Author Archives: petefeenstra

Album Review: WALTER TROUT – Luther’s Blues – A Tribute To Luther Allison

Posted on May 9, 2013 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date: 10.06.13] ‘A Tribute To Luther Allison’ is a triumph of ambition, focus and sheer ability over any semblance of self doubt, as Walter Trout successfully captures Luther Allison’s essential spirit. Such is Trout’s intrinsic feel for Luther’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Tribute To Luther Allison, album, Bernard Allison, blues, blues rock, Chicago Blues, Eric Corne, James Solberg, Johnny Hallyday, Luther Allison, Michael Leasure, Montreux Jazz Festival, Motown, Provogue, review, Rick Knapp, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

Album review: TIME GRID – Life

Posted on May 4, 2013 by petefeenstra

Open Your Eyes Records [Release date: 21.01.13] Time Grid is French/Swiss prog metal band who have taken nearly a decade to realise their musical vision. ‘Life’ is by no means an unblemished slice of prog metal, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Franco Swiss rock, keyboards, King Crimson, Laetitia Fontannaz, Life, Mathias Reusser, metal, Procol Harum, prog metal, progressive, Remi Pussier, review, rock, Steve Huber, synths, Time Grid | Leave a comment

Album review: CTHULHU RISE – 42

Posted on May 3, 2013 by petefeenstra

Musea Records This incredible heavy but inventive album may sometimes border on the cacophonous as it blasts away the cobwebs of complacency with monumental fractured riffs, but the underlying fast changing time signatures, unrelenting metal dirge (sludge metal anybody?) and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged 42, Andy Prischenko, Captain Beefheart, Cthulhu Rise, Frank Zappa, free form jazz, HP Hovercraft, improv, Ivan Serdyuk, jazz, Jazz rock, Kiev rock bands, King Crimson, mathcore, metal, moog synthesizer, Musea records, prog, review, riffs, Robert Fripp, Stanislav Bobritskiy, Trout Mask Replica, Yury Demirskiy | Leave a comment

Album review: I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. – Mystery Drug

Posted on May 3, 2013 by petefeenstra

Blue Rose Records [Release date: 01.05.13] Alt-country outfit I See Hawks In L.A. are “dabblers” says their guitarist Paul Lacques. “There really are about 20 different ways to chop up country roots music”, he adds, while singer Rob Waller summarizes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged alt country, Blue Rose, Bob Dylan, country, cowboy songs, Dead Can Dance. west coast, I See Hawks In LA, Jerry Garcia, Paul Lacques, psych country, psychedelia, review, Rob Waller, roots | Leave a comment

Album review: RUBEN HOEKE BAND – Loaded

Posted on May 3, 2013 by petefeenstra

Dimensions records [Release date: 23.03.13] Dutch Guitarist Ruben Hoeke is firmly established as both a guitarist in his own right as well as a high profile interviewer, radio presenter and festival booker. His guitar chops are certainly evidence on ‘Loaded’, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged baritone vocalist, blues, Devon Allman, Dutch rock guitarist, Frank van Pardo, guitarist, review, Ruben Hoeke, Ruben Hoeke Band, soul, Vicky van Zijl | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMES COTTON – Cotton Mouth Man

Posted on April 30, 2013 by petefeenstra

Alligator records [Release date: 06.05.13] Grammy award winning Chicago blues-harp legend James Cotton is back! Well he’s never really been away, but ill health robbed him of his vocals making it all the more remarkable that ‘Cotton Mouth Man’ is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alligator Records, blues, blues harp, blues rock, Buddy Guy, Chicago Blues, Chuck Leavell, Cotton Mouth Man, Darrell Nulisch, Delbert McClinton, Glenn Worf, Grammy award winner, Gregg Allman, James Cotton, Joe Bonamassa, Keb Mo, Muddy Waters, review, Rob McNelley, Ruthie Foster, shuffle, Tom Hambridge, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHN NICKOLOFF – Get Out Of My Way

Posted on April 29, 2013 by petefeenstra

Independent/TSM [Release date: 02.05.13] John Nickoloff opens his debut 5 track EP/CD ‘Get Out Of My Way’ with hard rock pretensions but gradually moves towards radio friendly MOR material. Either way he’s got a great rock voice that effortlessly brings … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Backstreet Boys, Billy Champlin, Bon Jovi, EP, Florida rock band, Get Out Of My Way, John Kurzweg, John Nickoloff, Matt Mckeown, MOR, Naked Rachel, Rain Lord, review, rock, Sammy Hagar, vocals | Leave a comment

Album review: SWEETKENNY – Jennifer’s Box Of Junk

Posted on April 29, 2013 by petefeenstra

Waterfall Records/TSM [Release date: 2013] ‘Jennifer’s Box of Junk’ is both a title and concept. As song writer/ guitarist Kenny Sutton explains: ‘each song had to be something you would put in a box of junk’. Make of that what … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Berklee School of Music, Brian Eno, guitar, Jennifer’s Box of Junk, Joe Satriani, Ken Sutton, Michael Katon, review, rock, Scott Schroen, soundscapes, SweetKenny | Leave a comment

Album review: GASTRIC BAND – Party Feel

Posted on April 29, 2013 by petefeenstra

Armellodie Records [Release date: 03.06.13] With a line up comprising two drummers and three guitarists with additional synths, loops, samples and percussion, Scotland’s awfully titled Gastric Band are clearly not your ordinary beat combo. Party Feel is anything but an … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Armellodie recrds, Bruce Wallace, Cameron Cullen, Craig Macfadyen, Eno, experimental, Frank Zappa, free form, fusion, Gastric Band, guitar keyboards, Jack weir, Jazz rock, loops, Man, modulation, Party Feel, prog rock, review, Ricki Thomson, Robert Fripp, Ross McPherson, samples, Scottish band, soundscapes, syncalvier, synths | Leave a comment

Album review: VIRGIL & THE ACCELERATORS – Live at Marshall 31/8/12

Posted on April 29, 2013 by petefeenstra

Mystic Records [Release date: 29.04.13] One of the hardest working and talented young kick ass rock-blues bands on the circuit, Virgil & The Accelerators are like a lightning bolt out of the starting block. Having shown their raw ability in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, blues rock, Gabriel McMahon, guitar, Jack Timmis, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richard, Mystic Records, Rage Against The Machine, rock, The Radium, Virgil & The Accelerators, Virgil McMahon, Working Man, ZZ Top | Leave a comment

Album review: FRANCESCO MARRAS – Black Sheep

Posted on April 28, 2013 by petefeenstra

Independent Screaming Shadows guitarist Francesco Marras’s debut solo album has enough dazzling shredding and a sense of spontaneity to gives it crossover appeal to Vai, Malmsteen and Satriani fans. But you sense that the triumvirate’s collective musical palette has already … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Black Sheep, Elvis, Francesco Marras, Gary Moore, guitar, instrumental rock, Italian guitarist, Joe Satriani, metal, Raphael Saini, Sardinia, shredding, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BLACK MARBLES – Made In Concrete

Posted on April 28, 2013 by petefeenstra

TBM productions/New Music [Release date: 08.03.13] Described as ‘a mix of swag, groove, energy, heart & soul with their own take on rock ‘n’ roll’, 70’s influenced Swedish rockers The Black Marbles wear their retro influences on their sleeve in a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Axl Rose, Bad Company, classic rock, Free, hard rock, Kaj Paxeus, Keith Richards, Krister Selander, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul Rogers, Philip Karlsson, Pink Floyd, Robert Plant, Rolling Stones, Swedish rock, The Black Marbles, Tobbe Bovik | Leave a comment

Album review: MOON BIRD – Signs of Illusion

Posted on April 27, 2013 by petefeenstra

Kwinch Music/TSM [Release date:04.13] Moon Bird is a great name for a band that revels in layered sounds, sweeping melodies and David Gilmour style progressions. ‘Signs Of Illusion’ is probably too derivative to break new ground, but given … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Daryl Lynch, guitar, Jim Kwiecinski, keyboards, Moon Bird, Pink Floyd, prog rock, progressive, review, soundcapes, synths | Leave a comment

Album review: JULIAN SAS – Bound To Roll

Posted on April 24, 2013 by petefeenstra

Cavalier Recordings Voted best blues-rock guitarist in the Benelux countries by the influential Dutch Guitarist magazine, the key to any Julian SAS CD is his tasteful, fluid soling, an array of wholesome tones and his ability to transform any given … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, blues rock, boogie, Bound To Roll, Cavalier Music, Dutch guitarist, guitarist, Julian Sas, Michael Katon, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: TRACER – El Pistolero

Posted on April 23, 2013 by petefeenstra

Mascot Records [Release date: 06.05.13] Take one young retro sounding Australian band and send them to Europe to make a splash and build up a following. Sign them to a Dutch label and then record them in LA under the wing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Andre Wise, Australian rock, Black Sabbath, Chickenfoot, classic rock, El Pistolero, Groundhogs, grunge, Jett Heysen-Hicks, Kevin Shirley, Led Zeppelin, Mascot records, Michael Brown, rock, Tracer | Leave a comment

DVD review: PETER FRAMPTON – Live In Detroit

Posted on April 22, 2013 by petefeenstra

When discussing the recording techniques of the six million selling ‘Frampton Comes Alive’ in the bonus interview section of this excellent DVD, Peter Frampton remembers asking: ‘Why release a live album if you can’t hear the audience?’ It was the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Bill Wyman, Bob Mayo, Eagle Vision, Humble Pie, Live In Detroit, melodic rock, Peter Frampton, rock, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Steve Marriott, The Herd, vocoder | Leave a comment

Album review: TAYLOR’S UNIVERSE – Worn Out

Posted on April 22, 2013 by petefeenstra

Marvel Of Beauty Records [Release date: 2013] There was time many years ago when Jazz-Rock was a new, vibrant and exciting musical form and north European countries provided some of the leading talents of the genre. It’s perhaps no big … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Burning Red Ivanhoe, Danish Rock, fusion, Hugh Steinmetz, Jacob Mygind, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Jon Hemmersam, Karsten Vogel, King Crimson, Klaus Thrane, Louise Nipper, Marvel of Beauty records, Robin Taylor, Taylor's Universe, Zappa | Leave a comment

Album review: BARISH KEPIC – Addiction

Posted on April 17, 2013 by petefeenstra

Independent/TSM – [Release date 05.03.13] Turkish/German guitarist, composer, song writer and producer Barish Kepic is best known for his work with the likes of Powerworld, Jaded Heart, Evidence One and Faro and this album is everything you would expect from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Addiction, Axel Rudi Pell, Barish Kepic, Chitral Somapala, Evidence One, Faro, Ferdy Doernberg, Firewind, German Rock, guitar music, guitar shredding, instrumental music, instrumental rock, Jaded Heart, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani, Michael Bormann, Powerquest, Powerworld | Leave a comment

Album review: BLONDE BLUES – Envision Nu Blues

Posted on April 17, 2013 by petefeenstra

Self-released Blonde Blues hail from the blues heartland of North Carolina and ‘Envision Nu Blues’ finds the band having a decent stab at honing their own style. It’s an album that has its moments, but for the most part flickers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Cooper, Blonde Blues, blues, Buddy Guy, Cindy Adams, Doyle Bramhall11, Envision Nu Blues, Michael Martin, North Carolina blues, Rick Siller, Ross Osteen, Spencer Wynn | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE BONINO – Peace Rocks

Posted on April 17, 2013 by petefeenstra

Self release – www.stevebonino.com – out now They say you should always start with your best and balance things out afterwards. Well Steve Bonino obviously missed that initial piece of advice, as this excellent album builds from an inauspicious opener … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 60's rock, harmony vocals, Peace, Peace Rocks, Progressive Rock, psychedelia, rock, Steve Bonino, The Beatles, Tod Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: THE LIVING – The Jungle Is Dark But Full Of Diamonds

Posted on April 16, 2013 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date: 01.12.12] In their own words,Vancouver band The Living try to: ‘bridge the gap between Western art music and popular styles, mixing traditional rock instrumentation with classical instruments’. Their challenging music and adventurous goals are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Canadian Rock, chamber music, classical, Elyse Jacobson, funk, metal, Mike Bell, rock, strings, symphonic rock, The Living, Two Side Moon Promotions, violin | Leave a comment

Interview with blues rock guitarist DANNY BRYANT (April 2013)

Posted on April 10, 2013 by petefeenstra

Blues-rocker Danny Bryant started playing guitar at 15 years old. He turned pro 3 years later and became Walter Trout’s protégé. In the intervening years he followed the old school route to build a rock solid fan base on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Buddy Guy, Danny Bryant, guitarist, Hubert Sumlin, Hurricane, interview, Jazzhaus, John Hiatt, Ken Bryant, Pete Feenstra, Richard Hammerton, rock blues, Trevor Barr, Walter Trout | 1 Comment

Album review: DANNY BRYANT – Hurricane

Posted on April 8, 2013 by petefeenstra

Jazzhaus Records [Release date 06.05.13] If ‘Night Life – Live in Holland’ confirmed Danny’s raw ability, then ‘Hurricane’ is a step up and completes his right of passage from a protégé to a fully fledged blues rocker. Having … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, Danny Bryant, guitarist, Hurricane, Jazzhaus, John Hiatt, Richard Hammerton, rock, Walter Trout | 1 Comment

Album review: SAVOY BROWN – Songs From The Road

Posted on April 7, 2013 by petefeenstra

RUF Records [Release date 03.13] They say if you stick around long enough your time will come. In truth, Savoy Brown have probably enjoyed at least three come backs in their 45 year career, but their last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, boogie, Brit Blues, Garnet Grimm, guitar, Kim Simmons, Nathaniel Peterson, Pat DeSalvo, Pete McMahon, Savoy Borwn, shuffle, Songs From The Road, Stan Webb | Leave a comment

Gig review: ERIC JOHNSON – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 3 April 2013

Posted on April 6, 2013 by petefeenstra

An Eric Johnson gig is a bit like stumbling on a secret society. He surreptitiously slunk on to the Empire stage to fill the venue with a rush of notes and an array of magical tones to restore the faith … Continue reading →