Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: CHASING VIOLETS – Jade Hearts

Posted on May 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

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

Posted on April 29, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Age Sten Nilsen, album, At Your Service, funk, fusion, Jan Holberg Project, Joe Lynn Turner, Rainbow, review, rock, Sense Of Time, Tony Carey, Wig Wam | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE SATRIANI – Unstoppable Momentum

Posted on April 27, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, guitar, guitarist, Joe Satriani, Mike Keneally, review, rock, Unstoppable Momentum, Vinnie Colauita | 1 Comment

Album review: SHADOWQUEEN – Don’t Tell

Posted on April 24, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Australia, Don't Tell, hard rock, review, Shadowqueen | Leave a comment

Album review: DEEP PURPLE: Now What?!

Posted on April 24, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best Of 2013 | Tagged album, Deep Purple, Don Airey, hard rock, Iain Paice, Ian Gillan, Now What?!, review, Roger Glover, Steve Morse | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 23, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, best of, Craig John Davidson, Derrin Nauendorf, Distant Empires, Erica Nockalls, Imminent Room, Kris Kristofferson, review, rock, singer, songwriter, The Last Laugh | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 23, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Davies, Garth Hudson, Graham Parker, music hall, parlour, review, Richard Thompson, The Beautiful Old, Turn Of The Century Songs | Leave a comment

Album review: RUTH MOODY – These Wilder Things

Posted on April 23, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Mark Knopfle, review, rock, roots, Ruth Moody, singer, songwriter, These Wilder Things | Leave a comment

Album review: ALANIS MORISSETTE – Live At Montreux 2012

Posted on April 23, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Alanis Morissette, album, DVD, Jagged Little Pill, Live At Montreux 2012, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THEA GILMORE – Regardless

Posted on April 23, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Fulfill [Release date 14.05.13] 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Regardless, review, rock, singer songwriter, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 22, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 April 2013, Biff Byford, gig, heavy metal, heavy rock, Leamington Assembly, Redline, review, Saxon, The Quireboys | 2 Comments

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

Posted on April 22, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 15 April 2013, gig, Karl Wallinger, Manchester, pop, review, RNCM, rock, singer, songwriter, Todd Dorigo, World Party | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 22, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged 4 April 2013, FHOBI, Nottingham, Rescue Rooms, Review of gig featuring metal rock bands Il Nino, Sacred Mother Tongue | Leave a comment

Album review: WOLF PEOPLE – Fain

Posted on April 15, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Fain, prog, progressive, psych, psychedelic, review, rock, Wolf People | Leave a comment

Album review: DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM – Not Utopia

Posted on April 13, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Doris Brendel, Not Utopia, pop, review, rock, Violet Hour | Leave a comment

Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – State

Posted on April 12, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amsterdam, Deluxe, Limited Edition, Metropole Orchestra, review, rock, State, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: TREETOP FLYERS – The Mountain Moves

Posted on April 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, country, review, rock, roots, The Mountain Moves, Treetop Flyers | Leave a comment

Album review: RILO KILEY – Rkives

Posted on April 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, review, Rilo Kiley, Rkives, rock, roots | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN REEL – Darkness & The Light

Posted on April 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Ben Reel, Darkness & The Light, inger, review, rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: MELISSA GREENER – Transistor Corazon

Posted on April 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Melissa Greener, review, singer, songwriter, Transistor Corazon | Leave a comment

Album review: BARRY PALMER – Night Thoughts

Posted on April 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

(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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Barry Palmer, Mike Oldfield, Night Thoughts, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Triumvirat | Leave a comment

Album review: SKARLETT RIOT – Tear Me Down

Posted on April 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, review, rock, Skarlett Riot, Tear Me Down | Leave a comment

Album review: ORIANTHI – Heaven In This Hell

Posted on April 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alice Cooper, Dave Stewart, guitar, guitarist, Heaven In This Hell, Orianthi, review, rock | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 1, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Goss, Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, review, Rick Springfield, Sound City, soundtrack, Stevie Nicks | Leave a comment

Album review: RORY GALLAGHER – Live At The Montreux Festival 1975-94

Posted on April 1, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Salvo Records [Release date 08.04.13] Although these recordings are available separately (previously released in 2006 and 2008) this is the first time they are available as a dual-format release. The compilers have brought together a single CD which spans a … Continue reading →