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Squeeze 50th Anniversary Tour

by 29 Comments

Venue:

The Hexagon, Reading

Date: 07/11/2024

I have seen Squeeze on many occasions since the 1980s but this was the best I have ever seen them.

Support was from Badly Drawn Boy who provided an excellent 40 minute set drawing on all eras of his career and full of anecdotes as anyone who has seen him before would expect.

Squeeze cane on at 8.40pm and delivered a 1hr 40 minute set that was pure joy. The kicked off with an excellent ‘Black Coffee in Bed’ quickly followed by great versions of ‘Is it Love’ and ‘Up The Junction’. They are are bit more rockier than I have seen them before with Glenn Tilbrook showing of his guitar prowess with short solos in most songs.

They are now performing as an eight piece band with two percussionists, two keyboard/slide guitarists and a new female singer alongside Glenn and chris on guitars and their new producer on bass. The expanded band allows a lot more beefing up of the sound and room for exploration on very familiar tunes which I really enjoyed.

They have recorded two new albums in the first 6 months of 2024 apparently, one a set of songs » Continue Reading.

Classic Rock’s list of the 50 best rock bands of all time

by 77 Comments

We haven’t had a list thread for a while so I thought I would share this list from the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine.

50. Roxy Music 49. King Crimson 48. ZZ Top 47. The Ramones 46. Journey 45. Cream 44. Motley Crue 43. Rainbow 42. Pearl Jam 41.Marillion 40. Status Quo 39. Uriah Heep 38. Chicago 37. Creedance Clearwater Revival 36. The Doors 35. Lynyrd Skynyrd 34. Slade 33. Bruce Springsteen 32. Tool 31. Fleetwood Mac 30. Nirvana 29. Judas Priest 28. Genesis 27. Motorhead 26. Foo Fighters 25. U2 24. Bon Jovi 23. David Bowie 22. Thin Lizzy 21. Bob Dylan 20. Jimi Hendrix 19. Yes 18. The Eagles 17. Aerosmith 16. Kiss 15. Van Halen 14. Def Leppard 13. The Who 12. Guns ‘N; Roses 11.Deep Purple 10. Iron Maiden 9. Metallica 8. The Rolling Stones 7. Black Sabbath 6. The Beatles 5. AC/DC 4. Pink Floyd 3. Rush 2. Queen 1. Led Zeppelin

Today my job was made redundant. I am 59. So what next I wonder?

by 44 Comments

As a pharmacist my background has always been in NHS pharmacy/pharmaceutical industry/medical technology industry in sales and marketing roles.

I am bored of that now and need a new challenge to revive my passion for work.

I have paid off my mortgage and my two kids, 14 and 15, are happy at school and doing well so no issues there.

I have a decent severance package that will keep me stable for 12-18 months and could risk £20k into a new venture.

Any wacky/sensible ideas gratefully received!

Noah Kahan – Nice to see rock fandom pass a generation

by 8 Comments

I took my 15 year old daughter to her first proper gig at the O2 on Wednesday to see Noah Kahan supported by Maisie Peters. Both artists have had number 1 albums in the UK in the last 18 months.

I had never heard any of their music and so turned up deaf and blind as to what was to follow.

Both acts were pop/folk/rock based and excellent and not knowing any of the songs, or able to sing along, I was impressed by the current state of music for my daughter’s generation.

Noah performed a 2 hour set and my daughter sung along to 95% of the lyrics. His band were excellent.

I was impressed by her knowledge and enthusiasm, and thought, when I was 15, this would have been my equivalent of seeing Blondie at the Hammy Odeon in 1980 with 4 albums under their belt when I would have known every song.

So who are you going to vote for?

by 146 Comments

The Dianne Abbott fiasco makes Labour look a bit pathetic when it comes to decision making.

Rishi had a good day today in front of real people and came across as human for the first time in the campaign.

The Lib Dem Lake Windermere stunt was news worthy but nothing else.

Sammy Hagar/Montrose

by 17 Comments

Montrose have come into the collective via The Who Charlton thread.

Their debut album is a hard rock classic and Sammy’s subsequent solo career in the late 1970s/early 1980s is worth exploring if you like guitar based hard rock with a melody attached.

Generative AI is a marvellous thing

by 35 Comments

I am studying a short course on how generative AI can create images, text etc.

Today I was introduced to a website called Leonard AI.]

It is free to use ad much fan has Benn had today creating an animal based band.

Go to leonardoai.com and fill your boots!

Power Ballads

by 51 Comments

I love a good 1980/90s power ballad.

Classic Rock have just posted their top 40. I agree with about 60% of these.

Open Arms by Journey is the all time power ballad for me.

Anything missing from the list?

https://www.loudersound.com/features/40-greatest-power-ballads-ever?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=XCR_NWL&utm_content=XCR_NWL_Automated_Airedale_Final&utm_term=658272&m_i=bj_bBs1JFEJLgk9kBfrIlRHG8_cvcdVQJAtEMFoXFaH7RUslKGnvmZWndySZwqU8BEI4ooGBiQ22LVNCK2i6_2vixTg_HFQVi08lXlIbbc&lrh=9c672166af60b23081aed467450647002c3ece069c610703997666b2c641d3d5&M_BT=216762728212