-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
-
Gig review: SQUEEZE – Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024
-
Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
-
Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
-
Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
-
Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
-
Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
-
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Features
Author Archives: Davoski
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 6 November 2024, blues, Deep Purple, gig, hard rock, live, prog, review, rock, Smoke On The Water
Leave a comment
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 Genesis, gig, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, live, prog, review, Royal Albert Hall, Steve Hackett
Leave a comment
Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH – Koko, London, 6 October 2024
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 6 October 2024, band, blues, gig, guitarist, Koko, review, rock, Samantha Fish, Zac Schulze
Leave a comment
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 album, blues, blues rock, Dirt on My Diamonds, funk, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, KWS, Noah Hunt, review, soul
Leave a comment
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 album, classic rock, guitar, guitarist, hard rock, Michael Schenker, My Years With UFO, review, UFO
Leave a comment
Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 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 classic rock, Doctor Doctor, gig, guitarist, hard rock, live, Michael Schenker, MSG, review 30 November 2023, Robin McAuley, UFO
Leave a comment
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 9 October 2023, blues, Bywater Call, Dave Barnes, gig, live, London, Meghan Parnell, review, roots, soul, The Grace
Leave a comment
Book review: Decades – MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND in the 1970s by 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 1970's, book, Manfred Mann, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, prog, review, Sonicbond
Leave a comment
Album review: 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 Albany Down, band, blues, Born in the Ashes, hard rock, review, rock
Leave a comment
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 72Seasons, broadcast, cinema, gig, James Hetfield, Lars Ullrich, live, livestream, metal, Metallica, review, Thrash
Leave a comment
Gig review: 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 21 July 2023, blues, blues rock, gig, Islington, live, melodic rock, review, The Cold Stares, The Damn Truth
Leave a comment
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 Budapest, gig, Jon Anderson, live, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, prog, review, rock, Yes
Leave a comment
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 16 May 2023, Amazing Grace, blues, blues rock, Connor Selby, gig, live, Logan J Parker, review
Leave a comment
Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, 14 May 2023
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 14 May 2023, Birmingham, blues, blues rock, gig, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, live, Reese Wynans, review, rock, Utilita Arena
Leave a comment
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 21 March 2023, alt rock, Black Francis, Doolittle, gig, indie, live, Pixies, review, Roundhouse, Surfer Rosa
Leave a comment
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 art rock, Blondie, Clem Burke, David Bowie, gig, Glen Matlock, Iggy Pop, Katie Puckrik, live, Lust For Life, New Wave, punk, review, The Stooges
Leave a comment
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 11 February 2023, blues, Camden, gig, gospel, live, Powerhaus, review, Robert Jon & The Wreck, southern rock
Leave a comment
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 album, CD, classic rock, hard rock, Michael Schenker, No Heavy Petting, Phil Mogg, remaster, review, UFO
Leave a comment
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 book, Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, On Track, Pearl Jam, review, Soundgarden, Stone Gossard, Temple of the Dog
Leave a comment
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 book, Dave Davies, On Track, Ray Davies, review, The Kinks
Leave a comment
Gig review: 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 12 December 2022, ALTER BRIDGE, gig, gig review, Halestorm, live, Lzzy Hale, Mark Tremonti, metal, Myles Kennedy, Pawns and Kings, review, rock
Leave a comment
Gig review: TYGERS OF PAN TANG – Black Heart, Camden, 12 November 2022
I sometimes struggle with this venue. Low ceilings and a low stage means poor visibility if there’s anything like a good crowd in; and often the sound is sludgy and bass heavy. So for Tygers of Pan Tang to overcome … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 12 November 2022, Black Heart, Camden, gig, heavy metal, live, NWOBHM, review, Rob Weir, Tygers Of Pan Tang
Leave a comment
Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Blues Bar, Tring, 10 November 2022
So good to see live music being promoted and supported in my own neck of the woods. The Blues Bar at Tring now attracts quality live acts twice a month from its new venue on the edge of town. Tonight, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged band, blues, Brave Rival, gig, Life's Machine, live, review, Tring 10 November 2022
Leave a comment
Album review: DR FEELGOOD – Damn Right!
Grand Records [Release date: 04.11.2022] Before we get on to the album review, there’s something we need to clear up. Calling the current incarnation of Dr Feelgood a tribute act is just too harsh. Whist some have pointed to the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Damn Right!, Dr Feelgood, r'n'b, review, rhythm and blues, rock
Leave a comment
Album review: ALTER BRIDGE – Pawns & Kings
Napalm (Release date: 14.10.22) In an unpredictable world of turbulence and chaos, it is reassuring to know that Alter Bridge bring regular and dependable quality. As Autumn rolls around every third year, a new studio album from this heavy mob … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, album review, ALTER BRIDGE, hard rock, Mark Tremonti, metal, Myles Kennedy, Pawns and Kings, review, rock
Leave a comment
