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10cc, Gig Review. Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2009.

 

The Wall Street Shuffle was a hit for 10cc in 1974 but the current financial situation made it an apt opener to their Birmingham show.

Even though Graham Gouldman is now the original member in the group, he was ably assisted by Rickk Fenn on guitar, Paul Burgess on drums, Keith Hayman on bass and keyboards and MIck Wilson  on guitars, vocals, keyboards and percussion.

These five men blended together so well on stage that it left a near capacity audience anticipating each song with relish.

10cc, Gig Review. Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. full post

(164 words, estimated 39 secs reading time)

Manic Street Preachers, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2009.

With the new album, Journal for Plague Lovers, barely out its packaging, the Manic Street Preachers stoked up the heat at the Wolverhampton Civic as they showed what the music scene had been missing for the past few years.

By playing the new offering its entirety, the capacity crowd was given the chance to savour some of the last work of Richey Edwards, whose lyrics have been set to music by the band.

These included opening track Peeled Apples Me and Stephen Hawking and the lament William’s Last Words.

Manic Street Preachers, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(207 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)

Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. May 2009.

Opening the evening with Suave and Suffocated from 1992’s Are You Normal and the excellent All I Ask Of Myself Is That I Hold Together from 1995’s Brainbloodvolume, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin came, saw and conquered an absolutely packed audience with a set that never once let up on pace.

With much reminiscing, the band blitzed through classics like Until You Find Out from their debut album God Fodder, Walking Through Syrup and the amazing Two and Two Make Five.

Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(170 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)

The Levellers, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. May 2009.

Opening the night with Life Less Ordinary and the Battle of Beanfield, The Levellers played a set full of tunes to a Wulfrun Hall that was almost bursting with fans.

Main vocalist and guitarist Mark Chadwick along with Stephen Boakes on didgeridoo and Jeremy Cunningham on bass, seem to encapsulate all that is good within the band.

It was hard to see which tracks they would have to leave out of their huge back catalogue but those receiving an airing included Beautiful Day and the excellent Death Loves Youth, Dirty Davey and the Cholera Well.

The Levellers, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(123 words, estimated 30 secs reading time)

The Reasoning, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. April 2009.

Fresh from their convention slot supporting Marillion in Holland, The Reasoning reinforced their position as one of the country’s top progressive rock bands with a performance that bowled over an enthusiastic crowd.

Opening the set with the title track from their 2007 debut album Awakening, followed by Fallen Angels.  The band showed why their musical ability and sharp lyrics have made them favourites on the progressive rock gig circuit.

With singer Rachel Cohen in fine form and in teasing mood, The Reasoning then played the beautiful Chasing Rainbows before carrying on with the fabulous Aching Hunger and the lyrically excellent Breaking the Fourth Wall.

The Reasoning, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(157 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)

Joe Bonamassa, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. April 2009.

Joe Bonamassa shows that you can be considered a blues legend before you reach 40. The likeable and amiable singer and guitarist has played with some of the greats of the genre but he still seems to be in awe of the fact that a capacity crowd of music lovers would come and see him perform live.

He began a night of incredible music with Django from the 2006 album You and Me before going full steam into the Ballad of John Henry from this year’s album offering of the same name.

Joe Bonamassa, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(136 words, estimated 33 secs reading time)

Hugh Cornwell, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Originally published by the Birmingham Mail. March 2009.

Every time Hugh Cornwell plays a gig, he seems to defy age and convention with a host of great songs, either from his days as the frontman of The Stranglers or his equally long solo career.

The first part of the set was taken up with Cornwell playing his brilliant new album Hooverdam in its entirety, which included the opener Wrong Side of the Tracks and Going to the City before going into some truly memorable songs.

Hugh Cornwell, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(149 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

Paul Carrack, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. February 28th 2009

Once in a while you are treated to a genuine star of the British music scene who takes your breath away.

Paul Carrack opened up a crammed and diverse set with Just A Little Lie and Stay Awake, the latter from his new album I Know That Name. Paul then went onto showcase the new album by playing some of the songs that appear on it, including It Ain’t Easy (To Love Somebody) and the brilliant song written for The Eagles on their last album I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore.

Paul Carrack, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(169 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)

Go West, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published By The Birmingham Mail. February 2009.

Go West kicked off a strong night of soulful rock with their smash hit Don’t Look Down before powering through fan selected songs, including Black and Gold and the beautiful Goodbye Girl, during the first of two sets.

Despite being over 20 years older since Go West burst onto the scene, singer Peter Cox still has one of the greatest voices in music,  If anything, his strong and subtle vocals  are even better now.

Go West, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(203 words, 1 image, estimated 49 secs reading time)

Apocalyptica, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. December 2008.

With their fusion of heart-pounding riffs and solid dependable drumming, Apocalyptica have become one of the best reasons to enjoy heavy metal again.

To be able to take a decent selection of thrash kings Metallica’s music and play it note perfect on four cellos and a drum takes an awful lot of skill.  Apolcalyptica have now broadened their range with some cracking pieces of music of their own.

The Metallica tracks were covered brilliantly, especially Fight Fire With Fire and possibly Metallica’s finest song, One. Apocalyptica rounded off a genuinely enjoyable evening with the encores Enter Sandman and a fantastic version of Greig’s Mountain King.

Apocalyptica, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(119 words, estimated 29 secs reading time)