Tag Archives: Liverpool

Album review : GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS I Like It (3 CD Anthology)

Posted on August 6, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 16.08.24] As the sixties’ “Merseybeat” pop explosion recedes further into the past, ten album, multiple hits band, Gerry And The Pacemakers seem less and less likely to get the credit they deserve. And so this anthology … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 3 CDs, Brian Epstein, Cherry Red, George Martin, Gerry, Liverpool, Merseybeat, Pacemakers, review, Rodgers Hammerstein, Sinatra, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Album review : V/A Let’s Stomp (Merseybeat 1962-1969) 3 CD set

Posted on May 14, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 26.05.23] Heavily influenced by US Blues and Rock, Merseybeat was a sixties pop music phenomenon, originating in Liverpool, that swept all before it. First the UK, then Europe, ultimately invading the USA and the ROTW. Across … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, Beatles, Billy J Kramer, Cilla Black, Doc Pomus, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Jackie DeShannon, Joe Meek, Lennon & McCartney, Let's Stomp (Merseybeat 1962-1969), Liverpool, Merseybeat, Mojos, Mort Shuman, pop, review, rock, Shel Talmy, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Searchers, The Sixties, US Blues | Leave a comment

Gig review: MASSIVE WAGONS – Grand Central Hall, Liverpool, 25 September 2021

Posted on September 27, 2021 by jason

This was only my second gig with zero restrictions in place, what a venue the Grand Central Hall is. I have not been before, I will definitely be back – the venue team were well organised and entry was easy, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 September 2021, Bastette, Chris Catalyst, classic rock, gig, Grand Central Hall, live music, Liverpool, Massive Wagons, NWOCR, review, rock, rock alt rock | Leave a comment

Feature: Gigs of the Millennium – JOE BONAMASSA

Posted on June 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Joe Bonamassa - The Cavern, Liverpool, 27 June 2016

In June 2016 Joe Bonamassa trod the boards at the venue where – nearly over 50 years earlier – the Fab Four had fired their opening salvo. This historic gig has become one of life’s highlights for GRTR! reviewer Alan … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, Gigs of the Millennium | Tagged 27 June 2016, blues, blues rock, feature, gig, Joe Bonamassa, Liverpool, review, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Feature: Bands that time forgot…RIVER CITY PEOPLE

Posted on April 15, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

River City People consisted of two brothers Tim and Paul Speed (guitars and drums respectively)and Dave Snell (bass) who in 1987 were all studying at Liverpool Polytechnic. Vocalist Siobhan Maher had previously worked with Snell in a band called Peep … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Bands that time forgot, FEATURES | Tagged feature, introduction, Liverpool, pop rock, River City People, Say Something Good, Siobahn Maher, This Is The World | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 11 November 2019

Posted on November 12, 2019 by alanjones

The latest incarnation of Steve Hackett’s “Genesis Revisited” tour swept into Liverpool’s iconic, Eric Gill-inspired, Philharmonic Hall on an absolutely filthy November evening – not that it deterred a single one of the Hackett cognoscenti who filled the hall to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 11 November 2019, Craig Blundell, Genesis, Genesis Revisited, gig, guitar, guitarist, Jonas Reingold, Liverpool, Nad Sylvan, Philharmonic Hall, progressive, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Townsend, Roger King, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – British Blues Explosion Live

Posted on May 24, 2018 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 18.05.18] ‘British Blues Explosion Live’ is the latest conceptual vehicle for the prodigiously talented Joe Bonamassa and his constant search for a meaningful context with which to keep the blues alive. Playing to a seated outdoor crowd … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Alvin Lee, Anton Fig, blues, Bluesbreakers, British Blues Explosion Live, Cream, Eric Clapton, Free, George Harrison, guitar, Ian Anderson, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Joe Bonamassa, John Martyn, Led Zeppelin, Liverpool, Reese Wynans, review, Robert Plant, rock, Rod Stewart, Rory Gallagher, Russ Irwin, Steve Winwood, The Cavern, The Yardbirds | Leave a comment

EP review: BLACK CAT BONES – Down To The River

Posted on October 4, 2017 by petefeenstra

Black Cat Bones [Release date 29.09.17] Not to be confused with the band that gave the world Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke from Free, this hard rocking quintet hail from Liverpool and deal with blues tinged hard rock. Fronted by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alan Rimmer, album, Black Cat Bones, blues, Down To The River, hard rock, Johnny Hodson, Led Zeppelin, Liverpool, Paul Kossoff, review, Simon Kirke | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Cavern Club, Liverpool, 27 June 2016

Posted on June 28, 2016 by alanjones

Photo: David Munn I remember seeing Joe Bonamassa back in 2006 at the ‘Pacific Road’, a small venue in Birkenhead, England, and I recall thinking at the time, and I know it’s a cliche, but ‘greatness beckons here’. He absolutely … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues, blues rock, British blues, Cavern Club, guitar, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, Liverpool, Reese Wynans, Stevie Ray Vaughan | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARTIN BARRE BAND – Lomax, Liverpool, 6 September 2014

Posted on September 7, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Martin Barre Band - Liverpool, 6 September 2014

On Sunday 28 September, on the eve of the release of ‘Order Of Play’, you can hear Martin Barre chatting about his favourite tracks. In the second hour of a two-hour special, we’ll be playing some Martin Barre highlights: with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 6 September 2014, Alan Thomson, blues, Dan Crisp, gig, guitar, guitarist, Jethro Tull, Liverpool, Lomax, Martin Barre, progressive, review, Richard Beesley, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: EAGLES – Liverpool Echo Arena, 26 June 2014

Posted on June 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The Eagles are one of those bands I thought the opportunity to see might have passed. But the lure of the mighty $ has kept the band on the road, some might argue, well past their ‘best before’. Certainly some … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 June 2014, Bernie Leadon, Don Henley, Eagles, Echo Arena, gig, Glen Frey, Joe Walsh, Liverpool, review, rock, Timothy B.Schmidt | Leave a comment

Gig review: PANIC ROOM – The Zanzibar, Liverpool, 12 June 2014

Posted on June 13, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Remarkably, it’s been more than four years since I last caught up with Panic Room – at the Limelight in Crewe promoting their then newly released debut Visionary Position – at Christmas 2008, to be precise. Plenty of water has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 June 2014, Anne-Marie Helder, gig, Liverpool, Panic Room, review, rock, The Zanzibar | Leave a comment

Gig review: RICK WAKEMAN – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 9 May 2014

Posted on May 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Rick Wakeman is perhaps better known these days for being a “Grumpy Old Man” and a tetchy consumer champion via his appearances on BBC’s ‘Watchdog’. But back in the day, with his flowing cape and musical theatrics, he defined progressive … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 9 May 2014, English Chamber Choir, gig, keyboards, Liverpool, New World Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Hall, prog, progressive, review, Rick Wakeman, Yes | Leave a comment

Gig review: IAN ANDERSON – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 2 May 2014

Posted on May 3, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

It amazes me how, generally, the reaction to Ian Anderson’s latest opus is warm, and welcoming. There seems to be a lack of critical faculty in some quarters. Perhaps, in my case, I’m just too old to rock ‘n’ roll. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 May 2014, gig, Homo Erraticus, Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall, prog, progressive, review, rock, Thick As A Brick | 1 Comment

Album review: CAST – reissues (All Change, Mother Nature Calls, Magic Hour, Beetroot)

Posted on January 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel Records [Release date 03.02.14] Cast embarked on their traditional low-key pre-Christmas dates in 2013 and celebrated their 20th anniversary with a new album ‘Troubled Times’. With their first four albums now expanded to deluxe editions, the time is perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged All Change, Beetroot, Cast, deluxe edition, DVD, John Power, Liverpool, Magic Hour, Mother Nature Calls, reissue, review, Shack, The Las | Leave a comment

Gig review: KT TUNSTALL – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 16 November 2013

Posted on November 17, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

It’s probably fair to say that the albums since 2004′s award-winning ‘Eye To The Telescope’ may have progressively alienated those who loved its breezy, folky – and highly accessible – pop. Since that time KT Tunstall has released four more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16 November 2013, gig, KT Tunstall, Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 29 October 2013

Posted on October 30, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Steve Hackett - Liverpool, 29 October 2013

Perhaps because he’s never been the archetypal flashy rock guitarist, and perhaps because he’s largely plied his solo career away from the spotlight, Steve Hackett’s almost become the ‘forgotten man’ from the classic 1971 to 1977 Genesis line up. Until … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 29 October 2013, Genesis Revisited II, guitar, guitarist, Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall, prog, progressive, review, rock, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOE SATRIANI – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 11 June 2013

Posted on June 12, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Up in the circle of the ornate Philharmonic Hall there was a distinct whiff of charity shop. This was a slightly bizarre change from the whiff of bowel disorder that one often encounters at gigs where the audience is of a certain … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 11 June 2013, gig, guitar, guitarist, Joe Satriani, Liverpool, Mike Keneally, Philharmonic Hall, review, rock | 1 Comment

Gig review: THEA GILMORE, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 10 May 2013

Posted on May 11, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

This promotional gig for Thea’s excellent new album Regardless, complete with supporting string quartet, proved at least one thing – there’s no finer British vocalist/singer songwriter on the scene at present. Finding local ‘talent’ to open the set – a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 10 May 2013, folk, Liverpool, Nigel Stonier, Philharmonic Hall, pop, rock, singer, songwriter, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

Gig review: DAN REED – O2 Academy,Liverpool,13 March 2013

Posted on March 14, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

What’s not to like about Dan Reed? Great songs, warmth, and a humility sometimes lacking in other performers. We first caught Dan’s quiet UK renaissance back in 2009 when he took his acoustic guitar around smaller venues, always connecting with … Continue reading →