BEGGARS & THIEVES – We Are The Broken Hearted


One of a number of excellent melodic hard rock bands who had
the misfortune to release and promote their debut albums just as the tide was
beginning to turn in favour of grunge, Beggars and Thieves re-emerged from obscurity
with a performance which was one of the pleasant surprises of Firefest 2010,
and building on that revival of interest, have now recorded their first album
in well over a decade.

A health warning is in order, that this is not overtly commercial
melodic rock, with effort put into less obvious soundscapes and textures.  While the crystal precision of Louie
Merlino’s vocal tones invite comparisons with bands like Diving for Pearls or
Tall Stories, I detected something Jimmy Page inspired in  guitarist Ronnie Mancuso’s sounds, whether
with some 12 string guitar passages or an Eastern feel in places. Another
influence from outside the melodic rock mainstream is U2, particularly with
some choppy guitar sounds on Innocence and Midnight Blue, which are two of the
more straight ahead rockers on offer.

Despite a stirring opener in We Come Undone, at times the
first part of the album loses focus in places, but the second half has the
stronger hooks, beginning with Seven Seconds, while on Stranded and the slow
number Wash Away with its gospel-influenced chorus, Louie sounds a tad like modern
day Jon Bon Jovi .

Unlike many albums in this genre which are pure instant
fixes, this is a quality piece of work which you need to cultivate and tender,
but will be worth the effort.   

Andy Nathan


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 14 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 9 April 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 29 April 2024

BRIGITTE PURDY Sugar Fried Candy (Dirtshack Records)
ATTIC THEORY The Legacy (indie)
THE HOWLERS I Need Your Love (indie)
VELVETEEN QUEEN Bad Reputation (indie)
WILLS AND THE WILLING Scuffed Knees (Smash & Grab Music Ltd)
READY THE PRINCE Still Believe (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 29 April 2024

09:00-12:00 PRAYING MANTIS Defiance (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


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