Author Archives: Davoski

Gig review: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – Hammersmith Apollo, 4 January 2018

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Davoski
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – Hammersmith Apollo, 4 January 2018

About time. Over six years on from their last shows, Black Country Communion were hitting the boards again. Just when we thought it was all over, the band put on a brace of shows full of zest and rediscovered comradeship … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FISH – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 15 December 2017

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Davoski
FISH – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 15 December 2017

French prog rock band Lazuli had pulled their support slot appearances on these London shows after frontman Dominique Leonetti was hospitalised. There was no time to fix up a replacement and news hadn’t got through to all the punters. As … Continue reading →

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DVD review: BLACK SABBATH – The End

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Davoski
BLACK SABBATH – The End (DVD)

Win a copy!! (Closes 17.12.17) Eagle Rock [Release date 17.11.17] Black Sabbath’s Birmingham show in early February was billed as the band’s last ever. It has been captured here for posterity, as was always going to be the case. Whether … Continue reading →

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Gig review: CHRIS REA – Hammersmith Apollo, 26 November 2017

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Davoski
CHRIS REA – Hammersmith Apollo, 26 November 2017

With a fine album of new material nicely tucked away in the kit bag, Chris Rea was out on tour for the first time since 2014. Songs about the road feature heavily in the set, so it’s no surprise that … Continue reading →

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Book review: PINK FLOYD: SONG BY SONG – Andrew Wild

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Davoski
PINK FLOYD: SONG BY SONG – Andrew Wild

Fonthill Media [Publication date: 28.07.2017] There is a whole library-worth of books already penned about Pink Floyd, the third-best selling band in the history of popular music. So why, you may wonder, does the world need another? Well, having delved … Continue reading →

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Gig review: PARADISE LOST – Electric Ballroom, London, 3 November 2017

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Davoski
PARADISE LOST – Electric Ballroom, London, 3 November 2017

The Electric Ballroom is a great venue. Too long since my last visit. And too long since I last caught live these esteemed architects of gothic metal, Paradise Lost. What a splendid night of re-acquaintance all round. But first, American … Continue reading →

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Gig review: VOODOO SIX – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, 29 September 2017

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Davoski
VOODOO SIX – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, 29 September 2017

Skam were just finishing up their set with a dirty, full blooded version of ‘War Pigs’ as I entered the venue and wished I’d been around for a bit more. Next time maybe. The Leicester power three-piece seemed to go … Continue reading →

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Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON BAND – Royal Albert Hall, London, 26 September 2017

Posted on September 30, 2017 by Davoski
WILKO JOHNSON BAND – Royal Albert Hall, London, 26 September 2017

The Royal Albert Hall, with its storied boxes, swivel chairs and cavernous auditorium wouldn’t be the most obvious choice for a Wilko Johnson gig. Then again, this is no ordinary gig. Wilko is celebrating his 70th birthday, coinciding with the … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – BCCIV

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Davoski
Black Country Communion - BCCIV

  Mascot Records [Release date: 22.09.17] When Bonamassa walked out of Black Country Communion in 2013, you could have taken long odds on a reunion. Particularly given the relative success both camps have had with their own projects in the … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLACK SABBATH – The Ten Year War (Box Set)

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Davoski
BLACK SABBATH – The Ten Year War Box Set

BMG  [Release date 29.09.17] Black Sabbath’s Ozzy-fronted albums have been given a monster remaster and the full luxury box set re-issue treatment. It is quite a piece of work. The package has even had a roadshow of launch events. The … Continue reading →

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Book review: PETE WAY – Fast Ride Out of Here: Confessions of Rock’s Most Dangerous Man

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Davoski
PETE WAY – Fast Ride Out of Here: Confessions of Rock’s Most Dangerous Man

Constable Books [Publication date 11.05.17] It is about time that someone wrote a book that gives the life and times of UFO an objective and entertaining airing from the inside. For about two-thirds of Pete Way’s autobiography, I was bemoaning … Continue reading →

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Album review: INSATIA – Phoenix Aflame

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Davoski
INSATIA – Phoenix Aflame

Pitch Black Records. [Release date 23.06.17] This is a very accessible, well produced power/symphonic metal follow up to Insatia’s debut album ‘Asylum Denied’ in 2014. The band is based around vocalist and founder member Zoë Federoff.  The album has been … Continue reading →

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Gig review: GREEN DAY – British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, 1 July 2017

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Davoski

Green Day’s headlining slot on the first Saturday of the first British Summer Time bonanza was sandwiched between Phil Collins the previous evening and Justin Bieber the night after. Interesting schedule. A rose between two thorns? A fart between two … Continue reading →

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Album review: BURNING WITCHES – s/t

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Davoski
BURNING WITCHES – s/t

BW Records/Non-Stop Music [Release date: 29.05.17] It’s a shame about the hackneyed packaging of this all-girl Swiss metal band as leather-clad goddesses and the ridiculously-penned demonic and dark subject material. Because beneath all that vaguely comedic chaff, there are some … Continue reading →

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Gig review: IRON MAIDEN – O2 Arena, London, 27 May 2017

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Davoski
IRON MAIDEN – O2 Arena, London, 27 May 2017

Ariana Grande had been due to play the O2 on the previous two evenings and given the horrific events at her Manchester Arena show earlier in the week, it was no surprise that the atmosphere outside the venue was subdued. … Continue reading →

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Album review: NIGHT DEMON – Darkness Remains

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Davoski
NIGHT DEMON – Darkness Remains

Steamhammer/SPV [Release date 21.04.17] I thought about writing this review without referencing either of the terms ‘retro metal’ or ‘NWOBHM’. However, after giving this an honest spin through a couple of times, that proved impossible. So closely do Night Demon … Continue reading →

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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 April 2017

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Davoski
JOE BONAMASSA - Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 April 2017

The hardest working blues rocker in the business was returning to the iconic RAH for the first time since 2014, in support of last year’s ‘Blues of Desperation’ album. He had elected for a very basic stage set up. One … Continue reading →

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Album review: WILKO JOHNSON – I Keep it to Myself – The Best Of Wilko Johnson

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Davoski

Chess [Release date: 10.03.17] A new Wilko Johnson best of. What’s not to like? Well, despite the strength of the material, even a die-hard fan such as myself might legitimately ask whether this new collection adds anything significant to the … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – Roundhouse, London, 28 March 2017

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Davoski
Blackberry Smoke

I was already a fan of this band’s eclectic mix of blues, hard rock, boogie and country before seeing one of their gigs.  Afterwards, I was ready to declare them my new favourite live act.  Excellent show. That said, the … Continue reading →

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Album review: GOLDRAY – Rising

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Davoski
GOLDRAY – Rising

Akashic/Cargo Records [release date 05.05.17] This new-ish three-piece comprises ex-Reef guitarist Kenwyn House, Leah Rasmussen on vocals and Geoff Laurens on bass. ‘Rising’ is their first full length album following a self titled debut mini LP released in 2014. At … Continue reading →

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Album review: PETER MURPHY – Bare-Boned and Sacred

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Davoski
PETER MURPHY – Bare-Boned and Sacred

Metropolis Records [release date 10.03.17] Best known for fronting Bauhaus, (and starring in that Maxell tape cassette advert) in the early ‘80’s, Peter Murphy has released 10 solo albums in the 30 years since.  This live album was recorded in … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE ANSWER – Engine Rooms, Southampton, 2 March 2017

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Davoski
THE ANSWER – Engine Rooms, Southampton, 2 March 2017

This was the fourth date of the band’s short ‘In This Land’ tour, visiting most corners of the UK. The Southampton corner turned out to be a modern, exposed-pipework warehouse of a venue on the wharf road just round the … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BLUES EXPLOSION – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London, 26 February 2017

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Davoski

Blues Explosion is the house blues/jazz/funk band at Ronnie Scott’s and has a residency on the last Sunday of every month at this intimate venue. It’s a stylish show. Each musician is highly accomplished in their own right and the … Continue reading →

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Interview: SOME VELVET MORNING

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Davoski

GRTR!’s Dave Atkinson catches up with indie/alternative power trio Some Velvet Morning ahead of their upcoming headline gig at London’s iconic Scala venue next month. Desmond Lambert (vocals & guitar), Gavin Lambert (bass & vocals) and Rob Flanagan (drums) field … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BLACK SABBATH – 02 Arena, London, 31 January 2017

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Davoski
Black Sabbath - DOWNLOAD, 10-12 June 2016

Gloomy, doom-laden and portentous. And that was just the weather at North Greenwich station. A busker was smashing out ‘War Pigs’ in the ticket hall on his Gibson SG. Quite a crowd of gig-goers had gathered and he finished with … Continue reading →

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