Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes. 20th Anniversary Retrospective.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 2nd 2012.

In 1992 Tori Amos released her debut solo album Little Earthquakes and in amongst the battle ground between the dying days of 1980’s preening rock stars, the new wave of grunge and the coming of so called super celebrity music. The music, always evolving always up for musical comment and commitment to the latest music cause looked to dragging out in a three way battle that ultimately has led to none being hailed as loudly as Tori Amos, the first woman of 1990’s music.

Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes. 20th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(1055 words, 1 image, estimated 4:13 mins reading time)

Doctor Who, Black And White. Audio Drama Review. Big Finish Audio 163.

Picture from Big Finish.com

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 1st 2012.

L.S.Media Rating ****

Cast: Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Philip Olivier, Maggie O’Neil, Amy Pemberton, Stuart Milligan, Michael Rouse, Richard Bremmer, John Banks, James Hayward.

It is a story as old and as dear to lovers of the English language as any…and it also contains the power of Beowulf thrown in for good measure.

Matt Fitton’s Doctor Who audio play for Big Finish, Black and White, combines cleverly the power of Sylvester McCoy’s incarnation of the Doctor and the sheer majesty of the oldest tale translated and written down in the English language and somewhere in between a tale of the future and that of the past merge and blur into legendry Doctor Who status.

Doctor Who, Black And White. Audio Drama Review. Big Finish Audio 163. full post

(485 words, 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

Roger Waters, Amused To Death. 20th Anniversary Retrospective.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 1st 2012.

When looking back at the work of Roger Waters, it is of course impossible to leave aside the time he spent with Pink Floyd. The legendary Progressive Rock king’s output had been prodigious and ground breaking with Roger being the main songwriter behind some of the group’s work in the post Syd Barrett era. His solo career though, the music he created after leaving the band as the thoughts of winding up the group completely was not to be considered in the same vein and by some not fit to mentioned in the same breath as say Animals, The Wall or Wish You Were Here.

Roger Waters, Amused To Death. 20th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(1126 words, 1 image, estimated 4:30 mins reading time)

The Stranglers, Gig Review And Small Interview. Carling Academy. Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 26th 2008.

The Stranglers came to Liverpool Academy on the back of a truly hectic night in Birmingham.

This was to be their tenth gig inside fourteen nights and in all honesty, you would wonder if it was beginning to take its toll on their health or on the music that they have spent so long honing.

The Stranglers, Gig Review And Small Interview. Carling Academy. Liverpool. full post

(606 words, estimated 2:25 mins reading time)

Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 13th 2008.

Cast: Michael Hugo, Anthony Hunt, Matt Connor, Neil Caple, Craig Rogan, Ruth Alexander-Rubin.

Once more the Northern Broadsides theatre Company play to their strengths and adapt a play of note and turn it majestically on its head.

With previous success in Liverpool theatres with Much Ado About Nothing, Lisa’s Sex Strike and the sensational Man With Two Gaffers, Accidental Death of an Anarchist managed to top them all and played at a pace that left you breathless.

Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(486 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Midge Ure, Gig Review. Pacific Road, Birkenhead.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 7th 2008.

It might come as a bit of a shock to find there is still a musician of note, who shuns the bigger arenas and is quite happy by playing songs that matter to him and his legion of fans in some of the more intimate venues around the country. Midge Ure has been, musically, through it all. Whether from his early days in the band Silk, the heady days of the New Romantic phase that swept Britain in the early to mid eighties with Ultravox and then as a solo artist whose voice has swept all before him.

Midge Ure, Gig Review. Pacific Road, Birkenhead. full post

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

Steve Hogarth, Gig Review. St. Brides Church, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 20th 2008.

Even with Elton John in town and providing what many would consider to be the main draw of the night down at the Albert Dock, those that attended Steve Hogarth’s “H” natural evening were treated to a night of fine music in the excellent venue of St Brides Church.

Steve Hogarth came down through the side aisle to thunderous applause from the packed out audience and proceeded to play songs from his Marillion career, favourite songs that have inspired him, a story from his days in How we live, requests from the audience and the odd Beatles track!

Steve Hogarth, Gig Review. St. Brides Church, Liverpool. full post

(469 words, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

The Rats, Gig Review. Baby Blue, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. February 12th 2009.

Back in August of last year, two of the original members (Simon Crowe and Garry Roberts) of the Boomtown Rats got together with Peter Barton and Darren Beale to play their first full gig as The Rats at the Bilston Robin. It was a night that didn’t disappoint. Six months down the line and the band, if anything, have got tighter and an awful lot of the old magic was in evidence for the audience to see.

The Rats, Gig Review. Baby Blue, Liverpool. full post

(464 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)

Hugh Cornwell. Gig Review. The Brindley, Runcorn.

Originally published by L.S. Media. February 14th 2009.

With the prospect of playing at a fairly new venue in an otherwise untouched part of the world, some established bands would baulk at the idea of playing the first proper night of a tour anywhere but the usual haunts.

Hugh Cornwell has always been one to defy convention and it’s always refreshing when he does, because otherwise the fans and interested parties would have missed out on a truly exceptional venue which should go on to be one of the best gig locations in the north-west.

Hugh Cornwell. Gig Review. The Brindley, Runcorn. full post

(539 words, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

Kaiser Chiefs, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Originally published by L.S.Media. March 3rd 2009.

With a style that seems very heavily influenced by the old punk rock guard of The Boomtown Rats, The Jam and The Stranglers, the Kaiser Chiefs are fast becoming this generations must see and like the Rats and the Stranglers, The Kaiser Chiefs seem to have cottoned on to their audience’s and fans desire for clever social songs wrapped up in good guitar work and with a beat to die for.

Kaiser Chiefs, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(421 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)