Tag Archives: classic rock

Gig review: MOONDANCE JAM – Walker, Minnesota, 17-19 July 2014

Moondance Jam - Walker, Minnesota, 17-19 July 2014

There cannot be many places that match the ambience of Moondance Jam as a rock festival, set in beautiful countryside of woods and lakes in northern Minnesota and with the friendliest atmosphere that can be imagined. Surely the Mid-West of … Continue reading

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Gig review: KANSAS – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 17 July 2014

Kansas were back after a nine year gap since their last London date and this was always going to be a special gig as Steve Walsh had announced a couple of weeks earlier that he was leaving the band after … Continue reading

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Album review : TED NUGENT – ShutUp&Jam!

TED NUGENT - ShutUp&Jam!

Frontiers [Release date 04.07.14] Me and Uncle Ted have never been close – I did have a copy of Little Miss Dangerous but don’t now so it couldn’t have been very good. Lemmy croaked through a cover of Cat Scratch … Continue reading

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Quick plays: RAINBOWS ARE FREE, ROBIN GEORGE, LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, SALIVA, AMANDA RHEAUME

Rainbows Are Free - Waves Across The Ocean

RAINBOWS ARE FREE – Waves Ahead Of The Ocean www.rainbowsarefree.com [Released 04.08.14] This is the second album by Oklahoma based rockers Rainbows Are Free and if you like Stoner rock and big Sabbath riffs you will love this album. Even … Continue reading

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Album review: KROKUS – Long Stick Goes Boom (Live from Da House of Rust)

Sony [Release date 26.05.14] Krokus are a Swiss rock band that I never paid any attention to back in the day and didn’t even realise they were still going. Naming your band after a flower, albeit with the German spelling … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Amos Southend, Charlotte, NC, 5 June 2014

Black Star Riders - Liverpool, 3 December 2013

Thin Lizzy, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is one of the greatest rock bands that have ever walked the Earth. So many people are quick to praise the songwriting abilities of folks like Springsteen, Dylan, and even James Hetfield, … Continue reading

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Album Review: KROKUS – Long Stick Goes Boom (Live from Da House of Rust)

KROKUS - Long Stick Goes Boom (Live from Da House of Rust)

Sony Music [Out now] For sheer endurance, belligerence and tenacity, these Swiss rockers deserve a rather large gong. The best thing to come out of Berne since holey cheese, Krokus are now into their 40th year, still serving up fat slabs … Continue reading

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Gig review: FOREIGNER, Styx and Don Felder – PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, USA, 31 May 2014

Apologies in advance, but I’m afraid this write up will be a little heavy on KISS rants, despite it not being a KISS show. Originally I was going to see Adrenaline Mob at Tremont, and then I heard that Styx … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: HUMBUCKER, DIESEL, MORNING DWELL, AZORIA

DIESEL – Into The Fire Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Out now] Diesel is a new, British rock outfit touted to play solid traditional rock in the manner of Bad Company, with firm roots in the classic vein of British hard Rock … Continue reading

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Album review: TESLA – Simplicity

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Released 9.6.14] It’s hard to think that Tesla’s first album, “Mechanical Resonance”, came out in 1986- and now here we are nearly 30 years later and their seventhstudio album “Simplicity” is about to be released (although, if you … Continue reading

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Gig review: MAGNUM – Islington Town Hall, 4 May 2014

Magnum - Islington Academy, London, 4 May 2014

Turning to item 5.1 on the agenda…oh wait, sorry thought I was in a council meeting given tonight’s venue. The hall features a rather grand stage with stalls (complete with springing floor) and a small circle. A new venue to … Continue reading

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Album review: SWEETKISS MOMMA – A Reckoning Is Coming

SWEETKISS MOMMA – A Reckoning Is Coming

Self Release [Release date 01.03.14] The Tacoma based Sweetkiss Momma defy all expectations by being a Washington state based, 70’s influenced, self sufficient, southern influenced roots rock outfit. Musically schooled in a church background and rooted in gospel, they’ve stepped … Continue reading

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Album Reviews: NINE BELOW ZERO – Don’t Point Your Finger/Third Degree

The two most successful albums on Nine Below Zero’s early roster have been reissued and come in expanded packages with loads of live material, alternative versions and informative liner notes. ‘Don’t Point Your Finger’ is classic British r’n’b to its … Continue reading

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Album review: THE SWEET – Sweetlife

Angel Air [Released 07.04.13] Continuing the excellent series of latter day Sweet re-issues Angel Air now present the band’s 2002 album ‘Sweetlife’. The line-up then featured sole original member Andy Scott joined by drummer Bruce Bisland (who is still in … Continue reading

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DVD review: LOU REED – Transformer (Classic Albums)/Live at Montreux 2000

Lou Reed - Transformer (Classic Albums)/Live at Montreux 2000

Eagle Vision (BluRay) One of the most influential artists of his era, Lou Reed enjoyed a long and successful career that spanned six decades.  Eagle Vision’s newly released “Transformer (Classic Albums)/Live at Montreux 2000”  Bluray/DVD follows his death in October … Continue reading

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DVD review: THE WHO – Sensation – The Story of Tommy

THE WHO - Sensation - The Story of Tommy

Eagle Vision [Released 10.03.14] When The Who released their seminal double album “Tommy” in 1969 it was the first album to be blatantly labelled “a rock opera” and went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide.  Following the relatively … Continue reading

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Book review: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers – A ZZ Top Guide by Neil Daniels

Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers - A ZZ Top Guide by Neil Daniels

Soundcheck Books I can give this book no higher compliment than telling you that part way through I downloaded (yes, legally) a whole lot of ZZ Top – not merely the greatest hits, which I have listened to for years, … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MIDNITE SKY, KRUK, THE CRINGE, FUSION ORCHESTRA 2

Midnite Sky - Blood, Sweat And A Little More

MIDNITE SKY – Blood, Sweat and A Little More www.midnitesky.de [Released 1.12.13] German melodic rock band who have a passion for bands like Europe, Dokken and Bonfire. Kicking off with the Europe sounding ‘Hellfire’ the band don’t really have any … Continue reading

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Book review: Led Zeppelin Then As It Was – At Knebworth 1979

Led Zeppelin Then As It Was - At Knebworth 1979

(Fully revised & updated version) Tight But Loose Publishing www.tightbutloose.co.uk An updated version of the book chronicling Led Zeppelin’s two Knebworth gigs in August 1979 (the original book was published on the concert’s 30th anniversary in 2009). It was a … Continue reading

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Album review: THE TREATMENT – Running With The Dogs

The Treatment - Running With The Dogs

Spinefarm Records [Release date – 3.01.14] The Treatment are a band who have lived a bit of a charmed life so far. Their first album ‘This Might Hurt’’ was recorded in the studio of Steve Harris from Iron Maiden and … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – February 2014 Highlights

Don Airey

February 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT Photo: Noel Buckley Tuesdays 19:00 Pete Feenstra Rock & Blues NEW! In the first hour of our Tuesday blues rock marathon, Pete signposts upcoming and established artists who … Continue reading

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News: IAN ANDERSON of JETHRO TULL new album and tour

After two magic years on the road with the Thick As A Brick shows, legendary Prog Rock icon Ian Anderson embarks upon a UK tour, following the release of his new concept album ‘Homo Erraticus’  in April. The 22-date UK … Continue reading

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Book review: High Stakes & Dangerous Men – The UFO Story by Neil Daniels

Soundcheck Books www.soundcheckbooks.co.uk UFO have never been a massive band like say Deep Purple, although they have had periods in their history, most notably the 70’s Schenker years, when they easily sold out Apollo sized venues here in the UK … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

The Animal Farm – [Release date: 27.01.14] It’s rare to hear an album crammed full of original ideas, great playing, a subtle production and crossover rock songs with real commercial potential. The aptly named The Manic Shine is a powerful … Continue reading

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Quick plays: HAPPYNESS, THE DAVID LIBERTY BAND, DIRTY THRILLS, UNCLE SID, JOE COCKER

The David Liberty Band

HAPPYNESS – Happyness EP Weird Smiling [Release date 06.01.14] Three-piece band from south London consisting of Johnny Allan, Benji Compston and Ashley Cooper. This is their self-produced debut EP and they certainly pack a lot if instrumentation in for a … Continue reading

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