Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: EAGLES – Liverpool Echo Arena, 26 June 2014

Eagles - Liverpool Echo Arena, 26 June 2014

The Eagles are one of those bands I thought the opportunity to see might have passed.  But the lure of the mighty $ has kept the band on the road, some might argue, well past their ‘best before’. Certainly some … Continue reading

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Gig review: MORELAND & ARBUCKLE – The Beaverwood Club, Chisehurst, 24 June 2014

MORELAND & ARBUCKLE – The Beaverwood Club, Chisehurst, 24 June 2014

Moreland & Arbuckle aren’t like any other blues band. The term Roots Rock hardly encapsulates the breadth of their music. They are a power trio with a difference, comprising harp, drum and guitar, with Aaron Moreland providing the bass lines … Continue reading

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Gig review – DESERT MOUNTAIN TRIBE – Bush Hall, London, 16 June 2014

Desert Mountain Tribe – Bush Hall, London, 16 June 2014

They came, they saw, they created spine-tingling psychedelic rock and then left quietly. Just like one of those cosmic moments when everything seems crystal clear and the universe is encapsulated in a flash, Desert Mountain Tribe hit a peak, but … Continue reading

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Gig review: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – The Tivoli, Buckley, 23 June 2014

Jeff Scott Soto - The Tivoli, Buckley, 23 June 2014

Setlists.fm is a blessing and a curse.  Notwithstanding the occasional inaccuracy it has proved a boon to lazy or forgetful reviewers but also a useful tool to evaluate the worthiness of a tour.  And recently I used it to decide … Continue reading

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Gig review: NICK OLIVERI – Rock City, Nottingham, 9 June 2014

NICK OLIVERI - Rock City, Nottingham, 9 June 2014

Well it been quite a while since I have seen Nick Oliveri live, last time was back in 2001 when QOTSA were still mere pups in the music scene and Nick was known for occasionally appearing on stage wearing nothing … Continue reading

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Gig review – RICHIE SAMBORA – Islington Academy, London, 13 June 2014

RICHIE SAMBORA – Islington Academy, London, 13 June 2014

‘He walked in to the party like he was walking on to a yacht’, so the song goes. Richie Sambora strutted on to the stage dressed in a smart white jacket and ripped jeans to be greeted by enthusiastic screams … Continue reading

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Gig review: PANIC ROOM – The Zanzibar, Liverpool, 12 June 2014

Panic Room - The Zanzibar, Liverpool, 12 June 2014

Remarkably, it’s been more than four years since I last caught up with Panic Room – at the Limelight in Crewe promoting their then newly released debut Visionary Position – at Christmas 2008, to be precise. Plenty of water has … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Amos Southend, Charlotte, NC, 5 June 2014

Black Star Riders - Liverpool, 3 December 2013

Thin Lizzy, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is one of the greatest rock bands that have ever walked the Earth. So many people are quick to praise the songwriting abilities of folks like Springsteen, Dylan, and even James Hetfield, … Continue reading

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Gig review: JAKE E LEE’S RED DRAGON CARTEL – Islington Academy, 6 June 2014

Red Dragon Cartel performed a stunning set in London on Friday night to mark a remarkable return to form for guitar hero Jake E. Lee. The legendary riff-master, best known for providing Ozzy Osbourne with some of his finest 80’s … Continue reading

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Gig review: JUDIE TZUKE – The Lowry, Salford, 7 June 2014

Judie Tzuke - The Lowry, Salford, 7 June 2014

Judie’s Woman Overboard tour has been ill-fated in a number of respects – firstly the album won’t now be available until the autumn, and secondly several dates had to be postponed as a result of her contracting a throat infection. … Continue reading

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Gig review: POLYPHONIC SPREE Clapham Grand, Friday 6th June 2014

First time at the Clapham Grand, a regal Victorian theatre that was refurbished back in 2010 (although the carpets have that student union feel underfoot) and has seen legends like Charlie Chaplin grace its stage. Impressive venue and a good … Continue reading

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Gig review: NO SINNER – The Garage, Islington, 29 May 2014

NO SINNER - The Garage, Islington, 29 May 2014

Having been lucky enough to see the sold out, UK debut of No Sinner at The Black Heart in Camden in November 2013, we waited with anticipation as the Canadian blues rockers, fronted by Colleen Rennison, hit The Garage, Islington. … Continue reading

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Gig review: FOREIGNER, Styx and Don Felder – PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, USA, 31 May 2014

Apologies in advance, but I’m afraid this write up will be a little heavy on KISS rants, despite it not being a KISS show. Originally I was going to see Adrenaline Mob at Tremont, and then I heard that Styx … Continue reading

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Gig review: ARTHUR BROWN – Robin 2, Bilston, 17 April 2014

Arthur Brown - Robin 2, Bilston, 17 April 2014

‘I Am The God of Hellfire and I Bring You Fire’, the unmistakable line that has beguiled listeners since it first appeared on the album ‘The Crazy World of Arthur Brown’ back at the height of the psychedelic era and … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT – Manchester Academy, 23 April 2014

The Temperance Movement - Manchester Academy, 23 April 2014

What?  You haven’t heard of the The Temperance Movement? Have you had your head under a stone for the past few years? TTM have been taking the music scene by storm and selling out pretty much every venue they play.  … Continue reading

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Gig review: COCO MONTOYA – Beaverwood Club, Chislehurst, 22 May 2014

COCO MONTOYA – Beaverwood Club, Chislehurst, 22 May 2014

  There are great blues players and then there is Coco Montoya. He’s a purveyor of a historic blues lineage that stretches back to his formative years with Albert Collins, but he transforms it into his own exciting blues hybrid, … Continue reading

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Gig review: JEFF BECK – Birmingham Symphony Hall, 20 May 2014

Jeff Beck - Birmingham Symphony Hall, 20 May 2014

In my research recently for an interview with Steve Lukather I came across a 1986 video of him performing at a Japanese festival with Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck.  Luke is arguably the least recognisable now, the poodle perm long … Continue reading

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Gig Review: H.E.A.T. – Highbury Garage, London, 16 May 2014

H.E.A.T. - Highbury Garage, London, 16 May 2014

Never was the Glen Frey classic ‘The Heat is On’ a more appropriate choice as a band intro. Not only was the Highbury Garage a sweltering sweatbox on the hottest day of the year to date, but Sweden’s melodic rockers … Continue reading

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Gig Review: ECLIPSE – Camden Underworld, London, 14 May 2014

ECLIPSE, Camden Underworld, 14 May 2014

Having built quite a reputation with their critically acclaimed last two albums, Are You Ready To Rock in 2008 and 2012’s Bleed And Scream, it is perhaps surprising that this was Eclipse’s first headline UK show, a sole date squeezed … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE YOUNG FOLK – Surya, King’s Cross, London,15 May 2014

It’s amazing the gig venues you keep discovering in London as I had never heard of the Surya before and it has a whole host of gigs put on by the promoters Glasswerks. A dinky little venue with a bar … Continue reading

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Gig review: IAN ANDERSON – Regent Theatre, Ipswich, 10 May 2014

Ian Anderson, photo by Martin Webb

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ian Anderson has been confusing and entertaining Rock fans around the globe since he first formed the short lived The Blades back in 1963. While his latest ‘solo’ effort “Homo Erraticus” has … Continue reading

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Gig Review: FRONTIERS ROCK FESTIVAL, Italy, 1-3 May 2014

Frontiers Rock Festival, Italy, May 2014

Famous Italian bands can be counted on the fingers of one hand, yet it is an Italian label, Frontiers Records, who have emerged as the world force in melodic rock. Starting with the underground acts, they have accumulated a huge … Continue reading

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Gig review: RICK WAKEMAN – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 9 May 2014

Rick Wakeman - Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 9 May 2014

Rick Wakeman is perhaps better known these days for being a “Grumpy Old Man” and a tetchy consumer champion via his appearances on BBC’s ‘Watchdog’. But back in the day, with his flowing cape and musical theatrics, he defined progressive … Continue reading

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Gig review: CLUTCH – 02 ABC, Glasgow, 7 May 2014

CLUTCH – 02 ABC, Glasgow, 7 May 2014

The first time I saw Clutch live was a couple of years ago in support to Thin Lizzy. I wasn’t sure what to expect that night, but what I witnessed was one of the most intense and entertaining support slots … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE FLOWER KINGS – O2 Islington Academy, London, 8 May 2014

Sound Of Contact - O2 Islington Academy, London, 8 May 2014

Support Act: Sound Of Contact Review and photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Performing a show in London on the same day that Yes are headlining the legendary Royal Albert Hall is the worst scenario for any Prog Rock band and … Continue reading

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