Author Archives: andynathan

Album review: HAREM SCAREM -Thirteen

Posted on December 12, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 05.12.14] While never quite crossing over into mainstream success, few bands are talked of in such hushed tones in melodic rock circles as Harem Scarem. Having split in 2008 but reformed last year and included three … Continue reading →

Gig review: JOE ELLIOTT’s DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ/VEGA – The Garage, Highbury, London, 8 December 2014

Posted on December 10, 2014 by andynathan

Fan worship is the bedrock of music industry economics, but it is rare to see it coming from the other side of the monitors. However Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott has for many years openly sung the praises of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 December 2014, Def Leppard, gig, Highbury, Joe Elliott's Down 'N' Outz, London, melodic rock, Mott the Hoople, Quireboys, review, The Garage, Vega, Vixen | Comments Off

Gig review: GRAHAM BONNET – 02 Islington Academy 2, 1 December 2014

Posted on December 4, 2014 by andynathan

For someone whose live appearances have been sporadic in his home country over the years, it was a surprise to see Graham Bonnet doing a second tour of 2014. Unfortunately allied to timing it in the busiest period of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 December 2014, Beth-Ami Heavenstone, Conrado Pesinato, David Sinclair Four, Doogie White, gig, Graham Bonnet, London, Morpheus Rising, O2 Islington Academy, Rainbow, review | Comments Off

Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Clapham Grand, 28 November 2014

Posted on December 4, 2014 by andynathan

Big Country’s sophomore album Steeltown has had the full treatment to mark its 30th anniversary, first a deluxe reissue and then a tour in which the album is played in its entirety. The band did a similar thing with their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 28 November 2014, album, Big Country, Clapham Grand, London, review, rock | Comments Off

Gig review: BRYAN ADAMS – Wembley Arena, London, 26 November 2014

Posted on December 3, 2014 by andynathan

A recent discussion thread on social media was to list 15 albums that in some way had changed your musical life over the years. Bryan Adams’ Reckless would have been one such for me. I well remember as a headbanging … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 November 2014, Bryan Adams, gig, London, Reckless, review, rock, Wembley Arena | Comments Off

Gig review: FM – The Brook, Southampton, 21 November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by andynathan

Can it really be 30 years since the Overland brothers from Wildlife and former members of Samson and Diamond Head formed a new band, inspired by the then fashionable radio-friendly AOR sounds of the likes of Journey, Foreigner and Survivor, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21 November 2014, AOR, FM, gig, Hand of Dimes, melodic rock, Neville Macdonald, review, Southampton, Steve Overland, Summers, The Brook | Comments Off

Gig review: SANTA CRUZ – The Barfly, Camden, London, 17 November 2014

Posted on November 20, 2014 by andynathan

A whole generation after grunge was supposed to have killed it, the sleaze and glam scene continues to thrive with younger Scandinavian bands leading a revival. The likes of Hardcore Superstar and Crash Diet have already made a mark and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17 November 2014, Amorettes, Camden, Dirty Thrills, gigt, glam, London, review, rock, Santa Cruz, sleaze, sleaze rock, The Barfly | Comments Off

Album review: VEGA – Stereo Messiah

Posted on November 20, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.10.14] As one of the great hopes of British melodic rock Vega have not left the grass grow under their feet, this being their third album in under four years. It sees only minor tweaks to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Def Leppard, Joe Elliot, melodic rock, review, Stereo Messiah, Vega | Comments Off

Album Review: NEWMAN – S/T

Posted on November 13, 2014 by andynathan

[Release Date 22.10.14] After over 15 years of hard graft and a series of quality albums, Steve Newman has established himself as a respected name among the AOR cognoscenti, now happily getting the message out through more regular gigging. A lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, NEWMAN, review, Steve Newman | Comments Off

Gig review: ASIA, Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 2 November 2014

Posted on November 4, 2014 by andynathan

For a so-called supergroup Asia have shown remarkable longevity, but their profile is now much lower than it was in the heady days when their 1982 debut went multi-platinum, judging by a disappointing turnout at their first headline London show … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 November 2014, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, gig, John Wetton, London, melodic rock, review, Sam Coulson, Shepherd's Bush Empire | Comments Off

Gig review: MELODIC ROCK FEST 4, H.O.M.E.Bar, Arlington Heights,Chicago, USA, 3-5 October 2014

Posted on October 22, 2014 by andynathan

The Radio Sun - Melodic Rock Fest 4, Chicago, October 2014

After the success of the third Melodic Rock Fest last September, the attempt to bring to the Americans the cult melodic rock bands that are seen at Firefest and other places, melodicrock.com supremo Andrew McNeice swiftly moved forward with plans … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 7th Heaven, Adriangale, AOR, Bombay Black, Chicago, Eighty Six Happiness, festival, Gary Moon, gig, Grand Design, Guardian, H.E.A.T., Heaven's Edge, House Of Shakira, Jim Peterik, Johnny Lima, Madman's Lullaby, Maxx Explosion, melodic rock, Melodic Rock Fest 4, Mitch Malloy, Paul Laine, Radio Sun, STAN BUSH, Talon, Tango Down, USA, Work Of Art | Comments Off

Gig review: MR. BIG – Koko, Camden, London, 17 October 2014

Posted on October 22, 2014 by andynathan

Mr Big’s European tour to capitalise on their back-to-form new album ‘Stories We Could Tell’ squeezed in just a solitary UK show, their first in three years. It was unsurprising that the opulent surroundings of Koko were sold out, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17 October 2014, Billy Sheehan, Camden, Eric Martin, gig, hard rock, Koko, London, Matt Starr, melodic rock, Mr Big, Pat Torpey, Paul Gilbert, review, rock | Comments Off

Gig review: HOUSTON, The Barfly, Camden, London, 16 October 2014

Posted on October 21, 2014 by andynathan

When an AOR revival suddenly became flavour of the month late in 2010, the debut album by Swedes Houston was seen as the standard bearer of the new revolution. Even if live performances were a mixed bag, the quality of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16 October 2014, AOR, Big Time, Camden, gig, Houston, London, melodic rock, Mia Klose, review, The Barfly, The Spin | Comments Off

Gig review: DAUGHTRY, The Roundhouse, Camden, London, 12 October 2014

Posted on October 18, 2014 by andynathan

Daughtry - London Roundhouse, 12 October 2014

Chris Daughtry spoke to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio from deepest Virginia in August 2014. In this edit he chats about American Idol and his album releases. (6:07) Six months on from a pair of shows at Shepherds Bush Empire, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 October 2014, American Idol, Chris Daughtry, DAUGHTRY, gig, London, review, rock, Roundhouse | Comments Off

Album review: MR BIG – The Stories We Could Tell

Posted on October 15, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 29.09.14] Mr Big appear to be back to stay, despite the unfortunate news of drummer Pat Torpey’s progressive illness. Three years after returning with the somewhat dry sounding ‘What If’, this latest release sees them back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin, melodic rock, Mr Big, Paul Gilbert, review, The Stories We Could Tell | Comments Off

Gig review: KIP WINGER & FIONA – Borderline, London, 27 September 2014

Posted on October 1, 2014 by andynathan

KIP WINGER - Borderline, London, 27 September 2014

Despite a busy year for Winger, with the band touring the new Better Days Comin album as recently as June, Kip Winger’s London shows have now become an annual fixture in the calendar. As a bonus on this occasion one … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 September 2014, AOR, Borderline, Fiona, gig, Jorge Salan, Kip Winger, London, melodic rock, review, Winger | Comments Off

Gig review: ELECTRIC BOYS, Camden Underworld, London, 26 September 2014

Posted on September 29, 2014 by andynathan

Bad Touch - Camden Underworld, London, 26 September 2014

Since they reformed in 2009, Sweden’s own self proclaimed funk-o-metallers Electric Boys have been regular visitors to these shores, with this tour at least their fourth by my reckoning including festival appearances. Perhaps it is this over familiarity that has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 September 2014, Bad Touch, Camden Underworld, Electric Boys, gig, glam, London, metal, review | Comments Off

Album review: WORK OF ART – Framework

Posted on September 20, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 19.09.14] Few current bands in the world of melodic rock are of such reputed standing as Work of Art, the Swedes led by guitarist Robert Sall, also of W.E.T. Both their albums to date have been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Framework, interview, melodic rock, review, Robert Sall, Work Of Art | Comments Off

Album review: MOONLAND FEATURING LENNA KUURMAA

Posted on September 20, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 19.09.14) Lenna Kuurmaa was apparently one of Estonia’s biggest pop stars with her band Vanilla Ninja, but her desire to rock out has led her into the arms of Frontiers Records and what seem to be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, melodic rock, Moonland featuring Lenna Kuurmaa, review | Comments Off

Album review: BIG COUNTRY – Reissues

Posted on September 19, 2014 by andynathan

Universal Music [Release dates 03.08.14 and 27.09.14] Stuart Adamson may have died too soon, but his Big Country legacy seems to be in safe hands, whether it be surviving members continuing to tour under the name and even making a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Big Country, No Place Like Home, Peace in Our Time, pop, reissue, review, rock, Steeltown, Stuart Adamson, The Seer | Comments Off

Gig review: WEYFEST, Rural Life Centre, Tilford, Surrey – 29-31 August 2014

Posted on September 3, 2014 by andynathan

Now firmly established as one of the late fixtures on the summer gig calendar, Weyfest is a festival with a very distinct vibe. The wooded setting, in an olde worlde museum of rural life with reconstructions of old buildings, could best … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 10CC, August 2014, Big Country, blues, Deborah Bonham, Eddie & The Hot Rods, festival, gig, Jackie Lynton, Jo Harman, pop, review, rock, Sons of Icarus, Squeeze, Weyfest | Comments Off

Gig review: BOSTON, CHEAP TRICK – Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, 22 July 2014

Posted on August 6, 2014 by andynathan

In Boston’s own words ‘it’s been such a long time’ for UK fans who would need to be 50 or over to have seen their last shows here in 1979. To catch the legendary band whose self-titled 1976 monster arguably … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 July 2014, Albuquerque, AOR, Boston, Cheap Trick, gig, Kimberley Dahme, melodic rock, New Mexico USA, review, Robin Zander, Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Tom Scholz | Comments Off

Gig review: MOONDANCE JAM – Walker, Minnesota, 17-19 July 2014

Posted on August 5, 2014 by andynathan

There cannot be many places that match the ambience of Moondance Jam as a rock festival, set in beautiful countryside of woods and lakes in northern Minnesota and with the friendliest atmosphere that can be imagined. Surely the Mid-West of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged ALTER BRIDGE, AOR, Autograph, Badfinger, classic rock, Don Felder, festival, Foreigner, George Thorogood, gig, melodic rock, Moondance Jam, REO Speedwagon, Styx, USA, Wallflowers | Comments Off

Gig review: SNAKECHARMER – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 11 July 2014

Posted on July 14, 2014 by andynathan

Raw Glory - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 11 July 2014

Much like the lovingly recrafted Islington Assembly Hall where this gig took place, Snakecharmer are an example of how to reimagine a vintage classic and create something new. The classic rock ‘supergroup’, boasting respected alumni from the likes of Whitesnake, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 11 July 2014, Chris Ousey, gig, Harry James, Heavy Metal Kids, Islington Assembly Hall, Laurie Wisefield, London, Magnum, Mark Stanway, Micky Moody, Neil Murray, Raw Glory, review, rock, Snakecharmer, Whitesnake, Wishbone Ash | Comments Off

Album review: CHICAGO – Chicago XXXVI:Now

Posted on July 14, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 04.07.14] Chicago’s enduring habit of numbering each of their albums consecutively only draw attention to their longevity. XXXVI is their first album of new material since 2006’s XXX, and while the latter saw them collaborating with … Continue reading →