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Album review : BAD INFLUENCE – Celebrating 40 Years
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Album review: 25 YEAR SCREAMER – …And From The Deep, There Is A Light…
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Tag Archives: rock
Album review: MARK “PORKCHOP” HOLDER – Death And The Blues

[Release date 03.11.17] Recorded as the follow-up to debut “Let It Slide” only 9 months ago, the Porkchop is back with another collection of wonderfully uncomplicated, dirty and mean blues cuts. You’d have to be comatose not to feel the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, Death And The Blues, guitarist, Mark 'PORKCHOP' Holder, review, rock
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EP review: GOYA – Kathmandu

[Release date 08.12.17] Hailing from Stoke-on-Trent, Goya are a bit like a progressive/stoner Stoke City – fans that love them, love them but a lot won’t like the stuff they play. That said, and with all the usual trepidation of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, Goya, instrumental, Kathmandu, progressive, review, rock, Rush, Stoner
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Album review: STEVE WALSH – Black Butterfly

Escape Music [Release date 10.11.17] After Steve Walsh retired from Kansas back in 2014 many thought that would be it and we’d hear no more from Walsh, luckily this was proven wrong and here we have a new solo album … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Black Butterfly, Kansas, melodic, Mike Slamer, progressive, review, rock, Steve Overland, Steve Walsh, Streets, Tommy Denander
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Gig review: THE STRAWBS – Under The Bridge, London, 29 October 2017

As a kid in the 70s I do recall frequent radio plays of the Strawbs novelty hit ‘Part Of The Union’ in what was that fractious decade for industrial relations. And as an adult and Sandy Denny fanatic, the latter’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged classic rock, Dave Cousins, folk, gig, London, October 29 2017, progressive, review, rock, The Ferryman's Curse, The Strawbs, Under the Bridge
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Rising Stars: LOUISE STEEL

Louise Steel has just released her new album ‘Heartstorm’, one for lovers of passionate melodic rock. We ask Louise a few Qs about the album, its recording and her future musical plans… Louise Steel Music What have you got planned … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Interviews/Rising Stars
Tagged Heartstorm, interview, Jim Steinman, Louise Steel, melodic, Pat Benatar, Rising Stars, rock
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EP review: JOSH TAERK – Stages

Apple Music [Release date 02.02.18] Josh Taerk has long been a favourite here at Ritchie towers and he is now back with a new five song EP, although one song ‘After The Fall’ is lifted from his last album ‘Here’s To … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars Revisited, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, interview, Josh Taerk, melodic, pop, review, rock, singer songwiter, Stages
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Album review: STRAWBS – The Ferryman’s Curse

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 03.11.17] What do we know about Strawbs? Well, their origins go back to the mid-1960s, they’ve covered folk, prog and pop stylings and are perhaps best remembered for the song ‘Part Of The Union’ which was … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, Dave Bainbridge, Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, folk, Iona, prog, progressive, review, rock, Strawbs, The Ferryman's Curse
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Album review: PUGWASH – Silverlake

Lojinx [Release date 25.11.17] Pugwash, the brainchild of Thomas Walsh, was a band until earlier this year when he disbanded it and went back to Pugwash being a solo project. However, on this album he finally managed to work with friend and fellow … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, ELO, Jason Falkner, Jellyfish, pop, pop rock, power pop, Pugwash, review, rock, Silvertide, Thomas Walsh, XTC
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Album review: JAIMZ VOKINS – Time Machine

AOR Blvd [Release date 06.10.17] Jaimz Vokins is the new project from former Tigertailz vocalist Steevi Jaimz and guitarist Phil Vokins, who is probably best known for his time in Wrathchild. Teaming up with producer Dave Draper (The Wildhearts/The Professionals) the pair have … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR Blvd, Chris Laney, Covers, covers album, glam, Phil Vokins, rock, Slade, Steevi Jaimz, Tigertailz, Time Machine, Wrathchild
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Album review: SONJA KRISTINA – Anthology

David Randall chatted to Sonja Kristina in May 2015 for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio for a two-part career overview. Part 2 is available here Curved Air Records [Release date 06.10.17] 2-CD In a review several years ago I referred … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Acid Folk, album, anthology, Cloud 10, compilation, Curved Air, interview, Paul Sax, progressive, review, Robert Norton, rock, Sonja Kristina
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Quick plays: GREGORY PORTER, DYED IN BLUE, KIRSTY MERRYN, JOE HENRY

GREGORY PORTER Nat King Cole & Me Decca/Blue Note [Release date 27.10.17] Gregory Porter has shot to fame from his jazz background to become a major name in the jazz and soul world. On his latest release he pays homage … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Dyed In Blue, folk, Gregory Porter, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, jazz, Joe Henry, Kirsty Merryn, melodic, Moment Of Leaving, Nat King Cole, Patrick Grehan, review, rock, Show Of Hands, soul, Thrum, You & I
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Album review: SQUEEZE – The Knowledge

Love Records [Release date 13.10.17] ‘The Knowledge’ is Squeeze’s third album since they reunited back in 2007 and 2015′s ‘Cradle To The Grave’ received rave reviews, plus saw the band gain more exposure as the album formed the soundtrack to the TV series … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Chris Difford, Glen Tilbrook, pop, pop rock, review, rock, Squeeze, The Knowledge
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Gig review: GRAINNE DUFFY – Nell’s Jazz & Blues, 19 October 2017

Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist, Grainne Duffy, has been receiving plenty of plaudits since her debut album ‘Out Of The Dark’ was released back in 2007. She has tended to be labelled a blues artist and, not having seen her before … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 19 October 2017, blues, country, gig, Grianne Duffy, London, Nell’s Jazz & Blues, review, rock
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Album review: BIGFOOT

Frontiers [Release date 13.10.17] Bigfoot are a five piece hailing from Wigan, not the natural home of the Bigfoot beast but one that houses this band who have a penchant for classy hard rock. The line-up consists of vocalist Anthony Ellis, guitarists … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bigfoot, classic rock, debut, Frontiers, hard rock, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic, review, rock, self-titled
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Quick plays: JIM BYRNES, INTASTELLA, THE JAMIE PORTER BAND, BILL FEEHELY

JIM BYRNES Long Hot Summer Days Black Hen Music [Release date 27.10.17] Sixty nine year old, multiple Canadian Juno and Maple Blues Awards winner, Jim Byrnes turns the clock back to his St Louis high school days for inspiration on … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Bill Feehely, blues, dub, Intastella, Jah Wobble, Jamie Porter Band, Jim Byrnes, Long Hot Summer Days, Money & Love, reggae, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Sonic Smile, The Rise And Fall Of A Northern Dubstar
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Gig review: SIN HOUSE – Spirit Of The Torrington, Old Finchleians, London N12, 15 October 2017

It’s take some gumption to start a new band when celebrating the 50th anniversary of your pro career, but then Stevie Smith, the former Bad Manners, Ruthless Blues, Salt and Long John Baldry harp player, is no ordinary performer, and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Alice Cooper, Bad Manners, blues, Bobby Womack, Clive Edwards, Elmore James, gig, harmonica, J.J. Cale, John Lee Hooker, Lionheart, Long John Baldry, Nils Lofgren, Old Finchlieans, Pat Travers, review, Richard Taylor, rock, Ruthless Blues, Salt, Sin House, Spirit Of the Torrington, Steve Smith, Stevie Smith, The Right Rev Swifty, UFO, Wild Horses
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Album review: TYKETTO – Live From Milan 2017

Frontiers [Release date 13.10.17] A novel idea here as Tyketto play their classic ‘Don’t Come Easy’ album in its entirety but back to front! The current line-up still has two original members in vocalist Danny Vaughn and drummer Michael Clayton … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Classic Albums, Danny Vaughn, Frontiers, Live From Milan 2017, melodic, review, rock, Tyketto
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Album review: KANSAS – Leftoverture Live & Beyond

Inside Out [Release date 03.11.17] This release is a collection of concert performances culled from Kansas’s ‘Leftoverture’ 40th anniversary tour and it comes either as double CD or a 4-LP vinyl box. The band asked back producer Jeff Glixman, who … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic album, Inside Out, Kansas, Leftoverture Live & Beyond, live, melodic, Phil Ehart, prog rock, review, Rich Williams, rock, Ronnie Platt, Steve Walsh
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Album review: LOUISE STEEL – Heartstorm

Louise Steel Music Louise Steel is a singer/songwriter from Leicester and she is joined by Andrew Dunmore, who played keyboards and wrote/co-wrote much of the music on the album, along with Louise. For a self-release it is very professional, from the CD … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bonnie Tyler, Heartstorm, Louise Steel, melodic, Pat Benatar, pop, review, Robin Beck, rock
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