Yearly Archives: 2019

Album review: THE MEMBERS – Version

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 16.08.19] I can’t say I know a lot about punk rock mavericks The Members, beyond a vague recollection of their 1979 hit single ‘The Sound Of The Suburbs’, my allegiances back in the 1970′s being firmly … Continue reading →

Quick plays: VISIONATICA, ARDOURS

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

VISIONATICA Enigma Fire (Frontiers) [Release date 12.07.19] You have to ask yourself, on occasions, where has originality gone? Visionatica, a[nother] female fronted symphonic metal band, this time, from Nuremberg, failed to make much of a global ‘splash’ with their 2016 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ardours, Enigma Fire, goth, hard rock, Last Place On Earth, Mariangela Demurtas, review, symphonic metal, Tristania, Visionatica | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DUFFY & BIRD, DREW HOLCOMB, TIM GRIMM, BOB BRADSHAW, 3TIMES7

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

DUFFY & BIRD Spirit Level [Release date 20.09.19] You can’t go wrong with a voice and an acoustic guitar. That is, if you’ve a decent singer, a decent song, and decent player. It’s a formula as old as the hills. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 3Times7, acoustic, album, Americana, blues, blues rock, Bob Bradshaw, Dragons, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Duffy & Bird, Heart Land Again, Queen Of The West, Rain In Chicago, review, roots, singer songwriter, Spirit Level, Tim Grimm | Leave a comment

Album review: BERLIN – Transcendance

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 16.08.19] OK, hands up who can name a Berlin number other than ‘Take My Breath Away’? I certainly can’t, and I used to have a vinyl copy of their 1984 album Love Life. But to be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Berlin, pop rock, review, synth pop, Teri Nunn, Transcendance | Leave a comment

Gig review: PETER FRAMPTON – Red Rocks Amphitheater, Colorado, USA, 31 July 2019

Posted on August 20, 2019 by andynathan

2019 has been a year of the farewells of many of the legends of classic rock. Already this year, I’ve seen UFO, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kiss perform for (presumably) the final time in the UK and do their legacy proud. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 31 July 2019, Adam Lester, classic rock, Colorado, gig, Jason Bonham, Peter Frampton, Red Rocks Amphitheater, review, Rob Arthur | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – Backbone

Posted on August 20, 2019 by david.wilson

earMusic [Release date 06.09.19] On the release day of this album I will be avoiding social media at all costs. The luddites and trolls will be out in force to decry this album as a travesty and a slur on the Quo legacy, produced, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Backbone, blues, CD, EarMusic, Francis Rossi, Frantic Four, Leon Cave, review, Rhino Edwards, Rick Parfitt, Ritchie Malone, rock, Status Quo | Leave a comment

Gig review: RUNRIG – The Last Dance DVD World Premiere – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow – 17 August 2019

Posted on August 20, 2019 by david.wilson

Exactly one year ago to the day I and around 25,000 other Runrig fans descended on the City Park in my home town of Stirling to witness the band’s final show. After 45 years the guys had decided that retirement beckoned but not without one last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17th August 2018, 17th August 2019, Alba, Brian Hurren, Bruce Guthro, Callum McDonald, castle, City park, Donny Munro, DVD, folk, Glasgow, Ian Bain, live, Malcolm Jones, premiere, rock, Roddy Hart, Rory Mcdonald, Royal Concert Hall, Runrig, Scotland, Stirling, The Last Dance | Leave a comment

Album review: SUPERSONIC BLUES MACHINE – Road Chronicles: Live!

Posted on August 20, 2019 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 12.07.19] Supersonic Blues Machine ‘Road Chronicles: Live!’, is snapshot of an evolving band on one night at the end of a 10 date European run of dates, rather than the culmination of a lengthy tour as in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy F. Gibbons, blues, boogie, Fabrizio Grossi, funk, Kenny Aronoff, Kris Barras, Lance Lopez, review, Road Chronicles: Live!, rock, Serge Simic, soul, Supersonic Blues Machine | Leave a comment

EP review: LONELY DAKOTA – End Of Days

Posted on August 20, 2019 by jason

Facebook [Release date 18.06.19] When PR guff casually drops “southern rock” into a band’s bio, it usually has the catnip effect; this feverish desire to get under the hood and measure matters up against the greats of the genre. I … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged End Of Days, EP, Lonely Dakota, modern rock, Nickelback, review, rock, Shinedown | Leave a comment

Album review: DONNIE VIE – Beautiful Days

Posted on August 18, 2019 by jason

Deko Music [Release date 07.06.19] Former Enuff Z’Nuff vocalist Donnie Vie returns with a new album, his first in four years and a treat as it looked that after his last album, ‘The White Album’, he wasn’t overly keen on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Donnie Vie, Enuff Z'Nuff, Jellyfish, John Lennon, Joseph Manning Jr., melodic rock, Paul Gilbert, pop rock, power pop, review, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Gig review: CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL – Cherry Hinton Hall – 1-4 August 2019

Posted on August 18, 2019 by david.wilson

Beginning in 1965, once a year Cambridge Folk Festival transforms the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall into something a bit special. Cambridge Folk Festival is more than just the folk music. The festival pride themselves on hosting a diverse range of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1st August 2019, Amadou, Amy Montgomery, Bilnd Bos Of Alabama, Calexico, Cambridge Folk Festival, Cherry Hinton Hall, Daori Farrell, Dylan Menzies, Fairport Convention, folk, Foufalah, Graham Nash, Gruff Rhys, Jack Broadbent, Lucinda Williams, Marian, Nick Mulvey, Richard Thomson, Roo Panes, roots, Sarah Darling, The Unthanks | Leave a comment

Album review: MOB RULES – Beast Over Europe

Posted on August 17, 2019 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 13.09.19] Germany. Spiritual home of power metal. Influenced by British classic rock of early to mid 80s (think Saxon, Iron Maiden et al), the scene started in mid 80s mid Europe and it’s come a long way … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beast Over Europe, Klaus Dirks, live, melodic metal, metal, Mob Rules, power metal, review, SPV | Leave a comment

Album review: SLADE – Feel The Noize The Singlez Box

Posted on August 17, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 31.05.19] One for vinyl lovers, this box is, even at first view, an amazing package. With their roots in the late 60s, Slade found fame in the early 70s and were front runners in the UK Glam … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged box set, classic rock, Dave Hill, Feel The Noize The Singlez Box, glam rock, Jim Lea, Noddy Holder, review, Slade, vinyl singles | Leave a comment

Album review: RISE TWAIN – Rise Twain

Posted on August 15, 2019 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 06.09.19] Rise Twain are a new project featuring Brett William Kull (producer, audio engineer, and member of Echolyn, Grey Eye Glances, and Francis Dunnery’s New Progressives) and J.D. Beck (The Scenic Route, Beck-Fields, author & playwright). … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, atmospheric, Brett William Kull, Inside Out, JD Beck, progressive, review, Rise Twain, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: ELTON JOHN – Every Album, Every Song 1969 to 1979 (On Track) by Peter Kearns

Posted on August 15, 2019 by jason

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date 16.08.19] This book is nicely timed what with ‘Rocket Man’ recently being shown in cinemas and the DVD release in August, plus of course Elton John is currently on his worldwide farewell tour. The book covers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, Bernie Taupin, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Elton John, Every Album, Every Song 1969 to 1979, On Track, Peter Kearns, pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: EIGHTEENTH HOUR – Eighteenth Hour

Posted on August 15, 2019 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 23.08.19] Something a bit different on Escape Music, a label more associated with melodic rock and AOR, as Eighteenth Hour are modern rockers. This is the band’s seventh album and they have landed some prestigious support … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, Bon Jovi, Dave Zullo, Eighteenth Hour, Escape Music, guitarist, interview, melodic, modern rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DEAD DAISIES – Locked And Loaded

Posted on August 12, 2019 by jason

SPV [Release date 23.08.19] The Dead Daisies have been touring and recording since 2013 when David Lowy put the first line-up of the band together. Now, as the various current members of the band take a year out to concentrate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Covers, David Lowy, Dead daisies, Deep Purple, hard rock, John Corabi, review, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Album review: 25 YARD SCREAMER – Natural Satellite

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

White Knight [Release 08.08.19] 25 Yard Screamer might be like the proverbial curate’s egg – very good in patches. The Welsh prog rockers have been toiling now for the best part of a decade, first achieving GRTR! seal of approval … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 25 Yard Screamer, album, Natural Satellite, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed | Leave a comment

Album review: THE IDES OF MARCH – Play On (55th Anniversary)

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

IOM Records/Wienerworld [Release date 16.08.19] I am old enough to remember when ‘Vehicle’ by The Ides Of March was a radio hit back in 1970. It was a slice of jazz rock that chimed with other brass-led rockers of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 55th Anniversary, album, classic rock, Jazz rock, Jim Peterik, Play On, review, The Ides Of March | Leave a comment

Album review: MONKEY HOUSE – Friday

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Alma Records [Release date 02.08.19] Monkey House are flying the flag for Steely Dan and the best we can say is that ‘Friday’ could have been an album of Steely out-takes. Given that Walter Becker died in 2017 and with … Continue reading →

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Album review: VARIOUS – Come On Let’s Go! (Power Pop Gems from the 70s and 80s)

Posted on August 12, 2019 by jason

Big Beat/Ace [Release date 26.07.19] Every few years a label attempts a new “Power Pop” collection, and this time it’s the turn of Ace Records via their Big Beat imprint. Dave Burke presents an impressive selection of 70′s and 80′s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Star, Come On Let’s Go!, compilation, Flamin’ Groovies, pop rock, power pop, Raspberries, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE KENTISH SPIRES – Sprezzatura

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

White Knight [Release date 08.08.19] The Kentish Spires debut – The Last Harvest – released just 12 months ago only narrowly missed out, to Laura Meade, as my album of 2018, so the band’s ‘quick fire’ turnaround with their follow-up … Continue reading →

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Album review: MISS VELVET & THE BLUE WOLF Feat. GEORGE CLINTON – Feed The Wolf

Posted on August 11, 2019 by jason

Isotopia Records [Release date 23.08.19] In the nicest possible way, the first word that comes to mind as ‘Super Bon Bon’ the opening track of ‘Feed The Wolf’ unfolds is “sweaty”. Miss Velvet & The Blue Wolf’s second album feels … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Feed The Wolf, funk, George Clinton, Living Colour, Miss Velvet & the Blue Wolf, Parliament Funkadelic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds

Posted on August 10, 2019 by jason

Phil Lanzon Ditties/Cargo Records UK [Release date 02.08.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s ‘If You Think I’m Crazy’ Uriah Heep’s keyboards player Phil Lanzon is back with another solo album, which again sees him working with producer Simon … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, big band, classic rock, Grand Prix, John Mitchell, keyboards, melodic rock, Mick O'Donohue, Miriam Grey, Phil Lanzon, pomp rock, review, Richard Cottle, Simon Hanhart, Uriah Heep | 2 Comments

Album Review: BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen: In The Next Life

Posted on August 9, 2019 by alanjones

Frontiers Music [Release date: 12.07.2019] The prolific Mr Sherwood is a busy man. Not only is he now ensconced as bass player in the ever-revolving door of personnel that is Yes and also as the wonderful John Wetton’s replacement in … Continue reading →