McIntosh Ross, The Great Lakes. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 27th 2009.

For lovers of genuinely good Scottish music the new McIntosh Ross album is a breath of fresh air. Two of the founding members of Deacon Blue, Ricky Ross and Lorraine Mcintosh have taken time out from recording anything new for the band and have instead come up with an album of high quality, gentle vocals and atmospheric musicianship.

The Great Lakes is the first venture for the twosome and although Ricky Ross has had some critical success with his solo career it comes across as a more fulfilled album, perhaps due to the influence of his wife Lorraine who has a few writing credits on the album including the stirring Winter is Coming and Silver and Gold.

McIntosh Ross, The Great Lakes. Album Review. full post

(212 words, 1 image, estimated 51 secs reading time)

Paramore, Brand New Eyes. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 2nd 2009.

Paramore released their new album Brand New Eyes this week and after the disappointment of 2007′s Riot, the band have come back with a more mature and lyrically improved album. The band seem more relaxed with themselves, possibly more than at any other time in their career and it shows from the off as vocalist Hayley Williams comes across as a genuine contender for top female rock voice.

Paramore, Brand New Eyes. Album Review. full post

(223 words, 1 image, estimated 54 secs reading time)

Backbeats, Gig Review. Circo Bar, Albert Dock.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 2nd 2009.

Sometimes you get invited to come along and see a band, you don’t know anything about them. You go along out of curiosity. It could go either way. You could be overawed by the superb singing, the guitarist could be the next David Gilmour or Steve Rothery, the lyrics could be amazing and heartfelt and you leave with a smile on your face and talking about the band for weeks to come.

Backbeats, Gig Review. Circo Bar, Albert Dock. full post

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

Stephen Langstaff, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 1st 2009.

Arriving on stage, on the second night of the tour and back in his home town, Stephen Langstaff thrilled an extra large crowd with a headliners performance. Stephen was at the Academy as part of the Academy live tour and even though he had only forty five minutes to show once more why he is being touted as a huge talent that will surely rise to the top of the music tree one day, he rose to the occasion perfectly.

Stephen Langstaff, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(299 words, 1 image, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

Kiss, Sonic Boom. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 7th 2009.

Big, brash, over the top, completely superb and unmistakably Kiss. The new album released this week by the fathers of rock theatre is the cunningly titled Sonic Boom and not one track on the album is delivered in any type of off hand sluggish way, this is an album that does what is says on the cover.

Kiss, Sonic Boom. Album Review. full post

(300 words, 1 image, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 9th 2009.

Cast: Pauline Daniels, Mark Moraghan, Emma Vaudrey, Emma Grace Arends, Ciaran Kellgren, Colin Connor, Anthony Watson, Marie Ekins, Joyce Greenaway, Annie Walker, Gordon Hall, Ronnie Orr.

It is easy to see why the local papers announced before the play started its current run at the Empire that Twopence To Cross The Mersey had taken in over two million pounds at the box office over the last few years. With such talented performers on stage taking the various parts from the author’s life and an excellent musical score to match, there was nothing for the packed out audience to not like.

Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(375 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

Joe Brown, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 11th 2009.

Joe Brown has been performing for audiences up and down the country for longer than most, but his infectious enthusiasm for entertaining his loyal army of fans has never seemed to desert him. Arriving on stage with a cheery smile and to much applause from one of favourite cities, Joe proceeded to give the audience everything they had come out for. Good music, a little bit of Cockney banter and a few stories of his career.

Joe Brown, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(377 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

John Otway And Wild Willy Barrett, Gig Review. Baby Blue, Liverpool.

John Otway at the Baby Blue. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

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

Both John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett remain enigmas to the vast majority of the British public, but for those who know they are amongst the top ten of favourite artists to see live. The show is a wonderful eclectic mix of bizarre humour, superb visual effects, fine guitar playing and the best use of a Theremin anywhere.

John Otway And Wild Willy Barrett, Gig Review. Baby Blue, Liverpool. full post

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

Esoteric, Maniacal Vale. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S.Media. October 25th 2009.

If there is a band that has been under the music radar for too long then it has to be Birmingham based extreme metal band Esoteric. Having been around since the early days of 1992 it is interesting to hear the last album that was released by the band on the Seasons of Mist label.

Esoteric, Maniacal Vale. Album Review. full post

(319 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)