Monthly Archives: December 2022

Gig review: SKERRYVORE AND MANRAN – Albert Hall, Stirling – 29th December 2022

221229_skerryvore1

This gig was another that felt a bit like being an extra in an episode of Dr Who, you know it’s 2022 but you are handing over a ticket for a show in 2020! Yup, this show has been hit … Continue reading

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Album review: TANGERINE DREAM – The Bootleg Box Set Vol.2 (7 CDs, Remastered)

tangdreamboot550

Cherry Red [Release date 13.01.23] As the instigators of sequenced electronica, and pioneers of German ‘Kosmische’ music, Tangerine Dream have no equal. Add to that their 60 plus movie scores – cultural statements as well as music to match the … Continue reading

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Album Review: LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III – 2 Classic Albums on 1 CD

Loudon-Wainwright-_cover

Cherry Red [Release date: 13.01.23] A musical family where each member is a successful, well known artist in their own right is very rare. That’s the way it is with the Wainwrights… Loudon, daughters Martha and Lucy, son Rufus, and … Continue reading

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News: MR BIG, TREVOR RABIN, PINK FLOYD (January 2023)

Fleetwood Mac - Manchester Phones 4U Arena, 1 October 2013

A.C.T. release a new six song EP ‘Falling’ on March 3. Bryan Adams releases a live version of his 2022 Royal Albert Show, where he played all of his ‘Cuts Like A Knife’ album, on February 3. MVD Marquee Collection … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow – 10th Dec 2022

Christmas comes but once a year and you can be sure that there will be a date with Gun at the Barra’s with the same regularity. This annual event has now become part of many a Christmas schedule in the … Continue reading

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Album review: KELLY BAYFIELD – Wave Machine

Kelly Bayfield - Wave Machine

Self-released [Release date 27.01.23] ‘Wave Machine’ is the debut album from Kelly Bayfield following on from the release of two singles, ‘Vapour Trails’ and ‘John Mahoney’. The songs gathered on this album arrived at some of the most significant points … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE DEAD DAISIES – 02 Forum, London, 6 December 2022

THE DEAD DAISIES- 02 Forum, London, 6 December 2022

The constantly revolving lineups of travelling supergroup The Dead Daisies, the plaything of rhythm guitarist and businessman David Lowy, seem to have reached some belated stability, fronted by the equally mercurial Glenn Hughes. They were back in London to promote … Continue reading

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Album review: AUTUMN’S CHILD – Starflower

AUTUMN'S CHILD - Starflower

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 20.01.23] Autumn’s Child return with their fourth album ‘Starflower’, the second one released by Pride & Joy Music. The band still features Michael Erlandsson on vocals, keyboards & guitars, Pontus Åkesson on lead guitar, … Continue reading

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Album review: DOKKEN – The Elektra Albums 1983-1987

Dokken

BMG [Release date 27.01.23] Formed in the late 70s by vocalist and guitarist Don Dokken, the band Dokken shot to fame in the 80s, with their very enjoyable (and successful) blend of hard rock, glam and AOR. BMG continue their … Continue reading

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Album review: URIAH HEEP – Sweet Freedom, Return To Fantasy (vinyl reissues)

Uriah H

BMG [Release date  20.01.23] BMG continue their marvellous reissue campaign, and these heavyweight discs not only feel and look as good as they sound, but fit in perfectly with the current trend for some quality vinyl. Prog legends Uriah Heep … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

A combination of bitter weather and transport snarl ups meant I missed opening act and Wolfgang Van Halen’s current project, Mammoth WVH. I was, however, in plenty of time to see Halestorm’s fiery, combative set. Plenty of others were too. … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE NEW ROSES – Camden Underworld, London, 1 December 2022

THE NEW ROSES- Camden Underworld, London, 1 December 2022

It’s been a case of making up for lost time for German rockers The New Roses.  I’d been highly impressed by their headline London show at this same venue in late 2018 and the following year’s ‘Nothing But Wild’ was … Continue reading

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Single reviews: LITTLE LORE, BROTHER FIRETRIBE, KING CUJO

Little Lore - Birds

LITTLE LORE Birds ‘Birds’ is the latest single from Little Lore, the alter-ego of London-based Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy. She is joined on this song by Oli Deakin who adds the instrumental backing. Little Lore: “I wrote ‘Birds’ at a friend’s … Continue reading

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Single review: REDEMPTION – I Am The Storm

redemption i am the storm single

AFM Records [release date 14.12.22] Led from the front by multi instrumentalist, Nick Van Dyk, LA’s Power/Prog Metal maestros, Redemption aren’t the most prolific. I Am The Storm, the album, due for release early 2023, is only the band’s third … Continue reading

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Single review: ELVENKING – Rapture

elvenking rapture

AFM Records [release date: 14.12.22] ‘Rapture’ is the first trailer track / single from the forthcoming Elevenking (2023) album, Reader Of The Runes Part 2 (of 3). The band’s fascination with backing vocals that are rooted in Gregorian chants and … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! announces first band in the Grotto of Greatness (December 2022)

The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness

Rock website Get Ready to ROCK! has announced the first band to be inducted in its “GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”. The website’s version of the “Hall of Fame” is part of its 20th anniversary celebrations in 2023.  A different artist/band … Continue reading

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Album review: RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STAR BAND – Live at the Greek 2019

Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band – ‘Live at the Greek 2019’

BFD [Release date 25.11.22] When you are the most famous drummer on the planet and want to tour, there really is a who’s who of musicians in your little black book to call upon.  Having first started playing with his … Continue reading

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Album review: BARNABAS SKY – What Comes To Light

BARNABAS SKY - What Comes To Light

Pride & Glory [Release date 20.01.23] The all-star rock project Barnabas Sky, led by guitarist and songwriter Markus Pfeffer (Lazarus Dream, Winterland), is back a year later with album number two. Tyketto’s Danny Vaughn and Silent Rage’s Jesse Damon are … Continue reading

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Gig review: DANNY VAUGHN – The Grace, London, 4 December 2022

DANNY VAUGHN- The Grace, London, 4 December 2022

Danny Vaughn was one of those troubadours who made lockdown life more bearable for rock fans with his ‘Vaughnsday’ on line acoustic performances from his living room.  The pandemic had interrupted his usual busy schedule, whether solo, with Tyketto or … Continue reading

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Single review : FASTER PUSSYCAT – Like A Ghost and Pirate Love (Double A-Side)

faster pussycat like a ghost

Golden Robot Records [release date: 28.11.22] If any artists can claim to have emerged as true survivors in the post grunge period, it’s Faster Pussycat. Over two million albums sold, not a world record, but a tidy number just the … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOHN OTWAY – Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 15 December 2022

John Otway, Odeon Leicester Square, London, 7 October 2012

This time last year when penning my John  Otway gig I noted… “Welcome to the Brave New World/1984 as this was the first gig I was asked to show my covid pass. Sign of the times but if it keeps … Continue reading

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Album review: AFTER LAPSE – Face The Storm

after lapse face storm

Frontiers [Release date : 09.12.22] Debut album from Prog Rock classicists, After Lapse. As any aficionado will tell you, Progrock bands need more time than others to tell their story. Credit to After Lapse for holding track lengths to around … Continue reading

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Album review : NEVENA – Nevena

nevena

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] After contributing to the Big Deal album earlier this year, with several other female singers, Nevena strikes out now as a solo performer. Her debut walks a high wire between modern pop and melodic rock, as … Continue reading

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Album review : GERRY JABLONSKI and THE ELECTRIC BAND – 105

gerry jablonski 105

Independent [Release date: 02.12.22] Fifth album from one of the UK’s lesser known Rock’n’Blues outfits, Gerry Jablonski and The Electric Band. (Not their one hundred and fifth). Looking at the band’s incessant touring schedules, it’s a surprise they had time … Continue reading

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Album review: JESS HAYES BAND- On My Own

JESS HAYES BAND- On My Own

Independent (Release Date 2021) Jess Hayes has a distinguished musical pedigree as the daughter of Val Cowell and Richard Hayes of long-running blues rockers Bad Influence, and has been making a name with her own band on the South and … Continue reading

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