Author Archives: andynathan

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 →

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

Posted on July 5, 2019 by andynathan
EAGLES- Wembley Stadium, London, 23 June 2019

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 →

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

Posted on July 5, 2019 by andynathan
BILLY JOEL- Wembley Stadium, 22 June 2019

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 →

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

Posted on July 2, 2019 by andynathan
BON JOVI - Wembley Stadium, London, 21 June 2019

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 →

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

Posted on June 28, 2019 by andynathan
GARY CLARK JR. – Albert Hall, Manchester, 18 June 2019

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 →

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

Posted on June 22, 2019 by andynathan
Def Leppard

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 →

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

Posted on June 19, 2019 by andynathan
TOTO- Royal Chelsea Hospital, London, 13 June 2019

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 →

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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 →

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Gig review: STYX – London Palladium, 4 June 2019

Posted on June 10, 2019 by andynathan
STYX- London Palladium, 4 June 2019

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 →

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

Posted on June 9, 2019 by andynathan
State of Salazar

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 →

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

Posted on May 29, 2019 by andynathan
BUCK & EVANS- 100 Club, London, 27 May 2019

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 →

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Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – Love & Beyond

Posted on May 28, 2019 by andynathan
Michael Thompson Band- Love-and-Beyond

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 →

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Album review: FORTUNE – II

Posted on May 28, 2019 by andynathan
FORTUNE - II

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 →

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Gig review: DAXX AND ROXANE/ COLLATERAL – Borderline, London, 18 May 2019

Posted on May 19, 2019 by andynathan
COLLATERAL- Borderline, London, 18 May 2019

In the run up to this Borderline show came the sad news that this long-established venue is closing, leaving Central London with almost no rock venues. This reflects a wider trend of losing places that host  live music,  which is … Continue reading →

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Album review: BURNING RAIN – Face the Music

Posted on May 16, 2019 by andynathan
BURNING RAIN- Face the Music

Release Date 22.03.19 Burning Rain have had a rather stop start career, this being their fourth release but only the second since 2001. In that time guitarist Doug Aldrich has raised his profile with stints with Dio, Whitesnake and latterly … Continue reading →

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Gig review: MOTT THE HOOPLE 74 – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 26 April 2019

Posted on May 10, 2019 by andynathan
MOTT THE HOOPLE 74 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 26 April 2019

A Mott the Hoople reunion, which some said would never happen, has now done so three times. A decade ago the five members of their classic early seventies line-up reformed for a series of shows at Hammersmith which were emotional … Continue reading →

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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Royal Albert Hall, London, 25 April 2019

Posted on April 27, 2019 by andynathan
JOE BONAMASSA- Royal Albert Hall, London, 25 April 2019

It was ten years ago to the very week that Joe Bonamassa took the biggest chance yet of a promising career and played the Royal Albert Hall. As he recounted from the stage on this evening, it proved to be … Continue reading →

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Gig review: AIRRACE – London Borderline, 19 April 2019

Posted on April 24, 2019 by andynathan

Airrace’s stop-start career seems to have been characterised by support slots, whether with Queen back in 1984, or since they reformed a decade ago, a periodic set of shows consisting mainly of high profile support slots to the likes of … Continue reading →

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Album review: FM – The Italian Job (CD/DVD)

Posted on April 24, 2019 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 22.02.19] FM have delivered consistently excellent live performances since the second phase of the band effectively kicked off a decade ago with guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick’s arrival. However this era of their history has gone undocumented so far, … Continue reading →

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Album review: FIND ME- Angels In Blue

Posted on April 19, 2019 by andynathan

Release Date 22.02.19 For those in the know, Find Me has been one of the best melodic rock projects in recent years. A partnership between producer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Flores and Blanc Faces singer Robbie Le Blanc, a stunning performance … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BURNING RAIN – Camden Underworld, London, 6 April 2019

Posted on April 14, 2019 by andynathan
BURNING RAIN - Camden Underworld, London, 6 April 2019

And now for something slightly different. While many of their contemporaries seem to constantly tour, Burning Rain have a rather chequered career with a low profile in the UK. They have only released four albums over a 20 year period, … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE RADIO SUN – Water Rats, London,19 March 2019

Posted on March 27, 2019 by andynathan
THE RADIO SUN - Water Rats, London,19 March 2019

Melbourne-based melodic rockers The Radio Sun have over the past four years become regulars at the HRH AOR Festival in North Wales, winning friends both for their music and their sociable nature, entering into the spirit of the occasion. Though … Continue reading →

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Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – Highbury Garage, London, 16 March 2019

Posted on March 21, 2019 by andynathan
CATS IN SPACE - Highbury Garage, London, 16 March 2019

After a relatively quiet touring 2018 as they recorded  their third album in a short space of time in ‘Daytrip to Narnia’,  it was great to see Cats In Space, one of my favourite ‘new’ bands back and gigging, and … Continue reading →

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Gig review: TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 12 March 2019

Posted on March 19, 2019 by andynathan
TYKETTO - Islington Academy, London, 12 March 2019

25 years ago this spring, Tyketto’s sophomore album ‘Strength In Numbers’ got a belated release after they were dropped by Geffen Records in the wake of the maelstrom that was the rise of grunge. Out of this difficult birth however … Continue reading →

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Gig review: DAVE BICKLER/Chrome Molly – Highbury Garage, London, 11 March 2019

Posted on March 15, 2019 by andynathan
DAVE BICKLER/Chrome Molly - Highbury Garage, London, 11 March 2019

Sadly Survivor never made it to UK shores, the sad death of Jimi Jamison scuppering a scheduled show in 2014. However original singer Dave Bickler, who by that stage was back and sharing vocal duties, did play Rockingham Festival 18 … Continue reading →

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