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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Album review: RAVEN – Reissues
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Album review: BEAUVOIR/FREE – American Trash
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Album review: JENNIFER WARNES – The Well
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Album review: VARIOUS ARTISTS – Separate Paths Together (An Anthology Of British Male Singer/Songwriters 1965-75, 3 CD set)
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Album review: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – BCCIV
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Album review: THE FLEUR DE LYS – Circles: The Ultimate
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Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Features
Yearly Archives: 2021
Book review: Please Please Tell Me Now – The Duran Duran Story by Stephen Davis
Hachette Books [Publication date 15.07.21] Renowned American music biographer Stephen Davis is probably best known for the excellent “Hammer of The Gods” Led Zeppelin biography, but he has also written outstanding books on the likes of Aerosmith, Guns n Roses … Continue reading
Quick plays: LA LUZ, SAM CARTER, MASS
LA LUZ S/T Hardly Art/Sub Pop [Release date 22.10.21] La Luz are, according to their bio, a “surf-rock / psych / 60’s pop trio”, fronted by guitarist and songwriter Shana Cleveland, who is joined by bassist Lena Simon, and keyboardist … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, alt rock, folk, Home Waters, indie, La Luz, Mass, pop, review, rock, Sam Carter, singer songwriter
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Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – Time Clocks
Provogue [Release date 29.10.21] Joe Bonamassa’s ‘Time Clocks’ is infused with reflective songs – a function of a self proclaimed midlife crisis – but counterweighted by the kind of steely, restless determination that has projected him from being a child … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alyssa Bonagura, Bernie Marsden, David Gilmour, Hugh Syme, James House, Jethro Tull, Jim Steinman, Joe Bonamassa, Juanita Tippins, Kevin Shirley, Lachy Doley, Led Zeppelin, Martin Barre, Meat Loaf, Pink Floyd, Prinnie Stevenson, review, Time Clocks, Tom Hambridge, Whitesnake
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Album review: WAYWARD SONS – Even Up The Score
Frontiers [Release date 08.10.21] Toby Jepson is a man who never lets the grass grow under his feet. Since bursting onto the scene with Little Angels in 1984 he’s been a constantly creative whirlwind, going from the Scarsborough hard rock … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Even Up The Score, hard rock, Little Angels, melodic, review, rock, Toby Jepson, Wayward Sons
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Gig review: MUSIC FOR THE MIND- Hammersmith Club, London, 8 October 2021
As the old BT advert once said, it’s good to talk. Of mental health in particular. Despite growing awareness of its importance, not least with the struggles nearly all of us have faced in some way or other during the … Continue reading
Album review: LORDS OF BLACK – Alchemy Of Souls II
Frontiers [Release date 15.10.21] Fifth album from metallers, Lords Of Black, the Ronnie Romero/ Tony Hernando band. They brand themselves as a “Progressive” Power Metal band. You can see strong hints of how this plays out when first viewing the … Continue reading
Rising Stars: TOLOACHE
Toloache are a Switzerland/UK based progressive metal band named after a plant famously used during mystical rituals by Mexican shamans known for its intense hallucinations. Their new single ‘Watching Close’ is out now. Andrina Travers from Toloache answers our questions… … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars
Tagged Andrina Travers, interview, metal, new release, new single, Rising Stars, rock, Toloache, Watching Close
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Album review: ALCATRAZZ – V
Silver Lining Music [Release date: 15.10.21] Now that Doogie White and Joe Stump are onboard, Alcatrazz have abandoned all that wimpy rock stuff, and mainlined themselves into the world of heavy metal, on this, their second album with Silver Lining. … Continue reading
Book review: BEAST – JOHN BONHAM & THE RISE OF LED ZEPPELIN by CM Kuskins
Hachette [Publication date 30.09.21] John Bonham had drumming in his blood it seems, having first learned to play the drums at the age of five. Despite never taking formal lessons, he began drumming for local bands immediately after leaving … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged album, blues rock, book, classic rock, CM Kuskins, Dave Grohl, drummer, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin, review, Robert Plant, rock
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Album review: MOUNTAIN – Live In The 70s
Voiceprint [Release date 12.11.21] Fronted by guitarist and vocalist Leslie West, Mountain formed in New York in 1969, taking their name from the former Vagrants West’s first solo album, and their classic line-up saw West joined by bassist Felix Pappalardi, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues rock, classic rock, Corky Laing, Leslie West, Live In The 70s, Mountain, review, rock
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Album review: JOSH TURNER – King Size Manger
Spinefarm Records [release date 08.10.21] On his latest album, King Size Manger, Josh Turner has put his own self penned/co-written material up against famous 19th century Christmas Carols like ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’, ‘The First Nowell’ and ‘Silent … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Christmas, Church, Classic Carols, Country Music, review
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Album review: EMERSON LAKE & PALMER – Out Of This World: Live (1970-1997)
BMG [Release date 29.10.21] Prog legends Emerson Lake & Palmer (ELP) were one of the early super groups (formed from the roots of The Nice, King Crimson and Atomic Rooster in 1970) and cemented their legacy in the first half … Continue reading
Gig review: GENESIS – Hydro, Glasgow, 7th October 2021
39 years ago, as a fresh faced teen, I accompanied my brother to my first gig which was Genesis at the Ingliston Royal Highland Exhibition Centre in Edinburgh. That night sparked my love of live music, so I have a lot to thank … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 1982, 7th October 2021, Covid, Daryl Steumer, Follow You Follow Me, Genesis, gig, Glasgow, Hydro, I Can't Dance, Ingliston, Land Of Confusion, live, Mike Rutherford, Nic Collins, Phil Collins, pop, prog, review, rock, The Carpet Crawlers, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Tony Banks
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Gig review: PRAYING MANTIS – Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, 7 October 2021
A mere 581 days since I last attended an indoor concert – Jon Boden in Didcot back in March 2020. Since then live music as we know has been decimated with the fall out from the pandemic, however, you can’t … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 7 October 2021, Arlington Arts Centre, classic rock, Deep Purple, gig, hard rock, Led Zep, melodic hard rock, NWOBHM, NWOCR, Praying Mantis, review, Snelsmore, Vambo
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Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – The Garage, Highbury, London, 2 October 2021
I will freely admit that Cats in Space are one of my very favourite bands to have emerged in the past few years. Their sound is unashamedly inspired by the second half of the seventies but the combination of lush … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, Dean Howard, gig, Greg Hart, Jack Stiles, Jeff Brown, melodic rock, Pete Lance, soft rock, Vambo
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Album review: ALCATRAZZ – The Best Of and Live In The USA (2 CD set)
Store For Music [Release date: 08.10.21] It’s not the first time this Best Of Alcatrazz collection has been available in CD form, so the additional CD of live material is very welcome. Winnowing down Alcatrazz’s “best songs” from three eighties’ … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, best of, Danny Johnson, Graham Bonnet, Jimmy Waldo, live, Lizzy Border, Malmsteen, Michael Kiske, review, Tomorrows Outlook, Vai
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Album review: KARMAMOI – Room 101
Self-released – [Release date: 28.05.21] There are times, aren’t there, when you think artists try just that little bit too hard to express feelings of emotion, be it good or bad (Bono is a cause-célèbre here) resulting in … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Adam Holzman, Karmamoi, Progressive Rock, review, Room 101
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Album review: MOONSHINE SOCIETY – Sweet Thing
Bandcamp [Release date 05.11.21] Moonshine Society formed back 2009 to craft their own brand of soulful blues, roots rock and old-school R&B. The main focus is singer/songwriter Black Betty aka Jenny Langer, who has appeared on stage with the likes … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, gospel, Jenny Langer, Moonshine Society, R&B, review, soul, Sweet Thing
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Gig review: THE QUIREBOYS- Boileroom, Guildford, 1 October 2021
Quireboys gigs come in all shapes and sizes- including those rescheduled orchestral shows next year- but some of my most enjoyable have been their acoustic shows. Lead singer Spike also made the format work when I saw him on his … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged acoustic, gig, Keith Weir, Matt Mitchell, Quireboys, Spike
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Album review: THE BLOODY NERVE – All Blood, No Treasure (Act 1)
Facebook [Release date 27.08.21] The Bloody Nerve brings together singer/guitarist Stacey Blood and vocalist Laurie Ann Layne – “rock ‘n’ roll guardians of the West” in their own words. A brave claim perhaps but they certainly do things differently and … Continue reading
Album review: VEGA – Anarchy and Unity
Frontiers Records (Release date 17.09.21) Vega’s seventh album ‘Anarchy and Unity’ breaks their cycle of a new release every two years, coming less than 18 months after ‘Grit Your Teeth’. That not entirely successful predecessor took the UK melodic rockers … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Billy Taylor, Marcus Thurston, melodic rock, Nick Workman, Pete Newdeck, Vega
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Album review: THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS – Can We Get A Witness
Mascot Records [Release date 15.10.21] The Georgia Thunderbolts hail from Rome, Georgia, and comprise vocalist TJ Lyle, Riley Couzzourt (guitar), Logan Tolbert (guitar), Zach Everett (bass, harmony vocals, keys), and Bristol Perry (drums). They have already put out a well-received … Continue reading
Album review: SPIRIT – Sunrise And Salvation, The Mercury Era Anthology (Remasters, 8 CD Boxset)
Cherry Red [release date: 08.10.21] Accidentally or on purpose, Spirit managed to avoid true success, giving the firm impression that if their career ever got anywhere near the glittering shop window of fame, they put the pedal to the metal, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged albums, boxset, Dylan, Hendrix, Jay Ferguson, live, Mick Skidmore, Randy California, review, seventies, sixties, Spirit, studio, unreleased, Zappa
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Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Playhouse, Edinburgh – 25th September 2021
Forty-four years ago, in January 1977, Genesis rolled into Edinburgh for a two-night stint at the Playhouse on their ‘Wind & Wuthering’ UK tour. That tour took them across America and Europe and included four nights at the Palais des Sports in Paris. … Continue reading
Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – 100 Club, London, 23 September 2021
It was so good to be back. 18 long, dark months had passed without a ‘real’ gig. The prospect of Troy Redfern and Robert Jon & The Wreck tonight had me giddy with anticipation. The event did not disappoint. Troy … Continue reading
