Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: MAGNUM – Escape From The Shadow Garden

Posted on February 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Magnum - Escape From The Shadow Garden

Interview with Tony Clarkin of Magnum, first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 2 March 2014 (12:31) SPV [Release date 24.03.14] It is fair to say that with Magnum you will probably never get a naff album.  Tony Clarkin’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Radio interview, The Best Of 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: DREAM THEATER – Manchester O2 Apollo, 13 February 2014

Posted on February 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Dream Theater - Manchester O2 Apollo, 13 February 2014

With the ‘Along For The Ride’ tour announced as a three-hour event, I couldn’t help wondering if the merch stall would be pushing Majesty symbol-branded thermos flasks, travel rugs and even smelling salts.  Having witnessed Dream Theater on previous tours, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: SAXON – Tivoli, Buckley, 11 February 2014

Posted on February 12, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Saxon - Tivoli, Buckley, 11 February 2014

35 years on since their album debut and the mighty Saxon return to their roots.  The “Tiv” was a regular watering hole for bands in the eighties and it seems that life has come full circle.  A series of club … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Single & EP reviews: WAKING UGLY, CHRIS ADAMS, VANITY RIOTS

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Waking Ugly - Say Something Sweet

WAKING UGLY Say Something Sweet EP www.wakingugly.com If Kylie was going to make a ‘heavy metal’ album it would probably sound like this.  Girlie vocals, some decent rock guitar, but ultimately fairly shiny ‘pop’.  And that’s just what Waking Ugly, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DVD review: U.S. Festival 1983 Days 1-3

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
US Festival 1983 Days 1-3

Wienerworld [Release date 27.01.14] It’s weird how when you look back at this footage, just how young everyone looks, yet when you look in the mirror that same youthful young man looks back at you (well, maybe not). The U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ROBBY HECHT, DAVID BERKELEY, PETER MULVEY, DAMIEN DEMPSEY

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Robby Hecht

ROBBY HECHT Robby Hecht (Old Man Henry Records) [Release date 24.03.14] DAVID BERKELEY The Fire In My Head (Straw Man Music) [Release date 17.03.14] I’ve brigaded these two singer songwriter’s releases together, not just because they’ll be touring the UK … Continue reading →

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

Album review: WICKED FAITH – Under No Illusion

Posted on February 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Wicked Faith - Under No Illusion

Self-released [Release date 18.11.13] It’s always good to hear a young band giving it their all but referencing  – perhaps subconsciously – some of those female-fronted bands that you grew up with.  Wicked Faith formed in Norwich in late-2011 and … Continue reading →

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

Album review: BRAM STOKER – Cold Reading

Posted on February 8, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Bram Stoker - Cold Reading

sunn creative [Release date 27.01.14] The band, taking their name from one of the great horror stylists, might well conjure up dark and nefarious activity akin to their early contemporaries Black Widow.  Forget all that.   40 years after their debut … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gig review: URIAH HEEP – Tivoli, Buckley, 6 February 2014

Posted on February 7, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Bernie Shaw, Uriah Heep - February 2014

Chatting at length to Bernie Shaw I suddenly realised that vocalists usually need to rest their voice before a gig.  He agreed.  But his real complaint was the woeful heating in the semi-legendary ‘Tiv’ and a lack of TLC for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: MISSING PERSONS feat. Dale Bozzio – Missing In Action

Posted on February 5, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Missing Persons feat. Dale Bozzio - Missing In Action

Cleopatra Records [Release date 04.03.14] The digipak at the top of the stack didn’t look that inviting.  Could it have been Dee Snider’s half-brother on the cover?  There’s an awful lot of ivory around that lady’s neck.  The name Dale … Continue reading →

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

Album review: STATUS QUO – Piledriver Deluxe Edition

Posted on February 3, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Status Quo - Piledriver

Universal [Release date 24.03.14] Status Quo are preparing for the second round of their ‘Frantic Four’ reincarnation and – hey – here comes an extended reissue of their 1972 album.  ‘Piledriver’ is important because it continued their journey from the … Continue reading →

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

Album review: DEREK SHERINIAN – Reissues (Inertia,Black Utopia,Mythology,Blood Of The Snake,Molecular Heinosity)

Posted on February 3, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Derek Sherinian - Inertia

Armoury Records (re-issues) [Release date 10.02.14] Sherinian came to wider attention with Dream Theater in 1994 and since he left that band in 1999 the volume of his session work has grown along with stints in Black Country Communion and … Continue reading →

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

Album review: FALLING RED – Empire Of The Damned

Posted on February 1, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Falling Red - Empire Of The Damned

Outcast Records [27.01.14] www.falling-red.com When Kiss’ Gene Simmons recently described rock music as dead, what he failed to take into account was a the likes of Falling Red who are part of a new breed of bands that are making … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: DUCKS DELUXE – Half Moon, Putney, London, 22 December 2013

Posted on January 29, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Ducks Deluxe

Let me make myself abundantly clear: matinee gigs are not, have never been, and never will be, one of my favourite pastimes. Especially at Christmas, after two days spent reviewing other shows (at night as per usual), with all the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: DRIVING MRS SATAN – Popscotch

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Driving Mrs Satan - Popscotch

www.drivingmrssatan.com Does the world need an album of metal covers by acts like Helloween, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Slayer and Faith No More? You might not think so, but when it’s something as unique as Popscotch, by … Continue reading →

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

Quick plays: AMELIA WHITE, EDDI READER, THE O’s, THE SWEET LOWDOWN

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Amelia White - Old Postcard

AMELIA WHITE Old Postard [Release date 10.03.14] East Nashville-based singer and songwriter Amelia White wasn’t encouraged by her parents to pursue her musical dream.  But their disapproval lit a fire as she listened to Neil Young, Beatles, Stones, and Muddy … Continue reading →

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

Album review: ABI MOORE – Amoeba & Stone

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Abi Moore - Amoeba & Stone

Honest Records [Release date 03.02.14] The third album from independent Lincolnshire songstress Abi Moore is a rather pleasant affair.  Switching effortlessly between folk and Americana it should cement the growing reputation of a singer songwriter who’s had support slots for … Continue reading →

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

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Reissues (Trash/Hey Stoopid)

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Alice Cooper - Trash

Hear No Evil [Release date 23.09.13 and 27.01.14] Alice Cooper is not an artist whose back catalogue has seen much by way of remastering and re-issues and I’ve longed for Bob Ezrin to dig out the original recordings of Love … Continue reading →

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

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Brutally Live

Posted on January 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Alice Cooper - Brutally Live

Salvo (CD/DVD) [Release date] It’s ironic that as Brutally Live is about to be re-released, the whole concert has been broadcast on BBC4.  So if you’ve been watching the TV schedules you’ll hopefully have had the good sense to either … Continue reading →

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

Album review: HEART – Fanatic Live From Caesars Colosseum

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Heart - Fanatic Live From Caesars Colosseum

Ann Wilson chats about her career in the Songwriters series, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sunday 23 March, 13:00 GMT.  More information Frontiers Records (CD and DVD Deluxe Edition) [Release date 24.02.14] Heart’s 15th studio album, Fanatic, released in October … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: THE PRETTY THINGS – London, 100 Club, 21 December 2013

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The brief was, I am led to believe, simple. “It’s a mod do,” promoter John Hellier had said to the band beforehand, “so keep it strictly Mod- all R’n’B, no psych.” Admittedly, that’s not how I’d have played it, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: HOLY HOLY (feat. Woody Woodmansey) – The Lexington,Islington,20 December 2013

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Q: When is a tribute band elevated to a status beyond a mere tribute band? A: When the drummer  (or indeed any former member) of the band you are paying tribute to joins your lineup, thus cementing the link between … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

Posted on January 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Wilko Johnson, The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

Originally only planned for two nights to celebrate the Forum’s 21st birthday, Wilko Johnson added a third night due to the other two shows being sold out so quickly. Roger Daltrey once sang that he hoped to die before he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL RODGERS – The Royal Sessions

Posted on January 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Paul Rodgers - The Royal Sessions

429 Records [Release date 27.01.14] It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Paul Rodgers took himself off to Memphis in 2013 and recorded this homage to the golden age of soul, working with some of that genre’s legendary players. It … Continue reading →

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

Album review: CAST – reissues (All Change, Mother Nature Calls, Magic Hour, Beetroot)

Posted on January 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Cast - All Change

Edsel Records [Release date 03.02.14] Cast embarked on their traditional low-key pre-Christmas dates in 2013 and celebrated their 20th anniversary with a new album ‘Troubled Times’.  With their first four albums now expanded to deluxe editions, the time is perhaps … Continue reading →

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