Author Archives: andynathan

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

Posted on August 17, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Dave Dalone, Erik Gronwall, H.E.A.T., Into The Great Unknown, melodic hard rock, melodic rock, review, Sky Davis | Leave a comment

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

Posted on July 25, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged AOR, Bad Boy, Blackberry Smoke, Bob Dylan, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Dennis De Young, festival, Foghat, gig, Greta Van Fleet, Huey Lewis and the News, Jason Isbell, John Waite, July 2017, June 2017, melodic rock, Milwaukee, Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, progressive, REO Speedwagon, review, rock, Sheryl Crow, Shinedown, Soul Asylum, Summerfest, Tesla, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Toto, Wisconsin | Leave a comment

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

Posted on July 20, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, gig, Lee Aaron, melodic rock, Neuronspoiler, review, Sean Kelly | Leave a comment

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

Posted on July 15, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Cheap Trick, gig, review, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Stone Broken, Tom Petersson | Leave a comment

Album review: TREAT – The Road More or Less Traveled

Posted on June 25, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Anders Wikstrom, Frontiers Rock Festival, live album, melodic rock, Robert Ernlund, Treat.album | Leave a comment

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

Posted on June 25, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 June 2017, gig, Hardwicke Circus, Jersey shore, London, review, Southside Johnny, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, The Forum | Leave a comment

Album review: SNAKECHARMER – Second Skin

Posted on June 5, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Wakeman, album, blues rock, Chris Ousey, Harry James, Laurie Wisefield, melodic rock, review, Second Skin, Simon McBride, Snakecharmer | Leave a comment

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

Posted on June 3, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 June 2017, blues, Borderline, gig, Humble Pie, London, Mollie Marriott, review, rock, Small Faces, Steve Marriott | Leave a comment

Album review: CRAZY LIXX – Ruff Justice

Posted on May 23, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chrisse Olsson, Crazy Lixx, Danny Rexon, Jens Lundgren, melodic rock, Ruff Justice | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 27, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dave McCluskey, gig, Guy Griffin, Keith Weir, Last Great Dreamers, Nick Mailing, Paul Guerin, Quireboys, review, rock, Spike, Twisted Love | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 25, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andre Linnan, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Franklin Zoo, gig, Magnus Henriksson, melodic rock, One Desire, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ONE DESIRE- s/t

Posted on April 16, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andre Linman, Erik Martensson, melodic rock, One Desire, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ECLIPSE- Monumentum

Posted on April 12, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Magnus Henriksson, melodic rock, Monumentum, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TOKYO MOTOR FIST – S/T

Posted on March 19, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Danger Danger, melodic rock, review, Steve Brown, Ted Poley, Tokyo Motor Fist, Trixter | Leave a comment

Album review: UNRULY CHILD – Can’t Go Home

Posted on March 19, 2017 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bruce Gowdy, Can't Go Hone, Guy Allison, Marcie Free, melodic rock, review, Unruly Child, World Trade | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROD STEWART – 02 Arena, London, 27 February 2017

Posted on March 19, 2017 by andynathan

The death of so many stars in 2016 – from Bowie and Prince to Rick Parfitt and George Michael – makes it all the more imperative that we catch the greats of rock and pop while we still can. One … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 February 2017, gig, Jimmy Roberts, London, MOR, O2 Arena, pop, review, rock, Rod Stewart, The Faces | Leave a comment

Gig review: LITA FORD – Islington Academy, London, 12 March 2017

Posted on March 14, 2017 by andynathan

From lead guitarist in the pioneering all-girl The Runaways to eighties metal queen, to glamorous MTV darling, Lita Ford has truly been one of the trailblazers for the still underrepresented sisterhood of women in heavy rock. However it has been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bobby Rock, gig, Jody Turner, Lita Ford, Patrick Kennison, review, Rock Goddess, The Runaways | Leave a comment

Gig review: MIKE TRAMP – The Black Heart, Camden, 8 March 2017

Posted on March 13, 2017 by andynathan

His accent may blend his Danish roots with the twang of Brooklyn where he had his greatest professional success, but former White Lion and Freak of Nature singer Mike Tramp is very much an Anglophile. This manifests itself in his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Freak Of Nature, gig, melodic rock, Mike Tramp, review, Soren Andersen, White Lion | Leave a comment

Gig review: SOTO – Camden Underworld, London, 17 February 2017

Posted on February 19, 2017 by andynathan

Prolific vocalist Jeff Scott Soto’s well-travelled career has seen him spend brief spells with big names like Yngwie Malmsteen and Journey, participate in supergroups like Soul Sirkus and W.E.T., release albums under his own name and lend his pipes to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged gig, hard rock, Jeff Scott Soto, Jorge Salan, melodic rock, review, Soto, Talisman, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Album review: PRIDE OF LIONS – Fearless

Posted on February 9, 2017 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 27.01.17] They come less frequently these days, with a five year gap between each of the last two albums, but a Pride of Lions album is always worth the wait, marking the return of veteran master songwriter … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Fearless, Jim Peterik, melodic rock, Pride of Lions, review, Survivor, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

Gig review: JUST SAY YES/ARFM MELODIC ROCK FUNDRAISER – The Spot, Derby, 28 January 2017

Posted on January 31, 2017 by andynathan

VEGA - Melodic Rock Fundraiser - The Spot, Derby, 28 January 2017

From initially modest ambitions, the ‘Just Say Yes’ fundraiser is rapidly establishing itself as a must on the festival calendar for melodic rock fans, sandwiched between Autumn’s Firefest and latterly Rockingham, and Spring’s HRH. I hugely enjoyed my first festival … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Blood Red Saints, COP UK, Dante Fox, Dirty White Boyz, festival, FM, gig, JSY, Just Say Yes, melodic rock, review, Romeo's Daughter, Steve Overland, Vega | Leave a comment

Gig review: TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 26 January 2017

Posted on January 28, 2017 by andynathan

2016 was meant to be a big year for Tyketto as they both celebrated the 25th anniversary reissue of their classic ‘Don’t Come Easy release and an excellent new album ‘Reach’, the first with a new line-up of the band. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Chris Childs, Chris Green, Danny Vaughn, Ged Rylands, gig, melodic rock, Michael Clayton Arbeeny, review, Romeo's Daughter, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Album review: ROTH BROCK PROJECT- s/t

Posted on December 21, 2016 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 04.11.16] This rather unimaginatively titled release brings together two of melodic rock’s most respected figures. While Terry Brock has long been regarded as one of the genre’s finest vocalists, from his days in Strangeways to numerous … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, John Roth, melodic rock, revfiew, Roth Brock Project, Strangeways, Terry Brock, Winger | Leave a comment

Gig review: KING KING – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 29 November 2016

Posted on December 4, 2016 by andynathan

In an even more crowded than ever November gig schedule, it was still important to find time for this enticing double bill of two up and coming bands, both offering a fresh take on blues-influenced rock. If 2015 was when … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 29 November 2016, Alan Nimmo, blues, blues rock, Broken Witt Rebels, gig, Islington Assembly Hall, King King, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE ANSWER/THE DEAD DAISIES – Electric Ballroom, London, 23 November 2016

Posted on November 28, 2016 by andynathan

In the current live music climate, a touring double bill makes sense. As well as sharing overheads and potentially playing to double the normal audience, for the fan it helps manage an increasingly crowded calendar where often multiple gigs compete … Continue reading →