Author Archives: andynathan

Gig review: LYNCH MOB – Islington Academy, London, 12 November 2017

LYNCH MOB- Islington Academy, London, 12 November 2017

A very rare appearance from former Dokken guitar maestro George Lynch – and the first with his band Lynch Mob in the capital since 1990 – should have been the hottest ticket in London town. It was therefore something of … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROCKINGHAM FESTIVAL- Nottingham Trent University Student Union, 20-22 October 2017

Loverboy -  ROCKINGHAM FESTIVAL, 20-22 October 2017

Though this was the third year of Rockingham Festival , the natural successor to the much loved Firefest in its autumnal Nottingham position, it really felt as if the Festival came of age. Having settled on a format that works … Continue reading

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Gig review: WISHBONE ASH/Steve Hill – Islington Academy, London, 19 October 2017

WISHBONE ASH - Islington Academy, London, 19 October 2017

A new chapter has begun in Wishbone Ash’s long and distinguished history, with master guitarist Andy Powell accompanied by a new partner in Yorkshireman Mark Abrahams,  following Muddy Manninen’s departure after twelve years. They remain one of the hardest working … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – 100 Club, London, 14 October 2017

MARTIN TURNER - 100 Club, London, 14 October 2017

You could argue that Wishbone Ash founder member Martin Turner has overstayed the classic album concept with regular live renditions of their 1972 classic ‘Argus’ over the past decade.  Yet his band’s performance of the album at Ramblin Man Fair … Continue reading

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Gig review: NAZARETH – 229 Club, London, 13 October 2017

NAZARETH - 229 Club, London, 13 October 2017

When their seventies hit making days in the UK ended, Nazareth seemed to concentrate on less fickle foreign markets, and opportunities for more recent fans like me to see them in the UK seemed few and far between. Yet in … Continue reading

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Album review: KRYPTONITE- s/t

KRYPTONITE

Frontiers [Release Date 04.08.17] The latest in a series of star-studded melodic rock collaborations on Frontiers, Kryptonite have the pedigree of a bona fide supergroup of some of the top Scandinavian names, headed by Poodles singer Jakob Samuel and including … Continue reading

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Gig review: VEGA – University of London Union, 23 September 2017

VEGA - University of London Union, 23 September 2017

Having boasted GRTR!’s album of 2016 with ‘Who We Are’, Vega continue to work hard to bring their modern brand of melodic rock to the masses. After touring with Dan Reed Network in the Spring, Autumn has brought this headline … Continue reading

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Gig review: UFO – Dorking Halls, 14 September 2017

 UFO - Dorking Halls, 14 September 2017

UFO’s long career has in recent times been taking them down the road less travelled. It’s nearly three years now since a Central London date, but after last year’s show in St Albans, capital based fans like me now made … Continue reading

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Gig review: HAIR METAL HEAVEN – Welly Club and City Hall, Hull, 25-27 August 2017

Sebastian Bach - HAIR METAL HEAVEN - Hull, 25-27 August 2017

If eyebrows were raised at Hull’s designation as European City of Culture 2017, the news that a major rock festival in Hair Metal Heaven was taking place there was an even more unexpected story. The Humberside port city may have … Continue reading

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Album review: MR BIG – Defying Gravity

MR BIG - Defying Gravity

Frontiers [Release Date 21.07.17] Mr Big occupy something of a unique space in rock with concise, melodic songs yet delivered by some of the rock world’s most revered musos in Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert and Pat Torpey, who in spite … Continue reading

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Album review: H.E.A.T – Into The Great Unknown

earMUSIC Release Date 22.09.17 Back in 2014, with their fourth album ‘Tearing Down the Walls’, and high energy live shows, H.E.A.T seemed on the verge of a major commercial breakthrough as standard bearers for a new breed of melodic rockers.  … Continue reading

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Gig review: SUMMERFEST – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 28 June-9 July 2017

In a world of constant change in popular music, for a festival to celebrate its 50th year, as Milwaukee’s  Summerfest did this year, represents a lifetime. I’d been to the festival certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s biggest … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEE AARON – Camden Underworld, London, 16 July 2017

LEE AARON - Camden Underworld, London, 16 July 2017

In the testosterone-heavy rock  climate of the 1980’s, women performers who held sex appeal for metal-loving youngsters were few on the ground. It was therefore unsurprising that  the petite Canadian rocker Lee Aaron’s picture in Kerrang’s ‘Ladykillers’ feature must have … Continue reading

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Gig review: CHEAP TRICK – The Forum, London, 27 June 2017

CHEAP TRICK - The Forum, London, 27 June 2017

The term ‘cult act’ is widely used, but applies more than most to Cheap Trick, at least in the UK. In a distinguished career of over 40 years they only once troubled the top 40 singles charts, and yet their … Continue reading

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Album review: TREAT – The Road More or Less Traveled

TREAT - The Road More or Less Traveled

Release Date 21.04.17 On paper the release of Treat’s live set at the 2016 Frontiers Rock Festival in Italy is was a release I was looking forward to. Not only were Treat- alongside bands like Fate and Skagarack- one of … Continue reading

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Gig review: SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES- The Forum, London, 22 June 2017

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES- The Forum, London, 22 June 2017

If Bruce Springsteen and later Jon Bon Jovi took the sound of New Jersey into the stadium-filling mainstream, both worshipped at the altar of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, who may never have reached the same commercial heights,  but … Continue reading

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Album review: SNAKECHARMER – Second Skin

SNAKECHARMER - Second Skin

Frontiers Records [Release Date 12.05.17] If their 2013 debut album of original compositions was an unexpected  twist for a band that started out paying homage to vintage Whitesnake with two former members, Snakecharmer’s follow up is perhaps even more of … Continue reading

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Gig review: MOLLIE MARRIOTT – The Borderline, London, 1 June 2017

MOLLIE MARRIOTT - The Borderline, London, 1 June 2017

In the music business, as in other walks of life, following the path of famous parents can be both a blessing and a curse. It may help get you noticed initially, but higher expectations are placed on you to step … Continue reading

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Album review: CRAZY LIXX – Ruff Justice

CRAZY LIXX - Ruff Justice

Frontiers Records [Release Date 21.04.17] For over a decade now Swedes Crazy Lixx have been proving a youthful take on the glam and sleaze bands that dominated the airwaves and MTV in the second half of the eighties. I’d always … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE QUIREBOYS – Islington Academy, London, 23 April 2017

THE QUIREBOYS- Islington Academy, London, 23 April 2017

There is a danger we can become blasé about the Quireboys, and it is easy to form a stereotype around the lovable, shambolic rogues with the singer in a gypsy headscarf and glass in hand, who turn every gig into … Continue reading

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Gig review: ECLIPSE – The Borderline, London, 22 April 2017

ECLIPSE- The Borderline, London, 22 April 2017

With each album Eclipse’s reputation is finally spreading beyond the confines of the small but loyal melodic rock community. There was a significantly higher crowd to see them at a packed  Borderline than on their previous visits, and yet what … Continue reading

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Album review: ONE DESIRE- s/t

One Desire

Frontiers Records [Release Date 24.03.17] The latest in a seemingly endless line of melodic rock talent from Scandinavia, a real buzz is building around One Desire, a new name but boasting former Sturm and Drang singer and guitarist Andre Linman. … Continue reading

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Album review: ECLIPSE- Monumentum

ECLIPSE- Monumentum

Frontiers [Release Date 24.03.17] He may be the most prolific, in demand writer and producer on the melodic rock scene, but no-one could accuse Erik Martensson of neglecting his day job as lead singer and guitarist with Eclipse. Two years … Continue reading

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Album review: TOKYO MOTOR FIST – S/T

TOKYO MOTOR FIST

Release Date 24.02.17 Despite labouring under a rather ridiculous name, Tokyo Motor Fist (let’s just call them TMF) are actually a match made in heaven between two of the East Coast based melodic rock mafia in Trixter guitarist Steve Brown … Continue reading

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Album review: UNRULY CHILD – Can’t Go Home

UNRULY CHILD - Can

Frontiers [Release Date 24.02.17] It’s been six long years since Unruly Child made a triumphant comeback with their original line up featuring Marcie Free, as she now is, releasing the excellent ‘Worlds Collide’ album and headlining Firefest that year. Opening … Continue reading

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