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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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Monthly Archives: May 2024
Album review: RICK ESTRIN AND THE NIGHTCATS – The Hits Keep Coming
Alligator Records [Release date 08.03.24] It’s five years since Rick Estrin & the Nightcats cut an album signifantly called ‘Contemporary’. And as if too illustate his almost unique standing as a conduit between old school blues and his current groundbreaking … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, Charlie Baty, Charlie McCoy, Derrick ‘D’Mar’ Martin, Dobie Strange, Frank Zappa, harp, Kid Andersen, Leonard Cohen, Lorenzo Farrell, review, Rick Estrin, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Sons Of The Soul Revivers, vocal
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Gig review: BRYAN ADAMS – Royal Albert Hall, London, 14 May 2024
Two years ago, I was present all three nights as Bryan Adams played a memorable residency at the Albert Hall, playing a classic album each night (subsequently released in less than satisfactory fashion on DVD). I thought that was a … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Bryan Adams, Gary Breit, gig, Keith Scott, melodic rock, Pat Steward, Reckless, Sol Walker
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Album review: FOCUS – Focus 12
David Randall chatted to Thijs van Leer for his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast 9 June 2024 and featured in the second hour. Spirit Of Unicorn Music [Release date … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, Focus, Focus 12, Jazz rock, Pierre van der Linden, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Thijs van Leer
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Album review: PSYCH! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973 (3-CD)
Decca/Universal [Release date 21.06.24] This 64-song 3-CD/2LP collection highlights a halcyon period for British psych rock and folk stretching from the mid sixties to the early 1970s. During that time Deram was the leading purveyor of the genre and this … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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News: AL ATKINS, NEONFLY, HEART (June 2024)
The Angels have announced their first album in a decade. Entitled ‘Ninety Nine’ it will be released via Bloodlines on June 28. Former Judas Priest vocalist Al Atkins has revealed a 50th anniversary edition of Judas Priest’s ‘Rocka Rolla’, as well … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged Al Atkins, albums, classic rock, EP, festivals, folk, gigs, Heart, metal, Neonfly, New releases, news, punk, rock, singles, tours
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Album review : NIGHTMARE – Encrypted
AFM Records [Release date: 06.06.24] Formed in 1979, French Power Metal band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Their 12th album, Encrypted, sees ex Songbird songbird, Barbara Mogore (a smart bit of recruitment by Yves … Continue reading
Album review: McCOY – The Sound Of Thunder (3 CD set)
Cherry Red [Release date : 31/05/24] CD1: 1985: McCoy : Hard Thinking (incorporates 1982 EP) CD2: 1998: McCoy : Brainstorm CD3: 1977: McCoy : Live 1977 The real (John) McCoy, bass player extraordinaire, was as much known for his fearsome, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Al Romano, Bernie Torme, boxset, Brainstorm, Fleetwood Mac, Ian Gillan, John McCoy, Mile Sciotto, Paul Samson, review, Think Hard, ZZ Top
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Gig review: YES – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 24 May 2024
Tonight’s show was another date in the current ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ tour, a celebration of 50 plus years of Yessong with an emphasis on the band’s ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ opus which turn 50 in 2023. You could argue … Continue reading
Album review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Challenge The Wind
AFM Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Fans of the Symphonic Metal genre will know ROF is a band big on concept. This new album, Challenge The Wind, is the third in their “Nephilim Empire Saga”. The second, Glory For Salvation, … Continue reading
Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Get Out and Push
Facebook [Release date 13.05.24] Casey Maunder is back with the follow-up to his enjoyable debut album ‘Until Your Heart Stops Beating’. That album was jammed packed with riff led hard rockers and pleasingly ‘Get Out and Push’ follows on nicely. Opener … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Casey Maunder, Get Out and Push, guitarist, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock
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Album review: FM – Old Habits Die Hard
Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.05.24) FM appear to be constantly on tour, and yet between that activity they somehow find time to consistently write and release a new album every two or three years. ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ actually marks … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, FM, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Old Habits Die Hard, Steve Overland
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Album review: REMEDY – Pleasure Beats Pain
Escape Music [Release date 24.05.24] Remedy released their debut album at the tail end of 2022 and it earned rave reviews (including from this reviewer!), although being independently released it didn’t get the full coverage it deserved. Enter Escape Music … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Erik Martensson, Escape Music, hard rock, melodic rock, Pleasure Beats Pain, Remedy, review
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Album review: THE MIGHTY BOSSCATS – Are You The Person You’ve Always Wanted To Be / Photoshoot
Self release [Release date 29.09.23] Richard Townend is an indefatigable singer-songwriter, guitarist and band leader of The Mighty Bosscats, who never let rust sleep. His consistent output has the feel of a diarist who needs to get the minutiae of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Are You The Person You've Always Wanted To Be, Billy Preston, funk, JJ Cale, Johnny Cash, Latino, Mark Hall, Mark Knopfler, Matt Gillam, Paul Simon, Photoshoot, Pink Floyd, review, Richard Townend, Roy Orbison, singer, songworter, The Beatles, The Mighty Bosscats, Tony Sales, Webb Wilder
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Album review : LINDISFARNE – Brand New Day The Mercury Years 1978-79 (3 CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date : 24.05.24] This is one of Cherry Red’s finer moments. A concise snapshot of Lindisfarne when they were at their best. CD1: Magic In The Air (1978) CD2: Back And Fourth (1978) CD3: The News (1979) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Alan Hull, Back And Forth, Fog On The Tyne, Lindisfarne, Magic In The Air, Newcastle, review, The News
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Gig review: MIDNITE CITY- Downstairs at The Dome, London, 11 May 2024
Midnite City gigs used to be quite rare down south, as the melodic rockers concentrated on the north and Midlands where that particular scene always seems more established. Yet in relatively short order, 11 months after they played Camden’s Black … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged gig, Josh 'Tabbie' Williams, melodic rock, Midnite City, Rob Wylde, Ryan Briggs, Shawn Charvette
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Album review: CHRIS FARLOWE – Stormy Monday – The Blues Years 1985-2008 (3CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date: 24.05.24] Born to sing the blues, Chris Farlowe recorded genre standard, ‘Stormy Monday Blues’ in 1965, to huge critical acclaim. With his band, the Thunderbirds, he became a lightning rod for blues fans, continually burning down … Continue reading
Album review: OLIVER WAKEMAN – Anam Cara
Elflock Records/Spirit of Unicorn Music/Cherry Red [Release date 10.05.24] Oliver Wakeman is best known as part of a veritable keyboard dynasty but out of the fatherly shadow he has been steadily making solid albums on his own terms. The latest … Continue reading
Album review: MIRACLE MILE – East of Ely
Order link [Release date 31.05.24] ‘East of Ely’ is Miracle Mile’s first album since 2012, so to say this was eagerly anticipated is an understatement! Miracle Mile comprise of Trevor Jones and Marcus Cliffe, where this record was largely written … Continue reading
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Gig review: FM – Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, 18 May 2024
To quote Led Zeppelin, “It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled”, and as much as I love music my live mojo has been in retirement, bar supporting local folk gigs. However, when a band as classy as … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Arlington Arts Centre, classic rock, Collateral, FM, gig, melodic rock, Newbury, review, rock, Saturday 18 May 2024, Steve Overland
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Single review: SPREADING THE DISEASE – Addicted
Website [Release date 17.05.24] Kent based metal muthas Spreading the Disease have been on hiatus since late 2019, whilst undergoing a major line up, change, then Covid, Brexit and other reasons the band had to deal with. Now Spreading the Disease are … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews
Tagged Addicted, metal, nu-metal, review, screamo, single, Spreading The Disease
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Album review: ROCKY ATHAS – Livin My Best Life
Pete Feenstra chatted to Rocky Athas for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, playing tracks from the album ‘Living My Best Life’. First broadcast 12 May 2024. Cherryburst Records [Release date 10.03.24] ‘Living My Best Life’ is Rocky … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, Bob Dylan, Buddy Miles, Don Nix, Double Trouble, Freddie King, Free, Gary Moore, Glenn Hughes, guitar, Jared Watson, Jeff Beck, John Mayall, Larry Samford, Leon Russell, Leslie West, Lightning, Livin My Best Life, Mick Jagger, Paul Kossoff, Peter Green, review, Robin Trower, Rocky Athas, Roky Athas11, Walter Watson
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Album review: MANDOKI SOULMATES – A Memory Of Our Future
Red Rock Music/Inside Out Music [Release date 10.05.24] I think it fair to say that Leslie Mandoki doesn’t do things half-arsed. Several years ago a couple of reissues were accompanied by an expansive press kit, a real thick tome that … Continue reading
Gig review: KIRA MAC – Camden Underworld, London, 10 May 2024
Kira Mac have been making quite a name for themselves- for a new band they seem to have attracted a substantial following in a relatively short time, to the extent that by show time of this London date, the last … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged gig, Jayler, Joe Worrall, Kira Mac, New Wave of Classic Rock, Rhiannon Kira Hill
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Album review: T BEAR – The Way Of The World
Pete Feenstra chatted to T Bear for his feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and featuring tracks from the new album ‘The Way Of The World’. First broadcast 19 May 2024. Quarto Valley Records [Release date 22.03.24] ‘Way … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, blues, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, Dr John, funk, interview, Laurence Juber, Leon Russell, Paul Rogers, radio, Randy Newman, review, Richard T Bear, rock, singer, songwriter, Steely Dan, T. Bear, The Beatles, Tony Braunagel, Walter Trout, Way of the World
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Album review: THESE WICKED RIVERS – Force Of Nature
Fat Earth Records [Released date 01.03.24] This is a perfectly formed second album from Derby’s finest. Formed in 2014, the band combine elements of southern, classic and heavy rock. The title track is a great calling card and guaranteed to … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, Force Of Nature, heavy rock, review, southern rock, These Wicked Rivers
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