Hank Marvin, instrumental, review, The Shadows, Without A Word
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Album review: AXEL RUDI PELL – Ballads V
Steamhammer/SPV [Release date 21.04.17] Axel Rudi Pell has been releasing these ballads collections since 1993 and it was six years since ‘IV’ was released. Always a good mix of previously released material, covers and few new songs, ‘V’ is no … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Axel Rudi Pell, Ballads V, Bonnie Tyler, Ed Sheeran, Hardline, Johnny Gioeli, melodic, review, rock, SPV
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Album review: BITERS – The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be
Earache Records [Release date 19.05.17] The Biters released their debut album ‘Electric Blood’ in 2015 and I was impressed, although the album did tail off with a few filler tunes. Biters are back with album number two and they have … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 70's rock, album, Biters, glam, hard rock, review, rock, Slade, T.Rex, the Future Ain't What It Used To Be
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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 April 2017
The hardest working blues rocker in the business was returning to the iconic RAH for the first time since 2014, in support of last year’s ‘Blues of Desperation’ album. He had elected for a very basic stage set up. One … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20 April 2017, Blues of Desperation, blues. blues rock, gig, guitar, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, live, review, Royal Albert Hall
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Gig review: LED ZEPPELIN MASTERS – London Palladium, 19 April 2017
Tribute bands often divide music fans as some see them as poor imitations of the original acts, however as time takes its toll on many musicians and bands, tribute acts keep the music of these classic bands alive and well. … Continue reading
Album review: QUINN SULLIVAN – Midnight Highway
Provogue [Release date 24.03.17] Best known as Buddy Guy’s protégé, 17 year old Quinn Sullivan’s third album ‘Midnight Highway’ takes a major step up in carving out his own niche in the crossover blues rock-world He’s got the chops, he’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Allman Brothers, blues, Buddy Guy, electro, funk, George Harrison, guitar, Jerry Garcia, Midnight Highway, Quinn Sullivan, review, Tom Hambridge
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Album review: LONELY ROBOT – The Big Dream
Inside Out Music [Release date 28.04.17] After a two year wait we get the second part of the trilogy from Lonely Robot, aka John Mitchell (Frost*/Arena/It Bites). He again plays all instruments bar the drums, played by the ever reliable Craig … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Craig Blundell, Frost*, John Mitchell, Kim Seviour, Lonely Robot, melodic, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, the Big Dream
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Gig review: THE MAGPIE SALUTE – Under The Bridge, London, 13 April 2017
Despite having to venture way too close for personal comfort to this very interesting venue situated in the guts of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge home, the London debut of Rich Robinson’s new travelling band of musical gypsies, The Magpie Salute, gave … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged gig, London, Marc Ford, review, Rich Robinson, rock, southern, Sven Pipien, The Black Crowes, the Magpie Salute, Under the Bridge
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EP review: INDIA ELECTRIC CO. – ECM1
www.indiaelectricco.com [Release date 05.05.17] India Electric Co. are Cole Stacey and Joseph O’Keefe, who released their debut album, ‘The Girl Left Behind Me’ in 2015 and gained rave reviews for it, including airplay on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 6. … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Cole Stacey, ECM1, electronic, EP, folk, India Electric Co., jazz, Joseph O'Keefe, review, world music
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Quick plays: MICHAEL KIWANUKA, THE DAWN BROTHERS
MICHAEL KIWANUKA Love And Hate Since my son and I are “live on Sky” football junkies, my dear lady busies herself with her own TV series and was bowled over by the opening soundtrack to “Big Little Lies” which happens to … Continue reading
Album review: THE MARK LANEGAN BAND – Gargoyle
[Release date 28.04.17] Not being hugely familiar with Mark Lanegan’s previous output, I was able to spin this album with neither pre-conception nor expectation…and pretty impressed I was too. Straddling between the truism that “you can only objectively critique that … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alternative, Gargoyle, Mark Lanegan, review, rock, Screaming Trees, the Mark Lanegan Band
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Book review: MARTIN HANNETT – His Equipment And Strawberry Studios by Chris Hewitt
Dandelion Records & Books [Publication date 07.04.17] Given the fact that the author Chris Hewitt has already released the exhaustive DVD ‘Martin Hannett – He Wasn’t Just The Fifth Member Of Joy Division’ and the book ‘The Pleasures Of The … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged A Certain Ratio, book, Chris Hewitt, Chris Sieve, Durutti Column, Factory records, Frank Zappa, Happy Mondays, His Equipment And Strawberry Studios, John Cooper Clark, Joy Division, Magazine, Martin Hannett, New Order, OMD, Peter Hook, Phil Spector, producer, Reabid records, review, Rob Gretton, Strawberry studios, The Buzzcocks, The Psychedelic Furs, the Stone Roses, Tony Wilson, U2
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Album review: ONE DESIRE- s/t
Frontiers Records [Release Date 24.03.17] The latest in a seemingly endless line of melodic rock talent from Scandinavia, a real buzz is building around One Desire, a new name but boasting former Sturm and Drang singer and guitarist Andre Linman. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andre Linman, Erik Martensson, melodic rock, One Desire, review
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Album review: KINKY WIZZARDS – Quirky Musings
White Knight Records [Release date 31.03.17] In recent years we’ve enjoyed several artists or bands who have purveyed an infectious brand of instrumental-based prog rock, inspired by jazz fusion or just plain inspired. Amongst them the likes of Norway’s Pymlico … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, funk, fusion, instrumental, Jazz rock, Kinky Wizzards, Quirky Musings, review
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Album review: MIKE + THE MECHANICS – Let Me Fly
BMG [Release date 07.04.17] When Mike + The Mechanics played live recently – ostensibly to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Word Of Mouth – it was clearly evident they were also promoting a new album; taking pre-release orders in the … Continue reading
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Album review: DEBORAH BONHAM – Reissues (Looking Back At The Moon/Spirit)
Deborah Bonham chatted to David Randall in March 2015, discussing her career and with tracks from several albums. Plus she chose some of the tracks that have influenced her over the years. Sound Discs [Release date 28.04.17] When I chatted … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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