Author Archives: andynathan

Gig review: TOSELAND/Chrome Molly, Islington Academy 2, 11 December 2013

Posted on December 15, 2013 by andynathan

Rock and speed (on wheels, that is) are natural bedfellows, from heavy metal’s long association with motorbikes to the guitar dabblings of Formula 1 figures like Damon Hill and Eddie Jordan. To be a success in both fields is as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 11 December 2013, Chrome Molly, gig, Islington Academy 2, James Toseland, London, review, rock, Toseland | Comments Off

Album review: REO SPEEDWAGON – Live At Moondance Jam

Posted on November 25, 2013 by andynathan

CD/DVD – Frontiers Records [Release Date 29.11.13] It’s a strange feeling to be reviewing a CD of a gig I have fond memories of attending, especially as it was nearly four years ago and the band are scheduled to play … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, classic rock, Kevin Cronin, melodic rock, Moondance Jam, REO Speedwagon | Comments Off

DVD Review: SPRINGSTEEN AND I

Posted on November 25, 2013 by andynathan

Eagle Vision [Release Date 28.10.2013] Bruce Springsteen is an artist who seems to inspire a unique awe and affection among his fans, so it somehow seems appropriate that he is the subject of a music film with a difference. Concert … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged 2012, Bruce Springsteen, documentary, DVD, Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, London, Paul McCartney, review, Springsteen & I | Comments Off

Gig review: JOHN LEES’ BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, Islington Assembly Hall, 8 November 2013

Posted on November 13, 2013 by andynathan

Barclay James Harvest’s long and distinguished career seems to have had quite a low profile in recent years, not helped by the fact that the two surviving members, John Lees and Les Holroyd, front different versions sporting the name. However … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 November 2013, gig, Gordon Giltrap, Islington Assembly Hall, John Lees Barclay James Harvest, Oliver Wakeman, prog, progressive, review, rock | Comments Off

Album review: SEVENTH KEY- I Will Survive

Posted on November 10, 2013 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 01.11.13] A third Seventh Key album is something I thought I might not live to see, it having been nine years since the Raging Fire was released. However the former Streets pair of Billy Greer and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Greer, City Boy, I Will Survive, Kansas, melodic rock, Mike Slamer, review, Seventh Key | Comments Off

Gig review: MELODIC ROCK FEST – Arlington Heights, Chicago, USA, 27-29 September 2013

Posted on October 15, 2013 by andynathan

For nearly two decades, Australian Andrew McNiece has been the ringmaster and champion of the worldwide melodic rock community through his website www.melodicrock.com , which brought many of us together at a time when this type of music had been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged Adriangale, AOR, Brett Walker, Coldspell, Eclipse, Eric Martin, festivals, Glen Burtnik, Harem Scarem, Heaven and Earth, House of Lords, Jeff Paris, Jimi Jamison, Kelly Keeling, Mecca, melodic rock, NEWMAN, No love Lost, Robert Tepper, Steve Augeri, Tango Down, Ted Poley, WET | Leave a comment

Gig review: RECKLESS LOVE – Islington Academy, 10 October 2013

Posted on October 13, 2013 by andynathan

Over three years and now three albums since they exploded onto the scene, Finnish glam metal revivalists Reckless Love have defied critics who thought they were a flash in the pan and in the words of one of their songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Finland, glam metal, glam rock, hair metal, Reckless Love | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER, Camden Underworld, 4 October 2013

Posted on October 11, 2013 by andynathan

After some rare wider exposure playing Fairport’s Cropredy Convention in the summer, Romeo’s Daughter, were back playing to their loyal fanbase with this Friday night Underworld show. Indeed it was a double bill of arguably the two best female fronted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Dante Fox, gig, melodic rock, review, Romeo's Daughter | Leave a comment

Gig review: PRETTY MAIDS – Camden Underworld, 22 September 2013

Posted on September 25, 2013 by andynathan

One of the most enduring bands from the European metal scene, Danish outfit Pretty Maids, have not played these shores since 1985 amazingly enough, other than an appearance at Firefest. In the circumstances it was disappointing that even the Underworld … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged European heavy metal, Ken Hammer, melodic rock, power metal, Pretty Maids, Ronnie Atkins | Leave a comment

Gig review: KIP WINGER- The Borderline, London, 21 September 2013

Posted on September 23, 2013 by andynathan

The overused media format ‘an evening with’ was for once an appropriate one to describe Kip Winger’s solo show with a difference, from the moment he came on stage with a routine more suited to stand up comedy before strapping … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, AOR, gig, Kip Winger, melodic rock, review, singer, Solo, songwriter, Winger | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROCK THE PARK – London, Ontario, Canada, 26-27 July 2013

Posted on August 7, 2013 by andynathan

My hometown London has been rocking various parks all summer, from the Stones and Bon Jovi at Hyde Park to Springsteen at the Olympic Park. But to our colonial cousins ‘across the pond’ , London is a mid sized city … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Canada, classic rock, Coney Hatch, Grand Funk Railroad, Helix, Journey, London Ontario, Platinum Blonde, rock festival, Saga, Styx, Toto, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Gig review: REO SPEEDWAGON – Empire Rockfest, Belleville, Canada, 25 July 2013

Posted on August 5, 2013 by andynathan

A couple of hours East of Ontario, Belleville is a modestly sized city of only around 50,000, but for three days it was the AOR capital of the world. Somehow the organisers, the local Empire Theatre, had lined up Journey … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 July 2013, AOR, Belleville, Canada, Dennis De Young, Empire Rockfest, melodic rock, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, rock festivals, Styx | Leave a comment

Gig review: HEART, JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE – Toronto, Canada, 23 July 2013

Posted on August 2, 2013 by andynathan

Molston Canadian Amphitheatre While Heart came to the attention of the majority of UK fans for their big power ballads and soft focus videos in the eighties, the band prefer to see themselves in their earlier guise in which, with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Ann Wilson, Canada, gig, Heart, Jason Bonham, Led Zeppelin, Molston Canadian Amphitheatre, Nancy Wilson, review, Toronto | Leave a comment

Gig review: MOONDANCE JAM – Walker,Minnesota,USA,18-20 July 2013

Posted on August 2, 2013 by andynathan

Few festival experiences can match the vibe of Moondance Jam. Set among the beautiful woods and lakes of Northern Minnesota, somehow the tiny town of Walker plays host to one of the Mid West’s premier rock festivals and draws crowds … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bachman & Turner, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick, classic rock, festival, gig, Halestorm, Head East, Minnesota, Moondance Jam, Motley Crue, Myles Kennedy, review, rock, Slash, Steve Priest, Sweet, Theory of a Deadman | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMES CHRISTIAN – Lay It All On Me

Posted on July 15, 2013 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 05.07.13] Having survived a brush with cancer, House of Lords singer James Christian is back with his first solo album in nearly a decade. Given that he is the only original member in the band these … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, House of Lords, James Christian, Lay It All On Me, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Gig Review: RAY DAVIES, ELVIS COSTELLO, JUSTIN CURRIE – Hyde Park,12 July 2013

Posted on July 14, 2013 by andynathan

Old hippies of a certain vintage reminisce fondly about the days of free festivals, which has been unthinkable to my generation, once the corporate world cottoned on to the fact there was money to be made out of live rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 July 2013, Del Amitri, Elvis Costello, festival, Hyde Park, Justin Currie, Kinks, London, Ray Davies | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREE FALL

Posted on July 7, 2013 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 14.6.13] He may not be a household name, but Magnus Karlsson has been one of European hard rock’s go-to people for some time, assembling critically acclaimed projects like Starbreaker and Allen-Lande, writing prolifically, and for the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Free Fall, Magnus Karlsson, melodic hard rock, power metal, Primal Fear, Ralf Scheepers, Tony Harnell | Leave a comment

Gig review: HARD ROCK CALLING (Bruce Springsteen, Black Crowes et al) – Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 30 June 2013

Posted on July 4, 2013 by andynathan

The international world saw two sides of British life last summer. On the good side, we made a stunning success of hosting the Olympics. But a few weeks before, across town at Hyde Park came the farcical jobsworthery of pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Alabama Shakes, Black Crowes, Bruce Springsteen, Deaf Havana, E Street Band, Hard Rock Calling, The Carnabys, Zac Brown Band | Leave a comment

Gig review: X-UFO – Merton Manor Club, 29 June 2013

Posted on July 2, 2013 by andynathan

When is a tribute band not a tribute band? Well, X-UFO make no pretence to be a rival to Phil Mogg’s evergreen UFO, but the collective pedigree of the members exceeds many bands who trade under a name with only … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 29 June 2013, Clive Edwards, Danny Peyronel, gig, Laurence Archer, London, Merton Manor Club, review, rock, Rocky Newton, X-UFO | Leave a comment

Gig review: RICK SPRINGFIELD – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 4 June 2013

Posted on June 9, 2013 by andynathan

Of all the acts big on American radio in the eighties who were no more than cult figures over here, Rick Springfield has been one of the most elusive. Despite the odd trip to Europe for the likes of Sweden … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 June 2013, gig, London, review, Rick Springfield, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire | 1 Comment

Gig review: JOURNEY, WHITESNAKE, Wembley Arena, 28 May 2013

Posted on June 9, 2013 by andynathan

Thunder - Manchester MEN, 23 May 2013 - Photo by Steve Goudie

The package tours of two or three bands with similar appeal, popular in America for so many years, are now a regular feature in the UK. Journey were last here on an AOR triple bill with Foreigner and Styx two … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 28 May 2013, AOR, David Coverdale, gig, hard rock, Journey, London, melodic, Neal Schon, review, Thunder, Wembley Arena, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: BURNING RAIN – Epic Obsession

Posted on June 2, 2013 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 20.5.13] It may be his role as David Coverdale’s guitar slinger in Whitesnake that has brought him to wider attention, but Doug Aldrich has not forgotten his old band mates, as one of his former acts … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Burning Rain, Doug Aldrich, hard rock, Keith St John, Led Zeppelin, review, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Gig review: MIKE TRAMP – The Star Of Kings, London, 22 May 2013

Posted on June 2, 2013 by andynathan

Mike Tramp seems to be the embodiment of the old adage that you can’t buy happiness. He enjoyed two US top 10 hits and stadium tours as lead singer of White Lion, who I and many others thought were … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Cobblestone Street, Freak Of Nature, gig, King's Cross, London, Mia Klose, Mike Tramp, review, The Star Of Kings, White Lion | Leave a comment

Album review: N.O.W. – Bohemian Kingdom

Posted on May 30, 2013 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.13) In 2010, one of the year’s most pleasant surprises came from Brazil, hardly a rock n roll hotbed. The brainchild of bassist and songwriter Alec Mendocna, N.O.W. provided a thoughtful and at times original twist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alec Mendonca, AOR, melodic rock, N.O.W., Phillip Bardowell | Leave a comment

Album review: BURNING RAIN – Reissues

Posted on May 28, 2013 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date: 17.05.13] This is a real ‘before they were famous moment’. Burning Rain was the last in a series of bands (Lion, Bad Moon Rising) that brought guitarist Doug Aldrich critical acclaim if not commercial success, before … Continue reading →