Monthly Archives: March 2015

Album review: ANNABELLE CHVOSTEK – Be The Media

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
ANABELLE CHVOSTEK - Be The Media

Those expecting a folk roots album from former Wailin’ Jenny singer songwriter Annabelle Chvostek can think again. After releasing two albums on Canada’s most foremost folk label Chvostek has gone back to her independent roots, picking up a 1957 Kay … Continue reading →

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Album review: PISTOLS & VULTURES – Seven

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
PISTOLS & VULTURES - Seven

It’s rare that a PR blurb says so little, and it takes some digging to discover that Pistols & Vultures are an Ipswich/Colchester based ‘alternative’ rock band formed in 2009 whilst Carnell Cook: (vocals), Alex Green (guitars, bass, percussion and … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE PRETENDERS – Reissues (Box set)

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Pretenders

Edsel [Release date 16.02.15] ‘Icon’ is an overused word in the entertainment industry.  But not so in the case of Chrissie Hynde the driving force behind, and in all but name, The Pretenders – one of the most successful bands … Continue reading →

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Interview: TOMMY DENANDER

Posted on March 31, 2015 by jason

Guitarist/songwriter/producer Tommy Denander is a busy man with Radioactive about to release their first new album in over ten years ‘F4ur’ on Escape Music. This features a stellar cast of melodic rock vocalists including the late, great Jimi Jamison, Jeff … Continue reading →

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Album review: LESOIR – Luctor Et Emergo

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
LESOIR - Luctor Et Emergo

The PR blurb for their latest release would have you believe Transience received rave reviews beyond their homeland.  If that’s true, they’re well hidden from Google’s search engine. The sessions for Luctor Et Emergo sees the band (Maartje Meessen – … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY, DANNY SCHMIDT

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One

NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One You might well ask why GRTR! is reviewing a Celtic / Breton fiddle album? And it would be a reasonable question to ask.  But there are ‘rock’ connections.  Firstly, one half of the main … Continue reading →

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Gig review – THE BLACKOUT – The Garage, Glasgow, 26 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by david.wilson
THE BLACKOUT – The Garage, Glasgow, 26 March 2015

The music business is a fickle world. A couple of years ago I had a chat pre-gig in Edinburgh with Gavin Butler about the band’s then new release, the album ‘Start The Party’, and the band’s upcoming festival dates at … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE WHO – 02 Arena, London, 22 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by andynathan
THE WHO - 02 Arena, London, 22 March 2015

The Who may have at least half failed in their mission statement to die before they got old, but a 50th anniversary is an extraordinary achievement. So it is a good moment to reflect on what a seminal band they … Continue reading →

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Gig review: EUROPE, BLACK STAR RIDERS – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 20 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by andynathan
BLACK STAR RIDERS - Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 20 March 2015

A co-headlining double bill of two of classic rock’s most currently prolific touring bands, both with new albums to promote, sounds like a value package made in heaven. However there were grumbles earlier on the Black Star Riders and Europe … Continue reading →

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News: SLASH, GINGER WILDHEART, MOONSPELL – Monday 30 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by jason

Genesis release ‘Genesis: 1983–1998’ vinyl box set on May 11th on Universal. Room Experience (who feature Pink Cream 69′s vocalist David Readman) release their self-titled album on Melodic Rock Records on May 22nd. Slash releases ‘Live at the Roxy 25.9.14′ … Continue reading →

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Gig review: ROBIN TROWER – The Lowry, Salford, 29 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
ROBIN TROWER - The Lowry, Salford, 29 March 2015

Forty years might separate Robin Trower’s biggest success and Joanne Shaw Taylor’s latest album, but both tap into that deep vein of soulful, heart-felt blues rock.  Only this month Trower has become a fully certified elder statesman of rock, celebrating … Continue reading →

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Album review: STEVE ROTHERY – The Ghosts Of Pripyat

Posted on March 30, 2015 by alanjones
STEVE ROTHERY - The Ghosts Of Pripyat

Self-released  -  [Release date 02.02.15] What’s a reviewer supposed to do when confronted by perfection? Our whole raison d’être here at GRTR! is to give an opinion that informs the reader; (a) whether the music being reviewed is worth a … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE STRANGLERS – The Roundhouse, London, 6 March 2015

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Davoski

The Membranes opened up with a 20 minute set of good humoured, post-punk anarchy. John Robb on bass and lead vocals is a great front man with plenty to say. ‘Spike Milligan’s Tape Recorder’, a minor hit from the mid … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: THE GENTLE STORM, WINDSOR DRIVE, FINLAY MORTON

Posted on March 29, 2015 by jason

THE GENTLE STORM – The Diary Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 23.03.15] A new name but a very experienced duo behind the name, namely Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon fame and Anneke van Giersbergen, the former Gathering vocalist and last seen on … Continue reading →

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Rock Stars: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD interview (March 2015)

Posted on March 29, 2015 by petefeenstra
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - O2 Shepherd

Kenny Wayne Shepherd cut his first demo at 14. He formed his first band and started gigging at 15 and by 16 years old he signed his first record deal. He’s celebrated 20 years as a recording artist, been nominated … Continue reading →

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Album Review: EMPIRES OF EDEN – Architect Of Hope

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Phil Berisford

MelodicRock Records [release date 09.03.15] Empires Of Eden is the brainchild of Australian guitarist Stu Marshall who currently trades his wares alongside the mighty Ross The Boss in Death Dealer and “Empires of Eden” is the follow up to 2012’s … Continue reading →

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Album reviews:THE DARKER MY HORIZON – Acquiesce

Posted on March 29, 2015 by jason
THE DARKER MY HORIZON - Acquiesce

www.thedarkermyhorizon.com [Released 23.03.15] A new band maybe, but they feature two former members of Sacred Heart in vocalist/guitarist Paul Stead and guitarist Mark Stephenson. Former Crimes Of Passion bassist Simon Fearn and drummer Gavin Tester round out the line-up. One … Continue reading →

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Interview: THE CRUNCH (March 2015)

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Davoski

The Crunch play a compelling brand of punk-infused power rock and power pop, drawing on all their years of collective experience in bands such as The Clash, Cockney Rejects, Sham 69, Lords Of The New Church and Diamond Dogs. Sulo … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE CRUNCH & JOE STRUMMER TRIBUTE BAND – KOKO, London, 25 March 2015

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Davoski

This was part of Koko’s occasional Rock ‘n’ Roll Cinema series, tonight featuring the biopic of Joe Strummer’s Spanish sojourn in the mid-80’s: ‘I Need a Dodge – Joe Strummer on the Run’. And all the stops had been pulled … Continue reading →

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Gig review: HAMMERFEST VII – Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 3)

Posted on March 29, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
HAMMERFEST - Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 3)

Day 3 Despite two hard days of partying the wasted souls came out to play early today and made it for the first band on the Stoner stage.  At every festival you can usually find a new band that really … Continue reading →

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Gig review: HAMMERFEST VII – Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 2)

Posted on March 28, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Kamelot, HAMMERFEST - Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 2)

Day 2 Friday starts with a much drier morning with a bit of sun to burn those retinas open, also no doubt some massive hangovers as the over-indulgent among us get over their first night adrenaline/drinking sessions.  Theycan be no … Continue reading →

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EP review: BLUEMINDED – Blueminded

Posted on March 28, 2015 by alanjones
Blueminded

Self-released  [Release date: April 2014] Blueminded describe themselves as a ‘poprockband’ but really they are doing themselves a disservice as this debut EP definitely has a vein of progressive rock weaving its way through the four tracks on offer here. … Continue reading →

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Gig review: HAMMERFEST VII – Pwllheli, Wales, 12 March 2015 (Day 1)

Posted on March 28, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
HAMMERFEST - Pwllheli, Wales, 12 March 2015 (Day 1)

So once again it’s time for the Pirate hordes to invade and take over the Hafan-Y-Mor site and by the amount of water falling out of the sky arriving on the Black Pearl wouldn’t have been out of place. This … Continue reading →

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Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON – Ritz, Manchester, 18 March 2015

Posted on March 28, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Wilko Johnson, Giants Of Rock - 9 February 2014

For the second time in as many years I have the pleasure of watching a show by Wilko Johnson, by now I’m sure everyone knows of his incredible journey in the past two years which has taken him from being … Continue reading →

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Gig review: KAMELOT – O2 Islington Academy, London, 14 March 2015

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Yiannis
KAMELOT – O2 Academy Islington, London, 14 March 2015

Support Acts: Gus G, Skarlett Riot. Four years ago, Progressive/Symphonic Power Metallers Kamelot witnessed the departure from their ranks of Roy Khan – their charismatic and imposing frontman who, during his fourteen year tenure with the band, helped bring to … Continue reading →

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