Author Archives: andynathan

Gig review: BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND – Tingley Coliseum, New Mexico, USA, 5 March 2019

Posted on March 14, 2019 by andynathan

Few artists embody the spirit of the American heartland quite as much as Bob Seger. While others- John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty- can lay equal claim to creating that distinctively American take on classic rock, only the Ann Arbor, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Alto Reed, Bob Seger, Craig Frost, gig, heartland rock, Jim 'Moose' Brown, Rob McNeeley, SIlver Bullet Band, USA | Leave a comment

Album review: TOBY HITCHCOCK – Reckoning

Posted on February 28, 2019 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 25.01.19] Best known as the man who brings Jim Peterik’s songs to life in Pride of Lions, this is Toby Hitchcock’s second solo album. His first way back in 2013 was written by the prolific Erik Martensson … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, Pride of Lions, review, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, 22 February 2019

Posted on February 26, 2019 by andynathan

After a lull of a decade or so, Blue Oyster Cult have resumed their love affair with the UK in a big way in the past four years. Show stealing supporting appearances at Ramblin’ Man and Stone Free were sandwiched … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Eric Bloom, gig, hard rock, review, Richie Castellano, Temperance Movement | Leave a comment

Gig review: KING KING – Koko, London, 7 February 2019

Posted on February 9, 2019 by andynathan

King King’s steady rise to prominence over the past decade has now taken on a new chapter with the band signed to a stateside management agency. However there are always casualties in the process of change and in this case, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7 February 2019, Alan Nimmo, Ash Wilson, blues rock, classic rock, gig, Jonny Dyke, King King, Koko, Lindsay Coulson, London, review, Sari Schorr | Leave a comment

Gig review: INGLORIOUS – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 1 February 2019

Posted on February 6, 2019 by andynathan

What seemed the inevitable rise to superstardom of classic rock hopefuls Inglorious has hit something of a rocky road in the last year or two. While they were touring bigger venues, initially well received ‘Inglorious 2’ album in hindsight found … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, City Of Thieves, Dan Stevens, Danny Dela Cruz, gig, hard rock, Inglorious, Nathan James, Phil Beaver, review | Leave a comment

Album review: STATE OF SALAZAR- Superhero

Posted on January 31, 2019 by andynathan

Release Date 07.12.18 Its four years since State of Salazar released their debut album, and also became the opening band at the very first Frontiers Rock Festival in Italy (to my frustration I was stuck en route waiting for non-existent … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Kevin Hosford, Marcus Nygren, melodic rock, State of Salazar | Leave a comment

Album review: PALACE – Binary Music

Posted on January 31, 2019 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 07.12.18] Alongside a fast rising reputation as contributing songwriter and guitarist to a number of melodic rock releases, Michael Palace has a career of his own. 2016’s ‘Master of the Universe’ was an impressive debut but for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Daniel Flores, melodic rock, Michael Palace, Palace, pop rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: SARI SCHORR – 100 Club, London, 18 January 2019

Posted on January 21, 2019 by andynathan

The January blues are a concept many of us are familiar with. Days are grey and nights are cold, noses are pressed to the grindstone with Christmas festivities over, and to cap it all virtue signalling campaigns encourage us to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Ash Wilson, blues, blues rock, Bob Fridzema, gig, London Blues Week, review, Sari Schorr, Sharrie Williams | Leave a comment

Album review: NORDIC UNION- Second Coming

Posted on December 18, 2018 by andynathan

Release Date 9.11.18 Erik Martensson has maintained a work rate in 2018 that would put the Stalinist-era miner Stakhanov to shame. His own band Eclipse had a quieter year but on top of his significant participation in the W.E.T. and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, melodic rock, Nordic Union, Pretty Maids, Ronnie Atkins | Leave a comment

Album review: TEN- Illuminati

Posted on December 18, 2018 by andynathan

Release Date 9.11.18 Ten were standard bearers of the then underground melodic rock scene in the nineties and have recovered after a lean spell to resume a prolific recording schedule- this being their sixth album in this decade alone. Singer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Gary Hughes, melodic rock, TEN | Leave a comment

Album review: ACE – Five-a-Side/Time For Another/No Strings

Posted on December 18, 2018 by andynathan

BGO Records [Release Date 12.10.18] In most people’s eyes, Ace are a curiosity remembered only for an admittedly classic transatlantic hit single in ‘How Long’ and for giving a first break to one of the UK’s most respected blue eyed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Ace, album, Five-a-Side, Jon Woodhead, No Strings, Paul Carrack, reissue, review, Time For Another | Leave a comment

Album review: CREYE – s/t

Posted on December 12, 2018 by andynathan

Release Date 12.10.18 It is a sign of the march of time that former new kids on the of Scandinavian melodic rock block are now being succeeded by a third wave of impossibly young bands, and alongside the likes of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andreas Gullstrand, AOR, Creye, melodic rock, Robin Jidhed | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Camden Underworld, London, 30 November 2018

Posted on December 3, 2018 by andynathan

The Night Flight Orchestra are an intriguing proposition and proof that whatever their chosen musical field, musicians invariably draw on a love of other styles. In their case, singer Bjorn Strid and guitarist David Andersson of Swedish metallers Soilwork, discovered … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Bjorn Strid, gig, melodic rock, Night Flight Orchestra, review, soft rock, Soilwork, the Night Flight Orchestra | 1 Comment

Gig review: THE NEW ROSES – Camden Underworld, London, 29 November 2018

Posted on December 2, 2018 by andynathan

The New Roses are making up for lost time to launch a concerted push on the UK. Big in their native Germany, for some reason it has taken three albums and an EP, culminating in last year’s ‘One More For … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 29 November 2018, Camden Underworld, gig, hard rock, London, One More From the Road, review, The Brink, the New Roses, Timmy Rough | Leave a comment

Gig review: TERRY BROCK – Hope and Anchor, Islington, London, 22 November 2018

Posted on November 28, 2018 by andynathan

One of melodic rock’s great voices, Terry Brock is best known for lifting Strangeways’ ‘Native Sons’ and ‘Walk In The Fire’ albums to classic status. There is however much more to the Georgia native’s career, whether as an in-demand backing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 November 2018, Anna Portaluppi, AOR, gig, Hope And Anchor, Islington, London, melodic rock, NEWMAN, review, Shaun Bessant, Steve Newman, Strangeways, Terry Brock | Leave a comment

Gig review: DAN REED NETWORK – 229 Club, London, 23 November 2018

Posted on November 27, 2018 by andynathan

Photo: Simon Green Many bands pay lip service to their fans but Dan Reed Network have something of a unique communion with theirs, to the extent that their new album ‘Origins’ was recorded across the world, mixing old and new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged album, Brion James, Dan Reed, Dan Reed Network, funk rock, gig, Hollowstar, Mason Hill, Melvin Brannon, Origins, review, Rob Daiker | Leave a comment

Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Under The Bridge, London, 16 November 2018

Posted on November 21, 2018 by andynathan

For Big Country, their 1983 album ‘The Crossing’ is the gift that keeps on giving. It catapulted them to fame, established their trademark sound and to this day contains most of their best loved songs. Shortly after reforming at the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Big Country, Bruce Watson, gig, Jamie Watson, Mark Brzezicki, review, Simon Hough, The Crossing | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHN FOGERTY AND STEVE MILLER BAND – 02 Arena, London, 25 October 2018

Posted on November 10, 2018 by andynathan

JOHN FOGERTY - 02 Arena London, 25 October 2018

Bluesfest has become a fixture in the gig calendar with its October concerts over successive nights in the different venues in the 02 complex. The definition of blues has been elastic to say the least- with Chic, Steely Dan and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bluesfest, classic rock, Creedence Clearwater Revival, gig, John Fogerty, review, Steve Miller, Steve Miller Band | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROCKINGHAM FESTIVAL – Nottingham Trent University Students Union, 19-21 October 2018

Posted on October 30, 2018 by andynathan

Tokyo Motor Fist - ROCKINGHAM FESTIVAL, October 2018

Now in its fourth year, anticipation had been steadily growing ever since the line up was announced in February for Rockingham, which accurately bills itself as ‘three days of the finest melodic hard rock from around the world’. Proof of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged Age of Reflection, Ammunition, AOR, Bigfoot, Boulevard, Creye, Departed, festival, Find Me, gig, Glass Tiger, Mason Hill, Massive, melodic rock, Nelson, Pink Cream 69, Pretty Maids, review, Rockingham, Tokyo Motor Fist, Vixen, Warrant, White Widdow, Wildness | Leave a comment

Gig review: WISHBONE ASH – Islington Academy, London, 18 October 2018

Posted on October 27, 2018 by andynathan

For all the quality of their recorded product, Wishbone Ash have always best been experienced in a live setting. It was therefore entirely appropriate that this year’s remarkable ‘Vintage Years’ box set included CD’s of no less than eight previously … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Powell, Bob Skeat, gig, hard rock, Joe Crabtree, Mark Abrahams, melodic rock, review, twin guitars, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Album review: GROUNDBREAKER

Posted on October 17, 2018 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 14.09.18] While FM have come back better and more consistently diverse than ever, notably with this year’s ‘Atomic Generation’, many of the AOR purists among their fanbase still hanker for a repeat of their 1986 debut ‘Indiscreet’. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Delvecchio, AOR, FM, Groundbreaker, melodic rock, review, Robert Sall, Steve Overland, Work Of Art | Leave a comment

Album review: TREAT – Tunguska

Posted on October 17, 2018 by andynathan

Release Date 14.09.18 Elder statesmen of the thriving Scandinavian melodic rock scene Treat have, since reforming, pursued an updated sound rather than just revisit past glories. But unlike their great contemporaries Europe, they have done so without losing touch with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anders Wikstrom, melodic rock, Patrick Appelgren, review, Robert Ernlund, Treat | Leave a comment

Gig review: PUNKY MEADOWS AND FRANK DIMINO (Angel) – Camden Underworld, London, 13 October 2018

Posted on October 17, 2018 by andynathan

PUNKY MEADOWS AND FRANK DIMINO OF ANGEL - Camden Underworld, London, 13 October 2018

Back in the late seventies, when news travelled a lot slower than in today’s globalised world, the average British rock fan was mainly reared on home grown bands with the odd colonial interloper like AC/DC and Rush. American hard rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 October 2018, Angel, Camden Underworld, Frank Dimino, gig, Heavy Pettin', London, melodic rock, Punky Meadows, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: KEE MARCELLO – Camden Underworld, London, 12 October 2018

Posted on October 16, 2018 by andynathan

Thirty years ago Europe proved The Final Countdown was no flash in the pan by recording their follow up album Out Of This World. Having played its predecessor to death, I was initially underwhelmed, but over the years it has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 October 2018, Camden Underworld, Europe, gig, Kee Marcello, London, melodic rock, Out Of This World, P-O Nilsson, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 5 October 2018

Posted on October 10, 2018 by andynathan

2018 is seeing a concerted attempt to cement the Wishbone Ash legacy. A box set that sets a new benchmark of comprehensiveness and packaging, attracted renewed interest in the band’s underappreciated back catalogue. Meantime, founder member Martin Turner, having milked … Continue reading →