Originally published by L.S. Media. March 11th 2011.
The audience greeted the long awaited return of 80’s Synth Pop superstars Blancmange to Liverpool with the kind of noise you’d expect at the Liverpool Echo. It may have been two decades since Neil Arthur stood in front of a Scouse crowd but Liverpool music fans have long memories and the recollections of being entertained by Blancmange have long been smiled at.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 11th 2011.
It is easy to see why Elbow has been one of the most talked about bands of the last ten years, with a Mercury Prize being a pinnacle of a very achieving career. With four top twenty albums on the spin, Elbow have released what could be their biggest album yet in the form of the brilliantly titles Build a Rocket Boys!
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 14th 2011.
If there is a young musician or group of disaffected teenagers currently playing their own music whilst holed up in garages and bedrooms of this fine musical city, if they are blinded by the injustice of the world and fear their voice is not being heard; then they need look no further than the inspiration of a band who knows all there is to know about the fine tradition of Liverpool and Merseyside protest music, The Trestles.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 19th 2011. 
In 1991 the world lost one of its most favourite performers and subsequently one its favourite groups as it could be seen that they were never the same again after their charismatic leader’s death. Their melodies, rock compositions and dramatic guitar themes would become a by word for the ultimate accolades labeled upon a band when told they have an element of Queen about them.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.
1974 saw the release of Queen’s second album Queen II, whereas the first album had seen the emergence of the band into the nations consciousness, Queen II saw the band experiment with the medium they would come to dominate over the next two decades.
From the album cover with its now iconic picture of the four band members faces staring out from a black background to its idea of a Side Black and Side White as opposed to sides one and two, this blurring of the idea of a rock band and the art of Progressive music became a distinct possibility as listeners were treated to the idea of an emotional (white side) theme running through the tracks and a darker, fantasy driven side that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Tolkien novel.
Adam Ant in concert at Warrington’s Parr Hall. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. August 26th 2011.
L.S. Media Rating *****
There’s nothing more gratifying than seeing a man personify the word cool. Steve McQueen had it, James Dean knew he radiated it, Johnny Depp oozes it and the man behind the persona of Adam Ant, Stuart Goddard, has it, lives it and breathes it. As Adam Ant stood listening to the crowd singing the words to his huge hit, Stand and Deliver, back to him at the Warrington Parr Hall, it was as if he had never been away. The king of pop punk was back in splendour.
The Cast of the 12 at The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. August 24th 2012.
L.S. Media Rating ****
Cast: Shaun Fagan, Morgan McBride, Nick Crosbie, Jamie Vere, Robbie Locke, Bob Schofield, Owen Jones, Josh Quigley, Josh Hughes, Bradley Walker, Paul Holliday, Sophie Eves.
Transferring a 1950’s Henry Fonda classic film to the unsympathetic existence of 21st century Liverpool takes some imagination and a lot of writing talent to give it the grim reality that post war Hollywood films sometimes glossed over. With Shaun Fagan and Matthew Shiel at the helm of 12, the latest play to be performed at The Lantern Theatre, this was more than was ever needed to show how good writing can shine through no matter how unattractive and prejudicial the story line is.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.
Sheer Heart Attack was the third album delivered by Queen onto the British public and the third within sixteen months. The album marks a turn in the band’s outlook and was beset with ill health and medical problems for guitarist Brain May who had been ill for the early parts of the recording.
With the band’s popularity spreading, not only in their home county where their previous album had reached the top five in the album charts, but also in the emerging markets of Australia and Japan, it is not hard to see why this particular album had all the hallmarks of one of the early classic albums by the band.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.
For some, the height of Queen’s studio achievements was the fourth album, A Night at the Opera. Released in the November of 1975, the album is the epitome of excellent lyric writing, musical themes to die for, that number one record and ultimate promotion technique.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.
Funeral for a Friend’s music may be more in common with West Coast and Mid American acts than with some of their compatriots from Wales, I.E The Stereophonics and The Automatic, but their music still has the ring of Welsh confidence that has seen a resurgence in their country’s output of superb music over the last few years.
The new album has the title to die for in Welcome Home Armageddon! And whilst it may open with a self styled instrumental track in This Side of Brightness, it hides the fact that the album is full of mind crunching riffs that that will satisfy the cravings of those that may have felt a little left out in the home grown hardcore stakes recently.