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Latest Album Reviews
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Latest Gig Reviews
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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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Featured Album Reviews
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Album review: LILLIAN AXE – Psalms For Eternity (3 CD set)
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Album review: POSSESSED – Revelations of Oblivion
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Album review: COLLATERAL – Re-Wired
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Album review: ALTER BRIDGE – Fortress
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Album review: SAGA – Spin It Again Live In Munich
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Album review: DEL BROMHAM BLUES DEVILS – Del Bromham Blues Devils Live
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Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS
Gig review: LUKE MORLEY- Islington Academy, London, 31 January 2024
With Thunder off the road for the foreseeable future, Luke Morley has been able to devote more significant time to his solo work. Last year’s ‘Songs from the Blue Room’, a mellow collection of songs sounding nothing like his main … Continue reading
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Tagged Chris Childs, Dean Howard, gig, Hillbilly Vegas, Jack Taylor, Luke Morley, Sam Tanner, Thunder
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Gig review: JANUARY BLUES FESTIVAL (Laurence Jones, Ben Poole) – The Forge, Camden, London, 23 and 24 January 2024
For many years now the January Blues Festival has given the traditionally quiet gig calendar a welcome boost in that most depressing of months and showcased a variety of artists old and new. The 100 Club was its traditional habitat … Continue reading
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Tagged Ben Poole, blues rock, festival, gig, Guy Smeets, January Blues Festival, Laurence Jones
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Gig review: OCEAN COLOUR SCENE – Eventim Apollo, 16 December 2023
There’s always been a sense that, despite their success, Ocean Colour Scene have been one of the most under rated bands to emerge during those heady, somewhat hedonistic days of the Britpop era. Certainly, whilst the constant inclusion of one … Continue reading
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Tagged Eventim Apollo, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, pop, pop rock, PP Arnold, review, rock, Saturday 16 December 2023, Simon Fowler, soul
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Gig review: GEDDY LEE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow – 14th December 2023
Tonight, we had something a bit different, Geddy Lee in conversation to promote his autobiography, ‘My Effin’ Life’, which has just been released. With Rush in hiatus following the sad passing of Neil Peart, for fans of the band this … Continue reading
Gig review: HALESTORM – Wembley Arena, London, 9 December 2023
Halestorm have maintained a continuous but steady upward trend in popularity on the UK. Nearly 14 years after I first saw them open up for Theory of a Deadman and Heaven’s Basement at the Electric Ballroom, came a career highlight, … Continue reading
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Tagged Arejay Hale, Black Veil Brides, gig, Halestorm, Joe Hottinger, Josh Smith, Lzzy Hale, Mothica
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Gig review: FM – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 1 December 2023
Yet another busy gigging year in FM’s ever hard working calendar ended in the unlikely surroundings of Tunbridge Wells, the genteel Kent town famous for its spa and the mythical disgusted letter-writing retired colonel. Its commutable from both the South … Continue reading
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Tagged AOR, Ben Christo, Diamond Black, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland
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Gig review: ULI JON ROTH- The Garage, London, 28 November 2023
A regular on the gig circuit before the pandemic, this was Uli Jon Roth’s first UK tour since, and a particularly welcome return to the stage as he has recovered from major surgery earlier this year. Coming on relatively late … Continue reading
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Tagged David Klosinski, Electric Sun, gig, Niklas Thurmann, Scorpions, Uli Jon Roth
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Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 30 November 2023
After various ‘Fest’ and ‘Temple of Rock’ incarnations, Schenker revived the original MSG monicker for a couple of recent albums and has been on a 50th anniversary tour for over two years now. It is something of a divine resurrection. … Continue reading
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Tagged classic rock, Doctor Doctor, gig, guitarist, hard rock, live, Michael Schenker, MSG, review 30 November 2023, Robin McAuley, UFO
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Gig review: THE NEW ROSES- Downstairs at the Dome, London, 26 November 2023
Despite rave reviews, German rockers The New Roses have yet to achieve the success they deserve in the UK. We can speculate about the reason for this- one being that though they defy pigeonholing, their sound is totally un-German! Hopefully … Continue reading
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Tagged Dizzy Daniels, Empyre, gig, Henrik Steenholdt, melodic rock, New Wave of Classic Rock, Norman Bites, the New Roses, Timmy Rough, Urban Berz
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Gig review: DEAD WRITERS – The Camden Assembly, Tuesday 21 November 2023
Warming up a cold November night in the twilight zone between the edge of Camden and Chalk Farm, Dead Writers are lighting up the stage on the first night of a short tour opening for South Carolina guitar-slinging sensation Hannah … Continue reading
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Tagged 70's rock, Dead Writers, gig, goth, review, rock, The Camden Assembly, Tuesday 21 November 2023
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Gig review: THE ANSWER – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 16 November 2023
It’s been quite a year for The Answer after breaking their five year hiatus to regroup and record a new album ‘Sundowners’. At a 100 Club gig in the Spring that largely showcased the new album I was initially unimpressed, … Continue reading
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Tagged blues rock, Cara Bruns, Cormac Neeson, gig, James Heatley, Kira Mac, Micky Waters, Paul Mahon, THE ANSWER
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 15 November 2023
Celebrating a remarkable 50 years as a trailblazing woman in rock since ‘Can the Can’ became her first hit single and reached No 1, Suzi Quatro followed up last year’s superb one off Royal Albert Hall gig with a longer … Continue reading
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Tagged Boy George, gig, glam rock, Glen Matlock, Jez Davies, Suzi Quatro, Tim Scott, Tommy Schneller
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Gig review: GRETA VAN FLEET – Wembley Arena, London, 14 November 2023
We’re always being told that rock, or at least classic blues based heavy rock, no longer appeals to young people and that limits the scope for the much needed new generation of bands to progress to mass market popularity. Michigan … Continue reading
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Tagged blues rock, Danny Wagner. Hannah Wicklund, gig, Greta Van Fleet, Jake Kiszka, Josh Kiszka, Led Zeppelin, Mt.Joy, Sam Kiszka
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Gig review: RUSS BALLARD- Nell’s Jazz and Blues, West Kensington, London, 9 November 2023
As someone for whom the PRS cheques roll in every time his famous songs are played, Russ Ballard has no need to go out in tour for the money, so his newly prolific touring in the UK must be for … Continue reading
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Tagged AOR, Argent, gig, John Miller, Marc Rapson, melodic rock, PJ Phillips, Roly Jones, Russ Ballard, singer songwriter
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Gig review: THE DUST CODA- Dingwalls, London, 28 October 2023
Rather more quietly than some of their other contemporaries in the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, The Dust Coda have been building a name for themselves, and 2023 has been a busy year, with a second straight top 40 … Continue reading
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Tagged Adam Mackie, Doomsday Outlaw, gig, John Drake, New Wave of Classic Rock, The Dust Coda
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Gig review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – The Junction, Cambridge, 31 October 2023
They started off as a band in 1967 but now, more than ever, Fairport Convention are a family, the sense of community between not just the musicians themselves but the fans too something that’s vital and heart-warming. Eternally set squarely … Continue reading
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Tagged acoustic, Cambridge, Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, gig, review, Ric Sanders, Simon Nicol, The Junction, Tuesday 31 October 2023
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Gig review: LAURIE WRIGHT + THE MOLOTOVS, Underworld, Camden, 21 October 2023
A revolution is happening and there’s no stopping it. In a world full of conflict and corruption, it’s always been down to the youth to shake things up, their voices and music providing defining moments of change. It’s a testament … Continue reading
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Tagged Camden, gig, Laurie Wright, review, Saturday 21 October 2023, The Molotovs, Underworld
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Gig review: GLENN HUGHES – Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023
In Glenn Hughes’ distinguished and chequered career, his time in Deep Purple is a gift that keeps giving. Songs from his tenure with them have always formed a big part of his solo shows and indeed for many years (until … Continue reading
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Tagged Ash Sheehan, Bob Fridzema, Deep Purple, gig, Glenn Hughes, Soren Andersen, The Damn Truth
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Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH & JESSE DAYTON – Junction, Cambridge, 25 October 2023
The fact that the Junction is wall to wall with people is testament to not just the rise of Samantha Fish but also how the revival of blues has never been stronger. With its blue-collar honesty and everyman appeal, this … Continue reading
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Tagged 25 October 2023, blues, blues rock, Cambridge, gig. Samantha Fish, guitarist, Jesse Dayton, Junction, review, the Commoners
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Gig review: DOM MARTIN – Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 19 October 2023
Any blues rock guitarist emerging from Ireland will face invariable and daunting comparisons with the very best in Rory Gallagher (and that’s before we even get started on Gary Moore). One such, Dom Martin, has been receiving rave reviews and … Continue reading
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Tagged blues rock, Buried in the Hail, Dom Martin, Eel Pie Club, gig
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Gig review: EUROPE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 18 October 2023
I recently interviewed Tommy Johannson of the Swedish band Sabaton. As an aside at the end of the interview I asked him, given the band’s love of all things historic, if he could go back to any point in time … Continue reading
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Tagged 18 October 2023, 40th anniversary, Europe, gig, Glasgow, hard rock, Ian Haugland, Joey Tempest, John Leven, John Norum, live, melodic rock, Mic Michaeli, review, Royal Concert Hall, Time Capsule
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Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS- The Forum, London, 17 October 2023
This show had a lovely sense of symmetry for me. Just over five years ago my first sighting of Those Damn Crows was here at the Forum, opening a four band bill headlined by the Quireboys. I remember being struck … Continue reading
Gig review: KEITH ST.JOHN- Devonshire Arms, Camden, 9 October 2023
The measure of a singer can be found in the offers they get to fill the boots of famous predecessors. Best known as the frontman for Burning Rain- whose guitarist Doug Aldrich should recognise a good singer having worked with … Continue reading
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Tagged acoustic, Burning Rain, gig, Jack Frost, John, Keith St, Kingdom Come, Lynch Mob, Montrose, Myke Gray
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