Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: BELLOWHEAD – Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 April 2014

Amazing to think Bellowhead have been going for ten years now as they chose the regal surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate their tenth birthday and bless them they invited all of their fans along. It was a … Continue reading

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Gig review: MAGNUM – The Tivoli, Buckley, 20 April 2014

Magnum - The Tivoli, Buckley, 20 April 2014

With an unexplained delayed start it was a little like being back in the seventies.  A crowd that snaked around the block and a cool nip that knived them.  The support – or perhaps more accurately on this occasion “warm … Continue reading

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Gig review: HAMMERFEST – Pwllheli, Wales, 13-15 March 2014

HAMMERFEST - Pwllheli, Wales, 13-15 March 2014

It’s been a long cold wet winter but now is the time for the Hammer Horde to rise up and make their way to the first of the HRH festivals of the year, Hammerfest VI Book Of The Dead. Now … Continue reading

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Gig Review: GAZPACHO – 02 Islington Academy, London, 15 April 2014

GAZPACHO – 02 Islington Academy, London, 15 April 2014

Support Acts: Se Delan, Bruce and Jon from the Pineapple Thief Review and photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis On the 15 April I decided to ignore the fact that I was travelling the following day, and surrendered instead to my … Continue reading

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Gig review: WITHIN TEMPTATION/Delain – Manchester Apollo, 11 April 2014

Within Temptation - Manchester Apollo, 11 April 2014

As I arrive at the venue tonight a full hour before it opens the draw of the bands is evident as the queues are already stretching up the road for this rearranged show. The tour originally due to be in … Continue reading

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Gig Review: THE WILDHEARTS – ABC, Glasgow, 14 April 2014

Ginger Wildheart

Monday nights should be quiet, sober affairs. First day back at work after the weekend, one should spend Monday evenings resting after a long day and looking to the week ahead and to the next weekend in which you can … Continue reading

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Gig Review: THE BERMONDSEY JOYRIDERS, The Black Heart, Camden, 8 April 2014

This was quite simply a brilliantly entertaining triple-header of power packed and swaggering punk pop. Officially, the launch of The Joyriders’ new single, each band played a set of seven songs in deference to the seven-inch black plastic platter of … Continue reading

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Gig review: FOREIGNER – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 12 April 2014

Foreigner - Shepherd

A different gig tonight as Foreigner were playing unplugged, their only UK acoustic date slotted in after their headlining tour with Europe and FM was announced. Not quite the sell-out that the full electric tour has been but a healthy … Continue reading

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Gig Review: DAVE DAVIES – The Barbican, London, 12 April 2014

Dave Davies, The Barbican, London, 12 April 2014

Given Dave Davies current spiritual bent, he’s probably a firm believer in karma. And it is that principle of causality that works for him at The Barbican tonight, a venue not totally unfamiliar with rock music, but still lacking any … Continue reading

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Gig review: HALESTORM, HMV Forum, London, 9 April 2014

Halestorm - HMV Forum, London, 9 April 2014

The popularity of Halestorm in the UK is on a rapidly rising curve. Each headline show seems to be at a larger venue, and in 18 months they have progressed from the Islington Academy to the 2400 capacity Forum where … Continue reading

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Gig Review: STATUS QUO – 02 Academy, Glasgow, 9 April 2014

Status Quo

This is the second night of a two night stint in Glasgow by the Frantic Four and the denim clad Quo Army are once again out in force. After the one-off reunion tour in 2013 proved to be such a … Continue reading

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Gig review: RIVERSIDE – O2 Liverpool Academy, 5 April 2014

Support Act: Votum Review and Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Polish Prog Metal outfit Riverside have acquired a reputation for being a top quality live band over the years, so accepting this gig assignment was a no-brainer to me. Now, … Continue reading

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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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