Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Gig review: SAXON – Tivoli, Buckley, 11 February 2014

Posted on February 12, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

35 years on since their album debut and the mighty Saxon return to their roots. The “Tiv” was a regular watering hole for bands in the eighties and it seems that life has come full circle. A series of club … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 11 February 2014, Biff Byford, Buckley, gig review, heavy rock, Saxon, Stormzone, Tivoli | Leave a comment

Single & EP reviews: WAKING UGLY, CHRIS ADAMS, VANITY RIOTS

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

WAKING UGLY Say Something Sweet EP www.wakingugly.com If Kylie was going to make a ‘heavy metal’ album it would probably sound like this. Girlie vocals, some decent rock guitar, but ultimately fairly shiny ‘pop’. And that’s just what Waking Ugly, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Ambulance, Australia, Chris Adams, EP, guitar, guitarist, review, Say Something Sweet, single, Transformed, Vanity Riots, Waking Ugly | Leave a comment

DVD review: U.S. Festival 1983 Days 1-3

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Wienerworld [Release date 27.01.14] It’s weird how when you look back at this footage, just how young everyone looks, yet when you look in the mirror that same youthful young man looks back at you (well, maybe not). The U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged DVD, INXS, Judas Priest, Men At Work, Missing Persons, Quarterflash, review, Scorpions, Stevie Nicks, The Clash, Triumphy, U.S. Festivals 1983 Days 1-3, U2 | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ROBBY HECHT, DAVID BERKELEY, PETER MULVEY, DAMIEN DEMPSEY

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

ROBBY HECHT Robby Hecht (Old Man Henry Records) [Release date 24.03.14] DAVID BERKELEY The Fire In My Head (Straw Man Music) [Release date 17.03.14] I’ve brigaded these two singer songwriter’s releases together, not just because they’ll be touring the UK … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Animal Heart, best of, Damien Dempsey, David Berkeley, It's All Good, Nina Persson, Peter Mulvey, review, Robby Hecht, Silver Ladder, singer, songwriter, The Fire In My Head | Leave a comment

Album review: WICKED FAITH – Under No Illusion

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Self-released [Release date 18.11.13] It’s always good to hear a young band giving it their all but referencing – perhaps subconsciously – some of those female-fronted bands that you grew up with. Wicked Faith formed in Norwich in late-2011 and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, female fronted, hard rock, Norwich, review, Under No Illusion, Wicked Faith | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAM STOKER – Cold Reading

Posted on February 8, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

sunn creative [Release date 27.01.14] The band, taking their name from one of the great horror stylists, might well conjure up dark and nefarious activity akin to their early contemporaries Black Widow. Forget all that. 40 years after their debut … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bram Stoker, Camel, Cold Reading, Genesis, prog, progressive, review, rock, Tony Bronsdon | 1 Comment

Gig review: URIAH HEEP – Tivoli, Buckley, 6 February 2014

Posted on February 7, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Chatting at length to Bernie Shaw I suddenly realised that vocalists usually need to rest their voice before a gig. He agreed. But his real complaint was the woeful heating in the semi-legendary ‘Tiv’ and a lack of TLC for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 6 February 2014, Bernie Shaw, Buckley, gig, heavy rock, Mick Box, Phil Lanzon, review, Tivoli, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: MISSING PERSONS feat. Dale Bozzio – Missing In Action

Posted on February 5, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 04.03.14] The digipak at the top of the stack didn’t look that inviting. Could it have been Dee Snider’s half-brother on the cover? There’s an awful lot of ivory around that lady’s neck. The name Dale … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Sherwood, Dale Bozzio, eighties, Missing In Action, Missing Persons, pop, review, synth | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – Piledriver Deluxe Edition

Posted on February 3, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Universal [Release date 24.03.14] Status Quo are preparing for the second round of their ‘Frantic Four’ reincarnation and – hey – here comes an extended reissue of their 1972 album. ‘Piledriver’ is important because it continued their journey from the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Alan Lancaster, album, deluxe edition, Francis Rossi, John Coghlan, Piledriver, reissue, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, Status Quo | Leave a comment

Album review: DEREK SHERINIAN – Reissues (Inertia,Black Utopia,Mythology,Blood Of The Snake,Molecular Heinosity)

Posted on February 3, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Armoury Records (re-issues) [Release date 10.02.14] Sherinian came to wider attention with Dream Theater in 1994 and since he left that band in 1999 the volume of his session work has grown along with stints in Black Country Communion and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Allan Holdsworth, Black Utopia, Blood Of The Snake and Molecular Heinosity, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Inertia, John Petrucci, John Sykes, keyboards, metal, Mythology, Planet X, progressive, reissue, rock, Simon Phillips, Slash, Steve Lukather, Tony Franklin, Virgil Donati, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde | Leave a comment

Album review: FALLING RED – Empire Of The Damned

Posted on February 1, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Outcast Records [27.01.14] www.falling-red.com When Kiss’ Gene Simmons recently described rock music as dead, what he failed to take into account was a the likes of Falling Red who are part of a new breed of bands that are making … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Empire Of The Damned, Falling Red, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: DUCKS DELUXE – Half Moon, Putney, London, 22 December 2013

Posted on January 29, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Let me make myself abundantly clear: matinee gigs are not, have never been, and never will be, one of my favourite pastimes. Especially at Christmas, after two days spent reviewing other shows (at night as per usual), with all the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 December 2013, Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe, gig, Half Moon, London, Martin Belmont, pub rock, Putney, review, Sean Tyla | Leave a comment

Album review: DRIVING MRS SATAN – Popscotch

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

www.drivingmrssatan.com Does the world need an album of metal covers by acts like Helloween, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Slayer and Faith No More? You might not think so, but when it’s something as unique as Popscotch, by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Black Sabbath, Driving Mrs Satan, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, metal, Metallica, pop, Popscotch, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: AMELIA WHITE, EDDI READER, THE O’s, THE SWEET LOWDOWN

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

AMELIA WHITE Old Postard [Release date 10.03.14] East Nashville-based singer and songwriter Amelia White wasn’t encouraged by her parents to pursue her musical dream. But their disapproval lit a fire as she listened to Neil Young, Beatles, Stones, and Muddy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, Amelia White, Americana, Eddi Reader, folk, May, Old Postcard, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The O's, The Sweet Lowdown, Thunderdog, Vagabond | Leave a comment

Album review: ABI MOORE – Amoeba & Stone

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Honest Records [Release date 03.02.14] The third album from independent Lincolnshire songstress Abi Moore is a rather pleasant affair. Switching effortlessly between folk and Americana it should cement the growing reputation of a singer songwriter who’s had support slots for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abi Moore, album, Amoeba & Stone, Lincolnshire, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Reissues (Trash/Hey Stoopid)

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Hear No Evil [Release date 23.09.13 and 27.01.14] Alice Cooper is not an artist whose back catalogue has seen much by way of remastering and re-issues and I’ve longed for Bob Ezrin to dig out the original recordings of Love … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Alice Cooper, Hey Stoopid, Joe Perry, Joe Satriani, Jon Bon Jovi, Nikki Sixx, Ozzy Osbourne, reissue, review, rock, Slash, Steve Laukather, Steve Vai, Steven Tyler, Trash | Leave a comment

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Brutally Live

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Salvo (CD/DVD) [Release date] It’s ironic that as Brutally Live is about to be re-released, the whole concert has been broadcast on BBC4. So if you’ve been watching the TV schedules you’ll hopefully have had the good sense to either … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Alice Cooper, Brutally Live, CD, DVD, July 2000, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: HEART – Fanatic Live From Caesars Colosseum

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Ann Wilson chats about her career in the Songwriters series, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sunday 23 March, 13:00 GMT. More information Frontiers Records (CD and DVD Deluxe Edition) [Release date 24.02.14] Heart’s 15th studio album, Fanatic, released in October … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Ann Wilson, AOR, CD, DVD, Fanatic Live At Caesars Colosseum, Heart, Nancy Wilson, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE PRETTY THINGS – London, 100 Club, 21 December 2013

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The brief was, I am led to believe, simple. “It’s a mod do,” promoter John Hellier had said to the band beforehand, “so keep it strictly Mod- all R’n’B, no psych.” Admittedly, that’s not how I’d have played it, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 100 Club, 21 December 2013, Dick Taylor, gig, London, Phil May, review, rock, The Pretty Things | Leave a comment

Gig review: HOLY HOLY (feat. Woody Woodmansey) – The Lexington,Islington,20 December 2013

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Q: When is a tribute band elevated to a status beyond a mere tribute band? A: When the drummer (or indeed any former member) of the band you are paying tribute to joins your lineup, thus cementing the link between … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 December 2013, Bowie, gig, Holy Holy, Islington, James Stevenson, review, Spiders From mars, The Lexington, Woody Woodmansey | Leave a comment

Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Originally only planned for two nights to celebrate the Forum’s 21st birthday, Wilko Johnson added a third night due to the other two shows being sold out so quickly. Roger Daltrey once sang that he hoped to die before he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24 January 2014, gig, Norman Watt-Roy, review, rock, The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, Wilko Johnson | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL RODGERS – The Royal Sessions

Posted on January 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

429 Records [Release date 27.01.14] It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Paul Rodgers took himself off to Memphis in 2013 and recorded this homage to the golden age of soul, working with some of that genre’s legendary players. It … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hi Records, Hi Rhythm Section, Memphis, Paul Rodgers, R&B, review, soul, The Royal Sessions | Leave a comment

Album review: CAST – reissues (All Change, Mother Nature Calls, Magic Hour, Beetroot)

Posted on January 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel Records [Release date 03.02.14] Cast embarked on their traditional low-key pre-Christmas dates in 2013 and celebrated their 20th anniversary with a new album ‘Troubled Times’. With their first four albums now expanded to deluxe editions, the time is perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged All Change, Beetroot, Cast, deluxe edition, DVD, John Power, Liverpool, Magic Hour, Mother Nature Calls, reissue, review, Shack, The Las | Leave a comment

Gig review: NOEL McCALLA/JIM MULLEN – Half Moon, Putney, 19 January 2014

Posted on January 21, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

When a vocalist begins his set by launching into a cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine”, you could be forgiven for slight trepidation, or even thinking you’ve wandered into the wrong gig altogether. After all, covers gigs, such as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 19 January 2014, Average White Band, fusion, gig, guitar, guitarist, Half Moon, Jazz rock, Jim Mullen, Kokomo, Mezzoforte, Moon, Morrissey Mullen, Noel McCalla, Putney, review, soul | 1 Comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – February 2014 Highlights

Posted on January 21, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

February 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT Photo: Noel Buckley Tuesdays 19:00 Pete Feenstra Rock & Blues NEW! In the first hour of our Tuesday blues rock marathon, Pete signposts upcoming and established artists who … Continue reading →