STAR CIRCUS Seperate Sides Diamond Formation Music [Release date 02.12.22]
Star Circus is the brainchild of Dave Winkler (Bordello Rose, Renegade Playboys, Trophies of Man). After a detour playing guitar and touring as a hired gun for acts such as Bow Wow Wow, Johnny Lima and Ryan Hamilton, in late 2019 the band materialised out of his passion to create an album focused around his own material. He enlisted Sophie Aurélia Young (bass), Jon Crampton (guitar) & Alex Makarov (drums) and Star Circus was born.
The band soon attracted a big name backer in Total Rock and Radio One Rock Show legendary producer, Tony Wilson. Not only Wilson’s backing and input, but the album features guest spots from the likes of Dan Stevens (Inglorious), Tom Draper (Carcass, Angel Witch), and backing vocals from Ben Christo (Sisters of Mercy, Ricky Warwick Band).
Dav Winkler is certainly a fan of Cheap Trick as ‘Love Is The Enemy’ is like prime time Cheap Trick with a KISS guitar solo. ‘Just Like A Movie’ with its infectious chorus is great fun to listen to and rightly released as a single ahead of the album’s release.
‘Circles’ is a top notch pop rocker and for this reviewer would have been a better album opener than ‘Save Your Life’, which somehow fails to entice. Shades of Squeeze and the Dowling Poole on ‘Wall Around Your Heart’, another piece of top quality pop rock confection.
Star Circus are onto a winner with this album and let us hope it proves a success so we can hear more from them. That classic 70s pop rock sound of Cheap Trick with a dose of power pop makes for a fine debut. ***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
THE ROADS Simple Man Escape Music [Release date 18.11.22]
The Roads feature Gary Pihl (Boston/Sammy Hagar Band/Alliance) and Mick Devine (Seven/solo). The pair met via Mick’s son, drummer Josh (One Direction/Levara), with whom Gary Pihl worked on a song with for another Escape Music release. On this album they are joined by notable guest musicians including bassist Tracy Ferrie (Stryper/Boston), keyboards player Paul Taylor (Alice Cooper/Winger) and Styx’s Lawrence Gowan.
At times they remind me of Alliance, another band Gary Pihl was involved in, especially on ‘Avalanche’ and ‘How Long?’. The title track has a strong, storytelling lyric, whilst the ballad ‘Love So Strange’ is an album stand out.
Gary Pihl shows what a classy guitarist he is throughout the album and none more so than on ‘Love Lives In Promises’. The guitar sound has a classic 70s vibe, not unlike Boston which is no real surprise given his day job!
Neat little bit of AOR with a West Coast feel in parts. Quality music as you’d expect from the musicians involved and although by no means a ‘must have’, a pleasant enough listen and another chance to highlight what a vocal talent Mick Devine is. ***
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
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UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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