Steve Hackett on the Wirral. Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L. S. Media. November 21st 2009.
Making his first appearance in Birkenhead in five years, Steve Hackett arrived at the Pacific Road Arts Centre riding high on the back of a critically acclaimed album Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth and the knowledge that the tour has been well received by fans old and new.
Cast: Tommy Steele, Geoffrey Abbott, Craig Whiteley, Kristy Cullen, Hamilton Sargent, Suzie Chard, Sophie Caton, Kieron Harris, David Lyndon, Nikki Gerrard, Steven Sparling, Robbie Towns, Tony Stansfield, Halcro Johnston, Barry Howards.
Liverpool welcomed back one of its favourite adopted sons this week when the ever youthful Tommy Steele came back “home” as part of the production of the theatrical classic Scrooge.
The Charles Dickens timeless masterpiece has been the subject of so many musicals and cinema outings that it is possible for a group of people to come up with an entirely different favourite actor who has thrilled them in the part.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 27th 2009.
After what seemed an eternity without a new Tori Amos album, two come along within a year. Midwinter Graces is Tori’s first attempt at a seasonal offering and in her usual way of doing these things, it works. It is a return to form after her disappointing debut album for Universal Republic, the critically loved but fan- slated Abnormally Attracted To Sin earlier in the year.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 27th 2009.
The ultimate good time band from Texas have once more come up with the goods and delivered an album that will make music critics cringe but delight their legion of fans around the world.
Unashamedly entitled Sorry For Partyin’, the album contains thirteen normal tracks and five bonus ones, just in case there isn’t enough Soup in the bowl for you.
The band have been around for long now that it could be considered impolite to say boys when referring to the foursome but there is something rather charming and cool about this band and their ways that boyish suits them perfectly.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 30th 2009.
The new studio album by Welsh rockers Stereophonics, Keep Calm and Carry On should be just another album title in the annals of rock history, a very good record that deserves much plaudits and admiration but has been unfairly been dismissed by some music critics. However the band deserve sincere praise for their skill and tenacity in recording an album that is eclectic, heart-warming and full of hidden back stories which seem very personal to the band .
Originally published by L.S. Media. December 2nd 2009.
Don’t let the name fool you, it may sound like your typical tribute band cashing in on former glories of a group that no longer tours but From The Jam are hardly a tribute act. With Bruce Foxton powering through chords and riffs that made him and the rest of the Jam one of the top acts of their day this in no way called a tribute act. Joining the original member of the band on stage was Russell Hastings who shows how much he loves this type of music with a superb performance that would have made former vocalist Paul Weller seethe with jealousy.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. December 2nd 2009.
Even if you don’t know anything by the band it is well worth checking out the fantastic Eagles of Death Metal when they come back to Britain on their next tour, for as they constantly prove, they are among the best rock acts around today. They show right from the start of a gig that they are out to give a performance that will be remembered fondly by their fans and newcomers alike for a long time.
Originally published by L.S. Media. December 8th 2009.
Cast: Richard Braine, Dugald Bruce-Lockhart, Katherine Kingsley, Dan Starkey.
The team behind the Liverpool Playhouse pulled a real cracker for its final performance of the year and decade and watched it explode in delight, laughter and a touch of good old fashioned British daring do.
John Buchan’s classic The Thirty Nine Steps has been given the comedy treatment and like Spymonkey’s reworking of Moby Dick earlier on in the season it was excellently written and had the benefit of some superb comic acting.
Originally published by L.S. Media. December 7th 2009.
It is not often a big band come to a city twice within a calendar year but the superb Electric Six have never really stood on tradition or been fans of sticking to the routine.
Electric Six are a band that you cannot ignore. You might love their genre blurring music, one minute electro pop, the next hard rock or you could find them irritating and beyond the pale but you cannot dismiss them. With a fun night in the offering the Detroit musicians opened the night with the storming Body Shot from the new studio album Kill but they never let the heat die down once during the night from that moment.
Originally published by L.S. Media. December 2009.
Cast: Henry Winkler, Natasha Hamiliton, Nikki Davies-Jones, Les Dennis, Patrick Buckley, Daniel Taylor, Rick Vaughn, Kaitlin Howard, Chris Jenkins, Jessica Hill, Luke Redford, Ryan Pidgen, Lisa Connell, Ben Goffe.
J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan has been charming readers and its theatre audiences for the better part of a century now and thankfully it shows no sign of running out of steam. This year the Liverpool Empire Theatre is hosting this spectacular show and with some big names in the cast it is sure to get the reception it deserves.