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)

Barry Briercliffe, The Alive E.P. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 9th 2010.

The name Barry Briercliffe might not be one that immediately roles of the tongue outside of his native city of Liverpool but that could all change with his stunning new work.

On the 27th August Barry launched his new E.P; this set of four songs goes under the album title of The Alive and contains the tracks Hold On, Alive, Time Is Standing Still and The Real You. All these tracks will demand the complete attention of the listener as it offers an insight into one of the bright young things of the Liverpool scene, alongside Stephen Langstaff and adopted Scouser Richard O’ Flynn.

Barry Briercliffe, The Alive E.P. Album Review. full post

(251 words, 1 image, estimated 1:00 mins reading time)

The Christians, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

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

One of the last times The Christians came to Liverpool was to perform at the Liverpool Academy and even though the band went down well that night, there seemed to be something missing from the overall experience that audiences expect from one of Liverpool’s finest and most respected bands.

Anything that was sadly remiss on that balmy summer’s night in 2009 was put right by having the band in a setting which suited their style and laid back harmonic approach such as the Philharmonic.

The Christians, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. full post

(353 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)