Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

News: Albums of the Month (September 2017 – November 2017)

Posted on October 19, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month September 2017 BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION BCCIV (Mascot) “…a set of tunes that rock up, for my money, a significant cut above ‘Afterglow’ and stand shoulder to shoulder with anything on the band’s first two albums…This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2017, albums of the month, AOR, melodic, metal, November, October, progressive, review, rock, September | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JIM BYRNES, INTASTELLA, THE JAMIE PORTER BAND, BILL FEEHELY

Posted on October 18, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

JIM BYRNES Long Hot Summer Days Black Hen Music [Release date 27.10.17] Sixty nine year old, multiple Canadian Juno and Maple Blues Awards winner, Jim Byrnes turns the clock back to his St Louis high school days for inspiration on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Bill Feehely, blues, dub, Intastella, Jah Wobble, Jamie Porter Band, Jim Byrnes, Long Hot Summer Days, Money & Love, reggae, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Sonic Smile, The Rise And Fall Of A Northern Dubstar | Leave a comment

Album review: SHADOWQUEEN – Living Madness

Posted on October 8, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 14.09.17] Shadowqueen, from Melbourne, Australia, caught our ears in 2013 with their debut album ‘Don’t Tell’. Great vocals from Robbi Zana and piledriving riffs and an irresistible urgency characterised that debut and thankfully the band have retained all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Australia, hard rock, Living Madness, Melbourne, review, Shadowqueen | Leave a comment

Album review: NIK TURNER – Life In Space

Posted on October 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 22.09.17] Whilst many of his contemporaries are struggling – creatively – Nik Turner’s best work may still to be done. The one-time Hawkwind space cadet has been working consistently if quietly over the last couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hawkwind, Life In Space, Nik Turner, Paul Rudolph, progressive, review, Simon House, space rock, The Pink Fairies | Leave a comment

DVD review: JEFF BECK – Live At The Hollywood Bowl

Posted on October 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Vision [Release date 06.10.17] Also available: CD/DVD, Bluray When I saw Jeff Beck in Birmingham in 2014 I was somewhat underwhelmed. In spite of an audience of a certain age hanging on every note the performance came across as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged 50th anniversary, Aerosmith, beth Hart, Billy F. Gibbons, blues, Buddy Guy, DVD, fusion, Jan Hammer, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Hall, Live At The Hollywood Bowl, review, rock, Steven Tyler, Wet Willie, Yardbirds, ZZ Top | Leave a comment

Gig review: INGLORIOUS – Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 30 September 2017

Posted on October 1, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

A rainy South Wales valley in autumn can be a bleak miserable place but today a special double bill rolled into town and brightened up the weekend, the first date of a national tour. The venue – Pontypridd Muni(cipal) Arts … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 30 September 2017, classic rock, gig, hard rock, Inglorious, Little Angels, melodic, Muni Arts Centre, Nathan James, Pontypridd, review, Toby Jepson, Wayward Sons | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMES WARREN – Innocent Bystander

Posted on September 30, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to James Warren in June 2017 about his career. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 25 June 2017. Angel Air Records [Release date 13.10.17] It’s a good time at the moment for eighties-based music. With … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 80s, album, Innocent Bystander, interview, James Warren, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Stackridge, The Kogis | Leave a comment

EP review: ROBERT REED – Variations On Themes By David Bedford

Posted on September 28, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Tigermoth Productions David Bedford (who died in 2011) has long been sidelined in the pantheon of prog and confused with the athlete of the same name. His more “mainstream” albums for Virgin in the 1970s will have been spotted languishing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, Kevin Ayers, Les Penning, Magenta, Mike Oldfield, prog, progressive, review, Rob Reed, Robert Reed, Sanctuary, Terry Oldfield, Variations On Themes By David Bedford | Leave a comment

Album review: LAURENCE JUBER – LJ Can’t Stop Playing The Beatles!

Posted on September 26, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Hologram Recordings [Release date 06.10.17] We can forgive Laurence Juber for showboating with a clutch of Beatles instrumental albums. He was at least Paul McCartney’s sideman for a time in Wings (1978-80) and worked with George and Ringo. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Beatles, George Harrison, guitar, instrumental, Laurence Juber, LJ Can't Stop Playing The Beatles!, review, Ringo Starr, Wings | Leave a comment

News: MOLLIE MARRIOTT – radio interview, new album and tour dates (November 2017)

Posted on September 26, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

In this exclusive edit, Mollie Marriott chats to David Randall about the music business, the lead-in to her new album, and the current touring musical ‘All Or Nothing’ for which she provided vocal coaching. (10:27) The full version of their … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged album, gigs, interview, Joe Brown, Mollie Marriott, November 2017, Paul Weller, pop, radio, rock, singer, songwriter, Steve Marriott, Tour, Truth Is A Wolf | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (May-August 2017)

Posted on September 25, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month May 2017 COCO MONTOYA Hard Truth (Ruf Records) “It’s rare for an artist in the middle of his career to push himself up to another level, but ‘Hard Truth’ does precisely that … an album that … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged albums of the month, AOR, August 2017, July, June, May, melodic, metal, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (February-April 2017)

Posted on September 25, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month February 2017 BLACK STAR RIDERS Heavy Fire (Nuclear Blast) “The band have thrown off the shackles of the ‘used to be Thin Lizzy’ moniker and have solidly established themselves as a major player in their own … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2017, albums of the month, AOR, April, February, March, melodic rock, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DJABE & STEVE HACKETT – Life Is A Journey – The Sardinia Tapes

Posted on September 24, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 06.10.17] I recall when chatting to Steve Hackett several years ago he mentioned that he is very receptive to his environment in terms of new sounds and possibilities. This might simply be hearing something ear-catching whilst … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Djabe & Steve Hackett, funk, fusion, Genesis, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Life Is A Journey - The Sardinia Tapes, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LEVI CUSS, JIM McHUGH

Posted on September 17, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

LEVI CUSS Just Below Radio (Vol. 1 & 2) [Release date 03.11.17] Well, that’s a first – 2 EP CDs, 4 tracks on each, which surely doubles up on the production cost, when both would fit handsomely on a single … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ben Reel, Canadian, Irish, Jim McHugh, Just Below Radio Vol 1 & 2, Levi Cuss, Noise Machine, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: JANIS IAN – The Essential 2.0

Posted on September 17, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Sony Legacy [Release date 22.09.17] This 2 CD collection neatly brings together, for the first time, some of Ian’s best (?) works spanning her whole career from 1967 to date on the Columbia, Verve And Rude Girl labels. All too … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, compilation, folk, Greatest Hits, Janis Ian, review, rock, singer songwriter, The Essential 2.0 | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE STEWART – Nashville Sessions The Duets, Vol.1

Posted on September 17, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Dave Stewart Entertainment [Release date 25.08.17] Pop, rock – Dave Stewart is a master of both. And his taste in female vocalists, second to none. But his output, even with The Eurythmics was always patchy. More moments of sheer brilliance … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Album review: APPICE – Sinister

Posted on September 15, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

SPV [Release date 27.10.17] This is the first ever studio collaboration between the Brothers Appice. Carmen is of course best known for his work with Vanilla Fudge and Jeff Beck. Vinny is the younger whipper snapper who has worked most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Appice, Black Sabbath, Cactus, Carmen Appice, Craig Goldy, Dio, Heaven and Hell, heavy rock, Jeff Beck, Joel Hoekstra, Last In Line, Paul Shortino, review, Sinister, Tony Franklin, Vanilla Fudge, Vinny Appice | Leave a comment

Quick plays: RICKY ROSS, MATT PATERSHUK

Posted on September 14, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

RICKY ROSS Short Stories Vol. 1 earMUSIC [Release date 15.09.17] While there’s no argument Ricky Ross can pen a decent tune, and has a signature vocal timbre, he’s perhaps not the most technically gifted of singers, which in no small … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, country, Deacon Blue, Matt Patershuk, review, Ricky Ross, rock, roots, Same As I Have Ever Been, Short Stories Vol.1. | Leave a comment

Album review: AMELIA WHITE – Rhythm Of The Rain

Posted on September 14, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 27.10.17] East Nashville based singer and songwriter Amelia White’s 2014 offering Old Postcard, her 6th long player, was what I’d describe as ‘a keeper’ – an Americana/soft rock cross over album reminiscent of classic Tom Petty and delivered … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Amelia White, Americana, review, Rhythm Of The Rain, rock, roots, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

DVD review: Changes Begin Within (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr)

Posted on September 14, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Rock [Release date 01.09.17] It seems almost unthinkable in this day and age that a benefit concert would be held for a charitable foundation aimed at teaching at-risk children to meditate, and to begin to change their lives from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Beatles, Changes Begin Within - A Benefit Concert for The David Lynch Foundation, Donovan, DVD, Eddie Vedder, Paul McCartney, review, Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow | Leave a comment

DVD review: ALICE COOPER – Welcome To My Nightmare Special Edition

Posted on September 14, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Rock [Release date 08.09.17] Alice’s long available Welcome to My Nightmare, December 1975 Wembley, Empire Pool footage gets a 2017 ‘reboot’ with the addition of a same year TV special - ‘Alice Cooper: The Nightmare’. It’s the first time … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Alice Cooper, DVD, glam, review, rock, shock rock, special edition, Tour, TV special, Vincent Price, Welcome To My Nightmare | Leave a comment

Album review: ROADCASE ROYALE – First Things First (Nancy Wilson, Liv Warfield)

Posted on September 9, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Loud & Proud Records [Release date 22.09.17] When the first track released by Roadcase Royale was circulating earlier this year it became an instant favourite on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and bode well for the band’s debut album. ‘Get … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, First Things First, Heart, Liv Warfield, Nancy Wilson, Prince, R&B, review, Roadcase Royale, rock, Ryan Waters, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Solid Book Of Rock (Box set)

Posted on September 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel/Demon Music Group [Release date 18.08.17] It seems that – exhausting the market for CD expanded or deluxe editions – 2017 might be the “Year of The Box Set” as labels try and find new income streams. We’ll be getting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Biff Byford, box set, Dogs Of War, Forever Free, heavy metal, heavy rock, Into The Labyrinth, Killing Ground, Lionheart, Metalhead, review, Saxon, Solid Book Of Rock, Sollid Ball Of Rock, The Inner Sanctum, Unleash The Beast | Leave a comment

News: TEN YEARS AFTER – 50th Anniversary Box Set in November 2017

Posted on September 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Chrysalis Records release a 50th Anniversary box set in November to coincide with the release of Ten Year’s After’s debut album in 1967. For the first time including albums from both the Deram and Chrysalis eras, between 1967 and 1974, … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns | Tagged 1967-1974, 50th anniversary, Alvin Lee, blues rock, box set, Chick Churchill, Chrysalis, classic rock, Leo Lyons, Ric Lee, rock, Ten Years After | Leave a comment

Gig review: BEAUTIFUL DAYS Festival – Devon, 18-20 August 2017

Posted on September 5, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Dance Before, During and After the Storm Between Friday 18th and Sunday 20th August 2017 the bizarre, the wonderful and the contradictions of the norm gathered in the grounds of Escot Park to embrace the eclectic bohemian eccentricity that is … Continue reading →