Album review: THE PAT McMANUS BAND – Live In France

The Store For Music [Release date 21.07.23]

It’s about time we had a new live album from Pat McManus. In August 2022 he recorded his gig as part of the Tribal Rock festival nestling above the Cote d’Azur in south-east France.

With an extensive back catalogue, it’s inevitable that he’ll revisit former glories and the setlist majors on the band he formed with his brothers in the late seventies. So we get ‘Blacklisted’, ‘Runaway Dreams’, ‘Needle In The Groove’, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ and ‘Straight Forward’ originally performed by Mama’s Boys.

Elsewhere the setlist only includes a sprinkling of solo album tracks including ‘Honey Trap’ from the excellent and most recent ‘Full Service Resumed’.

As anyone who has seen McManus live will testify he has an infectious enthusiasm for everything he does, whether that’s the traditional interlude included here (attesting his superb fiddle playing) or the out and out rocking and fluid guitar (as on ‘Blacklisted’ and ‘Got The Right’).

There are a lot of blues rock “power” trios out there but it’s McManus’ lust for life and not least his stellar guitar playing that cuts right through.

The Irish/Gary Moore connection is reflected on an accurate and respectful rendition of ‘Parisienne Walkways’, and the live staple ‘Belfast Boy’, whilst on the ‘Ring Of Fire’ (the Johnny Cash tune) he is joined by fellow festival act Uncle Bard & The Dirty Bastards.

As ever with Store For Music there’s economical packaging and there is a hint that the gig was also filmed for DVD. If that’s true it’s a shame that it didn’t form part of this release. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

Album review (Full Service Resumed, 2021)
Gig review (Half Moon, Putney, 2022)

David Randall chatted to Pat McManus for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 3 October 2021. The hour special includes tracks from Mama’s Boys, Celtus and solo material.

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.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 14 April 2024.

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 9 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 29 April 2024

BRIGITTE PURDY Sugar Fried Candy (Dirtshack Records)
ATTIC THEORY The Legacy (indie)
THE HOWLERS I Need Your Love (indie)
VELVETEEN QUEEN Bad Reputation (indie)
WILLS AND THE WILLING Scuffed Knees (Smash & Grab Music Ltd)
READY THE PRINCE Still Believe (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 29 April 2024

09:00-12:00 PRAYING MANTIS Defiance (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023

To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to an X (Twitter) account

Tweets by Get Ready to ROCK!