The Alarm, Gig Review. Carling Academy, Birmingham.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. July 2004.

Some years ago The Alarm were a band you either loved or loathed. The public mostly loved them, whereas certain areas of the establishment didn’t. Now, 20 years after their first album and almost completely new line up, The Alarm are back with music and lyrics that are just as potent as their early songs.

The new material matches up perfectly on stage with old favourites like Knife Edge and Marching On. The set opened with Coming Home from the new album In the Poppy Fields and onto Absolute Reality before heading back to the new record for Right Back Where I started From and the stunning Unexplained.

The Alarm, Gig Review. Carling Academy, Birmingham. full post

(221 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)

Marillion, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2004.

Marillion are one of the most under-rated bands of the past 20 years and they had the crowd at the almost sold out Civic Hall still with anticipation and longing.

During the first hour of the set, which revolved around the current album Marbles, they played the moody and atmospheric Invisible Man, their recent  top ten single You’re Gone and the next release Don’t Hurt Yourself.

Marillion, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(143 words, estimated 34 secs reading time)

Queensryche, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Heat is on

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2008.

It was a sweltering June day but Queensryche still strolled into town and turned up the heat. As the show kicked off with the opening bars of Anarchy X, from the critically acclaimed Operation Mindcrime, it was soon apparent that Queensryche and vocalist in particular, had lost none of their passion and ability.

These were the traits that had pushed the band to the very top of their genre over a decade ago, before regretfully being largely forgotten by the music buying public. As the set list continued through tracks as diverse as Speak, Spreading The Disease and the Haunting Suite Sister Mary the band seemed to step up several gears before coming to Eyes Of A Stranger.

Queensryche, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(160 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)

Divine Comedy, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Fun For Everyone.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2004.

You are never sure what to expect at a Divine Comedy gig-except that you’ll be leaving the venue in a very good mood.

From the outset main man Neil Hannon had the audience in an almost reverential hush as he told them, jokingly, that he had thrown away the set list and was going to do the music in alphabetical order. By kicking off with Absent Friends, from the new album of the same name, Neil set the standard high. From then, until ending the gig on the letter T, he barely put a foot wrong.

Divine Comedy, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(180 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)

The Stranglers, Gig Review. Wulfren Hall, Wolverhampton.

Punks not dead.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. March 2004.

What a pleasure to see the Stranglers back in Wolverhampton, entertaining a packed Wulfrun Hall with selected tracks from the new album Norfolk Coast and well-worn classics that recalled a time when punk rock actually stood for something.

Whilst some of the musicians from the late seventies have tried and failed to become mainstream personalities, The Stranglers have maintained their position of being humorous, energetic and youthful, while growing old disgracefully.

Which fitted with the set list as well through like Peaches, Something Better Change and Golden Brown were interwoven skilfully with new tracks.

The Stranglers, Gig Review. Wulfren Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(126 words, estimated 30 secs reading time)

Fish, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2.

Giant Of Rock Scales Heights.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. February 19th 2004.

The gentle, yet sometimes easily riled, giant of rock has been doing the rounds for over 20 years and never seems to put in a bad live performance and it is a testament to Fish that he still commands a very loyal following.

Even when the size of the venues has decreased in size he still treats the audience with respect and a night to talk about for weeks after.

Fish, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2. full post

(180 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)

Terrorvision, Gig Review. Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 3rd 2011.

There are groups that are sometimes just too good to miss live. The energy, the magnitude of the performance and the sincerity in which they give it, makes it an absolute pleasure to attend, to immerse yourself in and lose any preconceptions you may have whilst all the while losing a couple of pounds in sweat and you take in the infectious lyrics and general good time.

Terrorvision, Gig Review. Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. full post

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

McIntosh-Ross, Gig Review. Pacific Road, Birkenhead.

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

Both Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh had been in Liverpool earlier in the year with their band Deacon Blue when they were rightly considered to be one of the top acts at this year’s Summer Pops. The band have been put on hiatus for a while whilst the husband and wife team have been showcasing their new work on a tour of their own.

McIntosh-Ross, Gig Review. Pacific Road, Birkenhead. full post

(271 words, estimated 1:05 mins reading time)

Steve Hackett, Gig Review. Pacific Road Arts Centre, Birkenhead.

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.

Steve Hackett, Gig Review. Pacific Road Arts Centre, Birkenhead. full post

(481 words, 1 image, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Scrooge, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre.

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.

Scrooge, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre. full post

(408 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)