Tag Archives: blues

Album review: AYREON – The Source

Ayreon - The Source

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] It’s 12 years since Ayreon’s first album ‘The Final Experiment’ and the key elements of a conceptual sci-fi story with prog rock underpinnings remain at the heart of the new album ‘The Source.’ It’s … Continue reading

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Album review: QUINN SULLIVAN – Midnight Highway

QUINN SULLIVAN – Midnight Highway

Provogue [Release date 24.03.17] Best known as Buddy Guy’s protégé, 17 year old Quinn Sullivan’s third album ‘Midnight Highway’ takes a major step up in carving out his own niche in the crossover blues rock-world He’s got the chops, he’s … Continue reading

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Gig review: ERJA LYYTINEN – Album Showcase, Ain’t Nothing But The Blues, London, 10 April 2017

ERJA LYYTINEN  - Album Showcase,  Ain

The intimate surrounding for Erja Lyytinen’s ‘Stolen Hearts’ album showcase is well suited to an award winning artist who this afternoon willingly shares the rudiments of her creative process with the assembled members of the press and guest musicians. She’s … Continue reading

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

Alejandro Escovedo

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

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Album review: PROCOL HARUM – Novum

PROCOL HARUM - Novum

Eagle Records [Release date 21.04.17] What do you think of when you hear the words “Procol Harum”?  “Whiter Shade Of Pale”?  Symphonic rock, maybe?  Robin Trower was in an early incarnation?  Perhaps this demonstrates the band’s eclectism over 50 years … Continue reading

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Gig review: JFK BLUE – Old Finchleians, London, 26 March 2017

JFK BLUE – Old Finchleians, London, 26 March 2017

JFK Blue is a new band on the rock/blues circuit and tonight they take a step up by opening for the Stevie Nimmo Trio at the new ‘Spirit of the Torrington’ club at the Old Finchleians, Finchley. They immediately remind … Continue reading

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EP review: DAVE HANSON – Live!

 DAVE HANSON - Live!

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

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Album review: MALCOLM HOLCOMBE – Pretty Little Troubles

MALCOLM HOLCOMBE - Pretty Little Troubles

Gypsy Eyes Music [Release date 26.05.17] As a co-reviewer pointed out to me, I have previously reviewed an album by ‘old soul and modern day southern blues poet’ Malcolm Holcombe back in 2011 (To Drink To The Rain). But, falling … Continue reading

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Album review: BERNIE TORME – Dublin Cowboy

BERNIE TORME - Dublin Cowboy

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

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Album review: DOYLE BRAMHALL II – Rich Man

DOYLE BRAMHALL II - Rich Man

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

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Gig review: THUNDER – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 22 March 2017

THUNDER – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 22 March 2017

I have been a Thunder fan for more years than I care to remember, in fact I was a fan of the guys right back in the big trousered and big haired days of Terraplane, which is showing my age … Continue reading

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Album review: TROY REDFERN – Dirt Blues Ritual

TROY REDFERN – Dirt Blues Ritual

RED7 Records [Release date 27.02.17] What’s the significance of an album title? In Troy Redfern’s hands a ‘Dirt Blues Ritual’ might be interpreted as an artistic way of life for a contemporary bluesman with a penchant for musical landscapes that … Continue reading

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Album review: ELIZA NEALS – 10,000 Feet Below

ELIZA NEALS – 10,000 Feet Below

E-H Records LLC [Release date 17.02.17] Eliza Neals’ brand of rock-blues shifts from hard edged noir narratives to emotive,  heartfelt and spontaneous moments that you might call blues expressionism. It’s an album full of hard hitting colourful lyrics, unique phrasing … 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 – GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – Live At Rockpalast – Dortmund 1980

MIG Music [release date – 24.02.17] George Thorogood live is akin to a tornado hitting your town, fast, furious and guaranteed to lay waste to all before him. This package was recorded for posterity back when he and The Destroyers … Continue reading

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Album review: PAT TRAVERS – Live At Rockpalast – Cologne 1976

MIG Music [Release date – 24.02.17] This album package is one of a number of releases from MIG Records (Made In Germany in case you were wondering!) which feature old recordings from Rockpalast. They have recorded many gigs across Germany … Continue reading

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Album review: ADAM ECKERLSEY BAND – The Second Album

Adam Eckersley Band - The Second Album

Universal Australia [Release date 15.08.15] Although released some 18 months ago, this album seems to be getting a more belated push in Europe. The Adam Eckersley Band infuse harmony laden country rock with a southern rock feel in well crafted … Continue reading

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

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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Album review: KRISSY MATTHEWS – Live At Freak Valley

KRISSY MATTHEWS – Live At Freak Valley

Proper [Release date 14.04.17] Krissy Mathews lives or dies by the first take and his road tested band do him proud on an album full of tight interplay, scorching solos, raw aggression and a magnificent unexpected finish. He makes up … Continue reading

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Album review: ERIC GALES – Middle Of The Road

ERIC GALES – Middle Of The Road

Provogue [Release date 24.02.17] Eric Gales is a former child protégé and post Hendrix disciple who isn’t so much enjoying a comeback as pouring his big toned licks and life experiences into meaningful songs. ‘Middle Of The Road’ isn’t the … Continue reading

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Album review: ZOE SCHWARZ BLUE COMMOTION – This Is The Life I Choose

ZOE SCHWARZ BLUE COMMOTION – This Is The Life I Choose

33 Jazz [Release date 10.03.17] From the way she attacks the opening note of ‘Hold On’, to a sultry Nina Simone style finish on ‘Feeling Good’, Zoe Schwarz dominates a diverse album rooted in the blues but not bound by … Continue reading

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DVD review: ROBIN BIBI – Colour House Blues Live!

Robin Bibi - Colour House Blues Live! DVD

Stonkin’ Production [Release date 08.01.17] ‘Colour House Blues Live!’ is a stripped down duo affair which finds guitarist Robin Bibi with his bass player Tony Marten (who doubles on acoustic guitar and banjo) in unplugged mode. The duo explore a … Continue reading

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Album review: EDDIE MARTIN – Black, White and Blue

Eddie Martin - Black, White & Blue

Blueblood Records [Release date 11.11.16] Eddie Martin has always been an independent blues artist. He’s equally happy playing country blues as he is exploring Texas grit or Chicago blues, but it’s when he colours his own blues hybrid that he … Continue reading

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Album review: THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Change My Game

Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado - Change My Game

Ruf [Release date 27.01.17] Danish big band soulful blues/rockers Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado find themselves in uncharted waters with their new album ‘Change My Game’. Such was the critical acclaim of their last 2 albums, that ‘Change My … Continue reading

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EP review: RAINBREAKERS – Rise Up

[Release date 07.04.17] Hailing from Shrewsbury, the Rainbreakers have released one EP previous to this one and have toured extensively, including garnering a rave review from GRTR! master of all things blues, Pete Feenstra, when the band supported Mountain’s drummer Corky … Continue reading

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