Author Archives: andynathan

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

Posted on August 20, 2019 by andynathan
PETER FRAMPTON- Red Rocks Amphitheater, Colorado, USA, 31 July 2019

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 →

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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 →

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

Posted on July 16, 2019 by andynathan
H.E.A.T.- Live at Sweden Rock Festival

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 →

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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 →

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Album review: FIRST SIGNAL- Line of Fire

Posted on July 14, 2019 by andynathan
FIRST SIGNAL- Line of Fire

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 →

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

Posted on July 9, 2019 by andynathan
RICHARD MARX- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, 7 July 2019

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 →

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

Posted on July 9, 2019 by andynathan
Bucket and Co

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 →

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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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