Council Depot Blues, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 21st 2010.

Cast: Jake Abraham, Roy Brandon, Paul Broughton, Lindzi Germain, Howard Gray, Phil Hearne, Shaun Mason, Andrew Schofield.

It seems Davy Kirby can do no wrong when it comes to observing the characters and situations that make Liverpool such a unique city, with Brick up the Mersey Tunnels and Lost Soul having received critical and commercial acclaim over the last couple of years, the time was right to let Council Depot Blues have another turn at the Royal Court Theatre.

Council Depot Blues, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Marillion, Gig Review. The Assembly, Leamington Spa.

Steve Hogarth, Leamington Spa. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 26th 2010.

There can’t have been too many bands that spent the night before the inaugural High Voltage Festival thrilling a packed out venue, there certainly won’t have been a band that produced, quite possibly, one of their best ever sets outside of a convention.

With everyone in their positions, the band and fans alike, Steve Hogarth came out on stage to rapturous applause from a crowd eager to cheer on a band that has never disappointed and always aimed to please.

Marillion, Gig Review. The Assembly, Leamington Spa. full post

(382 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Pete Trewavas Of Marillion And Transatlantic Interview, High Voltage.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 27th 2010.

It’s the afternoon after the two nights before and I find Pete Trewavas in an unexpected jovial mood. I shouldn’t be really surprised, sure he has spent the last two nights playing and rocking out with two of the three acts he is associated with, the night before High Voltage with Marillion in Leamington Spa and the Saturday night with super group Transatlantic, but there is something different about the genial bass player that sets him apart from others in his position.

Pete Trewavas Of Marillion And Transatlantic Interview, High Voltage. full post

(1595 words, estimated 6:23 mins reading time)

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day One.

Carl Palmer in fine form at High Voltage. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 30th 2010.

Three stages, thirty nine bands, a couple of major surprises and 48 hours in which Victoria Park was transformed from a quiet leafy setting in the East End of London to one that every rock, prog and metal fan, from the wonderful vocal talent of Kim Seviour to the last cymbal being crashed by Carl Palmer, would come to enjoy and hope that the inaugural High Voltage Festival will not be the last.

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day One. full post

(1561 words, 1 image, estimated 6:15 mins reading time)

Live in the U.S.A, Touchstone. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 31st 2010.

Live albums can be a bit or miss, in one respect there is a call from the bands faithful to have that experience, a memory of a gig that they have attended and enjoyed. There are also those fans who cannot make a certain concert, whether it is because of lack of money, they may have been working that particular night or they may feel uncomfortable in such large crowds.

Live in the U.S.A, Touchstone. Album Review. full post

(452 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day Two.

Steve Hackett at High Voltage 2010. hotograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 27th 2010.

“Meet the new day, same as the previous day”, The Who may have sung had they been available to highlight the Classic Rock stage on day two of High Voltage. As it was there were other bands on show and in no way were the two days alike. Sure the overall theme of the festival was still there, everybody was out to have a real good time in the July sun and there were bands galore to sink your teeth into but there the similarities ended.

High Voltage Festival. Victoria Park, London. Day Two. full post

(1698 words, 1 image, estimated 6:48 mins reading time)

Not Advised, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 12th 2010.

Not Advised may come from an unfashionable setting when it comes to music but there is sense of youthful expertise that will surely see them become one of the best musical talents to come out of the Southampton/New Forest area.

The lads opened up the set with the electrifying Right Now and A Red Light Situation, both of which did enough to dispel any lingering doubts that the young Southampton band’s own taste in music would not cross the North- South rock divide.

Not Advised, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(302 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Mercury Midnight at the o2 Academy in Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 11th 2010.

One of the surprises of the summer, in terms of new bands coming to Liverpool and doing well could be the sensational Mercury Midnight. Fronted by vocalist Claire Louise Sheridan, the band exudes a confidence that betrays their youth and the lack of time they have been together.

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(314 words, 1 image, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

Iron Maiden, The Final Frontier. Album review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 17th 2010.

Four years may not sound like a long time but in music terms it can be an absolute eternity, especially when you have been riding high for the best part of 30 years as one of Britain’s finest metal exports.

Iron Maiden have constantly lived up to their billing, (even forgiving a few turbulent years in the late 90’s when they were in danger of becoming an irreverence) no matter what, they knew what their fans wanted and even led the way in new musical ideas.

Iron Maiden, The Final Frontier. Album review. full post

(497 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Muse, Gig Review. Lancashire County Cricket Ground. Manchester.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 4th 2010.

It seems that Muse can do no wrong. A sell out tour last year, the main headliners at the 40th anniversary of Glastonbury and now a three night extravaganza in England which kicked off in Manchester at the fabled home of Lancashire County Cricket Club.

For those arriving for the four o’ clock opening, the sight that would have beheld them would have had them gasping at the enormity of the stage, something very rarely undertaken outside of a Genesis or Pink Floyd gig. From outside the ground it looked as though the LCCC had started work on yet another media centre or a pavilion to match the best grounds in the world. It certainly left the crowd in no doubt why the three gigs were a week apart.

Muse, Gig Review. Lancashire County Cricket Ground. Manchester. full post

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