Monthly Archives: August 2019

Album review: EIGHTEENTH HOUR – Eighteenth Hour

EIGHTEENTH HOUR - Eighteenth Hour

Escape Music [Release date 23.08.19] Something a bit different on Escape Music, a label more associated with melodic rock and AOR, as Eighteenth Hour are modern rockers. This is the band’s seventh album and they have landed some prestigious support … Continue reading

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Album review: THE DEAD DAISIES – Locked And Loaded

DEAD DAISIES – Locked And Loaded

SPV [Release date 23.08.19] The Dead Daisies have been touring and recording since 2013 when David Lowy put the first line-up of the band together. Now, as the various current members of the band take a year out to concentrate … Continue reading

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Album review: 25 YARD SCREAMER – Natural Satellite

25 YARD SCREAMER - Natural Satellite

White Knight [Release 08.08.19] 25 Yard Screamer might be like the proverbial curate’s egg – very good in patches.  The Welsh prog rockers have been toiling now for the best part of a decade, first achieving GRTR! seal of approval … Continue reading

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Album review: THE IDES OF MARCH – Play On (55th Anniversary)

THE IDES OF MARCH - Play On (55th Anniversary)

IOM Records/Wienerworld [Release date 16.08.19] I am old enough to remember when ‘Vehicle’ by The Ides Of March was a radio hit back in 1970.  It was a slice of jazz rock that chimed with other brass-led rockers of the … Continue reading

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Album review: MONKEY HOUSE – Friday

MONKEY HOUSE - Friday

Alma Records [Release date 02.08.19] Monkey House are flying the flag for Steely Dan and the best we can say is that  ‘Friday’ could have been an album of Steely out-takes.  Given that Walter Becker died in 2017 and with … Continue reading

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Album review: VARIOUS – Come On Let’s Go! (Power Pop Gems from the 70s and 80s)

Big Beat/Ace [Release date 26.07.19] Every few years a label attempts a new “Power Pop” collection, and this time it’s the turn of Ace Records via their Big Beat imprint.  Dave Burke presents an impressive selection of 70′s and 80′s … Continue reading

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Album review: THE KENTISH SPIRES – Sprezzatura

THE KENTISH SPIRES - Sprezzatura

White Knight [Release date 08.08.19] The Kentish Spires debut – The Last Harvest – released just 12 months ago only narrowly missed out, to Laura Meade, as my album of 2018, so the band’s ‘quick fire’ turnaround with their follow-up … Continue reading

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Album review: MISS VELVET & THE BLUE WOLF Feat. GEORGE CLINTON – Feed The Wolf

MISS VELVET & THE BLUE WOLF Feat. GEORGE CLINTON – Feed The Wolf

Isotopia Records [Release date 23.08.19] In the nicest possible way, the first word that comes to mind as ‘Super Bon Bon’ the opening track of ‘Feed The Wolf’ unfolds is “sweaty”. Miss Velvet & The Blue Wolf’s second album feels … Continue reading

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Album review: PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds

PHIL LANZON - 48 Seconds

Phil Lanzon Ditties/Cargo Records UK [Release date 02.08.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s ‘If You Think I’m Crazy’ Uriah Heep’s keyboards player Phil Lanzon is back with another solo album, which again sees him working with producer Simon … Continue reading

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Album Review: BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen: In The Next Life

BILLY SHERWOOD - CITIZEN: IN THE NEXT LIFE

Frontiers Music [Release date: 12.07.2019] The prolific Mr Sherwood is a busy man. Not only is he now ensconced as bass player in the ever-revolving door of personnel that is Yes and also as the wonderful John Wetton’s replacement in … Continue reading

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Album review: MY LIFE STORY – World Citizen

MY LIFE STORY - World Citizen

Exilophone [Release date 06.09.19] To my musical shame My Life Story have completely passed me by until this album arrived for review, which means a lot of catching up for me as they are masters of lush pop and are … Continue reading

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Album review: GOSPELBEACH – Let It Burn

GOSPELBEACH - Let It Burn

Alive Records [Release date 04.10.19] As a genre, Americana is a very broad church of influences and flavors from beards, banjo’s and BBQ to fiddles, flannel shirts and flared pants but possibly it’s most engaging allure is that it is … Continue reading

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Album review: THE REMBRANDTS – Via Satellite

THE REMBRANDTS - Via Satellite

Blue Elan Records [Release date 23.08.19] The Rembrandts – Danny Wilde and Phil Solem – return with their first new album in eighteen years. Forever known to many for the hit ‘I’ll Be There For You’ from the US TV … Continue reading

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Album review: LAURENCE JONES – Laurence Jones Band

Laurence Jones - Laurence Jones Band

Top Stop Music [Release date 27.09.19] ‘Laurence Jones Band’ is a career departure for the former rock-blues hero who makes a major pitch for the pop market. They say the most significant thing about the blues genre is that historically … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE IGNORANT’S SLICE OF LIFE – Don’t Turn Away

STEVE IGNORANT

Overground Records [Release date 23.08.19] Sculptor, Music Hall historian, Punch & Judy performer, volunteer life boatman, and perhaps most significantly – from a musical perspective – vocalist and co-founder of seminal 1970′s punk band Crass, Steve Ignorant is a man … Continue reading

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Interview: BEN FEATHERSTONE

BEN FEATHERSTONE – Prisoner To The Wind

Ben Featherstone has just released his debut album ‘Prisoner to the Wind’, an album some ten years in the making. Ben tells us more about the recording and songs on the album, along with what inspired him to start playing music … Continue reading

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Album review: THE HOLD STEADY – Thrashing Thru The Passion

THE HOLD STEADY - Thrashing Thru The Passion

Frenchkiss Records [Release date 16.08.19] Whilst frontman Carif Finn has been busy releasing a trilogy of solo albums, the Hold Steady have been mainly seen in the live arena, until this new album ‘Thrashing Through Passion’ was announced earlier this … Continue reading

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Album review: CARAVAN – The Decca/Deram Years (An Anthology) 1970-1975

CARAVAN - The Decca/Deram Years (An Anthology) 1970-1975

Decca/UMC [Release date 06.09.19] Caravan The Decca/Deram Years may not look quite as handsome as the previous 4 disc anthology (2010), and notwithstanding the 2-disc compilation (2000), it is nevertheless the most complete introduction to the band. Presented in a … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 3 – Mote Park, Maidstone – 21 July 2019

RAMBLIN

Andy Nathan writes: Sunday was another day when there was a chance to check out a band in the tent before the main stage opened. This time it was used as the ‘Grooverider’ stage- I have no idea whether this … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 2 – Mote Park, Maidstone – 20 July 2019

Cheap Trick - RAMBLIN

Andy Nathan writes: Saturday at the Fair saw the full range of stages. When Ramblin’ Man started they had a dedicated prog stage attracting such heavy hitters as Marillion and Family, but that genre has been steadily marginalised. Saturday was … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Mote Park, Maidstone – Day 1 – 19 July 2019

The Darkness - RAMBLIN

Once again the rock hordes decended on Mote Park in Maidstone for another weekend of rock, blues, good beer and good company. GRTR! despatched Andy Nathan and Dave Atkinson to cover all the action, come rain or shine… Andy  Nathan … Continue reading

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Interview: THE NEW ROSES

The New Roses release their new studio album Nothing But Wild on Friday 2nd August. They started out back in 2007 and have released three albums to date. GRTR! put some questions to singer Timmy Rough about the new album, … Continue reading

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Album review: IAN McNABB – Our Future In Space

IAN McNABB - Our Future In Space

Fairfield Records [Release date 08.03.19] I will be honest I have not really followed Ian McNabb’s musical journey since 1994’s excellent ‘Head Like A Rock’ he did with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse. He’s been regularly releasing albums and touring … Continue reading

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Album review: THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND – Down To The River

The Allman Betts Band - Down To The River

BMG [Release 28.06.19] The Allman Betts Band don’t so much reinvent the wheel as relive subliminal snapshots of the band’s musical antecedents. They formed on the 50th anniversary of the first Allman Brothers gig and brought with them a weight … Continue reading

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Gig review: TREVOR HORN – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 31 July 2019

TREVOR HORN BAND - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 31 July 2019

It may be somewhat exaggerated to say that Trevor Horn single-handedly created the soundtrack to the eighties.  What is certain – as this concert demonstrated – he was associated with key artists and albums from that decade. This gig was … Continue reading

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