Category Archives: ALL POSTS

Gig review: MARILLION – The Forum, Kentish Town, London, 11 December 2014

MARILLION – The Forum, Kentish Town, London, 11 December 2014

I do love December – my birthday is in it, for a start, and those of some of my closest friends, there is Christmas and then there is that annual fixture of enjoying Marillion in their natural element – on … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVE KILMINSTER – …And The Truth Will Set You Free

DAVE KILMINSTER - ...And The Truth Will Set You Free

Killer Guitar Records [Release date 22.09.14] The common denominator in Dave Kilminster’s recent albums may be that they seem to appear at GRTR! Towers towards the end of the year and therefore are easy to overlook in the Christmas fug. … Continue reading

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Book review: STEVE HOGARTH – The Invisible Man – Diaries 1998-2014 (Volume 2)

Steve Hogarth - The Invisible Man - Diaries 1998-2014

The Songwriters – Steve Hogarth (Marillion) – Interview and Feature (8 July 2014) by Get Ready To Rock! Radio on Mixcloud Miwk Publishing [Publication Date 09.11.14] www.miwk.com Part two of Steve Hogarth’s diaries takes up the story in 1998 and … Continue reading

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Gig review: RECKLESS LOVE – The Garage, Highbury, London, 11 December 2014

RECKLESS LOVE - The Garage, Highbury, London, 11 December 2014

Colourful Finnish glam metal revivalists Reckless Love have built quite a following in England despite a paucity of mainstream rock media coverage, and indeed the house full signs were up as I arrived at the Garage for the last stop of … Continue reading

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Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER’s TEMPLE OF ROCK – O2 ABC, Glasgow, 11 December 2014

MICHAEL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK – O2 ABC, Glasgow, 11 December 2014

This is the second time I have seen Mr Schenker and crew in the last few weeks having witnessed the band at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales. The fact that I couldn’t wait for tonight’s show is testament … Continue reading

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Album review: ANTHONY PHILLIPS – Harvest Of The Heart An Anthology

ANTHONY PHILLIPS - Harvest Of The Heart An Anthology

Esoteric [Release date: 17.11.14] 5-CD box set For those Genesis fans still smarting from that TV documentary, here is the real deal.  A 90 track compilation of original guitarist Anthony Phillips’ best bits.  If Phillips and Hackett are the most … Continue reading

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Album review: SKY – Reissues (Sky, Sky 2)

Sky

Esoteric [Release date 01.12.14] CD/DVD These two reissues give us a welcome opportunity to re-evaluate that fusion of classical and prog that the band Sky purveyed back in 1979.  A “supergroup” of sorts bringing together the unlikely presence of classical … Continue reading

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Gig review: RIVAL SONS – The Ritz, Manchester, 11 December 2014

RIVAL SONS - The Ritz, Manchester, 11 December 2014

Rival Sons: are these guys the new Kings of Cool?  They certainly put an essence of style back into rock music and show that it’s not all battered denim and leather as they stroll onto the stage suited and booted … Continue reading

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Gig review: H.E.A.T., Islington Academy London, 10 December 2014

H.E.A.T., Islington Academy London, 10 December 2014

Photo: Jim Templeton-Cross 2014 will go down for H.E.A.T. as the year when the young Swedes made their most significant breakthrough yet since exploding onto the scene with their debut album in 2008. For proof, look no further than GRTR! … Continue reading

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Book review: BOB HENRIT – Banging On!

Bob Henrit - Banging On!

Bank House Books (2014) Bob Henrit’s ‘Banging On’ is the opposite of the usual sex, drugs, rock and roll and oblivion confessionals. It’s a lightly humorous recollection of his role in the drift of pop toward rock and beyond, but … Continue reading

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Album review: HAREM SCAREM -Thirteen

Harem Scarem - Thirteen

Frontiers Records [Release Date 05.12.14] While never quite crossing over into mainstream success, few bands are talked of in such hushed tones in melodic rock circles as Harem Scarem. Having split in 2008 but reformed last year and included three … Continue reading

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Album review: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – The Albums Collection Vol. 1 (1973-1984)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - The Albums Collection Vol. 1 (1973-1984)

These 7 albums released by Bruce Springsteen in 11 years, as the title of the collection would suggest, contain 76 tracks that span big hits, songs that have been covered, an American timeline and an influence on many other bands … Continue reading

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Album review: MOJO MAKERS – Devils Hands

Mojo Makers - Devils Hands

        Hypertension Music   [Release Date: 10.10.14] ‘Devils Hands’ is a successful lo-fi, ‘live in the studio’ attempt to capture an essential bluesy feel and soulful vibe. The album comprises 11 impressive tracks steeped in a retro … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK SPIDERS – The Cathouse, Glasgow, 8 December 2014

BLACK SPIDERS – The Cathouse, Glasgow, 8 December 2014

Monday, not the most rocking of nights but when the Black Spiders are in town Monday suddenly becomes the new Saturday. I have been lucky enough to see the band many times in the last few years and they never … Continue reading

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Gig review: THEA GILMORE – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 9 December 2014

Thea Gilmore - Telford

Thea Gilmore’s Office Christmas bash was a somewhat conservative affair this year.  As always, Thea was on sparkling form and buoyed with festive cheer, office manager Nigel Stonier orchestrated with his usual aplomb, and secretary Fluff and temp Liz Hanks … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOE ELLIOTT’s DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ/VEGA – The Garage, Highbury, London, 8 December 2014

JOE ELLIOTT

Fan worship is the bedrock of music industry economics, but it is rare to see it coming from the other side of the monitors. However Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott has for many years openly sung the praises of the … Continue reading

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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Porthcawl, 6 December 2014 (Day 2: Michael Schenker, Joe Elliott)

Michael Schenker - Planet Rockstock, Porthcawl, 6 December 2014

Jagermeister Stage Day 2 at Rockstock and the first day on the Jagermeister second stage and opening up are local band Serpentine.  The band have recently had line-up changes and it is certainly nice to see them back in action … Continue reading

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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Porthcawl, 5 December 2014 (Day 1: California Breed, Joanne Shaw Taylor)

PLANET ROCKSTOCK - Porthcawl, 5 December 2014

Planet Rockstock is one of a number of festivals springing up all over the country during off seasons in the holiday parks and I think it is safe to say that these will continue to grow in the future. Porthcawl … Continue reading

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Album review: MARTIN TURNER AND FRIENDS – The Garden Party

Martin Turner and Friends - The Garden Party

Dirty Dog Discs [Release date 27.10.14] This 2-CD album is like an almighty two-finger salute to Andy Powell.  Back in 2012 Martin Turner assembled a stellar cast of one-time Wishbone Ash alumni and in front of a specially invited audience, … Continue reading

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Album review: SWUNG – Vol.1 & 2 (feat. members of FOCUS)

Swung - Vol.1 & 2

In And Out Of Focus Records [Release date 03.11.14] ‘Swung’ was evidently conceived and recorded during downtime from the “day job” – for Bobby Jacobs and Pierre van der Linden this means the current incarnation of Focus. Although that band … Continue reading

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News: THE BEST of 2014 – Vote for your favourites! Best rock albums and live acts!

The Best Of 2014

Every year the GRTR! Reviewers choose their favourite albums and live acts. We reduce this selection to a list of ten in each category. The Best of 2014: Reviewers’ Choice We’ll publish the popular vote results on Tuesday 23 December. … Continue reading

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Quick plays: HEKZ, STARSET, HANNE KOLSTO

HeKz - Caerus

HEKZ – Caerus Cherry Red Records [Released 03.11.14] This is the second album from up and coming UK based progressive metal band HeKz. They have been picked up by Cherry Red Records who will do a good job I am … Continue reading

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Gig review: SLASH with MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS – The Hydro, Glasgow, 4 December 2014

SLASH WITH MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS – The Hydro, Glasgow, 4 December 2014

The last time I saw Slash on stage was at the fateful Monsters Of Rock festival back in 1988 when Guns ‘N’ Roses took the place by storm and two fans went down in the crowd and didn’t resurface, a … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE PINEAPPLE THIEF – The O2 Islington Academy, London, 3 December 2014

THE PINEAPPLE THIEF – The O2 Islington Academy, London, 3 December 2014

Ask me to name my favourite albums for 2014 and The Pineapple Thief’s “Magnolia” will certainly feature in my Top 10 list. Even though my introduction to Bruce Soord’s  Alternative/Progressive Rock outfit only took place a couple of years ago, … Continue reading

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Album review: ANGELS AND AIRWAVES – The Dream Walker

Angels And Airwaves - The Dream Walker

[Released 09.12.14] This album is just one part of a multimedia project from Angels and Airwaves that will include a short film, comic books, a graphic novel, videos and animations that will all tie in to a central character known … Continue reading

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