Tag Archives: live

Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

It’s been a while. 35 years in fact, since I last saw Anthrax. March 1989 at this very venue. I had to look it up, but I needn’t have bothered. During a mid-set chat, Scott Ian listed all the times … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024

Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024

They may not have the same veteran status as the headliners of this show, but Reef are celebrating 30 years in the business this year. No mean feat, with founding members Gary Stringer on vocals and Jack Bessant on bass. … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN WETTON – Concentus (10-CD box set)

JOHN WETTON - Concentus (10-CD box set)

David Randall chatted to John Wetton in April 2009.  This interview was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio 19 April 2009 and now reissued in “The GRTR! Archive” series. Spirit Of Unicorn Music/Cherry Red Records [Release date 15.11.24] … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALICE COOPER – Hydro, Glasgow, 14 October 2024

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Come October the mind starts to stray to thoughts of Halloween, of ghosts and ghouls and things that go bump in the night! What better to soundtrack those dark thoughts than a night with the king of scare himself, Alice … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024

Steve Hackett continues to tour relentlessly, playing to packed houses of knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans, year after year. Tonight, the venerable Royal Albert Hall was sold out and brimming with anticipation. A couple of tracks in and even the vastly … Continue reading

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Album review: LAYLA ZOE – Into The Blue, Live In Concert

Layla Zoe - Into the Blue

Layla Zoe Music [Release date: 13.09.24] To say Layla Zoe warms to the notion of being an independent artist, is to understate her willingness to both dig deep for her emotions in a concert situation,  and fly in the face … Continue reading

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Gig review: APOCALYPTICA – SWG3, Glasgow, 3 October 2024

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Many years ago I attended a guitar masterclass with the legendary singer/songwriter Gordon Giltrap. It was just one man with an acoustic guitar, but the sound and sheer ferocity of riffage he managed to extract from his poor, tortured acoustic … Continue reading

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Gig review: VINCENT FLATTS FINAL DRIVE – Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, Islington, London 4 October 2024

3) L-R Gary Harper, Russ Cook, Bertie

Tonight is the sort of gig that restates the true staples of rock and roll, namely the holy trinity of a great band, a welcoming venue and receptive audience. Birmingham’s Vincent Flatts Final Drive is the kind kick ass band … Continue reading

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Gig review: DIESEL PARK WEST – The Sound Lounge, Sutton, Surrey 28 September 2024

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While it’s true to say that any band’s commercial success or durability is often tied in with the vacillations of the musical market place, there’s no denying the qualities of real song craft. And tonight’s appearance by Leicester’s Diesel Park … Continue reading

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Gig review: STONEDEAD FESTIVAL – Newark Showground – 23,24 August 2024

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Since the first Stonedead (or Stonedeaf as it was back then) the festival has gone from strength to strength driven by word of mouth and a very active Facebook group. Each year has sold out that bit sooner than the … Continue reading

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Album review : BLUE OYSTER CULT – 50th Anniversary Live : Second Night (2CDs+DVD)

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Frontiers [Release date : 09.08.24] BOC’s 1972 album, Tyranny And Mutation (their second), continues to get 4 and 5 star reviews in the mainstream music media in its many reissued forms… special vinyl editions, special Japanese releases, 1990 and 2001 … Continue reading

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Gig review: CALL OF THE WILD FESTIVAL – Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln – 24th to 26th May 2024

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Upon arrival at the showground I was taken to get checked in and get my press pass. After a short wait I was greeted by “Tosh” who was one of the friendliest guys I’ve ever met and he introduced me … Continue reading

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Album review : STATUS QUO – Official Archive Series Vol.3 (2CDs)

STATUS QUO Live Archive vol 3 150

Ear Music/Edel [Release date : 12.07.24] If ever a band knew how to mine a rich back catalogue it’s Status Quo. We’ve said that before and no doubt we’ll say it again, and again. This third “Archive” release, Live at … Continue reading

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Gig review: STATUS QUO – Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow – 30th May 2024

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The last gig I attended at the Kelvingrove Bandstand must have been 40 years ago when Radio Clyde put on a free mini festival of local rock talent, ably hosted by the ‘Beard Of Doom’, Mr Tom Russell. Around the … Continue reading

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Gig review: YES – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 24 May 2024

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Tonight’s show was another date in the current ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ tour, a celebration of 50 plus years of Yessong with an emphasis on the band’s ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ opus which turn 50 in 2023.  You could argue … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE BLACKOUT – SWG 3, Glasgow – 20th February 2024

Almost exactly 9 years ago I dragged myself along to The Garage in Glasgow to say farewell to The Blackout as they became another victim of the corporate music machine. That night was all the more bittersweet as it served … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROBBIE MCINTOSH – The Sound Lounge, Sutton, Surrey 17 February 2024

Robbie McIntosh - Sound Lounge, Sutton

In a world of over-hyped musicians and guitarists, Robbie McIntosh is a timely reminder of the virtues of taste, tone, lyrical ability and humility. Here’s a guitarist with a musical CV that many could only dream of (Paul McCartney, The … Continue reading

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Gig review: ANDY SHARROCKS &The Incurable Romantics – 100 Club, London, 14 February 2024

Andy Sharrocks & The Incurable Romantics - 100 Club

If you invited your better half to spend St. Valentine’s night at London’s 100 Club, the chances are your relationship could soon be in trouble. Imagine my surprise then to discover a fair sprinkling of women as part of an … Continue reading

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Gig review: GEDDY LEE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow – 14th December 2023

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Tonight, we had something a bit different, Geddy Lee in conversation to promote his autobiography, ‘My Effin’ Life’, which has just been released. With Rush in hiatus following the sad passing of Neil Peart, for fans of the band this … Continue reading

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Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 30 November 2023

Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 30 November 2023

After various ‘Fest’ and ‘Temple of Rock’ incarnations, Schenker revived the original MSG monicker for a couple of recent albums and has been on a 50th anniversary tour for over two years now. It is something of a divine resurrection. … Continue reading

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Album review : STATUS QUO – Official Archive Series Vol 2

status quo volume 2

earMUSIC [Release date 24.11.23] World leading experts at mining their own back catalogue, Status Quo stake another claim with SQ Volume 2 (2 CDs/23 tracks). It’s a 2012 gig, recorded live at the O2 Arena, on the “Quo Festive” tour. … Continue reading

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Album review : VENOM – Live From The Hammersmith Odeon (CD/DVD Deluxe Digipak)

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Cherry Red [Release date : 27.10.23] Formed in England’s industrial North East in 1979, there was none heavier, none more extreme and indeed none more influential in the heavy metal genre than Venom. The band’s reputation was born out of … Continue reading

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Gig review: EUROPE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 18 October 2023

EUROPE - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 18 October 2023

I recently interviewed Tommy Johannson of the Swedish band Sabaton. As an aside at the end of the interview I asked him, given the band’s love of all things historic, if he could go back to any point in time … Continue reading

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Gig review: BYWATER CALL – The Grace, London, 9 October 2023

Gig review: BYWATER CALL – The Grace, London, 9 October 2023

I had seen Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes, the driving force behind Bywater Call, supporting Robert Jon and The Wreck back in February. I was mightily impressed, and particularly bowled over by Meghan’s voice. So this tour with the full, … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROB TOGNONI – 100 Club, London, 26 September 2023

Rob Tognoni by Tom Brundage

Rob Tognoni typifies the spirit of old school rock and roll. It isn’t the fact that he and his band have just driven 16 hours from the Orkney Festival in the highlands of Scotland to the heart of London, or … Continue reading

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