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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
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Category Archives: Quick Plays
Quick plays: THE ESKIES, CIRCULINE, THE DEEP HOLLOW
THE ESKIES After The Sherry Went Round Parochial Dancehall Records [Release date 26.08.16] The debut from this Dublin based quintet is a rip-roaring unhinged concoction of sea soaked gypsy folk. They’re like The Coral and the Mumfords rolled into one … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged A Blue Flame, acoustic, After The Sherry Went Round, album, Americana, Circuline, Counterpoint, folk, progressive, review, rock, singer, songwrite, The Deep Hollow, The Eskies, What We've Become Is All That Now Remains
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Quick plays: GO WEST, RAGDOLL
GO WEST Live Robin 2 – 2003 [Release date 29.07.16] Angel Air Records Go West are still going strong and with the original duo of vocalist Peter Cox and guitarist Richard Drummie. This show was recorded back in 2003, so … Continue reading
Quick plays: FIELD MOUSE, THE AMAZING
FIELD MOUSE – Episodic US band who expanded from a two-piece that made the debut album, ‘Hold Still Life’, to this album’s line-up of Rachel Browne (vocals/guitar), Andrew Futral (guitar), Saysha Heinzman (bass), Tim McCoy (drums) and Zoë Browne (synth/Rhodes/vocals). … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Ambulance, Episodic, Field Mouse, indie, pop, review, rock, the Amazing
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Quick plays: BREAD OVER BOMBS, GONE DEAD TRAIN, THE MIRROR TRAP
BREAD OVER BOMBS www.breadoverbombs.org Interesting backstory to this band from Los Angeles in that they put the profits of the band’s music into providing food for food banks. They have to date provided over 10,000 meals for people via the … Continue reading
Quick plays: DANA IMMANUEL, EVE SELIS
DANA IMMANUEL & THE STOLEN BAND Come With Me [Release date 05.08.16] A curious release, coming reasonably hot on the heels of banjo-toting, whiskey-drinking north London based singer-songwriter Dana Immanuel’s last album Dotted Lines which attracted a 4 star GRTR! … Continue reading
Quick plays: deVIENCE, LOVE AND A .38
deVIENCE – S/T Broken Road Records If you’ve been writing reviews for a while every now and then you stumble across a debut album that slips into your record collection and stays there for years, and the self-titled debut effort … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, blues, DeVience, Gio Spano, Hiva Oa, Love and A .38, Nomads, review, rock, southern
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Quick plays: MIKKO JOENSUU, ODDITY, VINNIE MOORE
MIKKO JOENSUU Amen 1 An ambitious musical adventure here from Mikko Joensuu as this album is the first part of a planned trilogy of albums. This is a very sparse album, in that Mikko’s vocals are the main focus backed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, alternative, Amen 1, Americana, country, folk, guitarist, Hidden City, metal, Mikko Joensuu, Oddity, Press Hard, Reds' Cool, review, rock, Settle Down, SPV, The Cult, Vinnie Moore
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Quick plays: MICHAEL McDERMOTT, ANNIE KEATING, MISS RABBIT
MICHAEL McDERMOTT Willow Springs Having only just reviewed The Westies – Six On The Out, a vehicle for singer songwriter Michael McDermott, it was something of a surprise to find his 10th solo album land a matter of only weeks … Continue reading
Quick plays: PAPERNUT CAMBRIDGE, SULFUR CITY, KING MUD
PAPERNUT CAMBRIDGE Love The Things Your Lover Loves An album full of trippy, bubblegum pop – these types of bands were ubiquitous in the ‘70s, think early Small Faces with Steve Mariott-type, easy-on-the-ears ditties (though not his pipes) but you … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Barismanco, blues, King Mud, Papernut Cambridge, pop rock, Quick Play, reviews, rock, Sulfur City, the Blues Against Youth
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Quick plays: PHANTOM 5, LUKE ELLIOT, HEADLINE MANIAC
PHANTOM 5 S/T Frontiers [Release date 13.05.16] Phantom 5 is a new band/project featuring the familiar names of Michael Voss (Casanova/Silver/Bonfire/Mad Max), vocalist Claus Lessmann (ex-Bonfire), guitarist Robby Boebel (Frontline), drummer Axel Kruse (drums) and on bass Francis Buchholz (MS … Continue reading
Quick plays: GAMMA RAY, FASSINE, SUSAN AQUILA, SHELOOM
GAMMA RAY Lust For Live (Anniversary Edition) earMUSIC [Release date 06.05.16] earMUSIC’s Gamma Ray back catalogue re-issues series continues with this live album, previously only available on video on its original release back in 1993. The show was recorded at … Continue reading
Quick plays: THE CARS, JENNY GILLESPIE
THE CARS Moving In Stereo: The Best Of Rhino [Release date 06.05.16] This best of is released after a recent box set, ‘The Elektra Years 1978-87′ and covers the same period, with one song – ‘Sad Song’ – from the … Continue reading
Quick plays: REBECCA PRONSKY, ROD MELANCON
REBECCA PRONSKY Known Objects Acme Hall Studios [Release date 10.06.16] New York singer songwriter Rebecca Pronsky’s last release Only Daughter made The Telegraph’s Top Ten Country albums of 2013. If anything, the follow up is an even more alluring affair. … Continue reading
Quick plays: BLACK ACES, A REBEL FEW, 2 WEEKS
BLACK ACES Shot In The Dark (Bad Reputation) The trouble being an Australian rock band, and particularly one that plays blues rock at a certain speed, is that you are going to inevitably draw comparisons with Australia’s best known rock … Continue reading
Quick plays: CALLING ALL ASTRONAUTS, JOANA SERRAT, JAMES McARTNEY, DIRTY ACTION
CALLING ALL ASTRONAUTS Anti-Social Network This is Calling All Astronauts’ second album and they have been around since 2012, consisting of David B (vocals/programming), J Browning (guitars) and Paul McCrudden (bass). Musically they cover goth, rock, electro and certainly have … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged albums, alternative, Americana, Billy Idol, Calling All Astronauts, country, Dhani Harrison, Dirty Action, glam, goth, James McCartney, Joana Serrat, Quick Play, reviews, rock, singer songwriter, Sisters Of Mercy, sleaze, The Blackberry Train
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Quick plays: ALMANAC, MOULETTES, BREAK THE SENSES
ALMANAC Tsar Nuclear Blast [Release date 18.03.16] Rage had a major line-up change last year, one of which saw guitarist Victor Smolski leave the band and he wasted little time in assembling Almanac. This album is a concept piece based … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Almanac, Break The Senses, David Readman, folk, metal, Moulettes, Perfect Nature, Pink Cream 69, power metal, Preternatural, prog, Rage, review, Tsar, Victor Smolski
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Quick plays: HORSE PARTY, ELIZA NEALS, CHRISTA COUTURE
HORSE PARTY Horizons REPEAT Records [Release date 01.04.16] Bury St Edmunds three-piece rockers, fronted by guitarist/singer Ellie Langley have been getting plenty of plaudits over the past 12 months from the likes of 6music, Radio One, and Radio X. Formed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged acoustic, album, blues, blues rock, Breaking And Entering, Christa Couture, Eliza Neals, Horizons, Horse Party, indie, Long Time Leaving, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter
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Quick plays: SOUTHERN COMPANION, RACKHOUSE PILFER, MATT WOOSEY
SOUTHERN COMPANION 1000 Days Of Rain [Release date 23.02.15] On first listen you’d be forgiven for thinking The Southern Companion were from across the pond with their soulful brand of blues / rock infused Americana / country. In fact, you … Continue reading
Quick plays: THE STRUTS, CORINNE WEST, PETE LASHLEY
THE STRUTS Everybody Wants I’ve always had a weakness for camp, bubblegum rock. It’s a long line that stretches back to the Sweet, through Queen, and perhaps most recently evident in The Darkness. Derby four-piece, The Struts are the latest … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, At The Station, Corinne West, Daze Of Grace, Everybody Wants, Grandma Strange, Magic Corner, Nightingale, Pete Lashley, pop, psychedelic, review, rock, Rumours Of Glory, singer, songwriter, Starlight Highway, The Struts, Wildflower
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Quick plays: TIM HOCKENBERRY, JOSH HARTY
TIM HOCKENBERRY Tim Hockenberry [Release date 04.03.16] You know with an ex-America’s Got Talent performer (Hockenberry made the semi-finals in 2012) you’re going to get a decent vocal performance. And his debut release doesn’t disappoint in that respect – his … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, America's Got Talent, Americana, country, Holding On, Josh Harty, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Tim Hockenberry
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Quick plays: RAZORBATS, RAGE, SAGA, STAR CRYSTAL
RAZORBATS – Camp Rock www.razorbats.com [Release date 15.09.15] Razorbats hail from Norway and they like their 70′s rock that’s for sure, as you can hear bits of Alice Cooper, Kiss and on ‘Getaway’ you could be listening to a long-lost … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Camp Rock, Follow Me, melodic rock, metal, My Way, punk pop, Rage, review, rock, Saga, Star Crystal, The Pleasure & The Pain, the Razorbats
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Quick plays: TREETOP FLYERS, SERENITY
TREETOP FLYERS – Palomino [Release date 11.03.16] This is the second album from this London five piece and listening to the album you would think you were back in the 1970′s and the West Coast sound of artists like Crosby, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged 70s music, album, Codex Atlantus, metal, Palomino, power metal, review, rock, Serenity, symphonic, the Treetop Flyers
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Quick plays: DAVID LOCKE, DERIAN CROSS, TESS OF THE CIRCLE
DAVID LOCKE Transitions [Release date 05.15] www.davidlocke.co.uk David Locke is another guitar journeymen but the difference between his production values and the Derian Cross album (see below) are palpable. A lot of time and effort has evidently gone into making … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged Amplify, Dave Locke, Derian Cross, fusion, guitar, guitarist, One, pop rock, rock, Tess Of the Circle, Transitions
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Quick plays: BEN ABRAHAM, DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA, TALISCO
BEN ABRAHAM – Sirens Secretly Canadian [Release date 04.03.16] Despite the record label name, Ben Abraham hails from Australia where this, his debut album, was released last year. It is now getting a full UK release and I can see … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Ben Abraham, Death By Unga Bunga, folk, Pineapple Pizza, pop, punk, review, Run, singer songwriter, Talisco
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Quick plays: JULIA FORDHAM (1988 reissue), UNDERHILL ROSE
Cherry Pop [Release date 29.01.16] Julia Fordham is one of those artists who could only really flourish in the 1980s when there were expansive label budgets, solid production values, and exposure on national radio. Her exquisite blend of self-penned pop … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues
Tagged album, Americana, bonus tracks, folk, Julia Fordham, live, pop, reissue, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Great Tomorrow, Underhill Rose
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