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Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER- The Garage, London, 28 March 2025
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Gig review: SOUTH OF SALEM – Thekla, Bristol, 27 March 2025
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Gig review: JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE – The Underworld, Camden, March 13 2025
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Gig review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Cadogan Hall, London, 20 March 2025
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Gig review: THE DARKNESS – G Live, Guildford, 11 March 2025
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Gig review: FISH – O2 Academy, Glasgow, 9 March 2025
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Album review: SAXON – Eagles And Dragons (9-vinyl box set)
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Album review : LORDS OF BLACK – Mechanics Of Predacity
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Album review: THE PETAL FALLS – All These Years
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Album review: GILLAN – The Albums Collection
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Tag Archives: blues rock
Book review: On track … BOB DYLAN, HAWKWIND, YES, LOU REED, THE JAM (Sonicbond Publishing)

“For the fan a chance to revisit songs and albums and for newcomers a roadmap to hopefully enhance their listening habits. Of course in an age of renewed vinyl interest these books may be the perfect complement.” We catch up … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged blues rock, Bob Dylan, book, folk, Hawkwind, Humble Pie, Linda Ronstadt, Lou Reed, Progressive Rock, Ralph McTell, review, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, singer songwriter, Sonicbond, Suzanne Vega, The Byrds, The Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Yes
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Gig review: THE ANSWER – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 16 November 2023

It’s been quite a year for The Answer after breaking their five year hiatus to regroup and record a new album ‘Sundowners’. At a 100 Club gig in the Spring that largely showcased the new album I was initially unimpressed, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged blues rock, Cara Bruns, Cormac Neeson, gig, James Heatley, Kira Mac, Micky Waters, Paul Mahon, THE ANSWER
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Album review: MICK RALPHS – On The Run 1984-2013 (4 CD Clamshell)

Cherry Red [Release date : 24.11.23] Few musicians can claim to have been part of one world straddling rock band, never mind two. Mick Ralphs, guitarist and songwriter, recorded seven albums with Mott The Hoople, and six with Bad Company. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bad Company, blues rock, Box Burrell, Mick Ralphs, Mott the Hoople, On The Run, review, Simon Kirke
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Gig review: GRETA VAN FLEET – Wembley Arena, London, 14 November 2023

We’re always being told that rock, or at least classic blues based heavy rock, no longer appeals to young people and that limits the scope for the much needed new generation of bands to progress to mass market popularity. Michigan … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged blues rock, Danny Wagner. Hannah Wicklund, gig, Greta Van Fleet, Jake Kiszka, Josh Kiszka, Led Zeppelin, Mt.Joy, Sam Kiszka
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Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH & JESSE DAYTON – Junction, Cambridge, 25 October 2023

The fact that the Junction is wall to wall with people is testament to not just the rise of Samantha Fish but also how the revival of blues has never been stronger. With its blue-collar honesty and everyman appeal, this … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 25 October 2023, blues, blues rock, Cambridge, gig. Samantha Fish, guitarist, Jesse Dayton, Junction, review, the Commoners
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Gig review: DOM MARTIN – Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 19 October 2023

Any blues rock guitarist emerging from Ireland will face invariable and daunting comparisons with the very best in Rory Gallagher (and that’s before we even get started on Gary Moore). One such, Dom Martin, has been receiving rave reviews and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged blues rock, Buried in the Hail, Dom Martin, Eel Pie Club, gig
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News: Albums of the Month (July – September 2023)

ALBANY DOWN Born In The Ashes (indie) Seven years is surely too long between releases, but whatever the reasons, this excellent album deserves to build some momentum and push Albany Down towards enduring and wide-spread success. **** Review by Dave Atkinson … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS
Tagged albums, August 2023, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, July 2023, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, September 2023
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Album review: PAUL RODGERS – Midnight Rose

Sun Records [Release date 22.09.23] I feared Paul Rodgers distinguished career might quietly be over when there was an ominous lack of activity in his camp either side of the pandemic, and indeed it has subsequently emerged that he has … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bad Company, blues rock, Free, Midnight Rose, Paul Rodgers, review
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Gig review: ROBERT JON AND THE WRECK – The Junction, Cambridge, 22 September 2023

Their sound may be the most American imaginable, but it seems Robert Jon and the Wreck have made Europe and the UK in particular their second home. At a time when many US acts are pulling out of European tours … Continue reading
Gig review: STRAY – 100 Club, London, 14 September 2023

He may be – according to the title of his own memoirs – a rock’n’roll survivor but Stray founder member Del Bromham has not lost his musical creativity. The band have just released a very welcome first studio album in … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 14 September 2023, About Time, blues rock, Colin Kempster, DEL BROMHAM, gig, hard rock, Karl Randall, London, Pete Dyer, review, Simon Rinaldo, Stray, the 100 Club
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Gig review: DEBORAH BONHAM – Pizza Express Live, Holborn, London, 6 September 2023

Photo: Michele Kostiner Part of a rock dynasty, Deborah Bonham has quietly over the years become a force in her own right. I’d only really vaguely followed her career, though seen support slots for the likes of Paul Rodgers and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged blues rock, Bonham Bullick, Deborah Bonham, Gerard Louis, gig, Ian Rowley, Peter Bullick
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Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – O2 Islington Academy 2, London, 21 July 2023

Having narrowly avoided stumbling into The Exploited’s show at the slightly larger Academy1 right next door, I was pleasantly surprised to see a pretty full venue for this early kick-off. The Cold Stares, a trio based in Indiana, are led … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 21 July 2023, blues, blues rock, gig, Islington, live, melodic rock, review, The Cold Stares, The Damn Truth
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Album review: JAN JAMES – Time Bomb

www.janjames.com [Release date b28.07.23] Jan James 2020 release ‘Justify’ was a decent set of blues & soul numbers and now we have her latest release, again recorded and written with her partner Craig Calvert (who also plays guitar and bass … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Craig Calvert, Jan James, Motown, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, soul, Time Bomb
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Album review: GARDNER JAMES – No Strings

Frontiers [Release date 09.06.23] Gardner James is Justin James, who has worked with Staind and Tyketto. And Janet Gardner, who was of course vocalist with Vixen. Their history is well documented online. A pithy rock band riff can be just … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues rock, Janet Gardner, Justin James, LA, melodic rock, review, Staind, Tyketto, Vixen, Von Groove
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Album review: GOV’T MULE – Peace…Like A River

Fantasy Records [Release date 16.06.23] Formed in the mid 90s as an offshoot of the reformed Allman Brothers, and led by guitarist Warren Haynes, this is the Mule’s 13th studio album. The band have long had a reputation of injecting … Continue reading
Gig review: CONNOR SELBY – Amazing Grace, London, 16 May 2023

A new venue for this intrepid reviewer, and one that he will want to return to soon. The Church of St Thomas, dating from the 18th Century now hosts a small auditorium with something of a cocktail bar, modern jazz … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 16 May 2023, Amazing Grace, blues, blues rock, Connor Selby, gig, live, Logan J Parker, review
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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, 14 May 2023

Joe Bonamassa is a regular visitor to these shores. Having wrapped up a short tour last Spring, he was back with his band for another five UK dates playing venues he skipped last time. Indeed this was his first gig … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 14 May 2023, Birmingham, blues, blues rock, gig, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, live, Reese Wynans, review, rock, Utilita Arena
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Gig review: JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 4 May 2023

Guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick seems to have been everywhere recently. After FM’s December tour with the Dead Daisies and January dates with Band of Friends, his third solo album ‘Dead Man Walking’ was released to critical acclaim including in these pages … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 4 May 2023, blues rock, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Leon Cave, London, melodic rock, Ollie Collins, Raynes Park, The Cavern
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Album review: MIKE ROSS – Third Eye Open

Taller Records [Release date 28.04.23] This latest album Mike Ross certainly hits the listener like the proverbial musical freight train. Joining Mike Ross (vocals, guitar, organ) on engine’s footplate are Derek Randall (vocals, bass) and Darren Lee (drums). Jack Hutchinson adds … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, guitarist, hard rock, Jack Hutchinson, Mike Ross, review, rock, Third Eye Open
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Album review: JIM KIRKPATRICK – Dead Man Walking

US One Records [Release date 21.04.23] Second solo album from FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick, who is joined by fellow FM band member Jem Davis on keyboards and Status Quo’s rhythm section of bassist John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and drummer Leon Cave. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Dead Man Walking, FM, guitarist, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, review, rock, Solo
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