Author Archives: andynathan

Gig review: PETER FRAMPTON – Red Rocks Amphitheater, Colorado, USA, 31 July 2019

Posted on August 20, 2019 by andynathan

2019 has been a year of the farewells of many of the legends of classic rock. Already this year, I’ve seen UFO, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kiss perform for (presumably) the final time in the UK and do their legacy proud. … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 31 July 2019, Adam Lester, classic rock, Colorado, gig, Jason Bonham, Peter Frampton, Red Rocks Amphitheater, review, Rob Arthur | Leave a comment

Album review: PISTON-s/t

Posted on July 27, 2019 by andynathan

Release date 13.09.19 Midlands rockers Piston have been going since 2012 but having gone under the radar till now, their first album finally arrives in a year where they seem to be touring extensively and belatedly attracting attention. Opener ‘Dynamite’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, classic rock, interview, New Breed of classic rock, Piston, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: H.E.A.T. – Live at Sweden Rock Festival

Posted on July 16, 2019 by andynathan

Release Date 26.07.19 It’s not that long since H.E.A.T. released a live album recorded at London’s own Highbury Garage, but this release serves two purposes. One is to showcase the standard bearers of the younger breed of melodic rockers on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Erik Gronwall, H.E.A.T., live album, melodic rock, Sweden Rock Festival | Leave a comment

Gig review: ZZ TOP, Jimmy Barnes – SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 12 July 2019

Posted on July 16, 2019 by andynathan

ZZ TOP, Jimmy Barnes- SSE Arena, Wembley, 12 July 2019

Here’s one for the music section of Guinness World Records – which band has had the longest continuous existence with the same line up? When I put this puzzle to friends ahead of this sole UK date marking ZZ Top’s … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, gig, Jimmy Barnes, review, southern rock, ZZ Top | Leave a comment

Album review: FIRST SIGNAL- Line of Fire

Posted on July 14, 2019 by andynathan

Release Date 17.05.19 First Signal was conceived some years back as a vehicle to reunite Harem Scarem singer Harry Hess with the pure melodic rock style that arguably began and ended with the Canadians’ debut album, before they diversified into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, Daniel Flores, First Signal, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, melodic rock, Michael Palace, Stan Meissner | Leave a comment

Gig review: RICHARD MARX – British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, 7 July 2019

Posted on July 9, 2019 by andynathan

It’s been eight years by my reckoning since Richard Marx last played the UK, and he ended this famine in unusual circumstances, added to the bill of the British Summer Time show headlined by Barbra Streisand just a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, British Summer Time, gig, Hyde Park, review, Richard Marx, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: BUCKET AND CO / COLLATERAL – Half Moon, Putney, London, 4 July 2019

Posted on July 9, 2019 by andynathan

After a June spent primarily at festivals and stadium shows, it was time to reconnect with what live gig going is really about by visiting the Half Moon, one of the few remaining pub venues in London that has continually … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Angelo Tristan, Bad Company, Bucket and Co, Clive Edwards, Collateral, Dave 'Bucket' Colwell, Dave Boyce, gig, Humble Pie, Jimmy Kunes, review, Todd Winger | Leave a comment

Gig review: LYNYRD SKYNYRD, Status Quo – SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 29 June 2019

Posted on July 7, 2019 by andynathan

LYNYRD SKYNYRD- SSE Arena, Wembley, London- 29 June 2019

When I first became aware of Lynyrd Skynyrd sometime in the eighties, they were one legendary band who I was never going to see. Fortunately, a decade after the untimely 1977 plane crash, they reformed with Johnny Van Zant filling … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Francis Rossi, Gary Rossington, gig, Johnny Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mark 'Sparky' Matejka, Massive Wagons, Peter Keys, Rickey Medlocke, southern rock, Status Quo | Leave a comment

Gig review: EAGLES – Wembley Stadium, London, 23 June 2019

Posted on July 5, 2019 by andynathan

Of the many celebrity deaths in the annus horribilis of 2016, that of Glenn Frey saddened me more than most, not least as a reminder you should see your heroes before they go (or you do first!) Only a couple … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged country rock, Deacon Frey, Don Henley, Eagles, gig, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, Timothy B. Schmit, Vince Gill | Leave a comment

Gig review: BILLY JOEL – Wembley Stadium, 22 June 2019

Posted on July 5, 2019 by andynathan

For most of my life I had little interest in seeing Billy Joel. I knew all his big hit singles and that he was revered as a singer-songwriter and pianist with a long history, almost like America’s answer to Elton … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Joel, David Rosenthal, gig, Mark Rivera, Mike DelGuidice, singer songwriter, Wembley Stadium | Leave a comment

Gig review: BON JOVI – Wembley Stadium, London, 21 June 2019

Posted on July 2, 2019 by andynathan

For many years Bon Jovi were the kings of the stadium show in the UK and on their frequent visits to these shores I would even attend more than one show on the tour. This high profile also seemed to … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bon Jovi, David Bryan, gig, John Shanks, Jon Bon Jovi, Manic Street Preachers, melodic rock, Phil X, review, Wembley Stadium | Leave a comment

Gig review: GARY CLARK JR. – Albert Hall, Manchester, 18 June 2019

Posted on June 28, 2019 by andynathan

Gary Clark Jr. is a man out of time, resplendent in battered denim and wide brimmed hat he is the embodiment of the classic blues man. Immediately launching into 2012 single ‘Bright Lights’ and demonstrating deep, smoking guitar chops that … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 June 2019, Albert Hall, blues, blues rock, Gary Clark Jr, gig, Manchester, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL- Donington Park, Leicestershire, 14-15 June 2019

Posted on June 22, 2019 by andynathan

The fact that Download ranks alongside the very largest of all the UK festivals is tribute to the enduring, if underground, popularity of metal and heavy rock in all its forms. However in some quarters it gets a bad rap, … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14-15 June 2019, Brothers Osbourne, Def Leppard, Delain, Download, Epica, festival, gig, Halestorm, Myles Kennedy, Slash, Stone Temple Pilots, Three Days Grace, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOTO – Royal Chelsea Hospital, London, 13 June 2019

Posted on June 19, 2019 by andynathan

In the ever more crowded gigging season, a fresh trend over the last few years has been for London’s finest historic settings to be used for concerts. Following in the footsteps of Hampton Court and Greenwich is now a short … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, gig, Joseph Williams, Justin Hawkins, live at Chelsea, melodic rock, review, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, The Darkness, Toto, Warren Ham | Leave a comment

Gig review: LAST IN LINE – Islington Academy, London, 12 June 2019

Posted on June 19, 2019 by andynathan

Last in Line have reached the same crossroads as the Black Star Riders did a few years ago. Originally put together by former bandmates to honour the memory of an iconic frontman, what then happens when you want to start … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andrew Freeman, Brian Tatler, Diamond Head, Dio, gig, Last In Line, Phil Soussan, review, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell | Leave a comment

Gig review: STYX – London Palladium, 4 June 2019

Posted on June 10, 2019 by andynathan

It’s been eight long years since Styx last crossed the pond and on that occasion they opened a three way battle of the AOR behemoths with Foreigner and Journey, and for many observers stole the show. This belated return was … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, gig, James Young, Lawrence Gowan, melodic rock, pomp rock, review, Styx, Tommy Shaw | Leave a comment

Gig review: SWEDISH AOR CONVENTION – Malmo, Sweden, 30 May-2 June 2019

Posted on June 9, 2019 by andynathan

Melodic rock and AOR is an unlikely addition to the list of things- ergonomic design, environmental awareness, and dark crime dramas- where Scandinavia leads the world. The scene is particularly strong in Sweden, home of many of my favourite bands … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Age of Reflection, Anette Olzon, AOR, Bad Habit, Care of Night, Coastland Ride, Creye, festival, gig, Hank Erix, melodic rock, Osukaru, Philip Lindstrand, Pretty Wild, Sapphire Eyes, Shape of the New Sun, State of Salazar, Swedish AOR convention | Leave a comment

Gig review: BUCK & EVANS – 100 Club, London, 27 May 2019

Posted on May 29, 2019 by andynathan

Buck and Evans define the term ‘critically acclaimed’ in that anyone who has come into contact with their music has universally praised them. However, a good four years since I last saw them (at Highbury Garage) progress has been slow. … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, Bob Richards, Buck & Evans, Chris Buck, Dominic Hill, gig, Sally Ann Evans, The Rainbreakers | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – Love & Beyond

Posted on May 28, 2019 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Michael Thompson is one of the most respected session guitarists in rock – alongside Steve Lukather and Bruce Gaitsch he is probably the go-to man, particularly for the so-called West Coast sound where soft rock and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged AOR, Guy Allison, Larry Antonino, Larry King, Mark Spiro, melodic rock, Michael Thompson, West Coast | Leave a comment

Album review: FORTUNE – II

Posted on May 28, 2019 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Fortune’s 1985 self-titled albums is one that always featured highly in the list of obscure but brilliant melodic/AOR classics. While singer Larry (LA) Greene and keyboard player Roger Scott Craig went on to another cult AOR … Continue reading →