Yearly Archives: 2016

Gig review: FM – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 19 November 2016

FM - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 19 November 2016

Since reforming a few years ago, Britain’s premier homegrown melodic rockers FM have steered a delicate balance between moving forward and looking backwards. The new line up with Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar has perhaps been the best in their history, … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Best of 2016 announced Monday 28 November – top albums, live acts

Thunder - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 23 July 2016

On Monday 28 November, Get Ready to ROCK! announces their Best Of 2016 selections for Top Albums and Top Live Acts. Since 2003 the popular rock website has published an end of year round-up reflecting the reviews published throughout the … Continue reading

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Album review: PRETTY MAIDS – Kingmaker

PRETTY MAIDS – Kingmaker

Frontiers Records [Release date 04.11.16] “Kingmaker” is Pretty Maids’ 15th studio album if you include 2014’s superb “Louder Than Ever” which contained re-recordings of old tunes plus 4 newbies and it continues their run of high quality releases. The Danish … Continue reading

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Gig review: BETH HART/Colin James – Royal Festival Hall, London, 23 November 2016

BETH HART/Colin James – Royal Festival Hall, London, 23 November 2016

It isn’t just her remarkable voice and emotive songs, let alone her vivacious stage presence that marks Beth Hart out as special, it’s much more than that. She’s a force of nature and a previously troubled soul who has dragged … Continue reading

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Album review: GUS MONSANTO – Karma Cafe

GUS MONSANTO - Karma Cafe

[Release date 05.09.16] Brazilian Gus Monsanto may not be a household name in terms of wider rock recognition, but since at least 2004 his name has cropped up repeatedly on other people’s albums, mainly metal-related.  He’s worked with French band … Continue reading

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Album review: PYMLICO – Meeting Point

PYMLICO - Meeting Point

Apollon Records [Release date 07.10.16] We’ve had an obsession with all things Scandinavian in recent years and the fourth album from Norwegian instrumentalists Pymlico contributes to this Nordic sense of intrigue. Wholly instrumental, prog/jazz fusion in approach, the band is … Continue reading

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Album review: KAIPA DA CAPO – Darskapens Monotoni

KAIPA DA CAPO - Darskapens Monotoni

Foxtrot Records [Release date: 30.09.16] For all those progressive rock diehards out there who think that there has not been one note of music of any consequence written since the early seventies – prick up your ears, all your birthdays … Continue reading

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Album review: KEE MARCELLO – Scaling Up

KEE MARCELLO - Scaling Up

Frontiers [Release Date 14.10.16] Guitarist with Europe in their commercial heyday first time round, Kee Marcello’s solo career to date has been an unspectacular one, and even his otherwise enjoyable live shows made me inclined to check out his own … Continue reading

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Quick plays: CIVIL WAR, STRATOVARIUS

CIVIL WAR The Last Full Measur

CIVIL WAR The Last Full Measure Napalm Records [Release date 04.11.16] Civil War are back with a swift follow up to last year’s enjoyable ‘Gods And Generals’ release. They have trimmed down in size now down to two guitarists following … Continue reading

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DVD review: IGGY POP – Post Pop Depression Live at The Royal Albert Hall

IGGY POP - Post Pop Depression Live at The Royal Albert Hall

Do you ever watch a DVD of a gig and think ‘I wish I’d been there’? Filmed in support of Pop’s recent, and 17th, solo album ‘Post Pop Depression’ and featuring a band comprising of  Josh Homme (who co-wrote and … Continue reading

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Album review: ELECTRIC SIX – Fresh Blood For Tired Vampyres

ELECTRIC SIX – Fresh Blood For Tired Vampyres

Metropolis Records [Release date 07.10.16] American oddballs Electric Six are back with their 12th album in as many years…the strangely titled “Fresh Blood for Tired Vampyres”. To be honest I didn’t know they were still active and only remember them … Continue reading

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Album review: CURVED AIR – Rarities Series Volume 2 – Curved Space and Infinity

CURVED AIR - Rarities Series Volume 2 - Curved Space and Infinity

Curved Air Records [Release date 04.11.16] 2-CD Volume 2 of a continuing series bring together a “then and now” of one of our treasured prog/psych bands.  The first disc accommodates 1990s recordings with Francis Monkman on guitar and which evolved … Continue reading

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Gig review: EUROPE – The Roundhouse, London, 12 November 2016

EUROPE - The Roundhouse, London, 12 November 2016

While 2016 has seen the British public vote for Brexit, exactly 30 years ago they were taking Europe to their hearts. Not Eurocrats in Brussels or parliamentarians in Strasbourg, but five fresh-faced Swedes with luxuriant long hair and toothy smiles … Continue reading

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Gig review: THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 14 November 2016

THORBJORN RISAGER THE BLACK TORNADO – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 14 November 2016

Just like their viking history, Danish bues-rockers Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado came, saw, conquered by funking up the house with a high energy show that breathes fresh life into the big band blues review format. With a name … Continue reading

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Album review: HARDLINE – Human Nature

HARDLINE – Human Nature

Frontiers Records [Release date 04.10.16] Former super-group Hardline return with their 5th studio album “Human Nature” following on from 2012’s “Danger Zone”. Vocalist Johnny Gioeli and brother Joey formed Hardline on LA’s sunset strip back in 1991 and they found … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MUTANTS – Your Desert My Mind

THE MUTANTS – Your Desert My Mind

Killer Tracks [Release date 23.09.16] Fortified by a mission statement that reads: “The Mutants take to the underworld to plot and scheme with their network of punks, hippies, dandies, rude boys, lowlifes and degenerates to hatch a diabolical plan to … Continue reading

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News: DAN REED (Dan Reed Network) swings at golf club – Lymm Golf Club, 3 December 2016

DAN REED NETWORK - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2016

In a rare UK trio performance, Dan Reed will be playing a gig at the Lymm Golf Club, Cheshire on Saturday 3 December. This will round off a year when he and the Dan Reed Network (DRN) released their first … Continue reading

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Album review: HEART – Live At The Royal Albert Hall

HEART - Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Eagle Records [Release date 25.11.16] CD/DVD/Bluray Call me Mr. Cynical.  Heart announced their first UK dates since 2004 and we all waited in eager anticipation.  Come the actual tour, we saw them in Manchester and noted the criminally short one … Continue reading

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Gig review: GRAHAM BONNET – Boston Music Rooms, London, 8 November 2016

GRAHAM BONNET- Boston Music Rooms, London, 8 November 2016

Graham Bonnet has always been one of rock’s most singular characters. The man with the short hair, Hawaiian shirts and musical background far removed from your traditional metal belter who gave Rainbow their commercial breakthrough. The man whose self-destructive tendencies … Continue reading

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Gig review: IAMTHEMORNING, Tim Bowness – Bush Hall, London, 14 November 2016

IAMTHEMORNING, Tim Bowness - Bush Hall, London, 14 November 2016

On a unique collaborative evening broken into two halves, Tim Bowness was first to take the stage with his merry band of musicians. Bowness, one half of No-Man (the other being prog legend Steven Wilson) was tonight showcasing his work … Continue reading

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Gig review: 3 DOORS DOWN – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 6 November 2016

 3 DOORS DOWN - Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 6 November 2016

Enormous in their native USA since the turn of the millennium, 3 Doors Down have a low public profile in the UK, perhaps befitting a band whose everyday anonymity is one of their virtues. Yet a near sell out at … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (September-November 2016)

The Best of 2016

Albums of the Month (2016) September 2016 KISSIN’ DYNAMITE Generation Goodbye (AFM Records) …well played, well produced with well written, extremely catchy (but a little quirky) tunes…These guys don’t seem to know how to write a bad song! Kissin’ Dynamite … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (May-August 2016)

The Best of 2016

Albums of the Month (2016) Every month we publish our Newsletter which signposts latest additions to the website(s) and flagging up forthcoming tours and gigs.  We also include a selection of the month’s best albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (February-April 2016)

The Best of 2016

Albums of the Month (2016) Every month we publish our Newsletter which signposts latest additions to the website(s) and flagging up forthcoming tours and gigs.  We also include a selection of the month’s best albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. … Continue reading

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Gig review: DELAIN, Evergrey – O2 Ritz, Manchester, 12 November 2016

DELAIN - O2 Ritz, Manchester, 12 November 2016

In May 2013, David Randall chatted to Charlotte Wessels at the time of the release of their first mini-album for Napalm Records,  ‘Interlude’.  Their chat includes references to the early development of the band, the split from the Roadrunner label, … Continue reading

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