Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. September 2008.
The acclaimed Robin 2 venue began its week of 10th anniversary shows with an impressive performance by Alannah Myles.
Opening with Comment Ca Va? From the new album Black Velvet and old favourite Love Is, it was plain to see she was suffering from flu and the after-effects of a major whiplash injury in a car accident. However, she battled through the pain to give a first rate performance to an appreciative audience.
Whilst only being two albums into their career, Breathing Space are being seen by some as natural successors to the Kings of Prog title that gets bandied about so often.
Much credit for this must go to the sublime vocals of Olivia Spearman, whose range and strength belies the years of only being credited as a backing singer and the single mindedness and creativity of ex-Mostly Autumn keyboard player Iain Jennings.
Opening the night with the title song of their last album Coming Up For Air and The Senses, Breathing Space treated the audience to a night of fine musicianship and superb vocals, which was very much in evidence in the songs Time Tells All The Unknown and the beautiful Rain Song.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. August 2008.
For someone who has worked with some of the great guitarists of the last 30 years, Andy Fairweather Low is not too proud to go back to his roots and play music for the sheer joy.
With his love of blues and a wonderful back catalogue to choose from, the former Amen Corner frontman managed to keep a dedicated audience hanging on his every word throughout this two-set gig.
After opening with Champagne Melody and the upbeat Zazzy, Andy charmed the crowd with songs from his Best Of album and a few surprises, including a terrific version of The Beatles’ Rocky Raccoon.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. August 2008.
During the last few years, there has been an abundance of 70’s and 80’s bands making comebacks but one act resisting the clamour to reform was the Boomtown Rats – until now.
With no chance of Bob Geldolf rejoining, it has been left to original members Simon Crowe back to doing what he does best on drums and Garry Roberts on guitar, they were joined by Peter Barton on vocals and the impressive Darren Beale on guitar.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2008.
Despite so much band history and fan expectation to live up to, Journey’s new vocalist Arnel Pineda blew away the cobwebs of 70’s and 80’s rock with a performance that belied his youth and lack of serious stage time.
After opening the set with Never Walk Away, from the new album, Revelation and old favourite Separate Ways, the band seemed to grow in confidence as each song was played to a packed audience.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2008.
With two critically acclaimed albums to play in one night, you could be forgiven for thinking the task was going to prove itself too difficult to recreate live. However, Queenscryche relished such a challenge and even topped it.
Opening the night with the first Operation Mindcrime album, the crow was presented with a theatrical stage gig mixing the live band performance with actors and a stunning animated/live action screen show which provided a dynamic backdrop to the set.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. My 2008.
For a night of classic acoustic rock, you couldn’t go far wrong than a gig by singer/songwriter Midge Ure. Where other solo artists would struggle to fill the stage, Midge seemed to revel in the sparseness.
He began with Ultravox’s Loves Great Adventure and Personal Heaven before playing his co-creation of Visage’s Fade To Grey and delightful rendition of One Small Day.
Midge pulled a couple of classic covers out of the bag with Peter Green’s Man of the World and a stunning version of the Walker Brothers classic No Regrets, before finishing the set with Dancing with Tears In My Eyes.
Alan Barrow of Magnum. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. May 2008.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the now classic Wings of Heaven, Magnum arrived on stage to thunderous applause from a near capacity audience.
Opening the night with Back to Earth and the impressive version of the bouncy crowd pleaser When We Were Younger, the Midland based band breezed effortlessly through a two hour set without comprising their subtlety of sound.
Other old favourites such as the stomping Vigilante and Midnight You Won’t Be Sleeping were given a new lease of life, helped in part by Magnum’s borrowed drummer, no less than Thunder’s Harry James.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. April 2008.
Even though the members of Pink Floyd no longer tour together, there is a band who still play some of the 20th Century’s finer musical moments.
The Australian Pink Floyd have built a reputation as possibly the finest cover band around. Not only does the light and laser effects dazzle but every song is played absolutely note perfect. Add into this a distinct edge of Australian humour and you have the best night imaginable.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. March 2008.
Having just celebrated his 50th birthday, Gary Numan appeared as fresh and as good as he has ever been whilst still appearing to be mean, moody and more than able to please a near capacity audience.
Coming on stage to huge applause, Gary and the rest of band postured and preened through the openers of Replicas and the stunning Me, I Disconnect From You.
With no need for introduction of each song, Gary was able to speed through the set whilst retaining the honesty and meaning of classics such as Praying to the Aliens, I Nearly Married a Human and the wonderful It Must Have Been Years.