Monthly Archives: June 2020

Album review: KANSAS – The Absence of Presence

Posted on June 30, 2020 by andynathan

Inside Out Records [Release Date 17.07.20] Kansas are an object lesson in regeneration and renewal for veteran bands. Having been around since 1974, many feared for their future when lead singer Steve Walsh retired in 2014, but continuing with a … Continue reading →

Album review: PAUL KANTNER, GRACE SLICK & DAVID FREIBERG – Baron Von Tollboth And The Chrome Nun

Posted on June 30, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 27.3.20] By the early ’70s, a plethora of side projects accompanied the gentle coming-to-earth of Jefferson Airplane. A banner for socially-conscious psych-spiked folk rock, the San Franciscan ensemble was unassembling, its members distracted, often by themselves, and … Continue reading →

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CHESTER KAMEN AND THE LOVES – Americanized

Posted on June 30, 2020 by jason

CHESTER KAMEN & THE LOVES - Americanized

Stoney Records [Release date 03.07.20] In another era Chester Kamen and the Loves might have shifted a ton of copies. They somehow evoke the days of New Wave/Punk, coming across like early Talking Heads, like the Buzzcocks, Eddie and the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americanized, Buzzcocks, Chester Kamen and the Loves, melodic, New Wave, Paul McArtney, punk pop, review, rock, Roger Waters | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to STEVE HACKETT

Posted on June 29, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Steve Hackett Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 7th May 2017 photo Steve Goudie 27

Alan Jones and David Randall chart the rise and revival of progmeister par excellence, Steve Hackett When we reviewed the Steve Hackett gig in October 2013 following the release of the second Genesis Revisited album, Pete Whalley summed things up. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged discography, feature, Genesis, guide, interview, introduction, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Iheart Radio Theater NYC 2012

Posted on June 27, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 08.05.20] An invited audience of 200 lucky fans saw Blue Oyster Cult live on stage at the IHeart Radio Theater in New York in 2012. The event noisily celebrated the band’s 40th year together, expertly recorded by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Eric Bloom, Frontiers, hard rock, heavy metal, Iheart Radio Theater NYC 2012, live, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: EBBA BERGKVIST & THE FLAT TIRE BAND – Spilt Milk

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 29.05.20] The debut album from Ebba Bergkvist & The Flat Tire Band – a Stockholm based, blues rock band featuring Ebba Bergkvist (vocals, guitar), Adam Randolph (drums), Erik Edgren (guitar)and Björn Korning (bass) – offers a bewildering smogasboard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, Ebba Bergkvist & The Flat Tire Band, review, rock, roots, Spilt Milk | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDERMOTHER – Heat Wave

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

AFM Records [Release date 31.07.20] Heat Wave – Thundermother’s fourth album – finds the no frills, all-female, Swedish, rock ‘n’ raunchers still in line-up transition. With all bar founder member/guitarist/songwriter Filippa Nässil quitting the band after touring their 2015 sophomore … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Heat Wave, review, Sweden, Thundermother | Leave a comment

Album review: LARKIN POE – Self Made Man

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Tricki-Woo Records [Release date 12.06.20] Atlanta-bred, Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist Lovell sisters Rebecca and Megan have never been less than prolific, passing through folk, and then pop before alighting on the pop meets American South roots based format they debuted on Peach … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, Larkin Poe, review, roots, Self Made Man | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGENTA – Masters Of Illusion

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Tigermoth [Release date 10.07.20] It seems a while since Magenta’s last studio release – We Are Legend (2017), and much as I enjoyed it, I have to confess it isn’t an album I’ve felt overly inclined to revisit at regular … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hammer, horror, John Mitchell, Magenta, Masters Of Illusion, Peter Jones, prog, prog rock, progressive, review, Rob Reed, Troy Donockley | Leave a comment

Album review: SHRED KELLY – Like A Rising Sun

Posted on June 27, 2020 by jason

Devil Duck Records [Release date 03.07.20] Where do these excellent bands keep appearing from? Shred Kelly are another one, a five piece alt folk rock band (and not a speed metal band as their name may suggest) hailing from Canada … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt folk, folk, folk rock, Like A Rising Sun, melodic, pop rock, review, Shred Kelly | Leave a comment

EP review: COUNCIL, MARISA AND THE MOTHS

Posted on June 27, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 23.06.20] Council is made up of 3 brothers and they are based out of NYC now. They have gone the organic route by building up a fan base by interacting with them, playing plenty of live shows … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged acoustic, Bastille, Council, electronica, EP, Get Numb, Imagine Dragons, Marisa And The Moths, melodic, modern rock, pop, review, rock, Stripped | Leave a comment

Album review: SMACKBOUND – 20/20

Posted on June 24, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.06.20] Finland’s Smackbound paid their dues playing clubs as a covers’ band. Their debut album, “20/20” is a distillation of all the styles and stuff they performed on stage…with added songwriting. And the songwriting shines brightly. It … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 20/20, album, debut, Frontiers, melodic metal, metal, review, Smackbound, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: MANDOKI SOULMATES – Living In The Gap/Hungarian Pictures

Posted on June 24, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Red Rock Production/Cleopatra Records [Release date 06.20] 2-CD Reviewing in the millennium means that we miss out on previous decades’ lavish PR packages. If we are lucky these days we get a 320kbps download. The arrival of the re-promoted Mandoki … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Di Meola, album, Bobby Kimball, Chris Thompson, fusion, Hungarian Pictures, Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, Jazz rock, John Helliwell. Leslie Mandoki, Living In The Gap, Mandoki Soulmates, Mike Stern, prog, progressive, Randy Brecker, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SOLITUDE WITHIN – Disappear

Posted on June 23, 2020 by jason

The European metal scene has never been healthier, as each week reveals more and more bands to fall in love with. Belgium Symphonic rockers Solitude Within can rightly stake their claim as part of the leading pack with their 2017 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, Disappear, epic metal, melodic, melodic metal, metal, review, Solitude Within, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: PINNACLE POINT – Symphony Of Mind

Posted on June 21, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 17.07.20] Pinnacle Point released their debut album ‘Winds Of Change’ back in 2017 and the band features vocalist Jerome Mazza (Angelica, Outlaw Son, Steve Walsh) and guitarist Torben Enevoldsen (Fate, Acacia Avenue, Section A). They are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ANGELICA, Jerome Mazza, Kansas, melodic rock, Pinnacle Point, prog rock, review, Steve Walsh, Symphony Of Mind | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ELECTRIC MOB, CHESTER KAMEN AND THE LOVES, DOHNY JEP

Posted on June 20, 2020 by jason

ELECTRIC MOB Discharge Frontiers [Release date 12.06.20] Another band making their debut, this time Brazil’s Electric Mob who feature vocalist Renan Zonta. He appeared on The Voice performing such classic rock songs as Sweet Child ‘O Mine and Highway To … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Americanized, blues rock, Calling All Astronauts, Chester Kamen, classic rock, Dohny Jep, Electric Mob, electronica, hard rock, Quick Plays, review, rock, synth rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ERIC CHURCH – The Outsiders

Posted on June 20, 2020 by jason

Snakefarm Records [Release date 12.06.20] Church’s edgy, non conformist image smacks of authenticity, and when you hear songs like ‘The Outsider’ and ‘Devil Devil’ you wonder how long his love affair with the genre’s conventions will last. These are songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, arena rock, country, country rock, Eric Church, hard rock, review, rock, The Outsiders | Leave a comment

Book review: FLYPOSTING: Posters Of A Music Revolution by Chris Hewitt

Posted on June 17, 2020 by petefeenstra

Dandelion Records [Publication date 15.06.20] ‘Flyposting – Posters Of A Music Revolution’ doesn’t so much document the radically changing times of the 70′s, as reflect an era when the medium became the message. Up until such times as when local … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Barclay James Harvest, Bob Marley, book, Burning Spear, Captain Beefheart, Chris Hewitt, Dandy Shaft, Flyposting Posters Of A Music Revolution, Ian Gillan Band, Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull, John Cooper Clarke, Led Zeppelin, Man, Queen, Racing Cars, Rainbow, review, Slade Rabid Records, Snips, Squeeze, Stackwaddy, Stanley Clarke, Steam Hammer, Steve Gibbons, Steve Hardcastle, Steve Hillage, The Bystanders, Tosh Ryan, Trapeze, Writing On The Wall | Leave a comment

Album review: RONAN FURLONG – Minerva’s Meddling

Posted on June 16, 2020 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Ronan Furlong for his Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, first broadcast 7 June 2020, and including tracks from the album ‘Minerva’s Meddling’. Thoroughbred Music [Release date 29.06.20] To say that Ronan Furlong’s ‘Minerva’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Celtic, David Surkamp, folk, interview, Irish, metal, Minerva's Meddling, Neil Young, Pavlov's Dog, review, rock, Ronan Furlong, roots, vocal | 1 Comment

Album review: NICK D’VIRGILIO – Invisible

Posted on June 13, 2020 by jason

English Electric Recordings [Release date 22.05.20] NDV is Nick D’Virgilio, the current drummer in Big Big Train, having also played in Spock’s Beard, Genesis and been musical director for Cirque de Soliel. This is the second solo album from Nick D’Virgilio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Big Train, drummer, Invisible, melodic, NDV, Nick D’Virgilio, progressive, review, rock, Solo, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

Album review: JOSE RAMIREZ – Here I Come

Posted on June 13, 2020 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 12.06.20] American based Costa Rica’s blues artist José Ramirez calls himself an interpreter of soulful blues. The aptly titled ’Here I Come’ can equally be seen as a statement of intent and announces his own considerable … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anson Funderburgh, blues, funk, guitar, Here I Come, Jimmy Pugh, José Ramirez, Memphis soul, Nate Rowe, review, Robert Johnson, Ronnie Earl, soul, T-Bone Walker, The Texas Horns, Wes Starr | Leave a comment

Single review: JAMES REYNE – Toon Town Lullaby

Posted on June 13, 2020 by jason

Bloodline Records [Release date 08.06.20] First single from his forthcoming “Toon Town Lullaby” album (his 12th, due out 12 July). ‘Toon Town Lullaby’ confirms that Reyne has reached the ‘mature balladeer’ stage in his long career. The distinctive, powerful voice … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Australian Crawl, James Reyne, review, rock, single, Solo, Toon Town Lullaby | Leave a comment

News: RORY GALLAGHER celebrated in virtual festival – Sunday 14 June

Posted on June 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Rory Gallagher - Isle Of Wight Festival 1970

Sunday 14 June will mark the 25th anniversary of the passing of the legendary musician Rory Gallagher. In the absence of this year’s four-day celebration in Ballyshannon the day will be marked by Rory followers around the world. WDR TV, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged anniversary, Band Of Friends, blues, blues rock, festival, guitarist, Isle of Wight, Rockpalast, Rory Gallagher, Sunday 14 June 2020 | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – RANSOM – Trouble In Paradise

Posted on June 12, 2020 by andynathan

MTM (1997) As alternative sounds ruled the roost in the nineties, musical styles that had ruled the previous decade were out of fashion and none more so than the melodic rock/AOR scene which was driven completely underground. In pre-Facebook, YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged AOR, Don Cromwell, Eddie Money, melodic rock, Ransom, Tommy Girvin, Trouble In Paradise | Leave a comment

Feature: Gigs of the Millennium – JOE BONAMASSA

Posted on June 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Joe Bonamassa - The Cavern, Liverpool, 27 June 2016

In June 2016 Joe Bonamassa trod the boards at the venue where – nearly over 50 years earlier – the Fab Four had fired their opening salvo. This historic gig has become one of life’s highlights for GRTR! reviewer Alan … Continue reading →