Author Archives: andynathan

Album review: THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Aeromantic

NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA- Aeromantic

Nuclear Blast [Release Date 28.02.20] One of the unlikeliest phenomena in the rock world in recent times have been the Night Flight Orchestra, their reputation and exposure growing over what is now a five album career. Many artists have drawn … Continue reading

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Gig review: PAUL CARRACK – London Palladium, 14 March 2020

PAUL CARRACK- London Palladium, 14 March 2020

He may not be the household name his talent deserves, but after being a founder member of Ace, singing on some of Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics best loved hits, and a respected session musician with a long list … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER – Nells Jazz and Blues, West Kensington, London, 29 February 2020

ROMEO

February 29th in a leap year is, by tradition, the one day where a woman can propose to a man. So there was a neat symmetry that a rare gigging opportunity on this day was for a band both named … Continue reading

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Gig review: MYKE GRAY featuring Kim Jennett – Camden Underworld, London, 23 February 2020

MYKE GRAY featuring Kim Jennett- Camden Underworld, London, 23 February 2020

I’ve been an admirer over the years of Myke Gray’s  very fluent, technically accomplished guitar playing style, particularly so as he has always been complemented by powerful, bluesy vocalists, be it in Jagged Edge, Skin or Red White and Blues. … Continue reading

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Gig review: JARED JAMES NICHOLS/COLLATERAL – Gibson Brands Studio, London, 24 February 2020

JARED JAMES NICHOLS/COLLATERAL- Gibson Brands Studio, London, 24 February 2020

One of the most common gripes on social media when bands announce tours is ‘why aren’t they playing anywhere near me?’. With Jared James Nichols and Collateral going on a nine date nationwide spring tour excuses will be thinner than … Continue reading

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Album review: OUTLAWS – Dixie Highway

OUTLAWS- Dixie Highway

Frontiers [Release Date 26.02.20] The Outlaws are a too easily neglected part of southern rock history, enjoying success with a unique style that combined melodic, almost country-ish songwriting with the sonic attack of what became known as the ‘triple guitar … Continue reading

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Gig review: BETH HART – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, 8 February 2020

Beth Hart has certainly established a large and loyal following in the UK, reward for the magnetic Californian’s intensive touring over here. Way back in 2008, on an early assignment for GRTR!,  I saw her at a tiny club, the … Continue reading

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Gig review: BERNIE MARSDEN/Deborah Bonham – Under the Bridge, London, 24 January 2020

BERNIE MARSDEN/Deborah Bonham- Under the Bridge, London, 24 January 2020

You might say it was a case of ‘Blues is the colour’ as Under the Bridge, located beneath the East Stand at Chelsea FC,  played host to one of London Blues Month’s highest-profile gigs. It lies squarely within the wealthiest … Continue reading

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Gig review: SAVOY BROWN – 100 Club, London, 18 January 2020

SAVOY BROWN- 100 Club, London, 18 January 2020

The marketing for the now traditional January London Blues Month is a mocked up, retro-style handbill.  Someone who can remember those days is Kim Simmonds. He may not have the high profile of other guitar contemporaries of the British blues … Continue reading

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Gig review: COLLATERAL – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 10 January 2020

COLLATERAL- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 10 January 2020

2020 promises to be a big year for Collateral, with their debut full-length album out in February to capitalise on the growing buzz around them. Indeed GRTR!’s writers voted the Kentish rockers the breakthrough act for 2020 in our end … Continue reading

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Gig review: SWEET – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 18 December 2019

SWEET- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 18 December 2019

After many years as strangers in their home country, Sweet have become a fixture since their well-received support slot to Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow at 2017’s Stone Free Festival. This is the third year running they have played a London show … Continue reading

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Album review: WORK OF ART – Exhibits

WORK OF ART- Exhibits

Release Date 8.11.19 It’s been five years since Work of Art’s third album ‘Framework’ was voted GRTR!’s melodic rock album of 2014, after which they went on an extended hiatus. However this welcome return has shown no change in philosophy … Continue reading

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Gig review: HEAT FESTIVAL – Ludwigsburg, Germany, 30 November- 1 December 2019

HEAT FESTIVAL- Ludwigsburg, Germany, 30 November- 1 December 2019

Having grown steadily since its inception in 2008, the HEAT Festival in Ludwigsburg, just outside Stuttgart, can lay claim to being one of the longest continuously running melodic rock festivals in Europe.  For most of the last few years their … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT – Subterania, London, 5 December 2019

RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT- Subterania, London, 5 December 2019

Proof of the enduring appeal of classic rock is the success over seven years of residencies in Las Vegas of the ‘Raiding the Rock Vault’ show. The concept is deceptively simple,  with live playing from a band of seasoned musicians, … Continue reading

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Gig review: CANCER ON THE ROCKS – Bush Hall, London, 23 November 2019

 CANCER ON THE ROCKS- Bush Hall, London, 23 November 2019

Concerts are one of the more pleasurable staples of charity fundraising activity – vastly preferable, at least in my eyes, to bungee jumps, head shaves or ice buckets. After an event in the North-West last year, the Cancer On The … Continue reading

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Gig review: GRAND SLAM/Bad Touch – Camden Underworld, London, 22 November 2019

GRAND SLAM/Bad Touch- Camden Underworld, London, 22 November 2019

One of the great sadnesses of my formative music years was the failure of Philip Lynott’s post- Thin Lizzy outfit to get as far as a record deal- despite their reputation as a live act, including as support to Status … Continue reading

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Gig review: BUCK & EVANS – 100 Club, London, 19 November 2019

BUCK & EVANS- 100 Club, London, 19 November 2019

When I saw them at the prestigious 100 Club only six months ago, Buck and Evans were still previewing songs from an album that, like Billy Bunter’s postal order or an election manifesto promise, was constantly  about to be delivered- … Continue reading

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Gig review: MIDNITE CITY – The Lounge, Archway, London, 8 November 2019

MIDNITE CITY- The Lounge, Archway, London, 8 November 2019

The list of successful UK melodic rock acts is a frustratingly short one, but Midnite City must be going about things the right way. After releasing a pair of excellent albums in short succession they recently enjoyed the prestige of … Continue reading

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Gig review: BRIAN DOWNEY’S ALIVE AND DANGEROUS – Underworld, Camden, London, 7 November 2019

BRIAN DOWNEY

While Phil Lynott was the public face and voice of Thin Lizzy and the twin lead guitars their identifiable sound, the contribution of drummer Brian Downey throughout the band’s original existence should never be underestimated. He was even tempted back … Continue reading

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Gig review: MASON HILL/Keylock/Cormac Neeson – The Black Heart, Camden, London, 5 November 2019

MASON HILL/Keylock/Cormac Neeson- The Black Heart, Camden, London- 5 November 2019

While classic rock may no longer sit in the mainstream, the contemporary scene has continuously been improving and is now arguably at its healthiest for many years, helped by sympathetic radio stations and websites (or both in GRTR!’s case!) This … Continue reading

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Gig review: SARI SCHORR – Water Rats, London, 4 November 2019

SARI SCHORR- Water Rats, London, 4 November 2019

2019 has been something of a breakthrough year for powerful blues rocker Sari Schorr. The New Yorker began the year with a prestigious Blues Week slot at the 100 Club then as a very well matched support for King King. … Continue reading

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Gig review: GOODBYE JUNE – Colours, Hoxton, London, 29 October 2019

GOODBYE JUNE- Colours, Hoxton, London, 29 October 2019

There seems to be a never ending series of hirsute young bands, influenced by their parents’ record collections, coming out of the USA, and the southern states in particular. One such is Goodbye June who first appeared on my radar … Continue reading

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Gig review: INGLORIOUS – 02 Academy, Oxford, 28 October 2019

INGLORIOUS, 02 Academy, Oxford, 28 October 2019

After their much publicised line up changes 2019 has been a year of inglorious putting in the hard yards to regain career momentum. A February tour and well-received festival appearances were followed by this second tour of the year, covering … Continue reading

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Gig review: FOCUS/Chantel McGregor – Under the Bridge, London, 25 October 2019

FOCUS/Chantel McGregor- Under the Bridge, London, 25 October 2019

This show in one of London’s more enjoyably upscale venues was an opportunity for me to kill two birds with one stone, as well as bringing together two contrasting acts in an interesting pairing. Chantel McGregor has been a rising … Continue reading

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Gig review: KISSIN’ DYNAMITE – Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

KISSIN

Kissin’ Dynamite have over a decade’s worth of albums to their name, but the young Germans have managed to pass me by until I became aware their last album ‘Ecstasy’ was receiving rave reviews. Yet this sole UK date of … Continue reading

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