Monthly Archives: March 2015

Album review: SOMETHING CLEVER – Season of Darkness

Something Clever

[Released 17.03.15] Something Clever is a band out of Charlotte, NC. They’ve been around a couple years now and have slowly moved from an alt rock sound to more of a modern hard rock/metal outfit. They’ve been on my radar … Continue reading

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Album review: ARCHER – Culling The Weak

Archer - Culling The Weak

[Released 05.05.15] Sometimes a band comes around that just offers an interpretation of a sound that is tried and true and make it all their own. Catching Archer on stage opening for German metal legend Doro, I got the chance … Continue reading

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Album review: ROBIN GEORGE – Dangerous Music II

Robin George - Dangerous Music II

Angel Air [Released 06.04.15] www.angelair.co.uk This album is the follow-up to Robin George’s hit album ‘Dangerous Music’ and it was meant to be released back in 1986. However his then management company went to market and because of the success … Continue reading

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Album review: GILLAN – The Albums Collection

GILLAN - The Albums Collection

Edsel [Release date 16.03.15] Boxed set, limited edition, 6-disc It is evident from these albums that singer Ian Gillan had an amazing band that, for whatever reasons, worked incredibly well.  Several top 10 albums and singles for a start.  As … Continue reading

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Gig review: ECLIPSE, TAINTED NATION, REACH – Camden Underworld, London, 10 March 2015

ECLIPSE, TAINTED NATION, REACH - Camden Underworld, London, 10 March 2015

For the second time in three days the Camden Underworld played host to a value triple bill of three up and coming melodic rock bands, on this occasion with home grown meat in a Swedish sandwich (or smorgasbord perhaps?) However, the … Continue reading

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News: MIKE PORCARO, DAEVID ALLEN, KISS – Sunday 15 March 2015

Dan Reed - Liverpool, 13 March 2013

RIP – Toto’s Mike Porcaro who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was bass player in Toto between 1982–2008/2010–2015. In recent years he did not tour due to his illness and the band reformed in 2010 to help raise funds for … Continue reading

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Album review: THE SWEET – New York Groove Plus

The Sweet - New York Groove Plus

Angel Air [Release date 06.04.15] www.angelair.co.uk This is a full release of the 2012 album previously available directly from the band and this version adds three bonus songs. The current line-up of the Sweet consists of original member guitarist Andy … Continue reading

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Gig review: SICK OF IT ALL – Sound Control, Manchester, 5 February 2015

SICK OF IT ALL - Sound Control, Manchester, 5 February 2015

Headliners Sick Of It All are Lou, Pete Koller (guitar), Craig Setari (bass) and Armand Majidi (drums) and have been around the scene since 1986.  While having plenty of success they may not be known to many outside of the … Continue reading

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Album review: IAN DURY/& THE BLOCKHEADS – Reissues

Ian Dury - New Boots And Panties!!

Edsel [Release date 02.03.15] To most, Ian Dury will always be remembered as the cheeky chappy who – in 1978 – had a massive hit with ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’. Dury’s Blockhead-related albums are now collected and re-formatted … Continue reading

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Gig review: NIGHT RANGER – Islington Academy, 12 March 2015

NIGHT RANGER - Islington Academy, 12 March 2015

Once something of a holy grail for UK rock fans, Night Ranger visits are now regular on these shores – well London anyway. This was their third trip since 2011 but the band’s stock is high at the moment, last … Continue reading

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Gig review: EUROPE, BLACK STAR RIDERS – Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

EUROPE - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

I am still not convinced that two- or three-way bills are the best way forward for some of our premier bands.  The last time I saw Europe was a three-way with FM and Foreigner and notwithstanding poor sound (for the … Continue reading

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EP review: BULLETPROOF ROSE – Loud Hard Fast

Bulletproof Rose

Self Release  [Release date 27.04.15] If you are looking for some real feel good rock you could do a lot worse than to spin the debut EP, ‘Loud Hard Fast’, by Cumbrian rock band, Bullletproof Rose. Not the most original … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUN – Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, 10 March 2015

GUN – Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, 10 March 2015

Tonight was the first show of a short showcase tour for Gun’s new album ‘Frantic’ which is set for release on the 23rd March, a review of which can be found elsewhere on GRTR! The show was a Planet Rock … Continue reading

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Gig review: KING KING – The Globe, Cardiff, 8 March 2015

King King - The Globe, Cardiff, 8 March 2015

A Sunday night can be a tricky one for any gig but thankfully  the fans came out in their droves for an almost full house at The Globe in what I can only describe as a masterclass in musicianship.  This … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEVELLERS – Opera House, Buxton, 5 March 2015

Levellers - Buxton Opera House, 5 March 2015

Walking up to the majestic Buxton Opera House it was noticeable that the crusty old tour vans of years gone by have been replaced by posh tour coaches but were Levellers still true to their roots?  Well tonight we were … Continue reading

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Gig review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Alexanders, Chester, 12 March 2015

Eleanor McEvoy - Alexanders, Chester, 12 March 2015

Ten years ago we asked Eleanor McEvoy if she would continue in “acoustic” mode for the foreseeable future and whether she would ever consider going back to the more ‘electric’ format that she followed in the mid to late 1990s.  … Continue reading

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Album review: CREPUSCULE – Vivv

Crepuscule - Vivv

Self-released – Release Date: 18 July 2014 This is definitely an album of despites. Despite having a name that sounds like a pustulent sore, despite having a cover that Slipknot might well have found too scary and despite the entire … Continue reading

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Album review: RICK SPRINGFIELD – Stripped Down

Rick Springfield - Stripped Down

Loud and Proud Records/ear Music [Released 09.03.15] CD/DVD Rick Springfield is amazingly 65 years old having started in the music business back in the late 1960′s. He certainly doesn’t look his age and when you watch the DVD the predominately … Continue reading

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News: MARK SLAUGHTER, KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, MICHAEL MONROE – Wednesday 11 March 2015

Mark Slaughter, of Slaughter fame, releases his solo album ‘Reflections In A Rear View Mirror’ on May 22nd on Escape Music. The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band release an EP entitled ‘A Little Something From The Road, Vol.1′ on limited edition … Continue reading

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Album review: GUN – Frantic

Gun - Frantic

Morsecode Records [Release date – 23.03.15] Gun have been serving up their brand of pop tinged rock for the last twenty odd years and since their reformation in 2012 the guys have proved that there is still life in the … Continue reading

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Album review: KRISSY MATTHEWS – Scenes From A Moving Window

Promise [Released 02.03.15] ‘Scenes From a Moving Window’ finds young guitar slinger Krissy Matthews teaming up with former Cream lyricist and esteemed producer Pete Brown to great effect. This is the 22 year old’s 4th album and it’s a notable … Continue reading

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Album review: SIMPLE MINDS – Sparkle In The Rain (box set)

SIMPLE MINDS - Sparkle In The Rain (box set)

Universal [Release date 16.03.15] 5-disc box set If New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) marked the beginning of Simple Minds departure from their new waves roots, Sparkle In The Rain – their 6th album, released in 1984 and produced by Steve Lillywhite … Continue reading

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Album review: ALICE DiMICELE – Swim

ALICE DiMICELE - Swim

Alice Otter Music [Release date 04.05.15] www.alicedimicele.com It comes as little surprise that Alice DiMicele has been on the scene for almost 30 years as her sound – described as ‘groove folk’ and ‘acoustic soul’ -  echoes back to Joni … Continue reading

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EP review: CONSIDER the SOURCE – World War Trio (Part1)

CONSIDER the SOURCE – World War Trio EP (Part1)

Self Release [Release date 09.02.15] The thing about both prog rock and avant garde music in general is that sometimes it’s best not to take it too seriously. Look no further than Focus for an example of a band capable … Continue reading

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Gig review: WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED – Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED - Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

March is now an even busier month in the gig calendar with bands fitting mini tours around the Hard Rock Hell United extravaganza in North Wales, and this was a welcome London showcase for three of the current generation of … Continue reading

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