Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 27th 2011.
After last year’s important and mind blowing appearance at the High Voltage Festival in London, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash have been busy preparing for yet another tour. After being well received so far, the band arrived on stage at the Robin in Bilston full of hope and a mission statement to entertain and enthrall the adoring crowd.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 29th 2011.
With five studio albums to their name, Funeral for a Friend can be considered at the top of the game right now when it comes to giving intimate, sweaty and fast tackling gigs. With a new studio album, Welcome Home Armageddon, not long released, fans of the Welsh band may have found it hard to get to grips with the direction the band have taken, but rest assured on stage, they are as cool, driven and manic as they ever were.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 1st 2011.
There are a lot of bands around who take time to get back into their stride after taking a considerable long time off from touring, especially when they are young and hungry. However Mercury Midnight with only a couple of dates since last August’s superb performance at the o2 Academy in Liverpool quickly recaptured that evening’s vibe and strode confidently back to a very warm reception at the Masque.
John Wesley at Brutopia. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 13th 2011.
For those straying off the beaten track whilst attending the Marillion convention in Montreal would have been thrilled to see John Wesley performing at The Brutopia pub in Crescent Street. For his army of fans in Britain, the chances of catching Wes, as he is affectionately known, are rare, for those who had travelled from all over North America to catch the convention it was a case of less is more.
photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 5th 2011.
It’s been quite a while since Kate Nash played in Liverpool but on the strength of her audience that attended her show at the Stanley Theatre at the University of Liverpool, it may have only been last month since she parked her guitar and trademark keyboard on the stage, such was the excitement generated by the young songwriter.
Arriving on stage in a pastiche of one of her song titles Mariella, all dressed in black and looking mysterious and with two Mickey Mouse ears on for good measure, she produced a set of stunning quality and with just the right amount of social commentary thrown in to keep the crowd happy.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 16th 2011.
The year 1979 may be remembered for many things, Pink Floyd’s eponymous album The Wall was released, Britain struggled to get going again after the winter of discontent and the political aftermath that followed and in Derry, Northern Ireland a group of lads released one of the finest debut albums ever recorded.
The Undertones have been quite rightly lauded by the likes of radio legend John Peel who famously loved Teenage Kicks so much that it made him cry and many bands and critics have praised the Undertones for their Punk/Rock feel and grasp of the eloquent use of the English language.
Bob Catley rocks the crowd at the University of Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 17th 2011.
Magnum can arguably be called one of the finest bands to come out of the Midlands area, with a string of bestselling albums to their name and with a fan base that other rock groups would be proud to call their own, the band are on a second wave of popularity that has seen them deliver five well written and musically superior albums since they reformed after their split in 1994.
Hugh Cornwell at the Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 17th 2011.
There will always be fans and critics alike who hark back to the days when Hugh Cornwell was the lead vocalist with the punk band and great British export The Stranglers, however, what these fans and critics always seem to miss is the prodigious amount of work that Hugh has done in the 21 years since he left the band and without sounding condescending to the man, how damn good that solo stuff is and how laid back his nights on stage are.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 22nd 2011.
If pushed for an answer, where would you say that Britpop started? Some will stand and yell Oasis till they are blue in the face; others will cite the works of Blur and the talent that is in no doubt in the shape of Damon Albarn, Graham Coxen, Alex James and Dave Rowntree. If pushed a little harder there are those that would even declare that without Pulp, the other two wouldn’t matter and for certain Jarvis Cocker has his moments; however to anybody in Liverpool you only have one answer that has to be The Real People.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2011.
Ian McNabb is one of those Liverpool musicians that demands the affection of Liverpool audiences, from his days as one of three men to give the Liverpool Rock movement a timely boost in the form of the Icicle Works to his solo output which has thrilled his legions of fans and given Ian the status of one of Liverpool’s favourite sons.