Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Gig review: SAXON, Nottingham Rock City, 20 April 2013

Saxon - Nottingham Rock City, 20 April 2013

First a rant, tonight’s gig followed the current trend to start gigs earlier and earlier so they can tag on a club night after. This means that people finishing work at normal times miss out or have to make arrangements … Continue reading

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Album review: CHASING VIOLETS – Jade Hearts

Chasing Violets - Jade Hearts

AOR Records [Release date 14.06.13] I think producer Frederic Slama compromised Chasing Violets’ debut album ‘Outside Heaven’ (2012) by re-using the songs (and the backing tracks) for his own project album ‘LA Temptation’. Slama is a respected LA-based AOR mover … Continue reading

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Album review: THE JAN HOLBERG PROJECT – Sense Of Time, At Your Service

The Jan Holberg Project - Sense Of Time

Sense Of Time (2011) Norwegian bassist Jan Holberg has a good philosophy outlined in his liner notes to 2011′s ‘Sense Of Time’: that with music there should be no boundaries.  So in his first ‘solo’ venture he explores AOR and … Continue reading

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Album review: JOE SATRIANI – Unstoppable Momentum

Joe Satriani - Unstoppable Momentum

Interview edit: Joe Satriani, 24 May 2013 First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on 6 June 2013 Epic [Release date 06.05.13] With guitar instrumentals, in fact guitar rock per se, it nearly always comes back to Satch.  Well, nearly always.  How … Continue reading

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Album review: SHADOWQUEEN – Don’t Tell

SHADOWQUEEN - Don

  Bad Reputation [Release date 13.05.13] I realised recently – and unplanned – that the first half-hour of my weekly radio show was made up of several Aussie acts, including Tracer and original AC/DC vocalist Dave Evans.  Along with bands … Continue reading

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Album review: DEEP PURPLE: Now What?!

Deep Purple - Now What?!

earMUSIC [Release date: 29.04.13] I remember seeing Purple on their 2009 tour and, between albums, it all seemed a bit lack-lustre with a perfunctory trawl through the familiar golden nuggets. Fast forward to their 19th studio album and the band … Continue reading

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Quick plays: CRAIG JOHN DAVIDSON, ERICA NOCKALLS, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON,DERRIN NAUENDORF

Craig John Davidson - The Last Laugh

Craig John Davidson – The Last Laugh (Fat Hippy Records) [Release date: 29.04.13] Being on Fat Hippy Records is somewhat appropriate in the case of this 4th solo album from acoustic troubadour Craig John Davidson.  Not because he’s fat, because … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BEAUTIFUL OLD – Turn Of The Century Songs

THE BEAUTIFUL OLD - Turn Of The Century Songs

Doubloon Records [Release date 03.06.13) Who of those baby boomers amongst us can't immediately recall the strains of the [the man on] ‘The Flying Trapeze’ – a staple on Children’s Favourites? This loving re-visiting of parlour songs from the 1823 … Continue reading

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Album review: RUTH MOODY – These Wilder Things

Ruth Moody - These Wilder Things

A six day residency at The Royal Albert Hall (albeit opening for Mark Knopfler) says a lot about the rising status of Ruth Moody, founder and current member of Billboard topping band The Wailin’ Jennys. Produced and engineered by David … Continue reading

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Album review: ALANIS MORISSETTE – Live At Montreux 2012

Alanis Morissette - Live At Montreux 2013

Eagle Rock The fact that Alanis Morissette has sold over 60 million albums is pretty impressive.  The fact that over half have been her been her monumental 1995 ‘debut’ album Jagged Little Pill, suggests that it’s a career highpoint that … Continue reading

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Album review: THEA GILMORE – Regardless

Thea Gilmore - Regardless

Thea Gilmore is nothing if not prolific – Regardless is her 14th album in as many years, but look a little more deeply at her recent output and you’ll see that her last two offerings have been a re-working of … Continue reading

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Gig review: SAXON, The Quireboys, Leamington Assembly, 18 April 2013

Saxon, Leamington Assembly, 18 April 2013

A couple of years ago Biff announced from the Assembly stage that he was so impressed with the venue and the audience that he promised to bring the band back on the next tour. Many things get said within the … Continue reading

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Gig review: WORLD PARTY, RNCM, Manchester,15 April 2013

World Party, RNCM, Manchester, 15 April 2013

The RNCM main concert hall provided a suitably majestic setting for what was to be an evening of wonderful music, the stage arranged on the hexagon floor had the backdrop of the rather impressive Hradetsky Concert Organ and the theatre … Continue reading

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Gig review: IL NINO, SACRED MOTHER TONGUE, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 4 April 2013

Il Nino, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 4 April 2013

It beckoned to be a good night, the advertised line up was very strong and the venue was a good one for the crowd.  However it soon became apparent that the lineup had changed but no notification of this was … Continue reading

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Album review: WOLF PEOPLE – Fain

Wolf People - Fain

Interview edit: Jack Sharp, 30 April 2013 First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 5 May 2013 Jagjaguwar [Release date: 29.04.13] Not to be confused with Wolfmother, this four-piece recorded their second album proper in an isolated house in … Continue reading

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Album review: DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM – Not Utopia

Doris Brendel & Lee Dunham - Not Utopia

Sky-Rocket Records [Release date 07.01.13] www.dorisbrendel.com The late Eighties/early Nineties weren’t a great time for up and coming bands.  Many crashed and burned as the major labels applied the brakes to investment in new talent.  Liverpool four-piece River City People … Continue reading

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Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – State

Todd Rundgren - State

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 08.04.13] Todd Rundgren’s chameleon nature is at once the perpetual conundrum.  A musician who will not be pigeon-holed and as such adored by his loyal fanbase for his constant stretching of the envelope.  For the faithful … Continue reading

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Album review: TREETOP FLYERS – The Mountain Moves

TREETOP FLYERS - The Mountain Moves

Loose Music [Release date 29.04.13] Having won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition in 2011, and released two well received singles – ‘Things Will Change’ and ‘It’s About Time’, 2013 sees the release of the London based five-piece’s debut album on … Continue reading

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Album review: RILO KILEY – Rkives

RILO KILEY - Rkives

After a couple of lesser known albums LA indie rockers Rilo Kiley’s ‘More Adventurous’ album (2004) provided the springboard for a major record deal with Warners.  Their subsequent 2007 release ‘Under The Blacklight’ looked like the big time had finally … Continue reading

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Album review: BEN REEL – Darkness & The Light

BEN REEL - Darkness & The Light

Release date 22.04.13 You never quite know what to expect from Ben Reel.  Over his previous 5 studio albums he’s touched on rock, soul, blues, alt-folk, Americana and even indulged in a little reggae. His new album, his first recorded … Continue reading

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Album review: MELISSA GREENER – Transistor Corazon

MELISSA GREENER - Transistor Corazon

Music has been a part of Melissa Greener’s life from day one.  Raised in Detroit by her Playboy Club lounge singer mother and politically bent hippie father, her musical roots are in the soulful 1960′s Laurel Canyon scene. Her two … Continue reading

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Album review: BARRY PALMER – Night Thoughts

BARRY PALMER - Night Thoughts

(Hold Your Horses Records) Something of a well-kept secret, Barry Palmer is singer whose presence has permeated pop and rock since the 1970′s, and whose principal ‘claim to fame’ is being Mike Oldfield’s singer of choice on the 1984 ‘Crime … Continue reading

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Album review: SKARLETT RIOT – Tear Me Down

SKARLETT RIOT - Tear Me Down

Release date 25.03.13 Young North Lincolnshire 4 piece Skarlett Riot have embraced the energy of punk and meld it with bludgeoning hard rock riffery on their debut album ‘Tear Me Down’. An explosive rhythm section (Luke and Tom), and blistering … Continue reading

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Album review: ORIANTHI – Heaven In This Hell

ORIANTHI - Heaven In This Hell

Spinefarm Records [Release date 11.03.13] You don’t get endorsement by Carlos Santana and Steve Vai, and become the King Of Pop and Alice Cooper’s ‘must have’ lead guitarist without having two things – a) talent and b) image. And in … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVE GROHL & Others – Sound City Real To Reel

Sound City - Real To Reel

Sony Music Hot-housing for 24 hours in a studio using a legendary Neve 8028 mixer sounds like musical nirvana.  And indeed it was during the making of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album that Dave Grohl was introduced to the desk.  He bought … Continue reading

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