Tag Archives: London

Gig review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – O2 Islington Academy, 3 March 2014

Blackberry Smoke, O2 Islington Academy, London, 28 February 2014

After treading the boards in the USA for some years, Blackberry Smoke’s belated marketing push to crack the UK seems to be paying off: hot on the heels of their belatedly released The Whippoorwill album reaching the top 30, the … Continue reading

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Gig review: SPIN DOCTORS + DODGY The Garage, London Saturday 22nd February 2014

The last date of the Spin Doctors three date UK visit re-arranged from last autumn. It was a decent turn out at the Garage, although the curse of the 10pm curfew to allow for the nightclub after badly hit openers … Continue reading

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Gig Review: DEL AMITRI, Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 7 February 2014

Del Amitri - 7 February 2014

12 years after splitting up, Del Amitri made a welcome return, reuniting for an extensive tour culminating in this sold out date before an appreciative Hammersmith crowd, albeit one with very few people who will see 40 again. Initially I … Continue reading

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Gig review: SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis There are many bands out there, claiming to play high velocity Thrash Metal, but only a handful can do so with the energy and conviction which characterise the legendary Brazilian quartet Sepultura. When Andreas Kisser … Continue reading

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Gig review: I AM I, Barfly, Camden, 23 January 2014

I AM I

Breaking a quiet January for gigs, the cramped surroundings of the Barfly was the London stop on a brief UK tour by I Am I, the new musical vehicle for former Dragonforce singer ZP Theart. As with many bills at … Continue reading

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Gig review: DUCKS DELUXE – Half Moon, Putney, London, 22 December 2013

Ducks Deluxe

Let me make myself abundantly clear: matinee gigs are not, have never been, and never will be, one of my favourite pastimes. Especially at Christmas, after two days spent reviewing other shows (at night as per usual), with all the … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE PRETTY THINGS – London, 100 Club, 21 December 2013

The brief was, I am led to believe, simple. “It’s a mod do,” promoter John Hellier had said to the band beforehand, “so keep it strictly Mod- all R’n’B, no psych.” Admittedly, that’s not how I’d have played it, but … Continue reading

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Gig review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 4 January 2014‏

The first time that I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra live, it turned out to be one of the musical highlights of the year for me. The year was 2011, the venue exactly the same as tonight (note: then called The Hammersmith … Continue reading

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Gig review: THERION – O2 Islington Academy, London, 20 December 2013‏

Arkona

Support Acts: Arkona Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis It was around the end of November that an acquaintance of mine asked me to name my favorite gig of the year to which my response was “It’s too early … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Roundhouse, London, 26 October 2013

The Boomtown Rats - Manchester, 1 November 2013

The amount of shows I’ve seen this year that I thought I never would is truly amazing: for every idol that dies, another seemingly resurrects themselves with unerring timing, as if suddenly aware that there may not be many such … Continue reading

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Gig review: STATUS QUO/10CC – 02 Arena, London, 15 December 2013

Status Quo - Liverpool, 6 December 2013

When GRTR!’s esteemed Live Editor Dave Wilson asked me to cover this show, I warned him that my review might be rather jaundiced, as I only recognised the original ‘Frantic Four’ line up as the real Quo. The annual Christmas … Continue reading

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Gig review: AIRBOURNE – HMV Forum, London,13 December 2013

Airbourne

Proving that the newer generation of bands are keeping classic rock alive and well, the Forum was packed to the rafters for this excellent value, if very diverse,  three band bill, headlined by the larger than life Australians who fill … Continue reading

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Gig Review: THE CRUNCH – Nambucca, London, 12 December 2013

The night didn’t start too well when we had to teach the barman how to pour a pint of real ale out of the hand pump. But the service, very much like the gig, improved dramatically over the next few … Continue reading

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Gig review: TOSELAND/Chrome Molly, Islington Academy 2, 11 December 2013

Rock and speed (on wheels, that is) are natural bedfellows, from heavy metal’s long association with motorbikes to the guitar dabblings of Formula 1 figures like Damon Hill and Eddie Jordan.  To be a success in both fields is as … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEATH ANGEL – London, The Underworld, 10 December 2013‏

Dew-Scented - London Underworld, 10 December 2013

Support Acts: Dew-Scented Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Five days on from the glorious Marduk/Grave show, I am back in The Underworld in Camden to see San Francisco Thrashers Death Angel, who are back in town, supporting their … Continue reading

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Gig review: PAPA ROACH – Brixton Academy, London,10 December 2013

The subtitle to this review should be ‘My daughter made me do it!’ as not only does she love Papa Roach but I have been tasked writing this review as she thinks she would be too biased! So here we … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARDUK – London, The Underworld, 5 December 2013‏

Death Wolf

Support Acts: Grave, Death Wolf, Valkyrja Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis With Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson being the top guy that he is and Marduk one of the most energy driven and high performance black metal bands around, one … Continue reading

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Gig review: NO SINNER – Black Heart, Camden, 25 November 2013

No Sinner - Black Heart, Camden, 25 November 2013

Many a significant rock career can trace its origins to shows in the back room of Camden’s various boozers so it was appropriate that hotly tipped Vancouver blues rockers No Sinner should have their UK showcase in one of the … Continue reading

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Gig review: AMON AMARTH – London, The Forum, 17 November 2013‏

Hell

Support Acts: Carcass, Bleed From Within, Hell Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Oh how times change! One thousand three hundred years ago, a ‘visit’ from the people of Scandinavia to these shores would have been accompanied by sheer terror and … Continue reading

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DVD Review: SPRINGSTEEN AND I

Springsteen & I

Eagle Vision [Release Date 28.10.2013] Bruce Springsteen is an artist who seems to inspire a unique awe and affection among his fans, so it somehow seems appropriate that he is the subject of a music film with a difference. Concert … Continue reading

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Gig review: MOTT THE HOOPLE – London O2 Arena,18 November 2013

Mott The Hoople - London O2 Arena, 18 November 2013

After a successful reunion tour back in 2009 Mott The Hoople where they only played in London, they were back for a UK tour culminating at the O2 Arena which had a very good turnout especially as it was a … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEPROUS – London, The Underworld, 9 November 2013‏

Support Acts: Blindead Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Emily Dgebuadze Two weeks or so ago I was contacted by Inside Out’s London PR rep about reviewing the upcoming London show of Norwegian Progressive Metal band Leprous. Up until … Continue reading

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Gig Review: CHRIS REA – Bluesfest, Royal Albert Hall, 31 October 2013

For my money, Chris Rea is a legend. So this won’t be the most objective review I’ve ever penned. I was a fan of his sometimes off-beat pop/soft rock gems of the ‘80’s like ‘Stainsby Girls’, ‘On The Beach’ and … Continue reading

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Gig review: WALTER TROUT – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 8 November 2013

Walter Trout’s most durable qualities are his intense guitar playing and his ever ready sense of humour. Both were in evidence at a packed Shepherd’s Bush Empire as he overcame his daunting health problems in front of his biggest London … Continue reading

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Gig review: PARADISE LOST, Lacuna Coil, Katatonia – London, The Roundhouse, 3 November 2013

My introduction to the chromatic world of Death Metal took place exactly twenty three years ago and one of the albums responsible for my immediate conversion was Paradise Lost’s debut “Lost Paradise”. It was not at all surprising, then, that … Continue reading

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