Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: A Week in Rock on the Riviera‏ – SLASH, ZZ TOP (5-9 July 2015)

Now, I know most of you are thinking that life on the French Riviera doesn’t suck, and in some ways, you’d be right. But if you’re a rock and blues junkie, this place is a cultural wasteland where some apocalyptic … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD, CANDY KANE BAND, TEXAS CANNONBALLS – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 12 July 2015

Royal Southern Brotherhood -  Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 12 July 2015

As Candy Kane tells the crowd, the French have always supported music and the arts, and tonight it seems they are supporting an American blues export drive it. Texas Cannonballs do what it says on the tin. You can take … Continue reading

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Gig review: AC/DC – Wembley Stadium, London, 4 July 2015

AC/DC, Wembley Stadium, London, 4 July 2015

AC/DC’s greatest virtue is that they never change a winning formula, but the past year has been the most challenging to their future since Bon Scott’s death,  with founder member Malcolm Young sadly suffering from dementia and drummer Phil Rudd … Continue reading

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Gig review: FLEETWOOD MAC – 02 Arena, London, 24 June 2015

FLEETWOOD MAC - 02 Arena, London, 24 June 2015

When I paid over the odds to see Fleetwood Mac at the soulless 02 in Autumn 2013, it was in the knowledge that this was a chance to see the legendary band one last time, yet less than two years … Continue reading

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Gig review: EVERGREY – The Underworld, Camden, London, 20 June 2015

EVERGREY – The Underworld, Camden, London, 20 June 2015

My love affair with Progressive Power Metalers Evergrey began, as most love affairs tend to do, completely by accident. The year was 1999 and US legends Crimson Glory visited my native country Greece in order to promote their latest album … Continue reading

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Gig review: FOTHERINGAY – Under The Bridge, London, 19 June 2015

FOTHERINGAY - Under The Bridge, London, 19 June 2015

The re-ascendancy of folk rock continues apace and unsurprisingly its antecedents are dusted down, peered at, prodded.  Most are faded, without light since the glory days of the early 70′s, some weathered but kicking hard at the traces. Scratch the … Continue reading

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Gig review: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 3, 14 June 2015

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 3, 14 June 2015

For any classic rock fan the Sunday line up was not to be missed with Slash, Motley Crue, in their last UK festival appearance, and Kiss all ready to show the young guns how a festival set should be done. … Continue reading

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Gig review: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 2, 13 June 2015

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 2, 13 June 2015

Saturday dawned grey and wet, not a good combination, but hey there was rock to be had and we had our trusty ponchos, is it socially acceptable to wear a plastic poncho outside a festival site? The morning got off … Continue reading

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Gig review: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 1,12 June 2015

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 1,12 June 2015

5am. Not the most rock ‘n’ roll of hours to rise on a Friday morning but when you have a 311 mile journey to the spiritual home of all things metal these sacrifices have to be made. What I do … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEAD BELLY FEST – Royal Albert Hall, London, 15 June 2015

Lead Belly Fest, Royal Albert Hall, London, 15 June 2015

Photo: John Bull Rockrpix www.rockrpix.com As George Harrison once said: “No Lead Belly, no Lonnie Donegan. Therefore no Lead Belly, no Beatles.”  Van Morrison later generalized the point when he said: “Lead Belly was not an influence, he was the influence.  If it … Continue reading

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Gig review: SPIKE’S FREE HOUSE – The Borderline, London, 7 June 2015

SPIKE

Quireboys singer Spike is on a mission to bring the work of one of his big influences, gravel voiced Scottish singer Frankie Miller, to a wider audience, much in the same way that Joe Elliott has championed Ian Hunter and … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOSH TAERK – O2 Islington Academy, 5 June 2015

JOSH TAERK - O2 Islington Academy, 5 June 2015

Canadian singer/songwriter Josh Taerk was playing last of three London gigs tied in to promote his upcoming new album ‘Here’s To Change’. Joining him were guitarist Teddy Morgan (who produced the new album and is also in Kevin Costner’s band), drummer … Continue reading

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Gig review: VARDIS – Queens Hall, Nuneaton, 17 May 2015

VARDIS - Queens Hall, Nuneaton, 17 May 2015

2014 saw the first live dates from the reformed Vardis since way back in the 80’s and with five great gigs under their belt they seemed to be on a roll with new material and album releases planned. However after … Continue reading

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Gig review: NORDIC GIANTS – Contemporary, Nottingham, 8 May 2015

NORDIC GIANTS - Contemporary, Nottingham, 8 May 2015

It’s not often nowadays that you go to a gig and witness something so strikingly powerful that you are drawn into, and feel like part of, the performance, The Nordic Giants have done that tonight as they blend the visuals … Continue reading

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Gig review: BAND OF FRIENDS feat. Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher) – Robin 2, Wolverhampton, 24 April 2015

BAND OF FRIENDS - Robin 2, Wolverhampton, 24 April 2015

This is an edit from an interview in November 2014 when Gerry McAvoy chatted to David Randall and chose some of his favourite tracks for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio (4:51) More information For 20 years Gerry McAvoy rode shotgun … Continue reading

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Gig review: RICKY WARWICK AND DAMON JOHNSON – Bannerman’s, Edinburgh, 31 May 2015

RICKY WARWICK AND DAMON JOHNSON – Bannerman’s, Edinburgh, 31 May 2015

It has been a busy year so far for Black Star Riders. They completed a UK tour with Europe, played shows in the US and have been supporting Def Leppard at various European shows. You would think then that having … Continue reading

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Gig review: COAL CHAMBER – ABC, Glasgow, 24 May 2015

COAL CHAMBER – ABC, Glasgow, 24 May 2015

When Coal Chamber announced their reformation back in 2011 after eight years apart I did wonder at the time if there was any value in reanimating this particular rock corpse? Back in the day they were one of the bands … Continue reading

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Gig review: VOIVOD – The Underworld, Camden, London, 20 May 2015

VOIVOD – The Underworld, Camden, London 20 May 2015

Support Acts: Krokodil, Desert Storm There are two types of bands in this world; those that you can do without and those that you cannot have enough of. Canadian Prog Thrashers Voivod do not simply fall onto the latter category … Continue reading

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Gig review: FLOTSAM & JETSAM – The Underworld, Camden, London, 18 May 2015

Support Acts: Bliksem, Desolator Monday evening gigs are events that I normally like the plague but, then again, it is not very often that you have a band like Flotsam and Jetsam visiting London for a show – especially one … Continue reading

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Gig review: INGLORIOUS – The Hippodrome, London, 13 May 2015

INGLORIOUS- The Hippodrome, London, 13 May 2015

Singer Nathan James has been building a big reputation for himself on the quiet-  he was a contestant in reality TV show Superstar, which I am sure GRTR readers had better things to do than to watch, but rock is … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLUES PILLS – Islington Academy, London, 22 April 2015

BLUES PILLS - Islington Academy, London, 22 April 2015

The latest in the seemingly endless line of classic rock revivalists, a big buzz has emerged around Blues Pills. In their short career they have topped many end of year polls, including being GRTR!’s own tip for 2015. Then on … Continue reading

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Gig review: URIAH HEEP – Old Market, Brighton, 8 May 2015

Uriah Heep - The Old Market, Brighton, 10 May 2015

An incredible 45 years after their debut album, Uriah Heep could be gently coasting towards retirement, but on this evidence the band who on their debut professed to be ‘very ‘eavy and very humble’ are rocking harder than ever. This … Continue reading

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Gig review: JUDIE TZUKE – The Lowry, Salford, 10 May 2015

JUDIE TZUKE - The Lowry, Salford, 10 May 2015

Judie Tzuke’s Songs & Stories tour, billed as ‘an intimate evening of old favourites, new songs and tales from her life and career’ is something of a revelation.  If for no other reason than the apparent exorcism of her well … Continue reading

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Gig review: PANIC ROOM – The Citadel, St. Helens, 9 May 2015

PANIC ROOM - The Citadel, St. Helens, 9 May 2015

The last time we caught up with Panic Room was at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool during last summer’s World Cup – a venue that, at best, can be described as ‘grimy’.  The Citadel has seen equally better days.  A … Continue reading

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Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 26 April 2015

You could be forgiven for thinking that nothing has changed. Wilko is touring relentlessly, just like he always did. He’s currently two months into a year-long jaunt entitled ‘Still Kickin’ – the comeback tour. That’s ‘comeback’ in the Lazarus sense … Continue reading

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