Author Archives: andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Chicago, melodic, Now, review, Robert Lamm, XXXVI | Comments Off

Gig review – DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL, Donington Park, Leicestershire, 13-15 June 2014

Posted on July 6, 2014 by andynathan

When it comes to UK festivals that specialise in rock, no one does it bigger than Download and its sheer size offers real choice for a variety of tastes. While not specifically a classic rock festival, there is still enough … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 13-15 June 2014, Aerosmith, ALTER BRIDGE, Dan Reed Network, Donington Park, Download, Download Festival, gig, Joe Bonamassa, Leicestershire, review, Status Quo, THE ANSWER, The Temperance Movement, Twisted Sister, Winger | Comments Off

Gig Review- TESLA – Islington Academy, London, 12 June 2014

Posted on June 28, 2014 by andynathan

Tesla’s UK tour in support of their excellent new album Simplicity was a blink and you miss it affair, this first London date preceding an appearance at Download the following day. But, blending old and new, it was a timely … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 June 2014, gig, hard rock, Islington Academy, London, melodic, review, Tesla | Comments Off

Album Review: NIGHT RANGER – High Road

Posted on May 24, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 06.06.14] It’s encouraging to see Night Ranger try and break out of the nostalgia circuit and proving their enduring relevance with new product, this album coming three years after a return to form in Somewhere In … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brad Gillis, High Road, Kelly Keagy, melodic rock, Night Ranger, review | Comments Off

Gig Review: H.E.A.T. – Highbury Garage, London, 16 May 2014

Posted on May 18, 2014 by andynathan

Never was the Glen Frey classic ‘The Heat is On’ a more appropriate choice as a band intro. Not only was the Highbury Garage a sweltering sweatbox on the hottest day of the year to date, but Sweden’s melodic rockers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16 May 2014, gig, H.E.A.T., hard rock, Highbury Garage, London, melodic, review, Sweden, Swedish | Comments Off

Gig Review: ECLIPSE – Camden Underworld, London, 14 May 2014

Posted on May 18, 2014 by andynathan

Having built quite a reputation with their critically acclaimed last two albums, Are You Ready To Rock in 2008 and 2012’s Bleed And Scream, it is perhaps surprising that this was Eclipse’s first headline UK show, a sole date squeezed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Eclipse, Erik Martensson, gig, hard rock, Magnus Henriksson, melodic rock, Robban Back, Sweden, W.E.T. | Comments Off

Gig Review: FRONTIERS ROCK FESTIVAL, Italy, 1-3 May 2014

Posted on May 14, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Rock Festival, Italy, May 2014

Famous Italian bands can be counted on the fingers of one hand, yet it is an Italian label, Frontiers Records, who have emerged as the world force in melodic rock. Starting with the underground acts, they have accumulated a huge … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged Adrenaline Rush, AOR, Crazy Lixx, Danger Danger, Eclipse, festival, Frontiers, gig, Hardline, Issa, Italy, Jake E Lee, Jeff Scott Soto, John Waite, LRS, May 2014, melodic rock, Moonland, Night Ranger, Pretty Maids, Red Dragon Cartel, review, Snakecharmer, Stryper, Tesla, Three Lions, W.E.T., Winger | Comments Off

Gig Review: VANDENBERG’S MOONKINGS – Islington Academy, London 24 April 2014

Posted on April 28, 2014 by andynathan

For a man with such a pedigree, both with his own band and spending longer as David Coverdale’s right hand man in Whitesnake than anyone else, Adrian Vandenberg’s profile has been surprisingly low for a number of years. However the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24 April 2014, Adrian Vandenberg, gig, hard rock, Islington Academy, London, melodic, review, Vandenberg's Moonkings, Whitesnake | Comments Off

Album Review: WINGER – Better Days Comin’

Posted on April 13, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 21.04.14] Nearly five years after return to form album Karma, in which their activities have ranged from Kip Winger composing ballet scores to Reb Beach playing guitar in Whitesnake, Winger are back with another album, which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Better Days Comin, hard rock, Kip Winger, Reb Beach, review, rock, Rod Morgenstein, Winger | Comments Off

Gig review: HOUSE OF LORDS, Coldspell, Lawless – Camden Underworld, London, 25 March 2014

Posted on March 31, 2014 by andynathan

Coldspell - Camden Underworld, 25 March 2014

London saw its second triple bill of melodic rock in a week, but a line-up with a difference, as bands on the Hard Rock Hell AOR bill sought gig opportunities while they were over in the UK. Originally this was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 March 2014, AOR, Camden Underworld, Coldspell, hard rock, House of Lords, James Christian.gig, LAWLESS, London, melodic, review | Comments Off

Gig Review: TYKETTO, Bonfire, Summers – The Garage, Highbury, London, 18 March 2014

Posted on March 24, 2014 by andynathan

TYKETTO - The Garage, Highbury, London, 18 March 2014

Tyketto must be high on the list of ones that got away. The East Coast melodic hard rockers released a debut album of stunning quality in 1991 only to be stymied by lack of record company promotion and the Nirvana-led … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 March 2014, Bonfire, Chris Green, Claus Lessman, Danny Vaughn, Furyon, gig, hard rock, Highbury, London, melodic, melodic rock, Pride, review, Summers, The Garage, Tyketto | Comments Off

Gig Review: GRAHAM BONNET/CHROME MOLLY, The Garage, Highbury, London, 19 March 2014

Posted on March 22, 2014 by andynathan

After a chequered career, veteran singer Graham Bonnet has decided to play on his past as Rainbow’s singer in a brief, albeit commercially successful period. He was back, in front of an unexpectedly large crowd playing a wholly Rainbow set … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 19 March 2014, Chrome Molly, gig, Graham Bonnet, hard rock, Highbury, London, Rainbow, review, The Garage | Comments Off

Gig Review: REUBEN ARCHER’S PERSONAL SIN – The Borderline, London, 12 March 2014

Posted on March 17, 2014 by andynathan

At an age when others of his generation may be reaching for the comfy slippers and the Saga and Stanna catalogues, Reuben Archer is moving forward with the vigour of a man half his age. After successfully reforming Stampede, the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 March 2014, Chris Clowsley, gig, heavy rock, London, Personal Sin, Reuben Archer, review, Rob Wolverson, Stampede, The Borderline | Comments Off

Album Review: DAUGHTRY – Baptized (Deluxe Edition)

Posted on March 8, 2014 by andynathan

19/RCA Records [Release Date 17.02.14] It may surprise those of us on this side of the pond, but the USA’s X Factor equivalent American Idol does occasionally spawn credible rock acts among the manufactured pop dross. One alumnus from the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, American Idol, Baptized, Chris Daughtry, DAUGHTRY, deluxe edition, pop, pop rock, review, rock | Comments Off

Album Review: OVERLAND – Epic

Posted on March 7, 2014 by andynathan

Escape Music [Release Date 24.02.14] Few can keep up with the prolific form of Steve Overland. The man with the golden tonsils has kept up a steady stream of releases whether with the reformed FM, Shadowman, The Ladder or under … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, epic, FM, Mike Slamer.melodic rock, Overland, review, Steve Overland | Comments Off

Album review: W.E.T. – Live In Stockholm

Posted on March 4, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 21.02.14] The nearest to a supergroup in the current melodic rock world, W.E.T. have within a short space of time become one of the darlings of the genre. So hot on the heels of last year’s excellent … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Jeff Scott Soto, Live In Stockholm, review, Robert Sall, Talisman, W.E.T., Work Of Art | Comments Off

Gig Review: DEL AMITRI, Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 7 February 2014

Posted on February 11, 2014 by andynathan

12 years after splitting up, Del Amitri made a welcome return, reuniting for an extensive tour culminating in this sold out date before an appreciative Hammersmith crowd, albeit one with very few people who will see 40 again. Initially I … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7 February 2014, Del Amitri, Eventim Apollo, gig, Hammersmith, Justin Currie, London, review | Comments Off

Gig Review: MOLLY HATCHET, O2 Islington Academy, 5 February 2014

Posted on February 11, 2014 by andynathan

For those of us too young to remember the pre-plane crash Skynyrd, Jacksonville’s Molly Hatchet were among the standard bearers for southern rock during our formative musical years, with a turbocharged, triple guitar boogie that made our own homegrown bands … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 February 2014, Molly Hatchet, O2 Islington Academy, review, southern rock | Comments Off

Gig review: I AM I, Barfly, Camden, 23 January 2014

Posted on February 2, 2014 by andynathan

Breaking a quiet January for gigs, the cramped surroundings of the Barfly was the London stop on a brief UK tour by I Am I, the new musical vehicle for former Dragonforce singer ZP Theart. As with many bills at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 23 January 2014, Barfly, Camden, Dragonforce, heavy rock, I Am I, London, metal, rock, ZP Theart | Comments Off

Gig review: STATUS QUO/10CC – 02 Arena, London, 15 December 2013

Posted on December 22, 2013 by andynathan

When GRTR!’s esteemed Live Editor Dave Wilson asked me to cover this show, I warned him that my review might be rather jaundiced, as I only recognised the original ‘Frantic Four’ line up as the real Quo. The annual Christmas … Continue reading →