Yearly Archives: 2017

Album review: BITERS – The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be

BITERS - The Future Ain

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

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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 April 2017

 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

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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

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Album review: QUINN SULLIVAN – Midnight Highway

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

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Album review: LONELY ROBOT – The Big Dream

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

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Gig review: THE MAGPIE SALUTE – Under The Bridge, London, 13 April 2017

The Best of 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

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EP review: INDIA ELECTRIC CO. – ECM1

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

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Quick plays: MICHAEL KIWANUKA, THE DAWN BROTHERS

MICHAEL KIWANUKA Love and Hate

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

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Album review: THE MARK LANEGAN BAND – Gargoyle

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

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Book review: MARTIN HANNETT – His Equipment And Strawberry Studios by Chris Hewitt

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

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Album review: ONE DESIRE- s/t

One Desire

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

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Album review: KINKY WIZZARDS – Quirky Musings

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

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Album review: MIKE + THE MECHANICS – Let Me Fly

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 - Looking Back At The Moon

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

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Album review: ECLIPSE- Monumentum

ECLIPSE- Monumentum

Frontiers [Release Date 24.03.17] He may be the most prolific, in demand writer and producer on the melodic rock scene, but no-one could accuse Erik Martensson of neglecting his day job as lead singer and guitarist with Eclipse. Two years … Continue reading

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Gig review: ERJA LYYTINEN – Album Showcase, Ain’t Nothing But The Blues, London, 10 April 2017

ERJA LYYTINEN  - Album Showcase,  Ain

The intimate surrounding for Erja Lyytinen’s ‘Stolen Hearts’ album showcase is well suited to an award winning artist who this afternoon willingly shares the rudiments of her creative process with the assembled members of the press and guest musicians. She’s … Continue reading

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Album review: WILKO JOHNSON – I Keep it to Myself – The Best Of Wilko Johnson

Chess [Release date: 10.03.17] A new Wilko Johnson best of. What’s not to like? Well, despite the strength of the material, even a die-hard fan such as myself might legitimately ask whether this new collection adds anything significant to the … Continue reading

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Album review: JESSICA LEE MORGAN – Around The Block

JESSICA LEE MORGAN - Around The Block

[Release date 16.06.17] Another ‘next generation’ release – this time from the daughter of Mary Hopkin and Tony Visconti. I’ve yet to be convinced of the merits of following in the family footsteps’, although it has to be said Lisa … Continue reading

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Album review: MAGENTA – We Are Legend

MAGENTA - We Are Legend

In June 2012 Rob Reed chatted with David Randall for his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio when the current Magenta album was ‘Chameleon’.  He was also poised to release the major project ‘Kompendium’. They covered Magenta, the … Continue reading

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Album review: LITTLE RIVER BAND – The Big Box (6 Disc incl DVD)

LITTLE RIVER BAND - The Big Box

The Store For Music [Release date 28.04.17] The only problem with this welcome 5-CD/DVD boxed set is repetition.  In more recent years Little River Band have seemingly sought to reinvent their past with not a lot of new material.  (Some … Continue reading

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Gig review: GHOST – ABC, Glasgow, 29 March 2017

GHOST – ABC, Glasgow, 29th March 2017

I often ponder if, years in the future, people will look back at images of gigs and festivals and interpret them as some form of religious gatherings. A huge crowd drawn together to worship at the altar of whichever rock … Continue reading

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Gig review: BROKEN WITT REBELS/BAD TOUCH – The Borderline, London, 8 April 2017

BROKEN WITT REBELS - The Borderline, London, 8 April 2017

While the ‘Roadstars’ strapline may be a tad presumptuous for two bands who are still learning their craft, there’s no denying the capacity crowd’s enthusiasm for a double bill aimed at two related, but slightly different markets. Norwich’s Bad Touch … Continue reading

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News: PAUL RODGERS captures the Spirit of Free on tour in May 2017

PAUL RODGERS - Manchester Apollo, 8 May 2017

In April 2011 David Randall chatted to Paul Rodgers for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio’s “Heroes” series. In this exclusive edit, Paul chats about Paul Kossoff, the formation of Free and the hit single ‘All Right Now’.  (11:23) Paul Rodgers … Continue reading

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Album review: ROBBY KRIEGER – In Session

ROBBY KRIEGER - In Session

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 24.02.17] Like the Cleopatra release before it by Joe Lynn Turner “In Session” collects together some of Robby Krieger’s session work over the years.  The Doors guitarist was always a master of restraint in terms of … Continue reading

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Album review: BLUES IMAGE feat. MIKE PINERA – Timeless

BLUES IMAGE feat. MIKE PINERA - Timeless

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 31.03.17) Perhaps best known for his stint in Blues Image, Mike Pinera was also for a time a member of seminal heavy metallers Iron Butterfly.  Unsurprisingly, a version of the classic ‘In A Gadda Da Vida’ … Continue reading

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