Tag Archives: live

Album review: STEVE HACKETT – Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live In Brighton

STEVE HACKETT - Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live In Brighton

David Randall chatted to Steve Hackett in September 2023 as part of the GRTR!@20 promotion when Steve was the September “Grotto of Greatness” inductee.  This is an edited version of the radio show that will be broadcast in its entirety … Continue reading

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Album review: RENAISSANCE – The Legacy Tour 2022

RENAISSANCE - The Legacy Tour 2022

Symphonic Rock Recordings [Release date 15.08.23] Back in 2015 we saw Renaissance performing at a small venue in North-West England, The Citadel, which remains something of a mecca for prog bands.  Since that time they have played several tours in … Continue reading

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Livestream review: METALLICA, AT&T Arena, Arlington, Texas, 18 & 20 August 2023

Livestream review: METALLICA, AT&T Arena, Arlington, Texas, 18 & 20 August 2023

A unique double-header even in the storied history of thrash trailblazers, Metallica: a live-to-cinemas feed of their two Arlington, Texas shows 48 hours apart, featuring two entirely different sets. The idea of beaming gigs to remote venues is not new … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – O2 Islington Academy 2, London, 21 July 2023

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

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Gig review: JON ANDERSON/MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Erkel Szinhaz, Budapest, Hungary, 9 July 2023

Gig review: JON ANDERSON/MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Erkel Szinhaz, Budapest, Hungary, 9 July 2023

A city break you won’t find on Expedia: the Queen of the Danube by day; prog rock royalty by night! Budapest is an amazing city and no surprise that the venue for this co-headline gig was a classy, plush, comfy-seated … Continue reading

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Gig review: KISS – Hydro, Glasgow – 8th July 2023

KISS – Hydro, Glasgow – 8th July 2023

I first saw Kiss on the Lick It Up tour in October 1983 in the Edinburgh Playhouse and here we are nearly 40 years on to witness the band’s last ever UK show. I caveat that last statement by pointing … Continue reading

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Gig review: PETER GABRIEL – Hydro, Glasgow – 22nd June 2023

PETER GABRIEL – Hydro, Glasgow – 22nd June 2023

At the ripe old age of 73 you would forgive Peter Gabriel for taking things easy and retiring from music to live off the royalties of his past glorious. Mr Gabriel, however, has never been one to conform and has … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLOODYWOOD – The Mash House, Edinburgh – 12th June 2023

Bloodywood

My phone pinged and the text read ‘Hi pal, do you fancy going to see Bloodywood in Edinburgh’. I must admit my first reaction was ‘who?’, but the answer was ‘yup, let#s rock!’. So, it was a night out in … Continue reading

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Gig review: CONNOR SELBY – Amazing Grace, London, 16 May 2023

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

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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, 14 May 2023

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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

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Gig review: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 23 April 2023

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 23 April 2023

It’s hard to believe that Kenny Wayne Shepherd was a mere 18 years old when he wrote and released ‘Trouble Is..’. A mature, complex blues rock album launched into the world as part of an exciting vanguard of fresh-faced US … Continue reading

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Gig review: SABATON – Hydro, Glasgow – 18th April 2023

SABATON - Hydro, Glasgow - 18th April 2023

The much delayed ‘Tour To End All Tours’ had finally reached Glasgow and the legion of Scottish Sabaton fans were eager to see what Sweden’s finest had in their war chest. Sabaton have gone from strength to strength over the … Continue reading

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Album review : ONE DESIRE – Live With The Shadow Orchestra

ONE DESIRE – Live With The Shadow Orchestra

Frontiers [release date 21.04.23] Rising Finnish band, One Desire return with a live album. What is it with rock/ metal bands and orchestras? The ambition to match up the two has been realised regularly ever since most of us can … Continue reading

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Gig review: PIXIES – Roundhouse, London, 21 March 2023

Gig review: PIXIES – Roundhouse, London, 21 March 2023

The last time I saw Pixies live, they played the Forum in Kentish Town which was still called the Town & Country Club, and when the band’s brand of punky, indie, noisy alternative rock was still in its first flush. … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE HILLAGE – LA Forum 31.1.77

STEVE HILLAGE - LA Forum 31.1.77

Madfish [Release date 17.03.23] Yet another Steve Hillage live album?  And again focusing on the “classic era”?  One for the fans, definitely, for whom the main attraction will be three bonus tracks recorded in London in March 1977 and seemingly … Continue reading

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Gig review: LUST FOR LIFE – The Lexington, London, 12 March 2023

Gig review: LUST FOR LIFE – The Lexington, London, 12 March 2023

This was a proper throwback gig melding pioneering punk, art rock, new wave and all points in-between,  battered out by a scratch band pulled together specifically to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust For Life’ album. Tony Fox … Continue reading

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Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

The Assembly Hall had a celebratory atmosphere about the place and a keen sense of anticipation was in the air ahead of Those Damn Crows. Support came from fellow Welsh rockers, James And The Cold Gun who helped to bubble … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Powerhaus, London, 11 February 2023

Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Powerhaus, London, 11 February 2023

My first visit to the renamed Dingwalls since it changed name and ownership in 2020. The venue was near its 500-berth capacity for Robert Jon & The Wreck who have sold out a good few dates on this tour. First … Continue reading

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Album review: MOTORHEAD – Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC

Silver Lining Music [Release date 24.02.23] “If the guys wanted to prove a point with this record then they have achieved that goal and then some. ‘Aftershock’ was a great album but with ‘Bad Magic’ Lemmy, Phil and Mikkey have … Continue reading

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Gig review: SKERRYVORE AND MANRAN – Albert Hall, Stirling – 29th December 2022

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This gig was another that felt a bit like being an extra in an episode of Dr Who, you know it’s 2022 but you are handing over a ticket for a show in 2020! Yup, this show has been hit … Continue reading

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Album review: TANGERINE DREAM – The Bootleg Box Set Vol.2 (7 CDs, Remastered)

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Cherry Red [Release date 13.01.23] As the instigators of sequenced electronica, and pioneers of German ‘Kosmische’ music, Tangerine Dream have no equal. Add to that their 60 plus movie scores – cultural statements as well as music to match the … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow – 10th Dec 2022

Christmas comes but once a year and you can be sure that there will be a date with Gun at the Barra’s with the same regularity. This annual event has now become part of many a Christmas schedule in the … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

A combination of bitter weather and transport snarl ups meant I missed opening act and Wolfgang Van Halen’s current project, Mammoth WVH. I was, however, in plenty of time to see Halestorm’s fiery, combative set. Plenty of others were too. … Continue reading

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Gig Review – STATUS QUO – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow – 26th November 2022

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One sure sign of life getting back to normal post Covid is Status Quo rocking into the Christmas period with their festive concerts. Long a staple of the Winter touring schedule, Quo’s annual jaunt is much anticipated and as predicted … Continue reading

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Gig review: TYGERS OF PAN TANG – Black Heart, Camden, 12 November 2022

Tygers of Pan Tang 2022

I sometimes struggle with this venue. Low ceilings and a low stage means poor visibility if there’s anything like a good crowd in; and often the sound is sludgy and bass heavy. So for Tygers of Pan Tang to overcome … Continue reading

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