Originally published by L.S. Media. November 1st 2010.
When The Bad Shepherds released their debut album, Yan Tyan, Tethera, Methera! In 2009 the general public at large were unaware of the band who were about to change the way we think of Punk and Folk music.
Roll forward in time just over a year and the band are about to release the long awaited follow up to that quirky, intelligent and incredibly fun album in the pun driven title By Hook or by Crook.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 1st 2010.
When the Beatles collapsed under the weight of their own expectation and the bitter infighting that had dogged them towards the end of their career, the race was on, unofficially, too see which of the musical legends would grasp the mantle of most diverse and commercial member of that now defunct band.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 9th 2010.
Ray Davies has been cited by a multitude of musicians as being one of the main inspirations in their life. He has seen the likes of The Jam, The Stranglers and Kirsty MacColl cover his songs to great critical acclaim and has been responsible for some of the great pop songs of the last five decades. His distinctive style has won over a legion of fans worldwide and his delivery and genuine love of music makes him stand out as one of the godfathers of several genres.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 11th 2012.
If anything was going to take the chill and damp out the Merseyside air then a night of rock by one of the brightest young American bands to visit Britain in a long time would remove the gloom and despondency that overshadowed the city.
Paramore have come a long way in the last six years, from the fringes and largely ignored by the mainstream to one of the best and intense bands to catch live. Their gigs are considered to be one of the best you can catch live and on the basis of their performance at the Echo Arena it is easy to see why.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 16th 2010.
The Strawbs are one of those acts that you should mark out in your diary as “leave free” for. With a career spanning over 40 years and considered one of the finest exponents of the British Folk/Rock tradition, it is no wonder their gigs are attended by some of the most dedicated followers of live music anywhere.
During the summer of 2010 they even had great success as the Acoustic Strawbs during this year’s inaugural High Voltage event in London.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 20th 2010.
Probably the best way in these austere times for bands to play a venue is by collaborating with a similar artist or band from the same period of time. Just recently one such headline tour has been announced with American AOR bands Journey, Foreigner and Styx ready to play a series of gigs in Britain next year.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 22nd 2010.
There are some live albums that stand the test of time and capture the band or artist at their very best, one such album is The Who’s Live at Leeds. Originally recorded in the bands heyday of 1970, the album is a snap shot of one of the finest rock bands to come out of Britain, punchy, insightful to the point of brilliance, the album has constantly been adorned with being one of the defining moments of Rock history.
Steve Lukather at the Bilston Robin. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 20th 2010.
It really was a coup of epic proportions when the announcement was put out that ex-Toto guitarist Steve Lukather would be playing the Robin 2 in Bilston. Steve has played some of the biggest venues in the world in his time and has recorded and jammed with some of the biggest artists but nothing could have prepared him for the colossal welcome he received from an expectant and incredibly vocal Midlands crowd.
John O Connoll in Port Sunlight. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 28th 2010.
John O’ Connell is a rare talent, even on the coldest of nights to hit the Merseyside area in years, he managed to pack out the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight and perform to a crowd that was craving intelligent and thought provoking music.
In a career that has spanned the best part of the last thirty years John is steeped in the musical history of the city of Liverpool, notably through the legendary band Groundpig and for his weekly tenure in O’Neil’s where he can be seen plying his trade to great admiration.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. December 5th 2010.
For the best part of the last 40 years U.F.O. have been one of definitive names of the British Rock and Heavy Metal. They are consistent in their approach to studio albums and the energy they thrive upon is all laid out before them whenever they do a tour or show.
The band opened up a night of pulsating, ear drum splitting music with Saving Me from 2009’s The Visitation. This was the bands 20th studio album and on the evidence of the night’s performance, they show no sign of slowing down and calling it a day.