Bob Geldof, Gig Review. Southport Theatre.

Bob Geldof in Southport. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 15th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

 

Bob Geldof doesn’t tour that often, he doesn’t bring out albums all that frequently either; however within the space of nine months, Bob has managed to do both. The vocal and yet warm crowd that attended the excellent show at the Southport Theatre were treated to a performance by Bob that reminded all that the man still has fire in his veins; a spirit that cannot be easily dismissed and a personality that is so likeable and infectious, that even when he is ranting against the world, there is a certain spark of enjoyment in his eye.

Bob Geldof, Gig Review. Southport Theatre. full post

(436 words, 1 image, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Antony And Cleopatra, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse

Picture from bbc.co.uk

Originally published by L.S. Media.

Cast: Kim Cattrall, Jeffrey Kissoon, Ian Hogg, Martin Hutson, Martin Herdman, Aicho Kossoko, Gracy Goldman, Muzz Khan, Offue Okegbe, Bhasker Patel, Simon Manyonda, Mark Sutherland, Alex Blake, Robert Orme, Ross Armstrong, Mark Gillis.

If ever there was a title contender for most eagerly awaited play to hit Liverpool, then surely Janet Suzman’s directorial adaption of William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra would sweep everything else aside.

Antony And Cleopatra, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse full post

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

Heart, Red Velvet Car. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 17th 2010.

It can seem odd to hear an album by a band and think that they have finally gone full circle and ended up where they began, fresh faced and full of hope and a wonderful sense of naivety of how their lives would pan out over the following decades.

Red Velvet Car is the new album by 70’s American folk heroes and 80’s rock stars Heart, that crushed all before them and gave a breath of life to a dying genre before almost imploding themselves and becoming caricatures of what they had set out to preserve.

Heart, Red Velvet Car. Album Review. full post

(425 words, 1 image, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Bowling For Soup, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 21st 2010.

Perhaps it’s ironic that Bowling for Soup brought their particular brand of rock to Liverpool on the night that the city was hosting the MOBO awards for the first time. In one corner of the city the corporate and glitzy glamour that is always associated with ceremonies throughout the world and in the other, four lads from Texas, plying their trade the only way they know how, with a room full of eager, sweaty, loyal fans and one hell of a party atmosphere.

Bowling For Soup, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(334 words, 1 image, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Lennon, Theatre Review. The Royal Court.

Cast: Stephen Fletcher, Chris Grahamson, Daniel Healy, Adam Keast, Maria Lawson, Paul Mannion, Jonathon Markwood, Andrew Schofield, Nicky Swift.

In 1981 the Everyman Theatre staged a show that at the time could have been considered evocative and pouring oil onto a very raw and passionate flames. The timing couldn’t have been worse, coming soon after the worst riots to hit parts of the city in generations and so soon after Liverpool lost one of its famous, iconic and much loved sons. Looking back with the benefit of thirty years since the death of John Lennon, the musical has become more of a celebration of the man’s life, rather than the wake it would have been in 1981.

Lennon, Theatre Review. The Royal Court. full post

(412 words, 1 image, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

The Anderson/Wakeman Project, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Rick Wakeman at the Philharmonic Hall. Photgraph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 20th 2010.

Just over a year ago Jon Anderson came on stage at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool to the kind of applause that is reserved for visiting dignitaries and Liverpool’s favourite sons and daughters. To see the man on stage after the year he had the year before was nothing short of a miracle and it didn’t matter what he performed that night, even if he had sat down and read the newspaper the fans would have cheered just as hard and for as long.

The Anderson/Wakeman Project, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. full post

(435 words, 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Amsterdam, Gig Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 24th 2010.

Amsterdam may have been quiet on the recording front this year and only playing a select number of live dates, a critically acknowledged tour alongside The Wonderstuff and a sell-out evening at the Liverpool Academy amongst them, however when they have performed, the music is the same high quality, full of frustration, anger at the way of the world and beautifully, unarguably sentimental.

Amsterdam, Gig Review. Stanley Theatre, University of Liverpool. full post

(322 words, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

John Otway, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2.

John Otway at the Bilston Robin. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 29th 2010.

John Otway may not be a name that runs off easily of the lips of many modern music lovers, however for a generation of people bought up with the idea of individualism, the man stands out as shining beacon of hope in an ever increasing drab world.

Part rock star/part imaginary chemistry teacher who would have taught that science could be fun if he had made that a career choice; John Otway weaves his way through an evening’s entertainment with panache, style, the best use of a Theremin anywhere and a big dollop of inspired insanity that marks the man out as one in a million.

John Otway, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2. full post

(358 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

The Bad Shepherds, By Hook Or By Crook. Album Review.

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.

The Bad Shepherds, By Hook Or By Crook. Album Review. full post

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

Wings, Band on the Run. Album Review.

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.

Wings, Band on the Run. Album Review. full post

(420 words, 1 image, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)