Author Archives: petefeenstra

Gig review: ERIC GALES BAND & Gary Hoey Band – Nells Jazz & Blues, London, 2 June 2017

Posted on June 3, 2017 by petefeenstra

This may well be the first time two American label mates who have known each other down the decades make their UK debut’s on the same night. And while the evening brings a sharp contrast in styles, the two guitarists … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged AJ Pappas, blues, Bootsy Collins, Bryan Adams, classic rock, Cody Wright, Cream, Eric Gales, Focus, Freddie King, funk, Gary Hoey, gig, guitar, Jaco Pastorious, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, LaDonna Gales, Led Zeppelin, Matt Scurfield, R&B, review, Robin Trower, The James Gang | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARCUS MALONE BAND – The Beaverwood Club, Chislehurst, 1 June 2017

Posted on June 2, 2017 by petefeenstra

It’s rare for a blues-rock band to carry an audience with them into other musical spheres without losing their interest. No such problems tonight with Marcus Malone and his wonderful eight-strong band. Focussing his set on his splendid ‘A Better … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged A Better Man, Alan Glen, Bill Burke, blues, Chantelle Duncan, Chris Nugent, Crosby Still & Nash, funk, John Campbell, Marcus Malone, Robert J. Hunter, rock, Sean Nolan, soul, Stevie Watts, Tom Waits, Winston Blissett, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: NIKKA & STRINGS – Underneath And In Between

Posted on May 30, 2017 by petefeenstra

Metropolis Recordings [Release date 02.6.17] Despite a background as a teen star, a high profile backing singer and a songwriter who has worked with the likes of Clapton and Prince, Nikka Costa still has a way to go before carving … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Eartha Kitt, Erc Clapton, Frank Sinatra, funk, Jeff Buckley, Motown, Nikka & Strings, Nikka Costa, pop, Prince, review, soul, Underneath And In Between | Leave a comment

Gig review: DOYLE BRAMHALL II – Under The Bridge, London, 27 May 2017

Posted on May 28, 2017 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Doyle Bramhall for his “Pete Feenstra Feature” show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 21 May 2017. More information Doyle Bramhall II and his band have got things wrapped up tight. Bramhall is almost … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 May 2017, Adam Minkoff, Anthony Coles, blues, Chris Duarte, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Johnson, funk, gig, interview, jamming, John Coltrane, Jon Allen, London, psychedelia, review, rock, Rod Stewart, soul, Ted Pecchio, The Temptations, Under the Bridge | Leave a comment

Album review: BIG WOLF BAND – A Rebel’s Story

Posted on May 20, 2017 by petefeenstra

Big Wolf Records [Release date 15.5.17] In this age of instant downloads, there’s something reassuring about a Brummy blues-rock band with well crafted songs, deep grooves, tight arrangements and inspired playing fuelled by plenty of passion. Big Wolf Band come … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Rebel's Story, Albert Collins, album, Bad Company, Big Wolf Band, Birmingham, Blacktop Deluxe, blues, Brothers Groove, Cream, Deano Bass, Emma Jonson, funk, Gary Moore, Jonathan Earp, Mad Hat Studios, Magnum, Mark V Stuart, Mick jeynes, Paul Kossoff, Peter Green, Rebecca Downs, review, rock, Sheena Sear, Slowburner, Steve Ajao Blues Giants, Steve Gibbons, Tim Jones, Vincent Flatts Final Drive Final Drive | Leave a comment

Album review: COCO MONTOYA – Hard Truth

Posted on May 17, 2017 by petefeenstra

Alligator Records [Release date 24.03.17] Coco Montoya’s ‘Hard Truth’ is a career highlight for Coco Montoya. It’s an object lesson in old school dynamics and an album glued together by an essential flow. It’s given a contemporary sheen by drummer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged Albert Collins, album, Alligator Records, Allman Brothers, Billy Watts, blues, Bob Glaub, Coco Montoya, Dave Steen, Deb Ryder, funk, Hard Truth, John Porter, Johnny Lee Schell, Lee Roy Parnell, Mike Finnigan, review, rock, Ronnie Earl, soul, Teresa James, Terry Wilson, Tony Braunagel, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHN MAYER – 02 Greenwich, London, 12 May 2017

Posted on May 13, 2017 by petefeenstra

So there I was nursing my £10 gin and tonic (ice not an option) in an executive suite at the Greenwich 02, pondering the mysteries of how 20,000 people can go crazy over a perfunctory blast of John Mayer’s harmonica … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 02 Greenwich, 12 May 2017, blues, funk, gig, guitar, John Mayer, London, Pino Palladino, review, rock, soul, Steve Jordan | 3 Comments

Gig review: MIKE VERNON & THE MIGHTY COMBO – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 8 May 2017

Posted on May 12, 2017 by petefeenstra

In this age of instant downloads and 15 second celebrities, it’s refreshing to catch a legend worthy of the term. Step right up Mike Vernon in his new found career as lead vocalist and song writer with his excellent band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, blues, boogie, Dave Bartholomew, fats Domino, Freddie King, funk, Gatemouth Brown, gig, Ian Jennings, Junior Parker, Keb Mo, Kid Carlos Moreno, Leiber & Stoller, Matt Little, Mike Hellier, Mike Vernon, Nick Hyde, Paul Tasker, Peter Miles, Quique Bonal, review, Russ Brown, soul, swing, The Mighty Combo, Uncle Buck | Leave a comment

Album review: DANNY BRYANT – BIG, Live in Europe

Posted on May 11, 2017 by petefeenstra

Jazzhaus Records [Release date 21.04.17] There’s huge vacuum to be filled when you leap from a power trio to a nine piece big band. Apart from the statistical logistics, there’s the intricacy of the arrangements, the need for a big … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albert Collins, album, BIG: Live In Europe, Danny Bryant, David Madison, guitar, live, review, Richard Hammerton, Steve Watts, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – Live At The Carnegie Hall, An Acoustic Evening

Posted on May 9, 2017 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 23.06.17] Joe Bonamassa’s ‘Live at Carnegie Hall – An Acoustic Evening’ is a successful mid-career sleight of hand. It’s a live acoustic album that recycles mostly familiar material while keeping the career juggernaut moving forward. Being Bonamassa, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, Carnegie Hall, cello, Danny Kortchmar, guitar, Jethro Tull, Joe Bonamassa, live, Live At The Carnegie Hall - An Acoustic Evening, Neil Young, percussion, Reese Wynans, Tina Guo | Leave a comment

Album review: AYREON – The Source

Posted on April 26, 2017 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] It’s 12 years since Ayreon’s first album ‘The Final Experiment’ and the key elements of a conceptual sci-fi story with prog rock underpinnings remain at the heart of the new album ‘The Source.’ It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon, Ben Mathot, blues, David Bowie, Floor Jansen, Frank Zappa, funk, Guthrie Gavan, James LaBrie, Jeroen Goossens, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, metal, Michael Eriksen, Mike Mills, Nils K. Rue, Paul Gilbert, Pink Floyd, prog, Queen, review, Russell Allen, Simone Simons, The Darkness, the Source, Todd Rundgren, Tommy Karevik, Tommy Rogers, Trace, Utopia, Yann Souetre, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: QUINN SULLIVAN – Midnight Highway

Posted on April 19, 2017 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 24.03.17] Best known as Buddy Guy’s protégé, 17 year old Quinn Sullivan’s third album ‘Midnight Highway’ takes a major step up in carving out his own niche in the crossover blues rock-world He’s got the chops, he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Allman Brothers, blues, Buddy Guy, electro, funk, George Harrison, guitar, Jerry Garcia, Midnight Highway, Quinn Sullivan, review, Tom Hambridge | Leave a comment

Book review: MARTIN HANNETT – His Equipment And Strawberry Studios by Chris Hewitt

Posted on April 17, 2017 by petefeenstra

Dandelion Records & Books [Publication date 07.04.17] Given the fact that the author Chris Hewitt has already released the exhaustive DVD ‘Martin Hannett – He Wasn’t Just The Fifth Member Of Joy Division’ and the book ‘The Pleasures Of The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged A Certain Ratio, book, Chris Hewitt, Chris Sieve, Durutti Column, Factory records, Frank Zappa, Happy Mondays, His Equipment And Strawberry Studios, John Cooper Clark, Joy Division, Magazine, Martin Hannett, New Order, OMD, Peter Hook, Phil Spector, producer, Reabid records, review, Rob Gretton, Strawberry studios, The Buzzcocks, The Psychedelic Furs, the Stone Roses, Tony Wilson, U2 | Leave a comment

Gig review: ERJA LYYTINEN – Album Showcase, Ain’t Nothing But The Blues, London, 10 April 2017

Posted on April 12, 2017 by petefeenstra

The intimate surrounding for Erja Lyytinen’s ‘Stolen Hearts’ album showcase is well suited to an award winning artist who this afternoon willingly shares the rudiments of her creative process with the assembled members of the press and guest musicians. She’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues, Chris Kimsey, Elmore James, Erja Lyytinen, guitar, Kasper, Peter Tosh, Rollin Stones, The Cult, The Proclaimers. rock, vocals | Leave a comment

Gig review: BROKEN WITT REBELS/BAD TOUCH – The Borderline, London, 8 April 2017

Posted on April 10, 2017 by petefeenstra

BROKEN WITT REBELS - The Borderline, London, 8 April 2017

While the ‘Roadstars’ strapline may be a tad presumptuous for two bands who are still learning their craft, there’s no denying the capacity crowd’s enthusiasm for a double bill aimed at two related, but slightly different markets. Norwich’s Bad Touch … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AC/DC, Bad Touch, Broken Witt Rebels, classic rock, Danny Core, Devon Alman, gig, Harry Slater, James Tranter, Jimi Hendrix, Kings Of Leon, Led Zeppelin, review, Rival Sons, Roadstars, southern rock, Steve Westwood | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAY RUSSELL 70TH BIRTHDAY SHOW – 606 Club, London, 03 April 2017

Posted on April 4, 2017 by petefeenstra

Ray Russell’s 70th birthday bash is a reminder of a bygone era when creativity, improvisation and inspiration met musical virtuosity full on, in an unfettered fashion. Tonight might be Ray’s milestone birthday, but there’s not a slack musical moment in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Cobham, Bonnie Rait, Chris Biscoe, Denny McCaffrey, fusion, Geoff Castle, George Russell, gig, Gill Evans, jazz, Jazz rock, Jeff Beck, Linda Hayes, Mark Mondesir, Miles Davis, Mo Foster, Phil Hilborne, Ralph Salmins, Ray Russell, review, RMS, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: JFK BLUE – Old Finchleians, London, 26 March 2017

Posted on March 31, 2017 by petefeenstra

JFK Blue is a new band on the rock/blues circuit and tonight they take a step up by opening for the Stevie Nimmo Trio at the new ‘Spirit of the Torrington’ club at the Old Finchleians, Finchley. They immediately remind … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues, Chris Elliott, gig, Iago Banet, JFK Blue, Les Victor, Paul Blount, Paul Kossoff, review, Robert Cray, rock, Rough Round The Edges, Sol Ezra, Stevie Nimmo, The Allman Brothers, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Album review: ALBERT HAMMOND – In Symphony

Posted on March 30, 2017 by petefeenstra

BMG Rights Management [Release date 16.06.17] Albert Hammond’s ‘In Symphony’ is an impressive reminder of the durability of orchestral pop. It’s a glance back to the late 60′s, when seamlessly orchestrated melodic pop was given precedence by the likes of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albert Hammond, album, Boston Pops Orchestra, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, George Martin, Henry Mancini, In Symphony, John Barry, London Voice Choir, Lounge Music, Manuel Ponce, orchestra, Ork-Pop, review, Richard Harris, Rob Mathes, Scott Walker, singr, songwriter, The London Session Orchestra, The Trinity School Boys Choir | Leave a comment

Gig review: ALBERT HAMMOND Album Launch Party – Regent Street Cinema, London, 29 March 2017

Posted on March 29, 2017 by petefeenstra

The swish surrounding for the official launch of Albert Hammond (OBE)’s new ‘In Symphony’ orchestral album is everything you might expect for a singer songwriter who has enjoyed 30 chart-topping hits in various pop, r&b, country, adult contemporary and Latin … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Albert Hammond, Album Launch, Aswad, Celine Dion, Diana Ross, gig, In Symphony, interview, Johnnie Walker, Julio Iglesias, Leapy Lea, Leo Sayer, Mike Hazelwood, Pipkins, review, Rob Mathes, songwriter, Starship, The Hollies, Willie Nelson | Leave a comment

Gig review: MIKE + THE MECHANICS Album Launch Party – The Imperial, London, 28 March 2017

Posted on March 28, 2017 by petefeenstra

What are we to make of this Mike + The Mechanics album launch party on the back of a nearly completed UK tour and a recent high profile Royal Albert Hall date? The answer is probably that the band wish … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Photo Galleries | Tagged Andrew Roachford, Crowded House, gig, Let Me Fly, Mike And The Mechanics, Mike Rutherford, Paul Carrack, Paul Young, review, rock, The Eagles, Tim Howar, unplugged | Leave a comment

Album review: TROY REDFERN – Dirt Blues Ritual

Posted on March 23, 2017 by petefeenstra

RED7 Records [Release date 27.02.17] What’s the significance of an album title? In Troy Redfern’s hands a ‘Dirt Blues Ritual’ might be interpreted as an artistic way of life for a contemporary bluesman with a penchant for musical landscapes that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, dirt blues, Dirt Blues Ritual, dirty blues, Gary Clark Jr, Jack White, Little Hurricane, review, rock, slide guitar, The Black Keys, The Imperial Crowns, Troy Redfern | Leave a comment

Album review: ELIZA NEALS – 10,000 Feet Below

Posted on March 22, 2017 by petefeenstra

E-H Records LLC [Release date 17.02.17] Eliza Neals’ brand of rock-blues shifts from hard edged noir narratives to emotive, heartfelt and spontaneous moments that you might call blues expressionism. It’s an album full of hard hitting colourful lyrics, unique phrasing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 10000 Feet Below, album, Billy Davis, blues, Chicago Blues, Detroit, Eliz Neals, Howard Glazer, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Nelson, Paul Randolph, review, rock, Skip James, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: JETHRO TULL – The String Quartets (Ian Anderson)

Posted on March 20, 2017 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Ian Anderson for his Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and played tracks from the new album. First broadcast 12 March 2017. BMG Rights Management [Release date 24.03.17] ‘Jethro Tull: The String Quartets’ is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, chamber music, classical, folk, Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Jethro Tull The String Quartets, John O'Hara, review, rock, The Carducci Quartet | Leave a comment

Album review: CATFISH – Broken Man

Posted on March 20, 2017 by petefeenstra

CD Baby [Release date 29.01.17] Catfish’s ‘Broken Man’ is a good example of the high standard of contemporary British blues-rock. Their 10 track album features 9 impressive self penned tracks, shot through with enough feel and spark to satisfy all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Brit Blues, Broken Man, Catfish, Dusty Bones, Foy Vance, funk, Joe Bonamassa, Kevin Yates, Matt Long, Michael Caswell, Paul Jones, Paul Long, review, rock, soul, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

Album review: LITTLE HURRICANE – Same Sun Same Moon

Posted on March 16, 2017 by petefeenstra

Mascot [Release date 14.04.17] Little Hurricane feature Anthony ‘Tone’ Catalano on guitar and vocals and Celeste ‘CC’ Spina on drums. ‘Same Sun, Same Moon’ is a contemporary take on “dirty blues” (think The White Stripes meets The Black Keys), but the … Continue reading →