Author Archives: jason

Single & EP reviews: ALEXANDER ROSS-IVER, THE WELL, THE BLACKOUT

Posted on November 3, 2014 by jason

ALEXANDER ROSS-IVER – I Wanna Be Your Man Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers fame appears on the track as a guest vocalist, while producer John McLaughlin (Echo & The Bunnymen/Mick Jones/Boyzone) and Jud Mahoney (Michael Jackson/Usher) co-wrote the tune … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alexander Ross-Iver, Bay City Rollers, Fire At Dawn, I Wanna Be Your Man, Les McKeown, review, Separate Ways, single, The Well | Leave a comment

Quick plays: WEDGE, WILD EYES, DOWN N DIRTY, WHITE WIDDOW, PRYTI

Posted on November 3, 2014 by jason

WEDGE – S/t www.wedgeband.com [Released 10.11.14] German three piece band consisting of Kiryk Drewinski (vocals/guitars), Holger Grosser (drums) and David Gotz (bass/organ/piano). Judging by their Facebook page they are an active live band in their native Germany and I’d guess … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Above Becomes Below, album, Alex Highton, classic rock, Down N Dirty, Down To The Wire, Nobody Knows Anything, Pryti, psych rock, review, Tales Of A Melancholic, Wedge, White Widdow, Wild Eyes | Leave a comment

Album review: NIGHTINGALE – Retribution

Posted on November 2, 2014 by jason

Inside Out [Released 10.11.14] Nightingale is centred around Dan Swano, who has worked with many artists including Opeth. This is the band’s seventh album and their first since 2007 and I must admit to not having heard anything by them … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, classic rock, Dan Swano, hard rock, Inside Out, melodic rock, Nightingale, prog rock, Retribution, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: ESCAPE THE FATE – Electric Ballroom, Camden, 30 October 2014

Posted on November 2, 2014 by jason

Thursday the 30thof October 2014; the Camden nightlife is buzzing, the air outside is cold and I am dragging my reluctant 46 year old father to see hardcore rock band Escape The Fate. It’s been a good long while since … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Camde, Electric Ballroom, ESCAPE THE FATE, gig review, Glamour The Kill, Hardcore, New Year's Day, post-hardcore | Leave a comment

Album review: ANGELS OR KINGS – Kings Of Nowhere

Posted on October 31, 2014 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 27.10.14] Angels Or Kings can trace their history back to the 1980′s UK AOR scene when they were known as A.O.K. and played supports to bands passing through their hometown of Manchester. Guitarist Tony Bell has even … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A.O.K., album review, Angels Or Kings, AOR, AOR Heaven, Kings Of Nowhere, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LIVE – The Turn

Posted on October 29, 2014 by jason

Released [03.11.14] Live have had an interesting history these past few years to say the least as after splitting-up in 2009 and parting with lead singer Ed Kowalczyk, lawsuits and recriminations followed. Eventually in 2011 the other band members rebooted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Chris Shinn, Ed Kowalczyk, Jerry Harrison, live, review, The Turn | 1 Comment

Album review: NEONFLY – Strangers In Paradise plus interview with Frederick Thunder

Posted on October 29, 2014 by jason

Inner Wound Recordings [Release date 01.12.14] Neonfly I discovered thanks to a tip-off from Charlie Farrell, a man who knows his way around the metal scene and recommended I got along early to see them supporting the mighty Power Quest. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, AOR, Dennis Ward, Dragonforce, Frederick Thunder, Inner Wound Recordings, Magnum, melodic metal, melodic rock, Neonfly, power metal, review, Strangers In Paradise, Willy Norton | Comments Off

Book review: STRANGE BOAT: MIKE SCOTT AND THE WATERBOYS by Ian Abrahams

Posted on October 28, 2014 by jason

Gonzo Multimedia www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk [Published 23.06.14] This is a comprehensive overview of the career of Mike Scott from his early days in bands like Another Pretty Face through to the Waterboys and his various solo work, although to be fair the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book review, Celtic, Gonzo Multimedia, Ian Abrahams, Mike Scott, singer songwriter, The Waterboys | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JOHN FORRESTER, FYRE!

Posted on October 26, 2014 by jason

JOHN FORRESTER – Outsider Irregular Records www.forrester.uk.com [Released 27.10.14] This is the third solo album from John Forrester who plays bass in the Outcast band and bass/double-bass with Robb Johnson. On this album John Forrester provides the vocals, bass and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Alejandra Burgos, Anastacia, folk, Fyre!, John Forrester, pop rock, Robb Johnson, songwriter, the Outcast Band | Leave a comment

Album review: HOUSE OF X – S/t

Posted on October 25, 2014 by jason

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Released 27.10.14] Not some dodgy gentleman’s club but a group where three of its members, namely Danny Peyronel (vocals), Clive Edwards (drums) and Laurence Archer (guitars), have all at one time be members of legendary British hard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Clive Edwards, Danny Peyronel, Escape Music, hard rock, House Of X, Laurence Archer, Michael Schenker, MSG, review, Rocky Newton, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review: KISS – Love Gun

Posted on October 20, 2014 by jason

Universal [Release date 27.10.14] US glam/hard rock legends Kiss celebrate their 40th anniversary with this 2CD remastered edition of their 6th studio album. Released in 1977, it was the 6th album in three years (four if you count the classic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Ace Frehley, album review, classic album, classic rock, Gene Simmons, glam rock, Kiss, Love Gun, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss | Leave a comment

Album review: ELECTRIC SIX – The Human Zoo

Posted on October 19, 2014 by jason

Metropolis Records [Released 14.10.14] Electric Six have been going for some time now, first coming to many people’s attention with ‘Danger, High Voltage’ and ‘Gay Bar’, plus more recently a video with mainman Dick Valentine dressed as Freddie Mercury covering … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dick Valentine, disco, Electric Six, pop, review, rock, The Human Zoo | Comments Off

Gig review: JUSTIN FURSTENFELD – Islington Academy Hall, 17 October 2014

Posted on October 18, 2014 by jason

Justin Fustenfeld is the main man of US band Blue October, a band I only discovered last year after reviewing their excellent ‘Sway’ album. Tonight it was just Justin and his acoustic guitar, as he played the second of three … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17 October, acoustic, An Open Book, BLUE OCTOBER, gig, Islington Academy Hall, JUSTIN FURSTENFELD, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TREWS – The Trews

Posted on October 16, 2014 by jason

[Release date 29.04.14] The Trews are, like Collective Soul, a band who have released a string of enjoyable albums yet fly mostly unnoticed under the mainstream musical radar. I only knew this album was out when it was given away … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, alternative, classic rock, Colin MacDonald, pop rock, rock, The Trews | Leave a comment

Gig review: FLYING COLORS – Islington Assembly Hall, London,13 October 2014

Posted on October 14, 2014 by jason

Due to the queuing system for the gig (they really need to have more than one person manning the ticket desk) I missed most of the support set from guitarist John Wesley (he’s worked with Porcupine Tree, Fish and more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 October 2014, Casey McPherson, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Islington Assembly Hall, John Wesley, London, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Spock's Beard, Steve Morse | Leave a comment

Album review: WHITESNAKE – Live In ’84 Back To The Bone

Posted on October 11, 2014 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Released 07.11.14] Here’s a song for ya. 1984 was a good year for British rock music – and is surely epitomised by Whitesnake’s Slide It In. OK, I’m biased, possibly, but Slide It In is by far my … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1984, album, Back to the Bone, classic rock, Cozy Powell, David Coverdale, hard rock, John Sykes, Jon Lord, live, Live In '84, Neil Murray, review, Tokyo, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Quick plays: GRAND DESIGN, 220 VOLT, JUDE GWYNAIRE

Posted on October 7, 2014 by jason

GRAND DESIGN – Thrill Of The Night AOR Heaven [Release date 29.09.14] Grand Design are back with their 80’s influenced hard rock, or as I like to think Def Leppard with a helium infused vocalist! Vocalist Pelle Saether has a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 220 Volt, album, best of, Def Leppard, Europe, Grand Design, instrumental, Jude Gwynaire, new age, review, Thrill of the Night, Walking In Starlight | Leave a comment

Album review: JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE – Single Mothers

Posted on October 5, 2014 by jason

Loose [Released 29.09.14] Justin Townes Earle has led an interesting life that’s for sure, from stints in rehab through to a revolving door with record labels. He is also the son of legendary country artist Steve Earle, although as the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Americana, country, Justin Town Earle, pedal steel, Single Mothers, songwriter, Steve Earle | Leave a comment

Gig review: VOODOO VEGAS – Camden Barfly, 4 October 2014

Posted on October 5, 2014 by jason

Voodoo Vegas were headlining for the first time at the Barfly and they were worried if many would turn up, well it was pretty rammed and the crowd seemed mostly to be there for the headliners. I missed the first … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Camden Barfly, classic rock, gig, hard rock, Kolo, review, Voodoo Vegas | Leave a comment

Album review: FLYING COLORS – Second Nature

Posted on September 30, 2014 by jason

Music Theories Recordings/Mascot [Release date 06.10.14] Flying Colors, the prog rock supergroup, are back with their second album just two years after their exceptionally strong debut release. Can they match that high standard? You bet they can! If anything this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Casey McPherson, Dave LaRue, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Second Nature, Spock's Beard, Steve Morse, Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Album review: AUDREY HORNE – Pure Heavy

Posted on September 27, 2014 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 26.09.14] Audrey Horne return with their new album just over a year since the highly enjoyable ‘Youngblood’. Most of the band members are also in death/black metal bands, yet Audrey Horne is more a homage to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged 80's metal, album review, AUDREY HORNE, classic rock, hard rock, Napalm Records, Pure Heavy, Thin Lizzy, Van Halen | Leave a comment

Album review: SARACEN – Redemption

Posted on September 24, 2014 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 29.09.14] Saracen are back after their last album, the concept piece ‘Marilyn’ based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. This album sees the band back to basics, in that there is no concept although they do … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, classic rock, Escape Music, hard rock, melodic, NWOBHM, Redemption, Saracen | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TEA PARTY – The Ocean At The End

Posted on September 20, 2014 by jason

Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 29.09.14] Another band back after a long break away, The Tea Party return with their first new studio album in ten years and the first since they reformed back in 2011. The Tea Party made a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Jeff Martin, prog, progressive, review, The Ocean At The End, the Tea Party | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DOWLING POOLE – 12 Bar Club, London, 19 September 2014

Posted on September 20, 2014 by jason

The Dowling Poole (not a Drowning Pool tribute band as one of my work colleagues thought!) were climaxing a short but sweet acoustic tour with this gig tonight at the 12 Bar Club. My first time in this venue which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 Bar Club, 19 September 2014, acoustic, gig, Jackdaw4, London, power pop, Random Jon Poole, review, The Cardiacs, THE DOWLING POOLE, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

Album review: ENCHANT – The Great Divide

Posted on September 18, 2014 by jason

Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 29.09.14] It has been eleven years since the band’s last album ‘Tug Of War’ and it looked as though that would be the band’s swansong, especially with vocalist Ted Leonard joining Spock’s Beard. But a new … Continue reading →