Author Archives: petefeenstra

Album review: HENRIK FREISCHLADER BAND – Live In Concerts

Cable Car [Release date: 28.10.13] It says something for Henrik Freischlader’s ability to captivate and enthral us with his guitar led, groove laden blues-rock that he is confident enough to release a live 4 CD box set. He’s already released … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN LEES’ BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST – North

Esoteric Antenna [Release date: 07.10.13] ‘North’ is an unlikely but successful return to recording by John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest. It’s an unlikely return because for the best part of 5 years, the band’s  guitarist and composer Lees actually retired, … Continue reading

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Gig review: DANA FUCHS – The Borderline, London, 8 October 2013

DANA FUCHS – The Borderline, London, 8 October 2013

If the ‘Bliss Avenue’ CD was an interesting introduction to New York’s hard hitting vocalist and songwriter Dana Fuchs, her live show quickly revealed all her qualities. As she made clear at the outset, her songs deal with ‘the dirty … Continue reading

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Gig review: JONNY LANG – The Borderline, London, 3 October 2013

Jonny Lang’s overdue return to London was a qualified success. At his best, as on the spiritual ‘That Great Day’, his mastery of the material showed a maturity that makes him a totally convincing while boy soul singer.  His sense … Continue reading

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Album Review: ANDERS OSBORNE – Peace

Alligator [Release date: 08.10.13] There may be a significant gap between Alligator Records’ original mission statement of ‘genuine houserocking music’ and Anders Osborne deeply felt, confessional singer song-writing, but the contemporary blues scene has surely benefited from the liaison. It’s … Continue reading

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Album review: LESLIE WEST – Still Climbing

Provogue/Mascot [Release date: 28.10.13] ‘Still Climbing’ is an aptly title album and metaphor for the guitar heavyweight Leslie West who has rebuilt his career since his leg amputation. The album finds the former Mountain guitarist with a surprising amount of … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 28 September 2013

  Royal Southern Brotherhood may be considered the latest super group on the circuit, but the label appeared irrelevant to a line-up that celebrated its wealth of talent with a breathtaking two hour set. RSB is the considerable sum of its … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO – Jazz Cafe, London, 29 September 2013

Alex Skolnick Trio

This always promised to be a curious night, but if some of the audience were taking a leap of faith they were amply rewarded by a band who clearly relished a challenge as much a sharing their enjoyment with their … Continue reading

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Interview with JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – 27 September 2013

‘One night, one shot, no safety net’, such was the background to Joanne Shaw Taylor’s eagerly anticipated live album and DVD. Surprisingly perhaps, it’s her first live album in a career built on the back of incendiary live shows that … Continue reading

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Interview with JOHN LEES (Barclay James Harvest) – 17 September 2013

John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest is back with a brand new album called ‘North’. The new CD features 9 new tracks that update the melodic prog rock band’s musical heritage, which is also neatly encapsulated on the accompanying live CD … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE GRAVELTONES – Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes,London,17 September 2013

Blink and you’ll miss them. The explosive Graveltones came, saw and conquered with a frenzied, hi-octane, riff driven wall of sound and the kind of visceral intensity not seen since the raw doorstep blues of Hound Dog Taylor. The band … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL – Birmingham Live With Orchestra & Choir

Comeuppance   [Release Date: 14.10.13] The commercial potential of pop or rock music is largely determined by a time, a place and a context. This was never more so than with the ego posturing of Steve Harley (and Cockney Rebel), … Continue reading

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Album review: GRACE SOLERO – Hundred Years Apart

Wohone Records [Release Date: 30.09.13] Startling Italian vocalist Grace Solero lends her name to an international band whose second album ‘Hundred Years Apart’ is full of full of passionate vocals, poetic lyrics, crashing chords and steely riffs. It’s a thinly … Continue reading

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Album review: THE GRAVELTONES – Don’t Wait Down

Lagoon Dog Records [Release Date: 21.10.13] There’s a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time and The Graveltones are knocking on the door at a time when their balls to wall bombast will … Continue reading

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Album review: MOJO MAKERS – Wait Till The Morning

Hypertension Music   [Release Date: 16.09.13] Danish blues-rock outfit the Mojo Makers attempt to recycle 70’s blues-rock and give it contemporary twist. Their rough hewn and visceral approach to recording leaves plenty of room for moments of real spark and … Continue reading

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Album review: ERIC STECKEL – Dismantle The Sun

Eric Steckel Music   [Release Date: 31.10.12] Eric Steckel’s ‘Dismantle The Sun’ was originally released in the States towards the end of last year, but is being belated promoted in the UK on the back of his first proper UK … Continue reading

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Album review: JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Songs From The Road

Joanne Shaw Taylor  Songs From The Road

Ruf [Release date 04.11.13] There’s nothing like a live album to deliver the bacon. I don’t mean a doctored product with overdubs and the like, but simply a live recording with an expectant audience, a hot band and the recording … Continue reading

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Album review: IVAN MIHALJEVIC & SIDE EFFECTS – Counterclockwise

Zeta Factory [Release date 01.04.13] ‘Counterclockwise’ is a concept album of sorts. It’s not an album with a single overbearing theme as such, but more of a cerebral examination of the state of our collective consciousness. Front man Ivan Mihaljevic … Continue reading

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Album review: PETE BROWN & PHIL RYAN WITH PSOULCHEDELIA – Perils Of Wisdom

Repertoire [Release date 24.06.13] Pete Brown and Phil’s Ryan’s Psoulchedelia is a misleading name for a band whose music only occasionally broaches soul and is not remotely psychedelic.  The punned title ‘Perils of Wisdom’ turns out to be an oblique … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BLUES BAND – Live At Rockpalast

Repertoire [Release date 10.06.13] The Blues Band ‘Live at Rockpalast’ is that rare thing, a live DVD that connects as much with the viewer at home as the band did with the audience on the night. Too often a multi … Continue reading

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Album review: ALVIN LEE & TEN YEARS LATER – Live At Rockpalast

Repertoire [Release date 10.06.13] Alvin Lee & Ten Years Later actually came 5 years after the dissolution of Ten Years After. It was essentially a virtuoso power trio who relentlessly toured The US and Europe and on this live DVD … Continue reading

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Album review: EWAN DOBSON – Acoustic Metal

Candy Rat Records [Release date 06.02.13] ‘Once you see the line between metal virtuosity and classical music the challenge begins.’ So says Canadian guitarist Ewan Dobson whose 2 CD ‘Acoustic Metal’ is a challenging, innovative and hugely enjoyable CD. If … Continue reading

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Interview with AYNSLEY LISTER – 29 Aug 2013

Aynsley Lister is back with his first studio album for 4 years. It’s suitably titled ‘Home’, because it’s his debut recording on his own Straight Talkin’ Records label. It also features his current tour band and is overseen by his … Continue reading

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Album review: RAINBOW BRIDGE REVISITED

Gonzo [Release date 15.04.13] OK first things first. While the significance of Jimi Hendrix’s Rainbow Bridge concert was that it was his penultimate American show, there’s nothing of interest here for the Hendrix fans, outside of a few vague anecdotes … Continue reading

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EP review: MAKUINI – Roll The Dice

Self release [Release date 05.08.13] There’s blues and there’s blues. While the contemporary blues world is dominated by virtuoso guitar slingers and jazzers who fall back on the genre due to a lack of material, there’s also a raft of … Continue reading

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