Originally published by L.S. Media. May 14th 2009.
With over fifty years of experience of playing on stage and a song book that most bands would kill for, it is with no small wonder that Eric Clapton still manages to make the art of playing guitar look so incredibly simple. Even appearing on stage to no fanfare and looking more dishevelled than a tumble dryer full of wet clothes, he still manages to look the coolest man in the world.
Originally published by L.S. Media. June 15th 2009.
Cast; The voice of Richard Burton, Shannon Noll, Justin Hayward, Chris Thompson, Anna-Marie Wayne.
“No one would have believed…”
…that thirty years ago an album would come out that blew its initial budget within weeks of starting recording. An album that used some of the greatest musical talent ever and one of the most iconic and greatest of British actors to grace stage and screen. An album that was based upon the book by the “father of science fiction” H. G Wells!
Muse at the Liverpool Echo. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 6th 2009.
Remember, remember, Muse in November The unique brand of Devonshire rock I know of no reason Why Muse this season Will ever be forgot.
Who needs to stand in a cold, muddy field after it’s been raining all day watching a damp, half hearted fireworks display when one of the best bands recording in the modern era come to the Echo Arena and blow all the bands that have played there this year clean out of the Mersey. With a laser show that would make Pink Floyd seethe with envy and a strict but simple mantra to give the paying fans one of the best shows they will ever see in their lifetime.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. July 8th 2010.
The very names of Crosby, Stills and Nash are ones that are spoken in almost hushed tones amongst the music fraternity and with a touch of reverence when it comes to their fans. Softly spoken when they want to be, exuberant with their guitars…certainly, beautiful voices…most positively, but never once irrelevant!
There are certainly not many bands that receive a standing ovation from an audience just by going off stage during a break!
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. July 16th 2010.
If there is anybody who can be guaranteed to get any audience up off their feet, then surely that man is Jools Holland.
From humble beginnings with Wayne County and the Electric Chairs, through to the phenomenal success with Squeeze and a major talent in his own right, he host his own television music show, a bandleader and the man the B.B.C turn to every year when they want to see in the New Year with aplomb and a big dollop of incredible diverse music. There is seemingly nothing this man cannot tackle and achieve. To do all this and still make time to tour is nothing short of impressive.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 11th 2012.
If anything was going to take the chill and damp out the Merseyside air then a night of rock by one of the brightest young American bands to visit Britain in a long time would remove the gloom and despondency that overshadowed the city.
Paramore have come a long way in the last six years, from the fringes and largely ignored by the mainstream to one of the best and intense bands to catch live. Their gigs are considered to be one of the best you can catch live and on the basis of their performance at the Echo Arena it is easy to see why.
Originally published by L.S. Media. July 30th 2011.
In 2010, the Liverpool Summer Pops was treated to a display by an all female group called Angels in White that was as stunning as it was gracious. By no means can it be considered easy to open for the then headliners Jools Holland, nor can it be straightforward to have comparisons drawn against you with other female bands that have dominated the charts for the last 20 years.
Joe Bonamassa at the Echo Arena, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 29th 2012.
L.S. Media Rating *****
Somebody reminded Joe Bonamassa during his visit to Liverpool that the first time he played near the city, in the excellent venue that was just a well-aimed cannon ball shot across the Mersey to Pacific Road in Birkenhead. In that seemingly short time, Joe has gone onto be one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Technically stunning and with no short comings at all, not musically or as decent human being it seems either.
Mark Hoppus of Blink 182. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. July 13th 2012.
L.S. Media Rating ****
One year on from when the three musicians that make up the popular American Rock band Blink 182 should have been on stage at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, Travis Barker, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus stepped up from behind the falling blackout curtain and proceeded to give the audience an absolutely thrilling show.