Author Archives: andynathan

Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – 100 Club, London, 3 October 2024

Posted on October 9, 2024 by andynathan

2024 has seen Wishbone Ash founder member Martin Turner tour a set based around the Live Dates Volume Two album: perhaps less heralded than its predecessor, this 1980 release shows the ‘Mark 2’ phase of the band at their finest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 100 Club, Danny Willson, gig, Live Dates Volume Two, Martin Turner, Misha Nikolic, Sonny Flint, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLUE NATION- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 27 September 2024

Posted on October 5, 2024 by andynathan

Blue Nation are a band making a growing name for themselves. They’ve actually been around quite some while, but about 18 months ago I’d been impressed enough by their support slot with Laurence Jones to buy a CD, so the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Blue Nation, blues rock, gig, Luke Weston, Neil Murdoch, Nick Sharman, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Gig review: NICK LOWE AND LOS STRAITJACKETS- London Palladium, 24 September 2024

Posted on September 29, 2024 by andynathan

Nick Lowe is one of rock’s most distinguished statesmen, with a history that includes his time in Brinsley Schwarz, seen as the original pub rockers, then a mainstay of the new wave as producer, songwriter and performer. Indeed there is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Fairweather Low, gig, Los Straitjackets, New Wave, NICK LOWE, Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets, pub rock | Leave a comment

Gig review:TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 12 September 2024

Posted on September 16, 2024 by andynathan

Last year Tyketto were out on a triple co-headliner with Dare and FM which culminated here at Islington Academy. This year, on the heels of a couple of outdoor festival shows, they took top billing on another three band bill, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dan Byrne, Danny Vaughn, Ged Rylands, gig, Harry Scott Elliott, Little Caesar, melodic rock, Ron Young, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Book review: Rock Classics – MEAT LOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL by Geoffrey Feakes

Posted on September 16, 2024 by andynathan

Sonicbond Publishing (Publication date: 26.04.24) Having issued numerous tomes in their two series of ‘On Track’ song by song analysis, and looking at a band in a particular decade, Sonicbond take this to a fresh level of detail with a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Bat Out Of Hell, book, Geoffrey Feakes, Jim Steinman, Meat Loaf | Leave a comment

Gig review: CASSIDY PARIS – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 August 2024

Posted on August 30, 2024 by andynathan

Australian singer Cassidy Paris is almost a veteran at 21, having recorded her first EP at 16, and chalked up a fair few air miles since including to the UK. She’s played at various festivals and support slots but summer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7 August 2024, Alex Rogowski, Cassidy Paris, gig, London, melodic rock, Raynes Park, review, Steve Janevski, The Cavern, Tom Rogowski | Leave a comment

Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Fire In The Night Live

Posted on August 29, 2024 by andynathan

Harmony Factory (Release date 05.07.24) In the seventies, the double live album was the apogee of a band’s career, and indeed greats like Thin Lizzy, UFO and Peter Frampton all made what most people consider their definitive record that way. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, Dean Howard, Greg Hart, live album, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Gig review- H.E.A.T, TYKETTO, DARE – Chepstow Castle, 17 August 2024

Posted on August 28, 2024 by andynathan

The Great British outdoors now caters to the infinite demand for outdoor summer gigs in a variety of settings: farms and country parks, stately homes and now concerts in the grounds of historic castles seem to be the latest concept, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Castell Roc, Chris Childs, Danny Vaughn, Dare, Darren Wharton, Dave Dalone, Don Crash, gig, H.E.A.T., Harry Scott Elliott, Jimmy Jay, Jona Tee, Kenny Leckremo, Marc Roberts, melodic rock, Tyketto, Vinny Burns | Leave a comment

Gig review: FIREVOLT FESTIVAL – Whitebottom Farm, Stockport, 9-11 August 2024

Posted on August 23, 2024 by andynathan

I will freely tell anyone who will listen that Firevolt has, within a very short space of time, become my favourite festival in the UK. The festival is in beautiful surroundings, on a farm at the end of a delightful … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Crashdiet, Darren Wharton, Dead Man's Whiskey, Doomsday Outlaw, festival, Firevolt, Florence Black, gig, Gun, Jayler, Karma Effect, Kira Mac, Laurence Jones, Loz Campbell, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Ransom, Renegade, Revenant, South Of Salem, Stone Broken, The Hot One Two, The Last Internationale, The Treatment, Thieves Of Liberty, Trucker Diablo, Unknown Refuge, Vandenberg, Vintage Caravan, We Three Kings, White Tyger, Xander and the Peace Pirates | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAVE RIVAL- Fight or Flight

Posted on August 16, 2024 by andynathan

Independent (Release Date 16.08.24) Brave Rival have become one of my favourite live bands over the past 18 months, with brilliant dual female vocals, excellent musicianship and a warm hearted stage show. 2022’s impressive debut album ‘Life’s Machine’ was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Dedman, blues rock, Brave Rival, Chloe Jospehine, Donna Peters, Ed Clarke, Fight or Flight, Lindsey Bonnick | Leave a comment

Gig review: MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL – Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent, 20 July 2024

Posted on August 14, 2024 by andynathan

Over its five years Ramblin’ Man Festival in Kent established itself as one of the festivals of choice for us middle-aged rockers with a relaxed atmosphere and selection of bands from variety of classic rock genres, both old and new. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Daxx and Roxane, festival, gig, Maid of Stone, Scarlet Rebels, South Of Salem, the Commoners, The Warning, Those Damn Crows, Tyketto, Wayward Sons, When Rivers Meet, Wolfmother | Leave a comment

Gig review: MALMO MELODIC – Plan B, Malmo, Sweden, 27-29 July 2024

Posted on August 7, 2024 by andynathan

Scandinavia, and Sweden in particular, is the undisputed epicentre of the melodic rock community with a seemingly endless stream of bands emerging. There have been festivals in Malmo pre-pandemic (Melodic Rock Fest and the Swedish AOR Convention) so when last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7th Crystal, Alicate, AOR, Boys From Heaven, Care of Night, Chez Kane, Dare, Darren Wharton, festival, Gaeleri, gig, Grand, Houston, JD Miller, melodic rock, Nubian Rose, Perfect Plan, Pretty Maids, Remedy, Romeo's Daughter, Ronnie Atkins, Roulette, Streetlight, Transatlantic Radio, Wildness | Leave a comment

Gig review: AC/DC – Wembley Stadium, London, 3 July 2024

Posted on July 22, 2024 by andynathan

Over recent years, AC/DC seem to have transcended our own world of rock’n’ roll to have a wider cultural resonance. Fans range from Prince William who allegedly works out to Thunderstruck’ to Ally McCoist whose wide-eyed ‘is that AC/DC?’ enthusiasm … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AC/DC, Angus Young, Brian Johnson, Chris Chaney, gig, Matt Laug, Pretty Reckless, PWRUP, Stevie Young, Taylor Momsen | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL – Rebellion, Manchester, 29 June 2024

Posted on July 16, 2024 by andynathan

Although the UK live scene is thriving, thanks largely to the efforts of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, those of us with a specific interest in the melodic rock and AOR scene, weaned on the glory years of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Atack, festival, Gabrielle de Val, gig, melodic rock, Nitrate, Remedy, Saracen, Tower Of Fire, White Skies | Leave a comment

Gig review: SHANIA TWAIN- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 7 July 2024

Posted on July 12, 2024 by andynathan

Shania Twain being reviewed by a website devoted to rock music? Hear me out for a moment. Her multimillion selling ‘Come On Over’ album changed the relationship between the previously insular world of country and the wider rock and pop … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged British Summer Time, country, country rock, gig, Hyde Park, Shania Twain, The Corrs | Leave a comment

Gig review: SCORPIONS – Wembley Arena, London, 8 June 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024 by andynathan

As one of my all time favourite bands, and one whose commercial breakthrough came earlier in this country than most, it has been a disappointment that we have not seen more of the Scorpions in recent years. Presumably on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Extreme, Gary Cherone, gig, Klaus Meine, Love at First Sting, Mathias Jabs, Mikkey Dee, Nuno Bettencourt, Rudolf Schenker, Scorpions | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOBY JEPSON- 02 Academy 2, Islington, 9 June 2024

Posted on June 25, 2024 by andynathan

The format of a spoken word tour, interspersed with a few songs, is growing in popularity, but not everyone has the right skill set to carry it off. Toby Jepson is one such with his cunningly titled ‘My Life in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, Dave Kemp, gig, Little Angels, Matt Mitchell, Toby Jepson, Wayward Sons | Leave a comment

Gig review: RICHARD MARX – Royal Albert Hall, London, 22 May 2024

Posted on June 20, 2024 by andynathan

Richard Marx only plays the finest London venues when he comes over to the UK. Building on some memorable acoustic shows at the Union Chapel in Autumn 2022, he announced a fuller UK tour which culminated in this show at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, gig, J. Blynn, John Oates, melodic rock, Nathan East, Richard Marx, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND – Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland, 19 May 2024

Posted on June 14, 2024 by andynathan

Less than 13 months after his pair of Hyde Park shows and fortunately recovered from an ulcer complaint that led to autumn gigs in the USA being cancelled, Bruce Springsteen was back on a longer European tour with the E … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bruce Springsteen, Croke Park, Dublin, E Street Band, gig, Jake Clemons, Max Weinberg, Nils Lofgren | Leave a comment

Album review: COLLATERAL- Should’ve Known Better

Posted on June 8, 2024 by andynathan

Cargo Records [Release date: 24.05.24] After bursting on the scene five or six years ago, Kent melodic rockers Collateral’s rise to the top has been a bumpy one – which has included the pandemic striking at the very moment they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Angelo Tristan, Collateral, Dan Weller, Louis Malagodi, melodic rock, New Wave of Classic Rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROBIN TROWER – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 28 May 2024

Posted on June 4, 2024 by andynathan

Very few of the greats of the classic era of British rock guitarists are still active- a fact brought home by the loss of Jeff Beck and Bernie Marsden in the last couple of years while still at the peak … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, Chris Taggart, Connolly Hayes, Frankie Connolly, gig, guitar, Jess Hayes, Richard Watts, Robin Trower | Leave a comment

Gig review: COLLATERAL – Camden Underworld, London, 26 May 2024

Posted on June 3, 2024 by andynathan

The release of ‘Should’ve Known Better’, their excellent second album (third if you count the album of mainly remixed songs with added special guests ‘Rewired’) is a pivotal moment in Collateral’s chequered career. So it was only fitting that, after … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Album Launch, Angelo Tristan, Ben Edwards, Collateral, gig, Jack Bentley-Smith, Louis Malagodi, melodic rock, New Wave of Classic Rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: BRYAN ADAMS – Royal Albert Hall, London, 14 May 2024

Posted on May 31, 2024 by andynathan

Two years ago, I was present all three nights as Bryan Adams played a memorable residency at the Albert Hall, playing a classic album each night (subsequently released in less than satisfactory fashion on DVD). I thought that was a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Bryan Adams, Gary Breit, gig, Keith Scott, melodic rock, Pat Steward, Reckless, Sol Walker | Leave a comment

Album review: FM – Old Habits Die Hard

Posted on May 24, 2024 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.05.24) FM appear to be constantly on tour, and yet between that activity they somehow find time to consistently write and release a new album every two or three years. ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ actually marks … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, FM, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Old Habits Die Hard, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review: MIDNITE CITY- Downstairs at The Dome, London, 11 May 2024

Posted on May 21, 2024 by andynathan

Midnite City gigs used to be quite rare down south, as the melodic rockers concentrated on the north and Midlands where that particular scene always seems more established. Yet in relatively short order, 11 months after they played Camden’s Black … Continue reading →