Category Archives: ALL POSTS

Gig review: WINTER’S END FESTIVAL – Poole, 24-26 February 2017

WINTER

With the resounding success of sister event Rockstock, Planet Rock seized on the idea to stage another event this time in the south of England in Poole, a somewhat neglected area for touring rock bands.   I think it is safe … Continue reading

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Album review: CATFISH – Broken Man

Catfish - Broken Man

CD Baby [Release date 29.01.17] Catfish’s ‘Broken Man’ is a good example of the high standard of contemporary British blues-rock. Their 10 track album features 9 impressive self penned tracks, shot through with enough feel and spark to satisfy all … Continue reading

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Album review: STEPHEN PEARCY – Smash

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

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Album review: KESTON COBBLERS CLUB – Almost Home

[Release date 31.03.17] An intriguing band name, as the band are named after a penniless cobbler who by playing the violin in the local tavern got everybody dancing, thereby wearing out the soles of his customers who of course needed their shoes cobbled by him. … Continue reading

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Album review: TOKYO MOTOR FIST – S/T

TOKYO MOTOR FIST

Release Date 24.02.17 Despite labouring under a rather ridiculous name, Tokyo Motor Fist (let’s just call them TMF) are actually a match made in heaven between two of the East Coast based melodic rock mafia in Trixter guitarist Steve Brown … Continue reading

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Album review: ASIA – Symfonia

ASIA - Symfonia

Frontiers [Release date 24.02.17] Normally you’d think “not another live Asia album” as there have been a fair few to date, however this one is tinged with sadness with the sad passing of John Wetton shortly before the release of … Continue reading

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Album review: UNRULY CHILD – Can’t Go Home

UNRULY CHILD - Can

Frontiers [Release Date 24.02.17] It’s been six long years since Unruly Child made a triumphant comeback with their original line up featuring Marcie Free, as she now is, releasing the excellent ‘Worlds Collide’ album and headlining Firefest that year. Opening … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROD STEWART – 02 Arena, London, 27 February 2017

ROD STEWART- 02 Arena, London, 27 February 2017

The death of so many stars in 2016 – from Bowie and Prince to Rick Parfitt and George Michael – makes it all the more imperative that we catch the greats of rock and pop while we still can. One … Continue reading

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EP review: ELASEA – Lesson Learnt (plus interview)

ELASEA - Lesson Learnt

ELASEA Lesson Learnt www.facebook.com/elaseauk [Release date 17.03.17] Second EP from Elasea and since their debut EP they have added keys/synths to their sound. This EP is produced by John Mitchell (Lonely Robot/Frost*/Arena), so you know the sound will be spot … Continue reading

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Album review: CRAIG FINN – We All Want The Same Things

Partisan Records [Release date 24.03.17] This is the third solo album from the Hold Steady’s frontman Craig Finn and he is joined by fellow Hold Steady member Tad Kubler. Other musicians joining Finn on the album include Caithlin De Marrais … Continue reading

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Album review: LITTLE HURRICANE – Same Sun Same Moon

Little Hurricanes - Same Sun Same Moon

Mascot [Release date 14.04.17] Little Hurricane feature Anthony ‘Tone’ Catalano on guitar and vocals and Celeste ‘CC’ Spina on drums. ‘Same Sun, Same Moon’ is a contemporary take on “dirty blues” (think The White Stripes meets The Black Keys),  but the … Continue reading

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Gig review: MIKE + THE MECHANICS – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 15 March 2017

MIKE + THE MECHANICS - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 15 March 2017

With only two tracks from the album featured in the set, the Word Of Mouth Tour 2017 billing – to celebrate that album’s 25th anniversary last year, turned out to be something of a misnomer. But, let’s be honest, the … Continue reading

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EP review: FRAGILE THINGS, THOSE WHO KNEW

Fragile Things - Broken Sun

FRAGILE THINGS Broken Sun www.fragilethingsoffical.com Release date [17.02.17] Hailing from Milton Keynes, this four piece band consist of Richie Hevanz (vocals), Mark Hanlon (guitars), Steve Lathwell (bass) and Hugo Bowman (drums). Vocalist Richie Hevanz you may recall from Heaven’s Basement, … Continue reading

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Gig review: LITA FORD – Islington Academy, London, 12 March 2017

LITA FORD - Islington Academy, London, 12 March 2017

From lead guitarist in the pioneering all-girl The Runaways to eighties metal queen, to glamorous MTV darling, Lita Ford has truly been one of the trailblazers for the still underrepresented sisterhood of women in heavy rock. However it has been … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – ABC, Glasgow, 9 March 2017

BLACK STAR RIDERS – ABC, Glasgow, 9 March 2017

The set list of tonight’s show spoke volumes about how Black Star Riders have developed over the last few years. The fact that it only contained one Thin Lizzy number shows that BSR have now thrown off the ‘band formally … Continue reading

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Album review: TIM GRIMM AND THE FAMILY BAND – A Stranger In This Time

TIM GRIMM AND THE FAMILY BAND - A Stranger In This Time

Cavalier Recordings [Release date 03.03.17] As the billing suggests, multi-talented folk/country singer/songwriter and actor (the TV series Reasonable Doubts, and films including Clear And Present Danger with Harrison Ford) Tim Grimm’s latest release is something of a family affair ‘supported … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MADISON VIOLET, STEVE RAVENSFIELD, BLACK ANGELS

MADISON VIOLET The Knight Sessions

MADISON VIOLET The Knight Sessions (Big Lake Music) With their last album Year Of The Horse (2014), Madison Violet (two piece Canadian female harmony duo Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac) shifted from their country/ folk roots to a bolder, dare … Continue reading

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Gig review: MIKE TRAMP – The Black Heart, Camden, 8 March 2017

MIKE TRAMP- The Black Heart, Camden, 8 March 2017

His accent may blend his Danish roots with the twang of Brooklyn where he had his greatest professional success, but former White Lion and Freak of Nature singer Mike Tramp is very much an Anglophile. This manifests itself in his … Continue reading

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Quick plays: VEXINE, SIREN’S SKY, NARYAN, THE VIOLET HOUR, THIRD LOVE

VEXINE Little Sin

VEXINE Little Sin [Release date 30.04.16] Female fronted blues based rock bands are becoming increasingly ‘in vogue’, but Richmond, Virginia, based 4-piece Vexine have hooked a left at the crossroads and are taking the genre across country. A seasoned bunch … Continue reading

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Album review: DREW HOLCOMB AND THE NEIGHBORS – Souvenir

DREW HOLCOMB AND THE NEIGHBORS - Souvenir

Magnolia Music [Release date 21.04.17] With a Masters degree dissertation on ‘Springsteen and American Redemptive Imagination’, and tour support slots for the likes of The Avett Brothers, Ryan Adams and Los Lobo it’s not hard to guess what to expect … Continue reading

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Album review: EZIO – Daylight Moon

EZIO - Daylight Moon

Jazzhaus [Release date 18.11.16] From Cambridge, with eight studio albums, and four live albums to their name since 1990, Ezio have built up something of a cult following over their 26 year career (both in the UK and Europe), without … Continue reading

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Album review: DAN CLEWS – While Middle England Mows Its Lawns

DAN CLEWS - While Middle England Mows Its Lawns

Vista Music [Release date 31.03.17] Album number three, and much is still made of Kentish singer songwriter Dan Clews’ George Martin connections. But while originally endorsed by the 5th Beatle, and with son Giles involved in the production of Clews’ … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – The Acoustic Couch, Bracknell, 11 March 2017

The Darker My Horizon

The Acoustic Couch is a new live music venue in Bracknell, which it has to be said isn’t the easiest to find tucked away under a car park in a back street. Still once inside it is a fair sized … Continue reading

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Album review: JIM LAUDERDALE – London Southern

JIM LAUDERDALE - London Southern

Proper Records [Release date 03.02.17] Jim Lauderdale recently won a lifetime achievement award from the US Amerciana Honors & Awards and is widely respected amongst his contemporaries. He has written songs with George Strait, Elvis Costello, Buddy Miller and John … Continue reading

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Album review: SAMMY HAGAR – This Is Sammy Hagar

SAMMY HAGAR – This Is Sammy Hagar

Mailboat/Membran [Release date 17.03.17] Subtitled ‘Volume One’, this collection collates Sammy Hagar’s solo output from 1999’s ‘Red Voodoo’ through to 2005’s ‘Livin’ It Up’. For fans/collectors there are two new songs plus an outtake mix of ‘Shag’. His band throughout … Continue reading

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