Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

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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Gig review: THE ROBERT CRAY BAND – Barbican Hall, London, 6 May 2014

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND – Barbican Hall, London, 6 May 2014

Plush, refined surroundings for this gig and it was a big step up for support act Azadeh. This was a home town gig for the singer/songwriter and she looked and sounded genuinely pleased to be there. She held the stage … Continue reading

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Gig review: AN EVENING FOR WALTER TROUT – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 4 May 2014

An Evening For Walter Trout - London, 4 April 2014

‘An Evening For Walter Trout’ was an unforgettable event with 65 musicians – including a posse of guitarists with borrowed amps – plus Walter Trout’s road and sound crew, all coming together to share their love for the blues-rock icon … Continue reading

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Gig review: MAGNUM – Islington Town Hall, 4 May 2014

Magnum - Islington Academy, London, 4 May 2014

Turning to item 5.1 on the agenda…oh wait, sorry thought I was in a council meeting given tonight’s venue. The hall features a rather grand stage with stalls (complete with springing floor) and a small circle. A new venue to … Continue reading

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Gig review: YES – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 2 May 2014

YES – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 2 May 2014

I am not the biggest Yes fan in the world. This may seem a strange statement to open a Yes gig review, but as they said on the X Files ‘the truth is out there’. That is not to say … Continue reading

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Gig review: IAN ANDERSON – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 2 May 2014

Ian Anderson, photo by Martin Webb

It amazes me how, generally, the reaction to Ian Anderson’s latest opus is warm, and welcoming.  There seems to be a lack of critical faculty in some quarters.  Perhaps,  in my case, I’m just too old to rock ‘n’ roll.  … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL BLUES – Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

Pontus Snibb - Hard Rock Hell Blues, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2013

Friday 21 March Kicking off the blues stage properly for the festival was Crowsaw, a hard hitting 3 piece blues outfit from South Wales whose riff driven blues rock sparks a glimmer of life in the bleary eyed yet enthusiastic … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL PROG – Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

The Flower Kings - Hard Rock Hell Prog, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

Thursday 20 March Amongst the highlights on the first night Synaesthesia only had a few gigs under their belts but gave us a great keyboard driven modern prog rock set. With most of their music being written by 20 year … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL AOR – Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

Bonafide - Hard Rock Hell AOR, 21 March 2014

Friday 21 March Hailing from Stoke on Trent, I was eager to see how Lawless were to be received by the HRH family, playing live on the Friday as part of their Mad March Tour, which already had seen a … Continue reading

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Gig review: MAGNUM – The Garage, Glasgow, 29 April 2014

Magnum - The Garage, Glasgow, 29 April 2014

Magnum over the years have become a British institution. Like Motorhead, Saxon, Status Quo and several others they annually tour the highways and byways of the nation and no matter where they turn up they are guaranteed a good crowd. … Continue reading

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Gig review: HEAVEN’S BASEMENT – The Fleece, Bristol – 25 March 2014

Heaven

This tour package contains some of the best up and coming bands currently doing the rounds across the UK.  With a large crowd present for tonight’s gig it would appear that the word is spreading that there are some first … Continue reading

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Gig review: CARAVAN – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 13 April 2014

Caravan - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 13 April 2014

Tonight the Rescue Rooms are playing host to Caravan, a name synonymous with the early British Prog/Canterbury music scene, I’m sure one of the founding members Pye Hastings won’t mind me reminding him that this is their 46th year and … Continue reading

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Gig Review: VANDENBERG’S MOONKINGS – Islington Academy, London 24 April 2014

Vandenberg

For a man with such a pedigree, both with his own band and spending longer as David Coverdale’s right hand man in Whitesnake than anyone else, Adrian Vandenberg’s profile has been surprisingly low for a number of years. However the … Continue reading

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Gig review: METAL ALLIANCE 2014 – Tremont Music Hall, North Carolina

I hate my Birthday. Hate it with a deep passion. It has nothing to do with getting older. I really couldn’t care less about my age. It’s just a number. I hate it mostly because I link my Birthday with … Continue reading

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