Monthly Archives: August 2012

Jo Bywater, Cycle Grace Pulse Break. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 5th 2011.

Yorkshire born but most certainly Liverpool influenced Jo Bywater’s debut album, Cycle Grace Pulse Break may have been out for a short while now but it is an album of incredible maturity that deserves to be visited and enjoyed no matter how late or by what means you come to this very talented woman.

Liverpool has been blessed in recent years with the quality of recording artists that have either come here to study and stay and making their home in the city or by those that have been born and raised here, brought up on possibly the best and most diverse range of music to be associated with one area.

Jo Bywater, Cycle Grace Pulse Break. Album Review. full post

(307 words, 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and 3/4, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 7th 2011.

Cast: Tate Kearns, Philip Brookes, Jenny Tully, Amy Morris, Joesph Burns, Tom Martin, David Evans, Nicola Guy, Adam Titchmarsh, Josh Henfrey, Amy Lawson.

Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 and ¾ was to 1980’s teenagers as the Harry Potter series has been to the current generation of children and young adults. In popular culture it was a book that was loved and adored by all who read it, it spawned a stage show in 1984 and then burst onto television the following year. The book follows the adventures of Adrian Mole, his dysfunctional family and his misinterpretation of the events that happen around him.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and 3/4, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool full post

(352 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Megadeth, Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying, 25th Anniversary Edition. Album Review

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 17th 2011.

It is a sad fact, but Heavy Metal albums age quickly; they corrode and wither, some die of neglect after being hailed as the best thing to ever hit the market, some stagnate for a while before only selling to true fans of the genre. Not for them the security of say Progressive Rock’s Pink Floyds Wish You Were Here or the timeless musings of Soul legend Marvin Gaye’s seminal What’s Going On. There are so few examples of timeless quality pure Heavy or Thrash Metal albums that 25 years after the release date still sound fresh and exciting.

Megadeth, Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying, 25th Anniversary Edition. Album Review full post

(429 words, 1 image, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Bad Religion, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 17th 2011.

Fresh from their appearance at Sonisphere the previous weekend, Los Angeles Punk revivalists Bad Religion arrived at the Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton in the kind of mood that lets you know they were there to still party and entertain in their own peculiar and indomitable style.

Bad Religion, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(350 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Yes, Prime Minister, Theatre Review. Apollo Theatre, London.

Cast: Simon Williams, Richard McCabe, Chris Larkin, Charlotte Lucas, Kevork Malikyan, Jonathon Coote, Michael Chadwick, Mark Extance, Sarah Baxendale.

Some comedies are created great, some achieve greatness and then there was the political satire that set the bar so high it had greatness thrust upon it and the sincerest kind of admiration that Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister deserved.

Yes, Prime Minister, Theatre Review. Apollo Theatre, London. full post

(405 words, 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Matt Swift, Lesson Over. E.P Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 27th 2011.

You can sometimes have too much of a good thing, thankfully music isn’t one of them. Any musician, regardless of age or genre that grabs your attention should be savoured and enjoyed for however long they produce great songs and inspire you to be a better person.

Matt Swift’s Lesson Over EP is a collection of songs that quite frankly are amongst the best that you will get to hear this year and with the enormously talented Barry Briercliffe in the producer’s chair, Matt has delivered a set of tunes that really stand out and capture the imagination.

Matt Swift, Lesson Over. E.P Review. full post

(321 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

Deacon Blue, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 30th 2011.

Two years ago as part of the Summer Pops, Deacon Blue stormed the Liverpool Echo Arena. The audience from start to finish were beside themselves in joy having heard an expansive and top notch set from one of the great bands of mid 80’s. Two years on, they were back in Liverpool to perform for their legion of fans and yet again simply blew the cobwebs out of Liverpool’s lungs.

Deacon Blue, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(408 words, 1 image, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Iron Maiden, Gig Review. The N.I.A. Birmingham.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 2nd 2011.

It’s been a long time coming, but Iron Maiden finally made it Great Britain at the end of the Final Frontier tour and leaving some people with mixed reactions to their gigs in cities such as Manchester and Newcastle. Some have loved that the Irons, the kings of British heavy Metal seem back on form, giving the type of show that was a pleasure to attend in the late 80’s and full of theatre and grit. Others have complained that there was an over reliance on worn out clichés, a glimpse back to a time that needs to be locked away in the dim and distant past.

Iron Maiden, Gig Review. The N.I.A. Birmingham. full post

(562 words, 1 image, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

Blondie, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 2nd 2011.

The weather outside was somewhat frightful, with Blondie’s fans finding every possible hiding place from the torrential August rain that had decided to fall well before the doors opening at the Academy. Inside it was a sauna, the gig having being sold out long before the night arrived, such is the pulling power of one of New Yorks finest ambassadors to music, they could have head lined for a week at the Liverpool o2 Academy and still have people clambering for tickets.

Blondie, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(366 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)