Author Archives: petefeenstra

Album review: HER NAME IS CALLA – Navigator

Her Name Is Calla - Navigator

Function [Release date 05.05.14] ‘Navigator’ by Her Name Is Calla, is a cerebral and emotional work of substance. You may need patience and understanding to get inside Tom Morris’ songs and his vocal enunciations with electronic edges, but you will … Continue reading

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

Album review: DEBORAH BONHAM – Spirit

Deborah Bonham - Spirit

Deborah Bonham, track by track, May 2014 (Part 1 10:43, Part 2 11:43) Spectra [Release date 28.04.14] Being part of the Bonham dynasty is both a blessing and a curse for Deborah Bonham. Stripped of her family tree, she would … Continue reading

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

Album review: Album review: THORBJØRN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Too Many Roads

THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Too Many Roads

Ruf [Release date 21.03.14] This is arguably the most original and impressive blues related album since Moreland & Arbuckle ‘7 Cities’ last summer. Denmark’s Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have cut a blues related album in the sense of it … Continue reading

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

CD review: MARCUS MALONE – Stand Or Fall

        Redline Music [Release date 21.04.14] ‘Stand Or Fall’ might easily have used the opening cut ‘Living The Blues’ as its title. For while his last album ‘Let The Sunshine In’ was a noticeably more song driven effort, … Continue reading

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

Gig review: ALEX HART – The Heights, St George’s Hotel, London, 2 April 2014

Alex Hart Showcase - BBC Club, London, 2 April 2014

Alex Hart is the kind of artist who might just make you re-appraise the view that A&R reps are an extinct breed in this post youtube age. She’s a breathe of fresh air who radiates presence with thoughtful songs, effortless … Continue reading

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

Album review: CHRIS BEVINGTON – And Friends

Chris Bevington - And Friends

        Chris Bevington Music [Release date 10.02.14] At the time of writing, ‘Chris Bevington And Friends’ has already graced the Top 40 download blues chart. And that’s no surprise as the Stoke on Trent blues-rock veteran is … Continue reading

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

DVD review: Martin Hannett – He Wasn’t Just The Fifth Member Of Joy Division

        Ozit  [Released 10.05.14] Described as a’ rough cut reportage style documentary based on an original idea by Anthony Ryan Carter’ a.k.a. Tosh Ryan who occupies an insightful centre-piece  to film, this fly on the wall style … Continue reading

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

Rock Stars: Interview with GRAHAM BONNET – 19 March 2014

Graham Bonnet

With The Store For Music  label re-issuing all 4 Alcatrazz albums – including ‘Live Sentence’ on CD and DVD  and accompanying vinyl releases with full art work – as well as his recent ‘Catch The Rainbow’ tour and a forthcoming … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: COEN WOLTERS BAND – Illumination

Coen Walters Band - Illumination

Crying Tone [Release date 20.01.14] Coen Wolters motto is, ‘let it rip and don’t be shy about it’. ‘Illumination’ is a hard hitting, well played and produced slice of funky tinged acid blues-rock. It’s an album that blows away the … Continue reading

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

Album review: JOE LOUIS WALKER – Hornet’s Nest

Joe Louis Walker - Hornet

Alligator Records [Release date 25.02.14] Joe Louis Walker rips into the incendiary title track of ‘Hornet’s Nest’ with a riff heavy piece that suggests it’s a kick ass rocking album. Truth is, it’s a more adventurous album than that, but … Continue reading

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

Album Review: ROBERT CRAY – In My Soul

Robert Cray - In My Soul

Provogue [Release date 31.03.14] He may be a 5 times Grammy Award Winner and the youngest living artist to be inducted into the ‘Blues Hall Of Fame’, but Robert Cray is always looking for a fresh and meaningful context for … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Album review: TOMMY CASTRO AND THE PAIN KILLERS – The Devil You Know

      Alligator records [Release date 20.01.14] While this album is a slimmed down version of Tommy Castro And The Pain Killers, there’s actually some 14 guest musicians helping him out in the absence of his previous horn section. … Continue reading

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

Album review: CHRISTINA SKJOLBERG – Come And Get It

        Ruf Records [Release date 28.01.14] Christina Skjolberg’s ‘Come And Get It’ is the tale of a blonde Norwegian leather clad blues-rock guitarist recording in English under the watchful eye of a Finish producer/guitarist, on a German … Continue reading

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

Album review: LAURENCE JONES – Temptation

        Ruf Records [Release date 10.03.14] It may be a PR cliché, but the phrase ‘hotly anticipated album’ was never more apt than when applied to Laurence Jones’s ‘Temptation’.  Having made a big splash on the UK … Continue reading

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

Album review: MATT SCHOFIELD – Far As I Can See

        Provogue [Release date 17.02.14] ‘Far As I Can See’ could be the breakthrough album for Matt Schofield, a major Brit blues talent who has teetered on the brink of success for some time. This is an … Continue reading

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

Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK, Butlins, Minehead, 7- 9 February 2014

Giants Of Rock - 7-9 February 2014

Floods, rain, rock music, more rain, howling wind, storms, seagulls, climactic guitar solos, wigs, trannies, vestal virgins, tarts, vicars, hot dogs, oceans of beer and more rain. It could only be Butlins Giants of Rock! Although the Giants of Rock didn’t … Continue reading

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

Gig review: The Great British Rock & Blues Festival, Skegness 24-27 January 2014

Jefferson Starship

Listen in to Pete Feenstra on Sunday 9 February at 19:00 for a Skegness Special More information The 18th Great British Rock & Blues Festival was a triumph of familiarity and enthusiasm over logistics. Many of the capacity crowd were … Continue reading

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

Single & EP review: THE GREETING COMMITTEE – Island (EP)

Push Puzzle Records [Release date 15.09.13] One of the joys of enduring music is the way retro influences sometimes coalesce with the present and lodge themselves in cutting edge recordings. ‘Island’ a 3 track EP from Newcastle’s The Greeting Committee … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: SOT – Kind of Saltz

SOT - Kind Of Saltz

Soltanic Sounds [Available now] ‘Kind of Saltz’ appears to have been released some time ago but has just popped again in my pile of CD’s be reviewed.  It’s a wide ranging and engaging album, best described as 70’s jazz-rock fusion, … Continue reading

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

DVD review: WILKO JOHNSON – Live At Koko

Wilko Johnson - Live At Koko

Cadiz Music [Release date 18.12.13] The biggest weight of expectation on a night of high emotion probably lay in the lap of the multi-camera crew, rather than the band themselves. For on a night that happily didn’t turn out to … Continue reading

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

Album review: SAVOY BROWN – Goin’ To The Delta

Savoy Brown - Goin

Ruf Records [Release date 11.02.14] Having spent the best part of 48 years on the road as the personification of the pivotal and enduring Anglo American blues-rock band Savoy Brown, guitarist Kim Simmonds goes back to basics on ‘Goin’ To … Continue reading

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

Album review: PHWG – The Observer

PHWG – The Observer

Pontus H.W. Gunve [Release date 07.05.13] PHWG is an innovative band led by New York based guitarist, synth programmer, composer and producer Pontus H.W. Gunve, with an original take on prog rock, world, ambient and fusion music. He frames it all … Continue reading

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

DVD review: THE DOORS – Live At The Bowl 68 / Soundstage Performances / Live In Europe 1968

THE DOORS – Live At The Bowl 68 / Soundstage Performances / Live In Europe 1968

Eagle Vision [Release date 15.10.13] The Doors ‘Live At The Bowl ‘68’ / ‘Soundstage Performances’ / ‘Live In Europe 1968’ triple DVD box set judiciously mixes recycled and restored concert footage with insightful bonus interviews from band members and their contemporaries. … Continue reading

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

Album review: KROSSBORDER – Kompilation Vol 1 – The Best British Blues

Krossborder Records – [Release Date: 16.12.13] ‘Krossborder Kompilation Vol 1: The Best British Blues’ invites us to ‘enjoy a good dose of musical therapy’. The 16 tracks just about deliver enough to allow us to do just that, even though … Continue reading

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

Interview with JIM McCARTY (The Yardbirds) – 3 January 2014

Jim McCarty - The Yardbirds

  January 21st 2014 sees The Yardbirds play their first date of an exhaustive 2014 tour which celebrates 50 years of their existence and the British Blues Invasion that changed the course of rock history. The band initially split in ‘68, … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments