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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
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Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024
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Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY – Wembley Arena, London, 23 November 2024
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Gig review: SQUEEZE – Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024
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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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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
Album review: PAUL SABU – Heartbreak & Only Child
Rock Candy Records Remasters [Release date 07.08.20] From the moment he burst onto the disco music scene in the late seventies, the legend that is Paul Sabu has been inundated with accolades… “best this…”, “best that…”, but he never truly … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, AOR, Classic Albums, classic rock, Heartbreak, melodic rock, Only Child, Paul Sabu, review, Rock Candy
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Album review: JD SIMO – JD Simo
Pete Feenstra chatted to JD Simo in September 2020 including tracks from the self-titled album. First broadcast 27 September 2020. Crows Feet Records Inc [Release date 21.08.20] For some folks, Acid Rock never really went out of fashion, it was … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acid rock, album, blues, Curtis Mayfield, guitar, interview, James Brown, JD Simo, psychedelia, review, soul, Supersonic Blues Machine
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Album review: NEAL MORSE – Sola Gratia
Inside Out [Release date 11.09.20] Neal Morse hardly seems to be out of the studio, with a covers collection released in the summer under the Morse Portnoy George handle, and last year he released the ambitious double album ‘Jesus Christ: … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Inside Out, melodic, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Neal Morse Band, prog rock, progressive, review, rock, Sola Gratia, theatrical
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Album review: THE PETAL FALLS – Workin’ All Night Workin’ All Day
Rock Avenue Records [Release date 31.07.20] This is my new favourite album of 2020, by UK band, The Petal Falls “Workin’ All Night Workin’ All Day” and if the impressive production is anything to go by, this band most certainly has … Continue reading
Album review: ROACHFORD – Twice In A Lifetime
BMG [Release date 11.09.20] Anyone who can stay the distance in the fickle UK music business deserves considerable recognition and with 32 years under his belt, Andrew Roachford MBE is due his flowers. Originally operating as a band, “Roachford” achieved … Continue reading
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Tagged album, funk, melodic, pop, review, Roachford, Solo, soul, Twice In A Lifetime
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Album review: TWISTER- Cursed and Corrected
Off Yer Rocka Recordings: Release Date 13.11.20 Young North-Easterners Twister looked to have been building a name for themselves prior to lockdown with some high profile support slots and winning a Hard Rock Hell Battle of the Bands competition, so … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, New Wave of Classic Rock, Stevie Stoker, Twister
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Album review: JIM KIRKPATRICK – Ballad of a Prodigal Son
Pete Feenstra chatted to Jim Kirkpatrick for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast 20 September 2020. US One Records [Release date 04.09.20] Whilst fellow FM member and vocalist Steve Overland channels his soul … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Ballad of a Prodigal Son, blues, blues rock, Didge Digital, FM, guitarist, interview, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, review, rock, Solo, Status Quo, Thea Gilmore
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Album review: DARREN BLACK – Playing With The Truth
Independent [Release date 04.09.20] Darren Black’s “Playing With The Truth” is essentially a singer/songwriter/poet’s guide through the uncharted waters of a post truth, post pandemic, post Brexit Britain. Naturally, it moves forward into this landscape by looking back. The “band” … Continue reading
Album review: KISS THE GUN – We See You
KTG Records [Release Date 04.09.20] Kiss The Gun’s 2017 debut, “Nightmares” readily labelled them as ‘one to watch’. Much of the credit went to charismatic Georgian vocalist, Nadin Zakharian. She’s gone now, and has been replaced by Brit, Abigail Austin. … Continue reading
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Tagged Abigail Austin, AOR. album, Kiss The Gun, melodic, review, rock, We See You
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Album review: RORY GALLAGHER – The Best Of
UMC [Release date 07.10.20] Irish guitarist and vocalist Rory Gallagher is one of THE names in blues guitar; he was considered The Man by both Jimi Hendrix and Joe Bonamassa, no mean feat. Finding fame in the late 60s with … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, best of, blues, blues rock, guitarist, review, rock, Rory Gallagher, TASTE, UMC
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Album review: VARIOUS – Girls Go Power Pop!
Big Beat/Ace [Release date 28.08.20] Ace (via their Big Beat imprint) follow 2019’s impressive “Come On Let’s Go” power pop collection with a new 25 tracker. This time, compiler Dave Burke varies the theme by focussing on female-fronted acts. As … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Ace Records, album, Girls Go Power Pop!, Go-Gos, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, The Bangles, The Runaways, various
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Album review: JOHN NORUM – Total Control, Face The Truth, Another Destination (reissues)
Rock Candy Records Remasters [Release date 07.08.20] It’s always about timing, isn’t it? John Norum left Europe on the cusp of the band’s breakthrough in 1986. He was legally obliged to fulfil a 3 album contract with the label. These … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Another Destination, Europe, Face The Truth, Glenn Hughes, guitaritst, hard rock, John Norum, Kelly Keeling, re-issue, review, rock, Rock Candy, Solo, Total Control
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Album review: JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Mother of the Sun
Golden Robot Records [Release date 21.08.20] Jefferson Starship release new music for the first time in 12 years, although it is only seven songs so not quite an album but maybe longer than an EP?! Jefferson Starship/Starship have been through … Continue reading
Album review: HUSTLER – Reloaded
Black Cat Records [Release date 07.08.20] Many won’t know the name Hustler, however back in the 70’s they released two albums on A&M, supported Queen on that band’s first headline tour and toured with Status Quo in Europe. The band … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bad Company, classic rock, Hustler, melodic rock, Queen, Reloaded, review, rock, soul
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Album review: ACE FREHLEY – Origins Vol 2
SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 18.09.20] Original Kiss guitarist Ace releases his ninth studio album and after the success of 2016’s Origins Vol 1 (which hit #23 in the Billboard 200), we get a Volume 2, and again it’s pretty damn good … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Ace Frehley, album, Bruce Kulick, classic rock, Covers, guitarist, Kiss, Origins Vol 2, review, Robin Zander, rock
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Album review: ROY WOOD AND WIZZARD – Mainstreet/Eddy &The Falcons
Main Street Cherry Red Records [Release date 28.08.20] Two years later, apparently stifled by the “hit machine” expectations that weighed upon him, Wood wrote, recorded and released “Main Street”. It was his first real attempt to climb off the pop … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged albums, avnat garde, Eddy and The Falcons, ELO, jazz, Mainstreet, melodic, pop, pop rock, re-issue, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Roy Wood, The Move, Wizzard
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Quick plays: RURA, JOSHUA BURNELL, GYPSY PISTOLEROS
RURA Live at the Old Fruitmarket [Release date 11.09.20] Rura releases this live album to celebrate the band’s tenth anniversary, recorded in February this year at the Celtic Connections festival, just before live shows stopped due to the pandemic. Their … Continue reading
Album review: MAD MAX – Stormchild Rising
SPV Records [Release date 21.08.20] The undoubted star of Mad Max’s umpteenth album is Michael Voss’s guitar. It provides blistering solos and fine textural detail, often in the space of a single track. That’s nothing new, but it might be … Continue reading
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Tagged album, hard rock, Mad Max, melodic, Michael Voss, review, rock, SPV, Stormchild Warning
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Album review: TRISHULA – Time Waits For No Man
AOR Heaven [Release date 25.09.20] British melodic rock band Trishula is the brainchild of guitarist Neil Fraser (Rage Of Angels, Ten), accompanied by vocalist Jason Morgan. This is album number two, hot on the heels of last year’s very enjoyable … Continue reading
Album review: JOEY MOLLAND – Be True To Yourself
Omnivore Recordings [Release date 16.10.20] As the sole surviving member of the classic line-up of Badfinger, Joey Molland’s pedigree in power pop circles is second to none. Over the years he has regularly produced solo albums, notably “After The Pearl” … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Badfinger, Be True To Yourself, Chicago, Joey Molland, Julian Lennon, melodic, Micky Dolenz, pop rock, power pop, review, Ringo Starr
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Album review: CONNOR BRACKEN AND THE MOTHER LEEDS BAND – Nightbird Motel
[Release date 25.09.20] Based in Astbury Park, New Jersey, Connor Brand (lead guitar and vocals) has a whiff of a look of a young Springsteen. But hometown aside, that’s about where the similarities end – MLB being a blues rock … Continue reading
Album review: TIGER MOTH TALES – Still Alive (CD/DVD)
White Knight Records [Release date 01.08.20] Not even lockdown can subdue Peter Jones. It seems only 5 minutes since he released A Visit To Zoetermeer, making Still Alive his second CD/DVD release in 3 months, but he also popped up … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged album, DVD, Peter Jones, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Still Alive, Tiger Moth Tales
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Album review: SHANNON LaBRIE – Building
Moraine Records [Release date 25.09.20] Since when did just 7 songs make an ‘album’? And it’s not as if we’re talking prog – this is Americana. And just 27 minutes of it. But then we live in strange times. And … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Americana, Building, review, rock, roots, Shannon LaBrie, singer, songwriter
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Album review: FORTUNE- The Gun’s Still Smoking Live (CD/DVD)
Frontiers Records (Release Date 07.08.20) One of the most heart-warming and unexpected comebacks of the last few years has been that of cult eighties AOR sters Fortune. It’s fair to say their comeback in 2016 at Rockingham Festival stole the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged album, AOR, Fortune. live album, Larry Greene, Mark Nilan, melodic rock, Richard Fortune, Ricky Rat
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Album review: ELIAS T. HOTH – Metastatic Syndrome
CD Baby [Release date 15.09.20] Elias T. Hoth’s ‘Metastatic Syndrome’ is full of all the road-tested elements with which he’s made his name in the last few years. There’s the unsettling title to start with, then there’s the balanced mix … Continue reading
