Category Archives: ALL POSTS

Gig review: KING KING – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 29 November 2016

KING KING - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 29 November 2016

In an even more crowded than ever November gig schedule, it was still important to find time for this enticing double bill of two up and coming bands, both offering a fresh take on blues-influenced rock. If 2015 was when … Continue reading

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Gig review: DAN REED – Lymm Golf Club, Cheshire, 3 December 2016

DAN REED - Lymm Golf Club, Cheshire, 3 December 2016

What started out as a belated 40th birthday treat has become a bit of an obsession for Steve Perrone.  For the past five years he’s put on a variety of gigs with Dan Reed, and in various shapes and forms, … Continue reading

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Album review: ALTAVIA – Kreosote

ALTAVIA - Kreosote

White Knight Records [Release date: 07.10.16] Following in the giant footsteps of all those great Rock Progressivo Italiano pathfinders such as PFM, Le Orme, Celeste and Finisterre come AltaVia with their own take on the genre. I say their own … Continue reading

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Gig review: WINTERSTORM FESTIVAL – Concert Hall, Troon, 25/26 November 2016

Troon

The town of Troon is better known for its championship links golf course rather than as a hub for all things rock, but one man with a vision, Iain McCaig, is set to change all that. Going by the old … Continue reading

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Album review: ENUFF Z’NUFF – Clowns Lounge

Frontiers [Release date 02.12.16] Been awhile since any new material from Enuff Z’Nuff, 2010′s ‘Dissonance’ to be precise. This is not quite a new release, as the songs on here were first written back in 1988-89 by Chip Z’Nuff and … Continue reading

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Album review: HANOI ROCKS – Strange Boys Box

HANOI ROCKS - Strange Boys Box

Cleopatra Records [Release date 21.10.16] Vastly underrated yet hugely influential, Finnish legends Hanoi Rocks are said to have sold one million albums back in the Eighties. That is not many when you consider that without them we would not have … Continue reading

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Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – A Stone’s Throw From The Line

BIG BIG TRAIN - A Stone

English Electric Recordings www.bigbigtrain.com [Release date 02.12.16] Following on from their latest excellent studio album, ‘Folklore’, released earlier this year, Big Big Train deliver a live seasonal treat for their fans. This double CD was recorded from across the three … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARILLION – Manchester Academy, 28 November 2016

Marillion - Manchester Academy, 28 November 2016

Promoting their latest opus F E A R, this Marillion gig came sadly just too late to receive my ‘gig of the year’ nomination in the GRTR! Best of 2016 reviewers’ poll. Marillion are in the somewhat unique position amongst … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE ANSWER/THE DEAD DAISIES – Electric Ballroom, London, 23 November 2016

Dead Daisies

In the current live music climate, a touring double bill makes sense. As well as sharing overheads and potentially playing to double the normal audience, for the fan it helps manage an increasingly crowded calendar where often multiple gigs compete … Continue reading

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The Best of 2016: top albums, top live acts – the reviewers’ choice

The Best of 2016 - sponsored by earMUSIC

The Best of 2017! Popular vote from 4 December… The Best of 2016: Popular Poll Between 5-16 December we invite readers and listeners to vote for their own favourites and also add their own personal choice. Voters can also opt-in … Continue reading

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Album review: TYKETTO – Reach

TYKETTO - Reach

Frontiers [Release Date 14.10.16] Four years ago, the much-anticipated release from Tyketto’s original line up, ‘Dig In Deep’ fell rather flat – it was not a bad album in its own right, but failed to live up to the impossible … Continue reading

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Gig review: FM – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 19 November 2016

FM - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 19 November 2016

Since reforming a few years ago, Britain’s premier homegrown melodic rockers FM have steered a delicate balance between moving forward and looking backwards. The new line up with Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar has perhaps been the best in their history, … Continue reading

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Album review: PRETTY MAIDS – Kingmaker

PRETTY MAIDS – Kingmaker

Frontiers Records [Release date 04.11.16] “Kingmaker” is Pretty Maids’ 15th studio album if you include 2014’s superb “Louder Than Ever” which contained re-recordings of old tunes plus 4 newbies and it continues their run of high quality releases. The Danish … Continue reading

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Gig review: BETH HART/Colin James – Royal Festival Hall, London, 23 November 2016

BETH HART/Colin James – Royal Festival Hall, London, 23 November 2016

It isn’t just her remarkable voice and emotive songs, let alone her vivacious stage presence that marks Beth Hart out as special, it’s much more than that. She’s a force of nature and a previously troubled soul who has dragged … Continue reading

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Album review: GUS MONSANTO – Karma Cafe

GUS MONSANTO - Karma Cafe

[Release date 05.09.16] Brazilian Gus Monsanto may not be a household name in terms of wider rock recognition, but since at least 2004 his name has cropped up repeatedly on other people’s albums, mainly metal-related.  He’s worked with French band … Continue reading

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Album review: PYMLICO – Meeting Point

PYMLICO - Meeting Point

Apollon Records [Release date 07.10.16] We’ve had an obsession with all things Scandinavian in recent years and the fourth album from Norwegian instrumentalists Pymlico contributes to this Nordic sense of intrigue. Wholly instrumental, prog/jazz fusion in approach, the band is … Continue reading

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Album review: KAIPA DA CAPO – Darskapens Monotoni

KAIPA DA CAPO - Darskapens Monotoni

Foxtrot Records [Release date: 30.09.16] For all those progressive rock diehards out there who think that there has not been one note of music of any consequence written since the early seventies – prick up your ears, all your birthdays … Continue reading

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Album review: KEE MARCELLO – Scaling Up

KEE MARCELLO - Scaling Up

Frontiers [Release Date 14.10.16] Guitarist with Europe in their commercial heyday first time round, Kee Marcello’s solo career to date has been an unspectacular one, and even his otherwise enjoyable live shows made me inclined to check out his own … Continue reading

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Quick plays: CIVIL WAR, STRATOVARIUS

CIVIL WAR The Last Full Measur

CIVIL WAR The Last Full Measure Napalm Records [Release date 04.11.16] Civil War are back with a swift follow up to last year’s enjoyable ‘Gods And Generals’ release. They have trimmed down in size now down to two guitarists following … Continue reading

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DVD review: IGGY POP – Post Pop Depression Live at The Royal Albert Hall

IGGY POP - Post Pop Depression Live at The Royal Albert Hall

Do you ever watch a DVD of a gig and think ‘I wish I’d been there’? Filmed in support of Pop’s recent, and 17th, solo album ‘Post Pop Depression’ and featuring a band comprising of  Josh Homme (who co-wrote and … Continue reading

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Album review: ELECTRIC SIX – Fresh Blood For Tired Vampyres

ELECTRIC SIX – Fresh Blood For Tired Vampyres

Metropolis Records [Release date 07.10.16] American oddballs Electric Six are back with their 12th album in as many years…the strangely titled “Fresh Blood for Tired Vampyres”. To be honest I didn’t know they were still active and only remember them … Continue reading

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Album review: CURVED AIR – Rarities Series Volume 2 – Curved Space and Infinity

CURVED AIR - Rarities Series Volume 2 - Curved Space and Infinity

Curved Air Records [Release date 04.11.16] 2-CD Volume 2 of a continuing series bring together a “then and now” of one of our treasured prog/psych bands.  The first disc accommodates 1990s recordings with Francis Monkman on guitar and which evolved … Continue reading

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Gig review: EUROPE – The Roundhouse, London, 12 November 2016

EUROPE - The Roundhouse, London, 12 November 2016

While 2016 has seen the British public vote for Brexit, exactly 30 years ago they were taking Europe to their hearts. Not Eurocrats in Brussels or parliamentarians in Strasbourg, but five fresh-faced Swedes with luxuriant long hair and toothy smiles … Continue reading

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Gig review: THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 14 November 2016

THORBJORN RISAGER THE BLACK TORNADO – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 14 November 2016

Just like their viking history, Danish bues-rockers Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado came, saw, conquered by funking up the house with a high energy show that breathes fresh life into the big band blues review format. With a name … Continue reading

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Album review: HARDLINE – Human Nature

HARDLINE – Human Nature

Frontiers Records [Release date 04.10.16] Former super-group Hardline return with their 5th studio album “Human Nature” following on from 2012’s “Danger Zone”. Vocalist Johnny Gioeli and brother Joey formed Hardline on LA’s sunset strip back in 1991 and they found … Continue reading

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