Ray Davies, See My Friends. Album Review.

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.

Ray Davies, See My Friends. Album Review. full post

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

Paramore, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool.

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.

Paramore, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool. full post

(394 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

The Strawbs, Gig Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool.

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.

The Strawbs, Gig Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool. full post

(330 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

The Move, Gig Review. Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

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.

The Move, Gig Review. Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. full post

(378 words, 1 image, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

The Who, Live at Leeds, 40th Anniversary Edition. Album Review.

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.

The Who, Live at Leeds, 40th Anniversary Edition. Album Review. full post

(389 words, 1 image, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Steve Lukather, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2.

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.

Steve Lukather, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2. full post

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

John O’Connell, Gig Review. Gladstone Theatre Port Sunlight

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.

John O’Connell, Gig Review. Gladstone Theatre Port Sunlight full post

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

U.F.O, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool.

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.

U.F.O, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool. full post

(345 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

The Human League, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 7th 2010.

To many, one of the stand out bands of the early 1980’s was The Human League. Genre defining and one of the early exponents of the slick style of video that the decade produced in abundance. Their music was considered much loved and has been parodied lovingly in certain advertisements since their early heyday.

The Human League, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

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

No Wise Men, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 9th 2010.

Cast: Helen Carter, Annabelle Dowler, Javier Marzan, John Nicholson, Clare Thomson, Milo Twomey.

Take a pinch of Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life, mix it up with lashings of Hans Christian Anderson’s tale of The Little Match Girl and add the very best of humour from theatre company Peepolykus you end up with a compelling, sometimes heartstring pulling and totally absorbing production of No Wise Men.

No Wise Men, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(328 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)