Category Archives: Live

Nils Lofgren, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 14th 2011

It takes a man who obviously can hold his own in the company of Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen who can command an audience at the Philharmonic with the bare minimum of instruments and supporting musicians and yet still make that crowd feel as though they have only ever seen one truly amazing gig in their life.

Nils Lofgren is one such man that has the undoubted ability to make an audience sit still and carefully listen to what he has to say whilst all the time making them feel special and appreciated as fans.

Nils Lofgren, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(387 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Whitesnake, Gig Review. Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

David Coverdale. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 18th 2011.

It’s not for nothing that David Coverdale and Whitesnake are continually lauded as one of the fine rock acts of all time, both for their recording history but also for the minimalist but truly jaw dropping live sets. What other bands of the genre make up for in their set by using special effect after quirky special effect, Whitesnake just get down to business and entertains and drags kicking and screaming every bit of energy from every crowd that comes to their shows.

Whitesnake, Gig Review. Wolverhampton Civic Hall. full post

(371 words, 1 image, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

Panic Room, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 20th 2011.

When people think of the state of current Progressive Rock bands that can hold their own and in some cases easily beat the established guard with a superb written lyric and subtle use of a well placed time sequence, most watchers of the genre might point to the phenomenal The Reasoning or their fellow High Voltage peers Touchstone.

However in the last few years some of the remnants of fellow Prog kings Karnataka have been quietly bidding their time, starting afresh and have delivered two top rated albums in the form of Panic Room.

Panic Room, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(444 words, 1 image, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

Foo Fighters, Gig Review. Milton Keynes National Bowl.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

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

As the sun descended over the top of the stage and temporarily blinded the majority of the crowd at the packed out Milton Keynes Bowl, the Foo Fighters exploded onto the stage and gave one of the great performances of the summer and indeed of the year so far.

After already thrilling the Isle of Wight festival goers a few weeks ago, there really was only one way to top what some critics called spectacular and that was by stealing your own show and adding just that little bit of sparkle to a set list that would make the audience sit up, take notice and beg for the band not to stop playing no matter what the curfew time stated.

Foo Fighters, Gig Review. Milton Keynes National Bowl. full post

(521 words, 1 image, estimated 2:05 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)

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)

Angels in White, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool

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

In 2010, the Liverpool Summer Pops was treated to a display by an all female group called Angels in White that was as stunning as it was gracious. By no means can it be considered easy to open for the then headliners Jools Holland, nor can it be straightforward to have comparisons drawn against you with other female bands that have dominated the charts for the last 20 years.

Angels in White, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool full post

(362 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)