Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2007.

For anybody who was concerned what five years away from the studio would do to Rush’s live experience- don’t worry, they are back bigger and better than they have ever been.

With a set carefully constructed around old favourites such as Circumstances and the mind-blowing Freewill to a huge chunk of the new album Snakes and Arrows Rush did not disappoint once.

After a short intro film the band were greeted enthusiastically to the stage by a capacity audience who cheered loudly as the threesome opened up with the thumping Limelight, Digital Man from the new album and the brilliant Entre Nous.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2007.

There are few musicians who would not feel intimidated by the air of expectation from a capacity crowd after being from a city or venue for nearly a quarter of a century.

Thankfully, on his return to Birmingham, former Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson carried it off beautifully.

This often painfully shy man strode on stage to respectful applause which seemed to catch him slightly unawares before he regained his composure and started a stunning evening’s entertainment with the opener Take The Long Way Home.

Mike Peters must currently be one of the hardest working musicians in rock.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. July 2007.

When he isn’t touring with Dead Men Walking or helping care for a new addition to his family whilst bravely battling serious illness, he’s on the road with his first love, The Alarm.

A packed Birmingham Academy cheered enthusiastically from the start as the band opened with the driving Three Sevens Clash and My Town before going into Something’s Got To Give.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. July 2007.

For many current bands, the prospect of touring without the aid of a new album to promote would be daunting.

Not so the Stranglers, because for J.J. Burnell, Jet Blac, Dave Greenfield and Baz Warne just to play in front of their loyal fan base is enough.

Coming on stage to their traditional entrance music, Waltz in Black, they proceeded to thrill the audience by opening the set with the rampaging Toiler On The Sea and Spectre Of Love, the latter from their now classic Suite XVI.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. November 2006.

Over the last 16 years, Thunder seem to have become a by word for bands that just missed on the world stage while less deserving acts got more than their share of success.

Now With the band riding high again on the back of their current album, Robert Johnson’s Tombstone, it seems that the good times, as well as the excellent catchy lyrics, are back.

Opening with Back Street Symphony, frontman Danny Bowes skilfully took the near-capacity crowd’s thoughts back 16 years and then just as abruptly straight into the modern day with the crowd-pleaser Dirty Dream.