Author Archives: petefeenstra

Album review: PREACHERS SON – 10 Stories Tall

PREACHERS SON – 10 Stories Tall

Release date [June 2014] Being the son of a folk musician and Catholic lay man preacher, former Kila bass player Brian Hogan’s rootsy band name has both a literal meaning and solid grounding. ‘10 Stories tall’ is his second solo … Continue reading

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Album review: SKOOKUM – Pleasure Cruz

SKOOKUM – Pleasure Cruz

        Fugly Music Release date [12.11.13] According to which sources you use, Skookum means big, tough, fearsome and swift’, or simply durable and even excellent!It’s also a common place name in British Columbia, and Skookum the Vancouver … Continue reading

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Album review: GERS RACING – Part 1 Privilege/Part 2 Existence

GERS RACING – Part 1 Privilege/Part 2 Existence

self release [Release date 21.01.14] It’s an old ploy to hide your unwanted past or unwillingness to explain your music behind some autobiographical psycho-babble. And that is just what the curiously named Ger Racing do. The band comprises 60’s fringe … Continue reading

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Album review: MATT ANDERSEN – Weightless

Matt Andersen - Weightless

True North [Release date 14.04.14] Produced by former Blasters sax player and Los Lobos producer Steve Berlin, ‘Weightless’ puts the emphasis squarely on songs, catchy hooks and a subtle sonic landscape that nestles Matt Andersen’s emotive baritone vocal. Released by … Continue reading

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Album review: JEREMY SPENCER – Coventry Blue

Jeremy Spencer - Coventry Blue

Propelz [Release date 01.03.14] ‘Coventry Blue’ is Jeremy Spencer’s second record since making an impressive but understated comeback with ‘Bend In The Road’. If the latter was loosely based around the concept of travel, then ‘Coventry Blue’ is more about … Continue reading

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Album review: MODERN EARL – Hot Damn!

Modern Earl - Hot Damn!

Modern Earl/Christopher Hudson [Release date 23.01.14] While the terms ‘kick ass’ and ‘southern country rock’ aren’t necessarily antithetical, they fail to fuse or spark on Modern Earl’s ‘Hot Damn!’ I’m sure this German exiled American southern country rock band do … Continue reading

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Album review: ULTAN CONLON – Songs Of Love So Cruel

ULTAN CONLON – Songs Of Love So Cruel

Darksideout [Release date 09.06.14] The fact that the ‘Songs Of Love So Cruel’ dominates the CD sleeve tells you all you need to know about Ultan Conlon’s mindset, on an album full of enduring relationship and love songs. He treads … Continue reading

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Album review: EDDIE & THE HOT RODS – 2 Sides

EDDIE & THE HOT RODS – 2 Sides

Wienerworld [Release date 27.01.14] These are good times for Eddie & The Rods. So good in fact that it’s a startling 10 years since their 30th anniversary reformation,  taking in 4 tours of the USA and a successful domestic tour … Continue reading

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Album review: SWEETKISS MOMMA – A Reckoning Is Coming

SWEETKISS MOMMA – A Reckoning Is Coming

Self Release [Release date 01.03.14] The Tacoma based Sweetkiss Momma defy all expectations by being a Washington state based, 70’s influenced, self sufficient, southern influenced roots rock outfit. Musically schooled in a church background and rooted in gospel, they’ve stepped … Continue reading

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Album review: CALIFORNIA BREED – California Breed

California Breed

Pete Feenstra chats to Glenn Hughes, 1 April 2014 Frontiers Records [Release date 19.05.14] You could be forgiven for dismissing this three generational band as ‘old wine in new bottles’, but that would be to the underestimate bigger picture that … Continue reading

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Gig Review: DAVE DAVIES – The Barbican, London, 12 April 2014

Dave Davies, The Barbican, London, 12 April 2014

Given Dave Davies current spiritual bent, he’s probably a firm believer in karma. And it is that principle of causality that works for him at The Barbican tonight, a venue not totally unfamiliar with rock music, but still lacking any … Continue reading

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Album review: HAT FITZ & CARA ROBINSON – Do Tell

HAT FITZ & CARA ROBINSON – Do Tell

Manhaton [Release date 12.05.14] Formerly just Hat Fitz and Cara, Irish singer Cara Robinson now gets a full name check alongside her Australian partner Hat Fitz on ‘Do Tell’, an album of well crafted songs brought to life by a … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOHN ILLSLEY – East End Arms, Lymington, East End, 8 April 2014

JOHN ILLSLEY – East End Arms, Lymington, East End, 8 April 2014

It was back in 1982 after the break up of Steely Dan that Donald Fagen unveiled his signature sound on the ‘The Night Fly’ album and confirmed his creative input into Steely Dan. And while former Dire Straits bass player … Continue reading

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Album review: STREETWALKERS – Live At Rockpalast

Streetwalkers - Live At Rockpalast

Repertoire [Release date 24.01.14] ‘Streetwalkers – Live At Rockpalast’ is a CD & DVD audio-visual diary of the origins of a great live band. Originally called Chapman -Whitney Streetwalkers, the first Rockpalast concert shot in Koln on 25 March 1975 is … Continue reading

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Album review: HER NAME IS CALLA – Navigator

Her Name Is Calla - Navigator

Function [Release date 05.05.14] ‘Navigator’ by Her Name Is Calla, is a cerebral and emotional work of substance. You may need patience and understanding to get inside Tom Morris’ songs and his vocal enunciations with electronic edges, but you will … Continue reading

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Album review: DEBORAH BONHAM – Spirit

Deborah Bonham - Spirit

Deborah Bonham, track by track, May 2014 (Part 1 10:43, Part 2 11:43) Spectra [Release date 28.04.14] Being part of the Bonham dynasty is both a blessing and a curse for Deborah Bonham. Stripped of her family tree, she would … Continue reading

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Album review: Album review: THORBJØRN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Too Many Roads

THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Too Many Roads

Ruf [Release date 21.03.14] This is arguably the most original and impressive blues related album since Moreland & Arbuckle ‘7 Cities’ last summer. Denmark’s Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have cut a blues related album in the sense of it … Continue reading

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CD review: MARCUS MALONE – Stand Or Fall

        Redline Music [Release date 21.04.14] ‘Stand Or Fall’ might easily have used the opening cut ‘Living The Blues’ as its title. For while his last album ‘Let The Sunshine In’ was a noticeably more song driven effort, … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALEX HART – The Heights, St George’s Hotel, London, 2 April 2014

Alex Hart Showcase - BBC Club, London, 2 April 2014

Alex Hart is the kind of artist who might just make you re-appraise the view that A&R reps are an extinct breed in this post youtube age. She’s a breathe of fresh air who radiates presence with thoughtful songs, effortless … Continue reading

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Album review: CHRIS BEVINGTON – And Friends

Chris Bevington - And Friends

        Chris Bevington Music [Release date 10.02.14] At the time of writing, ‘Chris Bevington And Friends’ has already graced the Top 40 download blues chart. And that’s no surprise as the Stoke on Trent blues-rock veteran is … Continue reading

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DVD review: Martin Hannett – He Wasn’t Just The Fifth Member Of Joy Division

        Ozit  [Released 10.05.14] Described as a’ rough cut reportage style documentary based on an original idea by Anthony Ryan Carter’ a.k.a. Tosh Ryan who occupies an insightful centre-piece  to film, this fly on the wall style … Continue reading

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Rock Stars: Interview with GRAHAM BONNET – 19 March 2014

Graham Bonnet

With The Store For Music  label re-issuing all 4 Alcatrazz albums – including ‘Live Sentence’ on CD and DVD  and accompanying vinyl releases with full art work – as well as his recent ‘Catch The Rainbow’ tour and a forthcoming … Continue reading

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Album review: COEN WOLTERS BAND – Illumination

Coen Walters Band - Illumination

Crying Tone [Release date 20.01.14] Coen Wolters motto is, ‘let it rip and don’t be shy about it’. ‘Illumination’ is a hard hitting, well played and produced slice of funky tinged acid blues-rock. It’s an album that blows away the … Continue reading

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Album review: JOE LOUIS WALKER – Hornet’s Nest

Joe Louis Walker - Hornet

Alligator Records [Release date 25.02.14] Joe Louis Walker rips into the incendiary title track of ‘Hornet’s Nest’ with a riff heavy piece that suggests it’s a kick ass rocking album. Truth is, it’s a more adventurous album than that, but … Continue reading

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Album Review: ROBERT CRAY – In My Soul

Robert Cray - In My Soul

Provogue [Release date 31.03.14] He may be a 5 times Grammy Award Winner and the youngest living artist to be inducted into the ‘Blues Hall Of Fame’, but Robert Cray is always looking for a fresh and meaningful context for … Continue reading

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