Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

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

Posted on May 3, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on May 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on May 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on May 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on May 1, 2014 by david.wilson
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

Posted on May 1, 2014 by david.wilson
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

Posted on May 1, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on April 28, 2014 by andynathan
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

Posted on April 24, 2014 by jason

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

Posted on April 21, 2014 by jason

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

Posted on April 21, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on April 20, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Yiannis
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

Posted on April 17, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on April 15, 2014 by david.wilson
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

Posted on April 14, 2014 by jason

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

Posted on April 13, 2014 by jason
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

Posted on April 13, 2014 by petefeenstra
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

Posted on April 13, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on April 10, 2014 by david.wilson
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

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Yiannis

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

Posted on April 9, 2014 by petefeenstra
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

Posted on April 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on April 4, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
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

Posted on April 3, 2014 by petefeenstra
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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