Category Archives: Live

The Floe, Gig Review. Liverpool One.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 8th 2010.

One of the bands who were showcased during Liverpool Sound City week was The Floe. Led by the silky vocals of Sarah Springett they, along with many others provided the public of Liverpool with some new bands to take in and admire.

Now, as part of the Cafe Nero artist of the month, three of the band were back to seek an audience in the ambient atmosphere of Liverpool One. Joining Sarah were guitarist David Booth and keyboard player Liz Townsend, and although slightly cramped in the setting they were in, they still managed to thrill those who maybe just popped in for a coffee on their way home or took time out to go along and see them after their excellent night in Hannah’s Bar.

The Floe, Gig Review. Liverpool One. full post

(360 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Sepultra, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 18th 2010.

To some, the world of Heavy Metal from the Americas and all its musical siblings only consist of the likes of Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer, but there is a band that has been thrilling audiences world- wide for a quarter of century and armed to the teeth with attitude, crunching, booming guitars and vocals that send shivers down the spine.

Sepultra may have gone through many changes over the years, with only the bass player Paulo Jnr. lasting the course from their early days in Brazil as a constant reminder of how the band (in whatever incarnation) can claim to be amongst the foremost bands in their genre.

Sepultra, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(367 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Jools Holland, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 16th 2010.

If there is anybody who can be guaranteed to get any audience up off their feet, then surely that man is Jools Holland.

From humble beginnings with Wayne County and the Electric Chairs, through to the phenomenal success with Squeeze and a major talent in his own right, he host his own television music show, a bandleader and the man the B.B.C turn to every year when they want to see in the New Year with aplomb and a big dollop of incredible diverse music. There is seemingly nothing this man cannot tackle and achieve. To do all this and still make time to tour is nothing short of impressive.

Jools Holland, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool. full post

(385 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Marillion, Gig Review. The Assembly, Leamington Spa.

Steve Hogarth, Leamington Spa. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 26th 2010.

There can’t have been too many bands that spent the night before the inaugural High Voltage Festival thrilling a packed out venue, there certainly won’t have been a band that produced, quite possibly, one of their best ever sets outside of a convention.

With everyone in their positions, the band and fans alike, Steve Hogarth came out on stage to rapturous applause from a crowd eager to cheer on a band that has never disappointed and always aimed to please.

Marillion, Gig Review. The Assembly, Leamington Spa. full post

(382 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day One.

Carl Palmer in fine form at High Voltage. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 30th 2010.

Three stages, thirty nine bands, a couple of major surprises and 48 hours in which Victoria Park was transformed from a quiet leafy setting in the East End of London to one that every rock, prog and metal fan, from the wonderful vocal talent of Kim Seviour to the last cymbal being crashed by Carl Palmer, would come to enjoy and hope that the inaugural High Voltage Festival will not be the last.

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day One. full post

(1561 words, 1 image, estimated 6:15 mins reading time)

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day Two.

Steve Hackett at High Voltage 2010. hotograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 27th 2010.

“Meet the new day, same as the previous day”, The Who may have sung had they been available to highlight the Classic Rock stage on day two of High Voltage. As it was there were other bands on show and in no way were the two days alike. Sure the overall theme of the festival was still there, everybody was out to have a real good time in the July sun and there were bands galore to sink your teeth into but there the similarities ended.

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day Two. full post

(1698 words, 1 image, estimated 6:48 mins reading time)

Not Advised, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 12th 2010.

Not Advised may come from an unfashionable setting when it comes to music but there is sense of youthful expertise that will surely see them become one of the best musical talents to come out of the Southampton/New Forest area.

The lads opened up the set with the electrifying Right Now and A Red Light Situation, both of which did enough to dispel any lingering doubts that the young Southampton band’s own taste in music would not cross the North- South rock divide.

Not Advised, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(302 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Mercury Midnight at the o2 Academy in Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 11th 2010.

One of the surprises of the summer, in terms of new bands coming to Liverpool and doing well could be the sensational Mercury Midnight. Fronted by vocalist Claire Louise Sheridan, the band exudes a confidence that betrays their youth and the lack of time they have been together.

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

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

Muse, Gig Review. Lancashire County Cricket Ground. Manchester.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 4th 2010.

It seems that Muse can do no wrong. A sell out tour last year, the main headliners at the 40th anniversary of Glastonbury and now a three night extravaganza in England which kicked off in Manchester at the fabled home of Lancashire County Cricket Club.

For those arriving for the four o’ clock opening, the sight that would have beheld them would have had them gasping at the enormity of the stage, something very rarely undertaken outside of a Genesis or Pink Floyd gig. From outside the ground it looked as though the LCCC had started work on yet another media centre or a pavilion to match the best grounds in the world. It certainly left the crowd in no doubt why the three gigs were a week apart.

Muse, Gig Review. Lancashire County Cricket Ground. Manchester. full post

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

The Christians, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 11th 2010.

One of the last times The Christians came to Liverpool was to perform at the Liverpool Academy and even though the band went down well that night, there seemed to be something missing from the overall experience that audiences expect from one of Liverpool’s finest and most respected bands.

Anything that was sadly remiss on that balmy summer’s night in 2009 was put right by having the band in a setting which suited their style and laid back harmonic approach such as the Philharmonic.

The Christians, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. full post

(353 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)