Author Archives: jason

Album review: BITERS – The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be

Posted on April 25, 2017 by jason

Earache Records [Release date 19.05.17] The Biters released their debut album ‘Electric Blood’ in 2015 and I was impressed, although the album did tail off with a few filler tunes. Biters are back with album number two and they have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, Biters, glam, hard rock, review, rock, Slade, T.Rex, the Future Ain't What It Used To Be | Leave a comment

Gig review: LED ZEPPELIN MASTERS – London Palladium, 19 April 2017

Posted on April 20, 2017 by jason

Tribute bands often divide music fans as some see them as poor imitations of the original acts, however as time takes its toll on many musicians and bands, tribute acts keep the music of these classic bands alive and well. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 19 April 2017, classic rock, gig, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin Masters, London Palladium, review, Robert Plant, rock, the Black Dog Orchestra, Vince Contarino | Leave a comment

Album review: LONELY ROBOT – The Big Dream

Posted on April 18, 2017 by jason

Inside Out Music [Release date 28.04.17] After a two year wait we get the second part of the trilogy from Lonely Robot, aka John Mitchell (Frost*/Arena/It Bites). He again plays all instruments bar the drums, played by the ever reliable Craig … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Craig Blundell, Frost*, John Mitchell, Kim Seviour, Lonely Robot, melodic, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, the Big Dream | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE MAGPIE SALUTE – Under The Bridge, London, 13 April 2017

Posted on April 18, 2017 by jason

Despite having to venture way too close for personal comfort to this very interesting venue situated in the guts of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge home, the London debut of Rich Robinson’s new travelling band of musical gypsies, The Magpie Salute, gave … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged gig, London, Marc Ford, review, Rich Robinson, rock, southern, Sven Pipien, The Black Crowes, the Magpie Salute, Under the Bridge | Leave a comment

EP review: INDIA ELECTRIC CO. – ECM1

Posted on April 18, 2017 by jason

www.indiaelectricco.com [Release date 05.05.17] India Electric Co. are Cole Stacey and Joseph O’Keefe, who released their debut album, ‘The Girl Left Behind Me’ in 2015 and gained rave reviews for it, including airplay on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 6. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Cole Stacey, ECM1, electronic, EP, folk, India Electric Co., jazz, Joseph O'Keefe, review, world music | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MICHAEL KIWANUKA, THE DAWN BROTHERS

Posted on April 18, 2017 by jason

MICHAEL KIWANUKA Love And Hate Since my son and I are “live on Sky” football junkies, my dear lady busies herself with her own TV series and was bowled over by the opening soundtrack to “Big Little Lies” which happens to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, The Best of 2017 | Tagged albums, Big Little Lies, Bruce Kulick, glam, Kiss, Love and Hate, Michael Kiwanuka, pop, Quick Play, reviews, rock, Sister's Doll, Stayin Out Late, the Dawn Brothers, White Widdow | 1 Comment

Album review: THE MARK LANEGAN BAND – Gargoyle

Posted on April 18, 2017 by jason

[Release date 28.04.17] Not being hugely familiar with Mark Lanegan’s previous output, I was able to spin this album with neither pre-conception nor expectation…and pretty impressed I was too. Straddling between the truism that “you can only objectively critique that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Gargoyle, Mark Lanegan, review, rock, Screaming Trees, the Mark Lanegan Band | Leave a comment

Gig review: SLAM CARTEL – Carlisle, Hastings, 27 March 2017

Posted on April 7, 2017 by jason

“It’s quite overwhelming having all these people singing these songs back at us,” lead singer, Gary Moffat, tells the audience at the Carlisle at one point during tonight’s gig. Clearly, the Kent-based hard rock outfit, Slam Cartel, have something of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 March 2017, Carlisle, gig, Hastings, live, melodic, review, rock, Slam Cartel | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL MENEL AND THE ESSENTIALS – Spare Parts For Broken Hearts

Posted on April 6, 2017 by jason

www.paulmenelessentials.co.uk [Release date 14.02.17] Paul Menel will be known to many prog rock fans as the lead singer with IQ between 1985 and 1990. However, since then and on this album in particular, he takes a few prog leanings and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, IQ, Paul Menel, Paul Menel and the Essentials, pop, prog, review, rock, Spare Parts For Broken Hearts | Leave a comment

EP Review: MARK DUDA – Month Of Sundays

Posted on April 6, 2017 by jason

www.markdudamusic.com [Release date 14.04.17] Must admit not a name I have come across before, although Mark Duda has been the frontman of New York based rockers the Handful. This solo EP features Mark Duda on vocals and guitars, joined by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Blue Oyster Cult, Cheetah Chrome, EP, Mark Duda, Month Of Sundays, punk, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, the Dead Boys | Leave a comment

Gig review: ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO – Bush Hall, London, 5 April 2017

Posted on April 6, 2017 by jason

Alejandro Escovedo is playing his first European shows with a full band in over five years and tonight’s London show sees him roughly two thirds if the way through the tour. Support comes from his back-up band for these dates, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 April 2017, Alejandro Escovedo, Americana, blues, Bush Hall, Don Antonio, gig, London, punk, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – Saint Of The Lost Souls

Posted on April 4, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.03.17] House Of Lords return with their eleventh studio album and a new bassist, Chris Tristram, who replaces the departing Chris McCarvill, who has been in the band since 2005. The other thing to note is that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, House of Lords, James Christian, melodic, melodic rock, review, Robin Beck, rock, Saint Of The Lost Souls | Leave a comment

Album review: NIGHT RANGER – Don’t Let Up

Posted on April 4, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.03.17] Night Ranger, unlike many of their fellow 80′s melodic hard rock bands, have been consistently releasing new music and of a high quality. In fact for me they are one of the few bands who I … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Brad Gillis, Don't Let Up, Frontiers, Jack Blades, Kelly Keagy, melodic, Night Ranger, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: HOLY HOLY – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 30 March 2017

Posted on March 31, 2017 by jason

“He’s fucking sacked us,” Spiders bass player, Trevor Bolder, was seen to mouth when David Bowie announced at the Hammersmith Odeon in October 1973 that it would be the final Ziggy show ever. Tragically, like Bowie, Bolder and his former … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged David Bowie, gig, glam, Glenn Gregory, Heaven 17, Holy Holy, James Stevenson, Mick Ronson, review, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Spiders From mars, Tony Visconti, Trevor Bolder, Woody Woodmansey | Leave a comment

Interview: TIM ARNOLD

Posted on March 31, 2017 by jason

Tim Arnold has just released a new single ‘Change’ and here we catch-up with Tim to learn more about the single’s video that features mime artist Lindsay Kemp, plus his musical plans for the coming months. How did you get to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged Change, interview, Kate Bush, Lindsay Kemp, music, pop, singer songwriter, Tim Arnold | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE WEEKS, ABEL RAISE THE CAIN, HAPPYNESS

Posted on March 30, 2017 by jason

THE WEEKS Easy Lightning Rod Records [Release date 07.04.17] The Weeks have been around since 2006 and they consist of Cyle Barnes (vocals), Samuel Williams (guitar/vocals), Cain Barnes (drums) and Damien Bone (bass). They have toured with the likes of Kings Of Leon … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Abel Raise The Cain, album, alternative, Easy, For Strangers Only, HAPPYNESS, indie, Kings Of Leon, Mercury Rev, review, rock, southern rock, the Weeks, Write In | Leave a comment

EP review: DAVE HANSON – Live!

Posted on March 30, 2017 by jason

www.davehansonmusic.co.uk Six String Social Records [Release date 31.03.17] Dave Hanson was the guitarist with folk pop band the Dunwells and he’s now gone solo, releasing his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Almost Horizontal’ last year. Less than a year later he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues, Dave Hanson, EP, guitarist, interview, live, reggae, review, Santana, singer songwriter, soul, The Dunwells | Leave a comment

Gig review: L.A. GUNS – The Islington Academy, London, 25 March 2017

Posted on March 28, 2017 by jason

Having recently reunited after a ten year break, L.A. Guns vocalist Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns have just finished a UK tour which found the still popular band rolling back the years and sounding as good, and fresh, as they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged gig, glam, Islington Academy, L.A. Guns, Phil Lewis, review, rock, sleaze, Tracii Gunns | Leave a comment

Album review: BERNIE TORME – Dublin Cowboy

Posted on March 28, 2017 by jason

Retrowrek Records [Release date 07.04.17] Bernie Torme I first came across via his days in Gillan and loving the band’s performance of ‘New Orleans ‘ on ‘Top Of The Pops’. Then I didn’t really take much notice of his solo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Bernie Torme, blues, Dublin Cowboy, Gillan, GMT, guitar, review, rock, rock 'n' roll | Leave a comment

EP reviews: WAITING FOR TITOR, BEYOND RECALL, MALLEN

Posted on March 24, 2017 by jason

MALLEN Jack Of Cards Mallen released their debut ‘Ignition’ back in 2015 and have toured with the likes of Motley Crue on their UK farewell dates, plus Toseland and Funeral For A Friend. This new song was produced by David … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged All Time Low, alt rock, Beyond Recall, Bring Me The Horizon, Depeche Mode, EP, hard rock, Jack Of Cards, Mallen, pop punk, pop rock, prog, reviews, rock, rock 'n' roll, Scuzz TV, Waiting For Titor | Leave a comment

Album review: DOYLE BRAMHALL II – Rich Man

Posted on March 24, 2017 by jason

Concord Music [Release date 30.09.16] Doyle Bramhall II has worked with many bands and artists including Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Roger Waters and the Tedsechi Trucks Band. ‘Rich Man’ is only his third solo album and the first since 2001 and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Concord Music, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Norah Jones, r n b, review, Rich Man, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: DIRTY WHITE BOYZ – Down And Dirty

Posted on March 23, 2017 by jason

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Release date 24.03.17] Not the classic one album band from the late 80′s featuring Earl Slick and David Glenn Eisley, this is a new band and they have a ‘z’ on the end of their name. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, DEMON, Dirty White Boyz, Down And Dirty, Escape Music, Kiss Of The Gypsy, LAWLESS, melodic, Nigel Bailey, review, rock, Tony Mitchell | Leave a comment

EP review: IMPAVIDUS – Eradication Of Mankind

Posted on March 22, 2017 by jason

www.facebook.com/impavidusuk/ [Release date 29.03.17] Now the GRTR! reviewer who penned a glowing review of Impavidus’s debut EP has now left, so it is my delicate ears taking on the sounds of Impavidus. They are like the aural equivalent of being … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Arch Enemy, EP, Eradication of Mankind, extreme metal, Impavidus, Mastadon, metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE – He Saw It Comin’

Posted on March 21, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 27.01.17] Having really liked Great White’s last album “Elation” I was somewhat wary of hearing former frontman Jack Russell’s version of the band and their new album “He Saw It Comin’”. I shouldn’t have been – the record … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Great White, He Saw It Comin', Jack Russell's Great White, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: STEPHEN PEARCY – Smash

Posted on March 20, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 27.01.17] “Smash” is the latest solo album from Stephen Pearcy and it really is hard not to draw comparison with Ratt as the band’s frontman is really back at his best here. The 13 track album opens … Continue reading →