Monthly Archives: January 2018

Album review: BILLY WALTON BAND – Soul Of A Man

Posted on January 31, 2018 by petefeenstra

Vizztone Records [Release date 12.01.18] Not to be confused with the Blind Willie Johnson song, the Billy Walton Band’s ‘Soul Of A Man’ album strikes the perfect balance between their natural exuberance and nascent song craft. If you include a … Continue reading →

Album review: ZOE SCHWARZ BLUE COMMOTION – The Blues And I Should Have A Party

Posted on January 30, 2018 by petefeenstra

33 Records [Release date 02.03.18] ‘The Blues And I Should Have A Party’ is as much a thematic statement of the band’s musical intent – let alone history – as it is a specific title track about a troubled relationship. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 33 records, album, blues, grooves, guitar, Hammond, Paul Robinson, Pete Whittaker, review, Rob Koral, rock, Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, swing, The Blues And I Should Have A Party, vocals, Zoe Schwarz, Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion | Leave a comment

EP review: BAD MOTHER EARTH

Posted on January 30, 2018 by jason

Self-released [Release date 26.01.18] Bad Mother Earth are a new four piece consisting of vocalist Jacky Rogue, guitarist Joe Kash, drummer Greg Kats and bass palyer Mitch Prax. ‘Not Comin’ Home’ has been released as lead single/video and fair pelts … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Bad Mother Earth, debut, EP, Guns 'N' Roses, interview, melodic, review, Rising Stars, rock, rock 'n' roll | Leave a comment

Album review: SPREADING THE DISEASE – Insurrection

Posted on January 30, 2018 by jason

Facebook page [Release date 26.01.18] I reviewed Spreading The Disease’s EP a couple of years ago and that featured the awesome song ‘Bulldozer’ – a song that did what it said on the tin, namely rolling over the listener with some … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged album, band, Breed 77, Insurrection, interview, modern metal, Pantera, review, Rising Stars, SLIPKNOT, Spreading The Disease, Thrash | Leave a comment

Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 3)

Posted on January 30, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Chantel McGregor - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 3)

Day 3 – Sunday As the final day started we wouldn’t have been surprised to see Bobby Kimball sliding out of the curtains reminiscing about his appearance on Toto IV but … instead Chantel McGregor got the juices flowing with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 28 January 2018, blues rock, Butlins, Chantel McGregor, classic rock, Deborah Bonham, festival, Giants Of Rock, jazz fusion, Larry Carlton, Minehead, Nazareth, Slade, Snakecharmer, Somerset | Leave a comment

Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 2)

Posted on January 30, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

John Verity - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 2)

Day 2 – Saturday John Verity opened up shop on a damp Saturday with a thoughtful blues rock set, not overplaying his own solo material (new album: Blue To My Soul) and treating us to some familiar standards including ‘Cocaine’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 27 January 2018, blues, Bobby Kimball, Boston, Butlins, classic rock, festival, Fran Cosmo, Giants Of Rock, Hawkwind, John Verity, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, melodic rock, Minehead, progressive, Somerset, space rock, Toto, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 1)

Posted on January 30, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

FM - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26 January 2018 (Day 1)

News during the week that Wetherspoons had taken steak off their menu may not have been of great interest until we learn that Butlins also get their meat from the same source that is currently “under investigation”. The loss of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 26 January 2018, Butlins, classic rock, Curved Air, festival, FM, Giants Of Rock, Magnum, Martin Turner, melodic rock, Minehead, progressive, Somerset, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOANOVARC, HELL’S GAZELLES, KILLIT, BLACK WHISKEY – Giants Of Rock, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018

Posted on January 29, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

KILLIT - Giants Of Rock, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018

A spotlight on some of the upcoming bands that graced the Giants of Rock stages in 2018… Dubbed the ‘new queens of rock’ JoanovArc immediately impressed with an energetic and high-quality performance. Big drums, powerful bass, nice heavy guitar and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26-29 January 2018, Black Whiskey, blues rock, Giants Of Rock, gig, hard rock, Hell's Gazelles, Joanovarc, Killit, Minehead, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL, Skegness, 19-22 January 2018

Posted on January 26, 2018 by jason

I’ve enjoyed various Butlins music weekends over the years but 2018 will be the first where I’ve done two such weekends on the trot. My Butlins blow-out started off with the Rock & Blues weekend in Skegness – with just … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 19-22 January 2018, Atomic Rooster, Bernie Marsden, Butlins, Dr Feelgood, festival, Nazareth, review, Skegness, Stray, the Great British Rock & Blues Festival | Leave a comment

News: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR announce first headliner for two day event (30 June/ 1 July 2018)

Posted on January 25, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Gun - Giants of Rock, Minehead, January 2017

Ramblin’ Man Fair have announced their first headliner for the event taking place 30 June – 1 July. British rock legends The Cult will play an exclusive festival set. Scottish rockers Gun (pictured) have been added to the main stage … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged 1 July 2018, 30 June 2018, blues rock, classic rock, festival, Fish, Gov't Mule, Gun, Kent, line-up, Maidstone, Mote Park, news, Progressive Rock, Ramblin' Man Fair, Steve Earle, The Cult | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LUKE JACKSON, TOM TOWNSEND

Posted on January 25, 2018 by jason

LUKE JACKSON Solo, Duo, Trio First Take Records [Release date 09.02.18] Luke Jackson has been steadily building a name for himself since his debut album ‘More Than The Boys’ was released in 2013. Indeed, he has been nominated for the BBC … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, blues, folk, funk, jazz, Leave It Up To Me, live, Luke Jackson, pop, Quick Plays, review, singer songwriter, Solo, Tom Townsend | Leave a comment

News: HRH PROG VII features Hawkwind, Pendragon, The Strawbs amongst others (15-18 November 2018)

Posted on January 25, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Hawkwind - GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL - Skegness 22-24 January 2016

Hawkwind (pictured) will headline this year’s HRH Prog event, 15-18 November 2018 at the Hafan y Môr holiday park, near the seaside village of Pwllheli, in North West Wales. Prog rockers Pendragon celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2018 and also … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Leave a comment

Gig review: KING KING – Bath Forum, 20 January 2018

Posted on January 24, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Bath has never been a hot bed for rock/blues gigs but tonight the temperature rose to fever pitch when King King arrived in town and shook the Georgian buildings to their very foundations. After the issues that Alan Nimmo has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 January 2018, Alan Nimmo, Bath Forum, blues, classic rock, gig, King King, review, rock, Wayne Procter | Leave a comment

Album review: LONG DISTANCE CALLING – Boundless

Posted on January 23, 2018 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 02.02.18] Germany’s Long Distance Calling – guitarists David Jordan and Florian Füntmann, bassist Jan Hoffman and drummer Janosch Rathmer – have been around since 2006 and although their last album featured guest vocalists, on this album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Boundless, instrumental, Long Distance Calling, Post-rock, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ – My ReGeneration/The Further Adventures Of

Posted on January 23, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 01.12.17] The Down ‘N’ Outz were formed by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, when he was asked to be involved in the Mott The Hoople reunion shows in 2009. For this he was backed by Quireboys’ members Paul Guerin … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classic rock, Def Leppard, Down N Outz, Ian Hunter, Joe Elliott, live, Mott the Hoople, My ReGeneration, Quireboys, re-issue, review, the Further Adventures Of | Leave a comment

Book review: JACKIE MCAULEY – I, SIDEMAN: The Story Of Me In The 60′s & 70′s

Posted on January 22, 2018 by petefeenstra

www.jackiemcauley.com – 253 pages paperback [Publication date: December 2017] Jackie McAuley’s ‘I Sideman: The Story Of Me In The 60′s and 70′s’ is an eloquently written, partial biography by a multi instrumentalist and vocalist who takes three quarters of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, Bonzo Dog Band, book, Brendan Bonass, Celtic rock, Charlie Watts, folk, Frank McCourt, Gene Vincent, Henry McCullough, I Sideman, Irish, Jackie McAuley, Jimi Hendrix, JOE COCKER, John Peel, Judy Dyble, Kim Fowley, Lonnie Donegan, Marvin Rainwater, Miami Show band, Paul Brady, Paul McCartney, Pete Brown, review, Royal Showband, The Kult, Them, Trader Horne, Van Morrison, Vangelis, Viv Stanshall | Leave a comment

Album review: FIVE GRAND STEREO – Sex & Money

Posted on January 20, 2018 by jason

Five Grand Stereo [Release date 26.01.18] Five Grand Stereo are Chris Singleton (vocals/guitar/piano), Jane Fraser (vocals), Stelios Kalisperides (guitar), Michael Kirkland (sax/synths), Zane Maertens (bass) and Ben Woollacott (drums). Chris Singleton has of course released a series of excellent pop/rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Singleton, David Bowie, debut, Five Grand Stereo, melodic, pop, review, rock, Sex & Money | Leave a comment

Gig review: OPERATION: MINDCRIME (Geoff Tate) – Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 14 January 2018

Posted on January 20, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

OPERATION: MINDCRIME - Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 14 January 2018

I won’t bore you with the details of the acrimonious Queensryche break up and fall out that followed, but in summary after a court case in 2012/14 Geoff Tate is the only person that can perform the classic Operation Mindcrime … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14 January 2018, GEOFF TATE, gig, hard rock, Muni Arts Centre, Operation: Mindcrime, Pontypridd, progressive metal, Queensryche, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DELLA GRANTS – Live Sessions

Posted on January 19, 2018 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 22.11.17] Whether or not The Della Grants take their name from Muddy Waters grandmother or the American roots reggae singer Della Grant, there’s certainly a musical meeting of minds on an album that references blues, soul … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Andy Boulton, blues, Chris Barron, Della Grant, Leicester, Live Room Sessions, Max Manning, Muddy Waters, review, rock, Rolling Stones, soul, The Band, The Della Grants, The Faces, The Spin Doctors, Tom Best, Tom Walker, Tony Robinson | Leave a comment

EP review: BLACK TREE VULTURES – Sanity Isn’t Perfect

Posted on January 19, 2018 by jason

Straight outta Bournemouth (with an attitude which says “f**k you, Compton !”) come spunky pistols Black Tree Vultures with their manic and muscly debut EP, Sanity Isn’t Perfect. Tipping the hat to several heavy rock protagonists and oozing piss-and-vinegar confidence, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, metal, review, rock, Sanity Isn't Perfect, the Black Tree Vultures, Voodoo Six | Leave a comment

Album review: JONO – Life

Posted on January 18, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 01.12.17] Jono joining Frontiers will be good for both parties, as Jono will get greater exposure to their marvellous mix of pomp, rock and prog, whilst Frontiers have a band who I am sure as Mr Halford … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Jono, Life, melodic, Muse, pomp, progressive, Queen, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DARK ELEMENT (featuring Anette Olzon & Jani Liimatainen)

Posted on January 16, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers Records [Release date 10.11.17] After Anette Olzon’s unceremonious departure from Nightwish in 2012 she took stock, brushed herself down, and fashioned the beginnings of a solo career. ‘Shine’ was released in 2014 and was one of my favourite albums, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anette Olzon, Jani Liimatainen, Nightwish, pop metal, review, Sonata Arctica, symphonic metal, symphonic rock, The Dark Element | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL LANDAU – Rock Bottom

Posted on January 16, 2018 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 23.02.18] From the free form intro of ‘Squirrels’ to the Noirish spoken word intro and melodic resolution of ‘Speak Now, Make Your Peace’, Michael Landau takes up on a complex musical journey that promises much and delivers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, BB King, blues, Brendan Perry, David Frazee, David Garfield, Dead Can Dance, fusion, guitar, jazz, Jim Morrison, John Cale, Joni Mitchell, Karizma, Michael Landau, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, review, rock, Rock Bottom | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD, RAINTIMES

Posted on January 16, 2018 by jason

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN Hearts Of Glass Proper Music [Release date 09.02.18] www.bethnielsenchapman.com Beth Nielsen Chapman’s latest album is nearly all her own songs, with many of them being re-recorded versions where the piano on the originals is replaced by guitar. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Blind Arcade, albums, All The Luck In The World, alternative, Beth Nielsen Chapman, country, folk, Frontiers, Hearts Of Glass, inide, melodic, melodic rock, Raintimes, reviews, the Storm, Von Groove | Leave a comment

EP review: ALEX JAMES BRIERLEY – Listen

Posted on January 16, 2018 by jason

Intense Pulse Records [Release date 23.02.18] Alex James Brierley is a young rising star who has been playing the piano since he was six and has toured supporting the likes of Space and Scouting For Girls. On this EP he has enlisted … Continue reading →