One of the first major gigs I took my new girlfriend, and now wife, to, way back in 2012, was Download Festival. That weekend we came across a band called Shinedown that we both enjoyed and a few months later found ourselves heading off to watch their headline tour date …
Read More »Review: Joanne Shaw Taylor – Queens Hall, Edinburgh
“Are you all sufficiently depressed…then we’ll carry on…it is called the Blues…” Putting the emphasis on the word “is”, the Midlands born and bred (now relocated to Nashville) force of nature that is guitarist/vocalist Joanne Shaw Taylor brings the audience back to reality after just nailing them to the wall …
Read More »Review: Nightwish – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
If ever further proof was required about the healing powers of music, and the cathartic release that it can offer, then look no further than Finnish titans of Metal Nightwish and their current run of live dates. Having built up a considerable head of steam with a spring tour of …
Read More »Review: Ivory Saints – Ivory Blacks, Glasgow
After a recent last-minute call to open for The Virginmarys in Glasgow, and having already opened for Trucker Diablo in September (and played at Bon Scott tribute weekender BonFest in April), Glasgow-based Southern Rock outfit Ivory Saints are on a bit of a roll. All of which is pretty good …
Read More »Review: Within Temptation/Evanescence – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
You know that GIF from the Titanic movie? The one with the old woman uttering “It’s been 84 years…”…well everyone in attendance tonight knows exactly how she feels. Postponed a gazillion times because of the C-word, the Evanescence/Within Temptation joint co-headlining ‘Worlds Collide’ tour is finally underway and blowing UK …
Read More »Review: The Rasmus – The Ritz, Manchester
It being Halloween, and also absolutely throwing it down, makes for very good mood-setting for seeing a band that were just barely on the precipice of the pop-punk and emo sound when it was big, as well as giving you the feeling they certainly won’t let you down: Finnish multi-platinum …
Read More »Review: H.E.A.T. Mason Hill and Collateral – Patti Pavilion Swansea
The day after Rocktober in Bristol, I found myself passing by that way again on the Motorway, en route to Swansea for my first sight of the restored venue, The Patti Pavilion, and three superb bands on a stellar line-up. Opening the evening were the slick-sounding Collateral. I have seen …
Read More »Review: The Damn Truth – Stereo, Glasgow
The Damn Truth – Canada’s finest export since Dudley Do-Right – made good on their promise to come back real soon after knocking UK audiences for six during their support slot earlier this year with Scottish blues-rockers King King. A whistle-stop 11-date October tour around the regions that included a …
Read More »Review: Ginger Wildheart and The Sinners – The Junction, Plymouth
“Intimate” is definitely a word appropriate to The Junction in Plymouth. A tiny rock pub in the student area of Plymouth with good beer, great sound and light, and an ambitious and successful promoter that definitely punches above his weight in attracting big names to the far SW. Tonight, on …
Read More »Review: Billy Idol – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
After the stop-start-stop-again-start-with-restrictions of the last few years, Billy Idol was finally able to recently launch his long-awaited World Tour, and with South America, and Europe crossed off the list, it was, at last, time for a whistle-stop tour of Blighty for the man formerly known as William Michael Albert …
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