New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84). Came to it later than its follow-up, Sparkle In The Rain which I don’t listen to much at all these days (too bombastic). I still cannot find fault with a single note/phrase on NGD. […]

I’m in the ‘Waterloo Sunset’ camp .. but it’s heartening to know that I like pretty much everything on the list so far. Perhaps what we’re doing here is evolving the perfect playlist (?)

Agree with your points on the Steven Wilson gigs. The HCE sound was astonishing .. but I was front and just off centre (right in front of Dave Kilminster). For the To The Bone gig .. the one they recorded for the […]

Would heartily recommend Hats Off To Led Zeppelin. Have seen them on a couple of occasions at The Stables, Wavendon. They play interesting and varied setlists and have a ‘screamer’ in the Percy role. Not an exact […]

Or even 1977. But you’re absolutely correct. Not the best advert for rock bands or society in general. Watched about 20 mins of the Motley Crue biopic ‘The Dirt’ yesterday. Highlights these issues persisted way i […]

Loved this sort of stuff in my mid teens. Saw MSG a few times, Scorpions too. Then I discovered Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis and I left the hard rock bands behind. No fuss, no drama .. just found something that […]

No love for Pat Metheny? Sat about 10 feet from him just over a year ago and marvelled that the instrument he played and the one I’ve been trying to wrestle with for over 35 years aren’t in fact one and the sam […]

The Stables is my favourite venue in the world. The staff are vaguely Acorn Antiques but it has a charming vibe and the acoustics are good. Easy to get to, parking is ample .. what’s not to love?

Failing that t […]

Agree with Martin S in terms of the canned applause and crowd noise. It’s just so unnecessary. The music is okay – Jon Anderson seems in fine fettle, and whilst I feel Rabin lacks the finesse and taste of Howe he […]

Must admit, I wish they’d left RadMac alone. They are a good pairing and don’t eat the scenery in the same way as Keaveny does. Same goes for Mayo’s Drive time which seemed to have a good groove going .. what with […]

Had forgotten about Real Life. Travelling Man is indeed an excreble rehash of Waterfront and Ghostrider is a similarly empty vessel. Only song worth a listen is Rivers Of Ice which apparently they didn’t write. […]

As disappointing as Street Fighting Years is/was it is by no means the wet lettuce that is Neapolis. And Good News From The Next World is pretty dire as well.

Let’s face it: after New Gold Dream it has been […]

Certainly not a Dawes cognoscenti .. in fact only listened to the album on the strength of niallb’s review. Have to say: I love it. I think the songs are very well written and the lyrics interesting and […]

Saw them live at the Hammersmith Odeon with school friend Max Richter (yes .. that one 😲) in December 1982. Think they were supporting the album ‘Till Deaf Do Us Part’. They were magnificent. Cannot recall the so […]

Saw Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds tour about 7-8 years ago. Was surprised to see such luminaries as Herbie Flowers, Justin Hayward, Chris Spedding and Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann) on the same stage. Was actually […]

Michael Schenker is a name not bandied about too much these days. As an adolescent I thought he was the bees knees and saw the first couple of incarnations of The Michael Schenker Group before inexplicably turning […]

Guthrie Govan’s solo on Steven Wilson’s Regret #9 isn’t too shabby. Must admit, I prefer Mr Govan reined in rather than give too much scope to noodle as he does with his own band, The Aristocrats. Gets to the […]

Looks fab. No scratch plate .. but then who would want one with all that lovely wood in place? Would commission a luthier to make one tomorrow, but as I play with all the finesse of Ranulph Fiennes after a […]

Quite so Dr V. For the most part I like instruments to be in tune and timing to be there or thereabouts. Associates took a slightly different view and their work is all the better for it. Songs like Bap De La Bap […]

Maybe it will be played backwards?