Category Archives: ALL POSTS

Gig review: SOiL – The Garage, Glasgow, 23 October 2014

SOiL - The Garage, Glasgow, 23 October 2014

Some things are sent to try you!  Take tonight, I was going along to this gig mostly on the strength of opening act Wolfborne’s latest album, ‘In The Beginning’, which I reviewed recently and found to be excellent. Knowing that … Continue reading

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Album review: FREQUENCY DRIFT – Summer

FREQUENCY DRIFT - Summer

[Download only from band website - Release date: 12.09.14] There are certain bands and artists, aren’t there, to whom you turn to capture your prevailing mood? One brings to mind Buddy Guy for blues, Zeppelin or AC/DC if you want … Continue reading

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DVD review: THE STORY OF UFO – Too Hot To Handle (1969-1993)

The Story of UFO - Too Hot To Handle

Wienerworld [Release date 29.09.14] One of the great mainstays of British hard rock for nearly 50 years, UFO have never been properly commemorated in terms of a video documentary. Some fans may complain that this 60 minute overview (really from … Continue reading

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Album review: HOUSE OF X – S/t

House of X

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Released 27.10.14] Not some dodgy gentleman’s club but a group where three of its members, namely Danny Peyronel (vocals), Clive Edwards (drums) and Laurence Archer (guitars), have all at one time be members of legendary British hard … Continue reading

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News: WINTER ROCKS in Sheffield on 6 December with THE ANSWER

Winter Rocks - Sheffield Corporation, 6 December 2014

Sheffield Corporation will play host to the first annual WinterRocks Festival in December. This extravaganza will mix international artists with some of Sheffield’s finest rising talents over two stages. THE ANSWER will deliver their stunning live show as festival headliners … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 19 October 2014

BLACKBERRY SMOKE - Shepherds Bush Empire, London,19 October 2014

Fellow GRTR! scribe Nikk Gunns posed a fascinating discussion question online recently – ‘if there were no new music from this point onwards, could you live with the music we have already had’? Judging from the mixed response he received, … Continue reading

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Gig review: STATUS QUO – Roundhouse, London, 22 October 2014

STATUS QUO -  Roundhouse, London, 22 October 2014

The ‘unplugged ‘ tradition is now a firmly established rock n roll industry norm for bands to find an alternative way to revitalise- and of course promote – their body of work. It’s horses for courses however, and one of … Continue reading

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Album review: BEN POOLE – Live At The Royal Albert Hall

BEN POOLE – Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Manhaton [Release date 06.10.14] Soulful voiced Ben Poole never strays too far from his soulful strengths on a live album full of feel, subtle dynamics and a passionate performance. Originally recorded as a radio session for the Paul Jones BBC … Continue reading

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Album review: LOVE – Love Songs

LOVE - Love Songs

Salvo [Release date 27.10.14] ‘Love Songs’ compiles the first three Love albums (minus ‘Emotions’ and ‘Glazing’ from ‘Love’ and the elongated ‘Revelation’ from ‘De Capo’) and replaces the latter with a thrilling Arthur Lee and Jimi Hendrix wah-wah led collaboration … Continue reading

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Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – Runt, Initiation, Hermit Of Mink Hollow (reissues)

Todd Rundgren - Runt & The Alternate Runt

Edsel [Release date 08.09.14] Can the market really stand further reissues of three Todd albums from the 1970s?  Looking back at our GRTR! archive, Edsel reissued the albums as part of their Rundgren reissue campaign in 2011/2.  So what’s new … Continue reading

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DVD review: ARETHA FRANKLIN – The Legendary Concertgebouw Concert 1968

ARETHA FRANKLIN - The Legendary Concertgebouw Concert 1968

Wienerworld [Release date: 28.07.14] One has to wonder at the justification of a full price DVD release – unique footage, or no – when the running time is only 42 minutes, including an interview. At the peak of her powers … Continue reading

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DVD review: TRANSATLANTIC – KaLiveoscope

TRANSATLANTIC - KaLiveoscope

Inside Out [Release date: 28.10.14] I’m maybe the wrong person to review this DVD.  Or perhaps the best.  Because while I’m familiar with the name and the fact the band’s a side project ‘supergroup’ I couldn’t previously have told you … Continue reading

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DVD review: DEEP PURPLE with Orchestra – Live In Verona

DEEP PURPLE with Orchestra - Live In Verona

Eagle Rock [Release date 30.10.14] Deep Purple and orchestras go back a long way – to 1969 when John Lord composed The Concerto for Group and Orchestra with lyrics written by Ian Gillan and which was first performed by Deep … Continue reading

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DVD review: GENESIS – Three Sides Live

Genesis - Three Sides Live DVD

Eagle Rock [Release date 03.11.14] Appallingly imbalanced as the recent BBC documentary was, it did reveal one thing – that Genesis weren’t a band of happy campers – more a group of individuals where individual expression and experimentation was suppressed … Continue reading

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Quick plays: CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS, RUN BOY RUN, SUNJAY, MICHELLE LEWIS

CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS Who We Are

CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS Who We Are For those unaware of the charms of Chris While & Julie Matthews, their ninth studio album celebrating their 20th anniversary is unlikely to unlock any previously closed doors. Winners of the best … Continue reading

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Album review: BILLY IDOL – Kings & Queens Of The Underground

BILLY IDOL - Kings & Queens Of The Underground

BFI records [Release date 20.10.14] What has Billy Idol ever done?  Well he was a very obvious ‘gobbing’ target in his Generation X 1976 – 1981 heyday, and he was unquestionably a poster boy of choice when he dominated MTV … Continue reading

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Album review: ALVIN STARDUST – Alvin

Alvin Stardust - Alvin

Conehead UK [Release date 01.12.14] It must be difficult working with an “established” artist who hasn’t made an album for 30 years.  Which direction do you go in?  Do you leave the past behind?  Do you embrace the past?  In … Continue reading

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Video interview: STEVE CROPPER – Stax legend, guitarist and producer – 18 October 2014

Steve Cropper and David Randall

The term legend or legendary is used perhaps too flippantly in the context of music, but the term can be firmly applied to Steve Cropper. Steve was a member of the Stax Records house band from the early-1960s and lent … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALESTORM – The Arches, Glasgow, 19 October 2014

ALESTORM – The Arches, Glasgow, 19 October 2014

There was many a bemused look from passers-by as a motley crew of cut-throats and blaggards gathered outside The Arches in anticipation of a night of piratical fun. In fact the last time a group of pirates this size was … Continue reading

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Gig review: MELODIC ROCK FEST 4, H.O.M.E.Bar, Arlington Heights,Chicago, USA, 3-5 October 2014

The Radio Sun - Melodic Rock Fest 4, Chicago, October 2014

After the success of the third Melodic Rock Fest last September, the attempt to bring to the Americans the cult melodic rock bands that are seen at Firefest and other places, melodicrock.com supremo Andrew McNeice swiftly moved forward with plans … Continue reading

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Gig review: MR. BIG – Koko, Camden, London, 17 October 2014

MR. BIG - Koko, Camden, London, 17 October 2014

Mr Big’s European tour to capitalise on their back-to-form new album ‘Stories We Could Tell’ squeezed in just a solitary UK show, their first in three years. It was unsurprising that the opulent surroundings of Koko were sold out, perhaps … Continue reading

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Album review: DEVON ALLMAN – Ragged & Dirty

Album review: DEVON ALLMAN – Ragged & Dirty

Ruf [Release date 20.10.14] ‘Ragged & Dirty’ takes its inspiration from the late Luther Allison’s funky wah-wah driven title track and provides Devon Allman with his overdue moment in the solo spotlight. It’s a chunky, funky, gritty example of the … Continue reading

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Gig review: HOUSTON, The Barfly, Camden, London, 16 October 2014

HOUSTON, The Barfly, Camden, London, 16 October 2014

When an AOR revival suddenly became flavour of the month late in 2010, the debut album by Swedes Houston was seen as the standard bearer of the new revolution. Even if live performances were a mixed bag, the quality of … Continue reading

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Album review: KISS – Love Gun

Kiss - Love Gun

Universal [Release date 27.10.14] US glam/hard rock legends Kiss celebrate their 40th anniversary with this 2CD remastered edition of their 6th studio album. Released in 1977, it was the 6th album in three years (four if you count the classic … Continue reading

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Book review: Tales of Deeply Vale Festival by Chris Hewitt

Tales of Deeply Vale Festival by Chris Hewitt

Ozit Morpheous records and books [Publication date October 2014] ‘Tales of Deeply Vale Festival’ is an aptly titled box comprising a book, and 6 CD’s. It was effectively started in 1996, when author Chris Hewitt, Dave Edwards, Cliff Jackson and … Continue reading

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