Kaiser Chiefs, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Kaiser Chiefs at the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. February 2015. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Kaiser Chiefs at the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. February 2015. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Arena tours are all well and good but on the odd occasion, to take a step away from the big swirling spaces and resonating echoes that the big halls can provide with serial relish, and to come to a venue steeped in musical history in the Midlands and remains captivatingly one of the best for atmosphere and crowd enjoyment, the Kaiser Chiefs hit the Wolverhampton Civic Hall with so much ammunition, so much energy, that the only surprise was the building and the audience were left intact at the end.

Kaiser Chiefs, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(514 words, 1 image, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)

Blind Guardian, Beyond The Red Mirror. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Proof, if proof were needed, that the vast array of Metal, in which ever guise or sub genre it takes, is in such a healthy state of mind as soon as you go past Dover and head east, south or across the North Sea to Scandinavia is to found in the latest album by German Metal Kings Blind Guardian, the sensational Beyond the Red Mirror.

Blind Guardian, Beyond The Red Mirror. Album Review. full post

(586 words, estimated 2:21 mins reading time)

Pass The Parcel

Whatever happened to jelly and ice cream?

On any child’s birthday the sound of screams and ripping paper

as the parcel gets torn hurriedly with glee across a new seam

and the children’s delight at the once yearly caper.

 

What happened to children being given what they need,

with one really great present  making them smile till Christmas

instead of cutting open a money tree and watching it bleed,

the politics of early consumerism driven in early on mass?

 

It is as if as a society we have said that yes the children our future,

Pass The Parcel full post

(158 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)

Julian Cope, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Julian Cope at The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool 5th February 2015 photograph David Munn. www.davidmunn.co.uk.

Julian Cope at The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool 5th February 2015 photograph David Munn. www.davidmunn.co.uk.

 

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

When you come home, or at least the place that loves you like no other, then you are allowed to be yourself and be rewarded with affection, the hearty laugh and the biggest, most heartfelt slap on the back imaginable. For Julian Cope, a son of the Midlands, a musician who just knows instinctively how to write songs that captures essence and stirs emotions, is more welcome in Liverpool than the sight of a European Cup Final Trophy atop of Red Rum and at the Epstein Theatre, that essence came out of the pumped out mists and gave the packed out audience an evening in which no one would have left with anything but gladdened heart.

Julian Cope, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(584 words, 2 images, estimated 2:20 mins reading time)

Mike Grogan, Make Me Strong. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

In the darkest moments we all need to be held. It is the basic principle of humanity, to feel compassion, to understand that it is not a weakness to show concern for another or even basic kindness to one who has done you wrong in thought or deed. To be able to do so is to show strength and it doesn’t manifest itself enough in what has become at times an intolerant and growing steadily selfish society.

Mike Grogan, Make Me Strong. Album Review. full post

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

The Bitter Beast Of Jealousy.

Seeing you was the only time in my life

that I ever felt the pang,

of what I was gleefully told by my best friend, was jealousy.

For two weeks you burned me up inside and the heat

was intense and stupid and it took me that fortnight to teach me

a lesson, of what is the point of the crippling state of mind

that passes itself off as an emotion;

but is just the pre-curser to slavery.

 

We had dated, indeed continued to do so,

The Bitter Beast Of Jealousy. full post

(431 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Life Is Strange: Episode 1 – Chrysalis (PS4), Game Review:

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9 out of 10

Life is Strange: Episode 1 – Chrysalis is a third-person episodic adventure game available for download from the PlayStation Store for the PS4. Life is Strange is developed by Dontnod Entertainment who are known for creating games with powerful and dependable female characters that grow and become stronger through the duration of the game, which had been previously released as Remember Me in 2013.

Life Is Strange: Episode 1 – Chrysalis (PS4), Game Review: full post

(1870 words, estimated 7:29 mins reading time)

Canoeing For Beginners. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast:  Pauline Fleming, Stephen Fletcher, Harry Katsari, Michael Ledwich, John McArdle, Angela Simms, Jack Taylor-Wood.

 

Everybody has surely dreamed of running away from it all, to hide away from all known responsibilities and start afresh somewhere new, somewhere where they can never be found and where the grass can grow under their feet in perfect isolation.  It either takes a lot of money, a lot of guts or the sheer force of will to make it happen…or you can buy a canoe, fake your own death and end up in a force ten hurricane with a picture of former Cuban President Fidel Castro looking at you with accusing stares and your children disowning you. Such is life on the open waves when you start Canoeing for Beginners.

Canoeing For Beginners. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(567 words, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

Steve Rothery, The Ghosts Of Pripyat. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The only true surprise awaiting anyone who makes the right choice in spending that week’s hard earned money on Steve Rothery’s debut solo album, The Ghosts of Pripyat, is that it has taken so long for the celebrated and revered guitarist to place his own stock out before his own special audience.

Steve Rothery, The Ghosts Of Pripyat. Album Review. full post

(467 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

The Arrogance Of The British Seagull.

If the thought of the deceitful behaviour resulting in the

unkindness of Ravens, who cackle

in delight as they plot and scheme and smirk during the sentimental speech

at the wake of a buzzard and the hippopotamus  gloating as his bloated

views on such things are taken with a pinch of salt,

then be more concerned for the actions of another,

for the arrogance of Seagulls is absolute.

 

They strut round with conceit and an air of self importance

that belies their place in society. They may not be bottom

The Arrogance Of The British Seagull. full post

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