Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: JOHN ILLSLEY – East End Arms, Lymington, East End, 8 April 2014

JOHN ILLSLEY – East End Arms, Lymington, East End, 8 April 2014

It was back in 1982 after the break up of Steely Dan that Donald Fagen unveiled his signature sound on the ‘The Night Fly’ album and confirmed his creative input into Steely Dan. And while former Dire Straits bass player … Continue reading

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Gig review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, Manchester Academy, 1 April 2014

Five Finger Death Punch - Manchester Academy, 1 April 2014

Manchester Academy 1 is about to get its roof well and truly ripped off tonight as Five Finger Death Punch hit town, these American heavy groove metallers are eager to entertain the legendary Manchester crowd but before they get their … Continue reading

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Gig review: FOREIGNER, Europe, FM – Manchester Apollo, 3 April 2014

Foreigner - Manchester Apollo, 3 April 2014

Spoiler alert.  Mick Jones doesn’t appear on stage until four songs in.  Whether this is to allow for preparation of his Horlicks, who knows, but for a moment it was a little disconcerting.  An evening of melodic rock/AOR without one … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALEX HART – The Heights, St George’s Hotel, London, 2 April 2014

Alex Hart Showcase - BBC Club, London, 2 April 2014

Alex Hart is the kind of artist who might just make you re-appraise the view that A&R reps are an extinct breed in this post youtube age. She’s a breathe of fresh air who radiates presence with thoughtful songs, effortless … Continue reading

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Gig review: DAUGHTRY – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 26 March 2014

DAUGHTRY - Glasgow, 22 March 2014

Huge in the States, Chris Daughtry and his eponymous band finally seem to be on the verge of a big UK breakthrough. This Shepherds Bush Empire show was apparently his biggest UK solo show to date, but sold out within … Continue reading

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Gig review: HOUSE OF LORDS, Coldspell, Lawless – Camden Underworld, London, 25 March 2014

Coldspell - Camden Underworld, 25 March 2014

London saw its second triple bill of melodic rock in a week, but a line-up with a difference, as bands on the Hard Rock Hell AOR bill sought gig opportunities while they were over in the UK.  Originally this was … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE STRANGLERS – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 8 March 2014

The Stranglers - Hammersmith Apollo, London, 8 March 2014

Something very strange must have happened. Having managed to sadly miss most of Nine Below Zero’s set for reasons best undisclosed, I’m secreted daahn the front at good old ‘Ammasmiff, waiting for the Stranglers to celebrate their 40th anniversary, and … Continue reading

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Gig review: MAGNUM Album Launch, Robin 2, Bilston, 25 March 2014

Magnum Album Launch - 25 March 2014

Interview with Tony Clarkin of Magnum, first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 2 March 2014 (3:23) There is a longer extract of this interview together with the album review here 250+ eager fans awaited the launch and their … Continue reading

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Gig review: GRAVELTONES, Cadillac Three, Buffalo Summer – Live Rooms, Chester, 26 February 2014

The Graveltones - Chester, 26 February 2014

Sometimes you come away from a gig and you just want to shout ‘WOW’.  Tonight was one of those occasions and even though I had seen the same line-up a few days before at The Institute in Birmingham my excitement … Continue reading

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Gig Review: TYKETTO, Bonfire, Summers – The Garage, Highbury, London, 18 March 2014

TYKETTO - The Garage, Highbury, London, 18 March 2014

Tyketto must be high on the list of ones that got away. The East Coast melodic hard rockers released a debut album of stunning quality in 1991 only to be stymied by lack of record company promotion and the Nirvana-led … Continue reading

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Gig review: MONSTER TRUCK/ SCORPION CHILD – King Tut’s, Glasgow, 22 March 2014

Buffalo Summer

  Billed as the ‘Lords Of The Riff’ tour, tonight’s gig was a good value package bringing together three bands who have sparked a lot of interest in the rock world lately. Joining co-headliners Monster Truck and Scorpion Child were … Continue reading

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Gig review: OVERKILL – London O2 Islington Academy, 13 March 2014

Support act: Soilwork & Xentrix. Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Two gigs in a row, with less than four hours of sleep in between – not a problem back in the day, but getting closer … Continue reading

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Gig Review: STEEL PANTHER – 02 Academy, Glasgow, 19 March 2014

STEEL PANTHER – 02 Academy, Glasgow, 19 March 2014

  Wednesday night in Glasgow and costume shop owners for miles around are counting up their takings after a bumper day, having sold out of dodgy nylon wigs and animal print spandex.  Steel Panther are once again back in town! … Continue reading

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Gig Review: GRAHAM BONNET/CHROME MOLLY, The Garage, Highbury, London, 19 March 2014

Chrome Molly

After a chequered career, veteran singer Graham Bonnet has decided to play on his past as Rainbow’s singer in  a brief, albeit commercially successful period. He was back, in front of an unexpectedly large crowd playing a wholly Rainbow set … Continue reading

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Gig review: UFO – Parr Hall, Warrington, 20 March 2014

UFO - Parr Hall, Warrington, 20 March 2014

Having just received the recent UFO boxed set, 10 albums in as many years, where do you start for a live show?  It seems that the band have taken some criticism on the chin, with Phil Mogg referring to comments … Continue reading

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Gig Review: REUBEN ARCHER’S PERSONAL SIN – The Borderline, London, 12 March 2014

Reuben Archer

At an age when others of his generation may be reaching for the comfy slippers and the Saga and Stanna catalogues, Reuben Archer is moving forward with the vigour of a man half his age. After successfully reforming  Stampede,  the … Continue reading

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Gig review: TRANSATLANTIC – London The Forum, 12 March 2014

TRANSATLANTIC – London The Forum, 12 March 2014

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Wednesday the 12th of March was in my calendar for quite some time; this was the day when Progressive super group Transatlantic were to be in London for a highly … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAMEL – Parr Hall, Warrington, 13 March 2014

Camel - Parr Hall, Warrington, 13 March 2014

Andy Latimer talks about the second leg of the UK tour.  An edited version of this interview – which featured in a two-part special on our radio station – is now available as a podcast More information If we had … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE ANSWER – O2 Academy 2, Leicester, 25 February 2014

THE ANSWER - Academy 2, Leicester, 25 February 2014

It was a cold damp midweek evening but these things didn’t matter as tonight Irish rockers The Answer are set to raise the temperature and spirits at the Academy 2 Leicester. Currently midway through their ‘Road Less Travelled’ tour which … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – O2 Islington Academy, 3 March 2014

Blackberry Smoke, O2 Islington Academy, London, 28 February 2014

After treading the boards in the USA for some years, Blackberry Smoke’s belated marketing push to crack the UK seems to be paying off: hot on the heels of their belatedly released The Whippoorwill album reaching the top 30, the … Continue reading

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Gig review: EXUMER – London O2 Islington Academy, 19 February 2014

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis I would like to start this gig review by first apologising for how short it is and secondly by clarifying one important thing: German Thrashers Exumer did not perform a headline show on the evening … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE – Camden Barfly, 27 February 2014

First time I have seen a gig at Camden’s Barfly and it’s a small, but perfectly formed venue and a good sound. I only caught the last two songs by openers Reverted who played energetic thrash metal, although they have … Continue reading

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Gig review: SKINDRED/SOiL – Manchester Academy, 2 February 2014

Skindred - Manchester Academy, 2 February 2014

3 bands, 3 music styles and 1 outcome, one awesome night of entertainment. It’s the last night of the UK leg of Skindred’s ‘Kill The Power’  tour before they head off to Europe and beyond for the next few months … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE TREATMENT/Cage Of Gods – Sugarmill, Stoke, 5 February 2014

The Treatment - Sugarmill, Stoke - 5 February 2014

If the quality of tonight’s bands is anything to go by then the future of Rock music is in good hands as both The Treatment and Cage The Gods are both young in age and full of the attitude and … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE QUIREBOYS – Live Rooms, Chester, 6 February 2014

THE QUIREBOYS - Live Rooms, Chester, 6 February 2014

What better way to spend my birthday that at a live gig and tonight we are at The Quireboys acoustic show in The Live Rooms, Chester. A new venue that is ideally situated across from the train station and has … Continue reading

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