Author Archives: Davoski

Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – The Grace, London, 26 November 2024

damn-truth-4-21

I saw The Damn Truth last Summer at the Islington Academy and was impressed. Eighteen months later, the Montreal rockers were back in town, playing to a sold out The Grace, and put in an even better show. The band … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BLACK CROWES – Happiness Bastards

THE BLACK CROWES – Happiness Bastards

Silver Arrow [Release date: 15.03.24] Well, seeing as I picked this as one of my albums of the year, I really ought to review it! Released in March, it is refreshing to pen a few words about an album I’ve … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: MOGGS MOTEL – Moggs Motel

Album review: MOGGS MOTEL – Moggs Motel

Steamhammer/SPV [Release date: 06.09.24] When frontman Phil Mogg called a halt to UFO’s Last Orders European tour in 2022 on Doctor Doctor’s orders, I thought that was the end of the road. I was disappointed, not only because I was … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

It’s been a while. 35 years in fact, since I last saw Anthrax. March 1989 at this very venue. I had to look it up, but I needn’t have bothered. During a mid-set chat, Scott Ian listed all the times … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024

Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024

They may not have the same veteran status as the headliners of this show, but Reef are celebrating 30 years in the business this year. No mean feat, with founding members Gary Stringer on vocals and Jack Bessant on bass. … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024

Steve Hackett continues to tour relentlessly, playing to packed houses of knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans, year after year. Tonight, the venerable Royal Albert Hall was sold out and brimming with anticipation. A couple of tracks in and even the vastly … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH – Koko, London, 6 October 2024

Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH – Koko, London, 6 October 2024_Phil Honley (5)

The splendid Koko was brimming full for the return of Samantha Fish to these shores with her own band, following last year’s shows with Jesse Dayton. And great to see the crowd that welcomed The Zac Schulze Gang’s support slot … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Dirt On My Diamonds Vol. 2

Album review: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 2

Provogue [Release date: 20.09.24] Multi-Grammy-winning blues-rock star Kenny Wayne Sheppherd has been busy again. This time with older material. The two Dirt On My Diamonds volumes date back to recording/writing sessions at the famed Muscle Shoals studios in 2019. The … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER – My Years With UFO

Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER – My Years with UFO

earMUSIC [Release date: 20.09.24] Michael Schenker boards the tribute train with an album mildly curious for the trend in that it is dedicated to his own output, albeit with a different band. UFO are, of course, the band in question. … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 30 November 2023

Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 30 November 2023

After various ‘Fest’ and ‘Temple of Rock’ incarnations, Schenker revived the original MSG monicker for a couple of recent albums and has been on a 50th anniversary tour for over two years now. It is something of a divine resurrection. … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: BYWATER CALL – The Grace, London, 9 October 2023

Gig review: BYWATER CALL – The Grace, London, 9 October 2023

I had seen Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes, the driving force behind Bywater Call, supporting Robert Jon and The Wreck back in February. I was mightily impressed, and particularly bowled over by Meghan’s voice. So this tour with the full, … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND in the 1970s by John Van der Kiste

Book review: Decades - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in the 1970’s (John Van der Kiste)

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date: 27.01.23] After seeing the Earth Band live this Summer and being very pleasantly surprised, I found this book in my pile of review material and so I’m following up that excellent gig in Budapest with a … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: ALBANY DOWN – Born In The Ashes

Albany Down_Born In The Ashes

        AD Recordings [Release date: 01.09.23] Back after too long away and with a changed band membership, Paul Turley’s Albany Down hit the racks with a fourth album, ‘Born In The Ashes’. And very fine it is … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Livestream review: METALLICA, AT&T Arena, Arlington, Texas, 18 & 20 August 2023

Livestream review: METALLICA, AT&T Arena, Arlington, Texas, 18 & 20 August 2023

A unique double-header even in the storied history of thrash trailblazers, Metallica: a live-to-cinemas feed of their two Arlington, Texas shows 48 hours apart, featuring two entirely different sets. The idea of beaming gigs to remote venues is not new … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – O2 Islington Academy 2, London, 21 July 2023

THE DAMN TRUTH – O2 Islington Academy 2, London, 21 July 2023

Having narrowly avoided stumbling into The Exploited’s show at the slightly larger Academy1 right next door, I was pleasantly surprised to see a pretty full venue for this early kick-off. The Cold Stares, a trio based in Indiana, are led … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: JON ANDERSON/MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Erkel Szinhaz, Budapest, Hungary, 9 July 2023

Gig review: JON ANDERSON/MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Erkel Szinhaz, Budapest, Hungary, 9 July 2023

A city break you won’t find on Expedia: the Queen of the Danube by day; prog rock royalty by night! Budapest is an amazing city and no surprise that the venue for this co-headline gig was a classy, plush, comfy-seated … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: CONNOR SELBY – Amazing Grace, London, 16 May 2023

Gig review: CONNOR SELBY – Amazing Grace, London, 16 May 2023

A new venue for this intrepid reviewer, and one that he will want to return to soon. The Church of St Thomas, dating from the 18th Century now hosts a small auditorium with something of a cocktail bar, modern jazz … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, 14 May 2023

230514_jbonamassa1a

Joe Bonamassa is a regular visitor to these shores. Having wrapped up a short tour last Spring, he was back with his band for another five UK dates playing venues he skipped last time. Indeed this was his first gig … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: PIXIES – Roundhouse, London, 21 March 2023

Gig review: PIXIES – Roundhouse, London, 21 March 2023

The last time I saw Pixies live, they played the Forum in Kentish Town which was still called the Town & Country Club, and when the band’s brand of punky, indie, noisy alternative rock was still in its first flush. … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: LUST FOR LIFE – The Lexington, London, 12 March 2023

Gig review: LUST FOR LIFE – The Lexington, London, 12 March 2023

This was a proper throwback gig melding pioneering punk, art rock, new wave and all points in-between,  battered out by a scratch band pulled together specifically to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust For Life’ album. Tony Fox … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Powerhaus, London, 11 February 2023

Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Powerhaus, London, 11 February 2023

My first visit to the renamed Dingwalls since it changed name and ownership in 2020. The venue was near its 500-berth capacity for Robert Jon & The Wreck who have sold out a good few dates on this tour. First … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: UFO – No Heavy Petting (Remaster)

Album review: UFO – No Heavy Petting (Remaster)

Chrysalis Records [Release date 20.01.23] Re-issues and re-masters are two-a-penny and often there’s marginal benefit in penning a review, much less making an actual purchase. This album was previously remastered in 2007. I have, though, been impressed with the series … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book review: On Track…PEARL JAM – every album, every song (Ben L Connor)

Book review: On Track…PEARL JAM – every album, every song (Ben L Connor)

  SonicBond Publishing [Publication date: 15.07.22] Pearl Jam are the last band standing from the grunge explosion of the 1990’s. But there’s so much more to them than that. The quality of their music has shone like a beacon down … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book review: On Track…THE KINKS – every album, every song (Martin Hutchinson)

Book review: On Track…THE KINKS – every album, every song (Martin Hutchinson)

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date: 01.04.22] I remember picking up a 1970 Kinks double-vinyl compilation back in my student days from a junk shop and feeling like my horizons had been instantly expanded. I bought it for the string of mid … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

A combination of bitter weather and transport snarl ups meant I missed opening act and Wolfgang Van Halen’s current project, Mammoth WVH. I was, however, in plenty of time to see Halestorm’s fiery, combative set. Plenty of others were too. … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment