2024

October 27, 2024 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Live Review, Progressive Rock

The prestigious Royal Albert Hall is the perfect venue for an evening with Steve Hackett. Opened in 1871, by Queen Victoria no less, and with a capacity of over 5000, the hall seems to rise to the heavens, its multiple levels inducing vertigo even from my vantage point in the stalls – the building is actually 135ft tall trivia fans. There is something about the majesty of progressive rock that perfectly fits a venue that has hosted many great nights of classical music, and Steve has a long list of songs stretching back fifty years that are much loved by many to this day.

Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets - London Palladium 24/09/2024 (Live Review)

September 28, 2024 by David Vousden in Alt-Country, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

Nick Lowe seemed genuinely surprised that so many folks had come out on a Tuesday night for the first show of his UK tour at the London Palladium. It was standing room only at the 2200+ capacity venue. This says much about the high esteem in which Nick Lowe is held as an artist and songwriter. From his early days in Brinsley Schwartz and late 70s solo chart success, Rockpile with Dave Edmunds and on through the critically acclaimed Brentford Trilogy of albums to his latest work with Los Straightjackets, Lowe has been a mainstay of British music for fifty years. Lowe is also well known for his production work in the 80s with the Stiff record label that included ‘New Rose’ for The Damned and a run of classic albums for Elvis Costello. I’m pleased to report that, even at 75, Lowe shows no signs of slowing down, and he looks to be enjoying keeping things fresh with Los Straitjackets.

Cassidy Paris + Wicked Smile – Cart and Horses, Stratford London 03/12/23

December 06, 2023 by David Vousden in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Live Review, Melodic Rock, Metal, Rock

Located a mere stone’s throw from Maryland or a brisk ten-minute walk from Stratford International Station, the Cart & Horses in East London calls itself “The Birthplace of Iron Maiden” and isn’t shy about it. Iron Maiden played the venue on numerous occasions in 1976 before embarking on their ascent to the very top of the Heavy Metal tree, and the pub is a shrine to the UK legends (it’s also home to plenty of West Ham United fans). Every available surface is covered with art, records and memorabilia, so if you’re a fan of the boys, then the Cart & Horses is well worth a visit. The area around the pub remains untouched by post-Olympic Games regeneration and remains very much “old” London, aka dark, dreary and pretty bleak on a rainy night in December. Tonight’s music wouldn’t be all that far removed from Iron Maiden as it turned out, but more about that later as I was in town to catch up with up-and-coming Antipodean songstress Cassidy Paris, a recent signing to the Italian melodic rock label Frontiers.

Walter Trout + Alastair Greene – Islington Assembly Hall 21/05/2023

May 25, 2023 by David Vousden in Blues, Classic Rock, Guitar, Live Review, Rock

After an evening of acoustic loveliness with Milk Carton Kids at Union Chapel on Saturday, It was only a short walk down Islington’s Upper Street for Sunday's entertainment as legendary blues singer and guitarist Walter Trout is in town. For those unfamiliar, the Assembly Hall is part of the Islington Town Hall complex built in 1930, but only reopened as a venue in 2010 after languishing as storage space for many years and retains many impressive art deco features. The hall has a capacity of approximately 900, but it always feels more intimate, the staff are friendly, and most importantly, the sound is excellent. But enough of the architectural/history lesson, it's time we get to the music, and as we arrive, opening act Alastair Greene is doing his thing.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - Shepherd's Bush Empire, April 23rd 2023

April 24, 2023 by David Vousden in Blues, Classic Rock, Guitar, Live Review

It's a Sunday night, and I'm at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, undaunted by the typically miserable weather, for the final night of the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band UK tour. The Empire is a long way from Shreveport, Louisiana, but it's also been twenty-five long years since the original release of ‘Trouble Is’ elevated the guitarist to the top of the blues tree. The platinum-selling record would spawn four crossover rock hits, building on the success of his debut album, ‘Ledbetter Heights’, and catapulted the young guitarist to headline status while still in his early twenties.

Justin Hayward + Mike Dawes - Union Chapel, London 20/09/22

September 23, 2022 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Classic Rock, Live Review, Pop, Singer Songwriter

The Union Chapel is a Grade I listed Victorian gothic-styled structure constructed between 1874 and 1877, with further additions from 1877 to 1890. In 2022, the chapel is now a registered charity that hosts live entertainment, runs a homelessness drop-in centre and is still in use as a church. The octagonal building seats 900 in the original pews and includes a balcony level where I found a spot to take in the show. Seating is first come, first served, so you’ll need to get in the queue early if you want to warm a bench down the front.

Big Big Train + Dim Gray - Friars Aylesbury 02/09/22

September 08, 2022 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Live Review, Rock, Progressive Rock

Perhaps fittingly, with all the history involved, RGM’s latest venture into the world of progressive rock took us to the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury, an imposing, 1200-capacity, glass-fronted building that opened as recently as 2010. Its striking architecture is far more pleasing to the eye than the ugly council offices tower block that dominates the town’s skyline. I’m sure the purpose-built venue must make many a provincial town, up and down the country, green with envy. The impressive external view is matched by a multi-level auditorium that resembles an oversized set of Jenga (I resisted the urge to try to remove a brick). On September 2nd, the venue hosted a show promoted by the legendary Friars Aylesbury, who've been promoting great music in the town since 1969, and it's heartening to know that folks from those original music club days are still involved today. An impressive achievement and my thinking is if it’s good enough for David Bowie who reflected “Memories are everything apparently, and I have only great ones of the fabulous Friars” then it’s certainly good enough for me.

Black Deer Festival 2022 - Eridge Park, Kent

July 19, 2022 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Rock, Stoner, World Music

My first experience of standing tightly crowded in a field for the love of music was not the euphoric epiphany it promised to be. To be fair, it was a long, long time ago; I was fifteen and fragile. Some of my fellow patrons were fearless and fighty. I retreated to a safe spot and tried not to think of the Battle of the Somme. Somewhere in a different postcode, I could vaguely make out one of my favourite bands doing their thing.

FM + Grand Slam - Islington Assembly Hall 07/04/2022

April 11, 2022 by David Vousden in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Live Review, Melodic Rock, Rock

Where does the time go? It’s a chilly, windy April evening as I hotfoot it from the day job to Islington. The reason for my haste is AOR stalwarts FM are in town on their ‘Thirteen’ tour. ‘Thirteen’ is about as good as melodic rock gets in 2022, and as it’s been a few years (the late 80s) since I’ve seen Steve Overland and co in the flesh, I’m expecting good things.

Vega - The Underworld, London 09/10/21

October 12, 2021 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Live, Rock, Melodic Rock, AOR

As it had been eighteen months since my last, pre-pandemic, live gig, I jumped at the chance to check out melodic rockers Vega on their return to touring at London’s Underworld. Eighteen months seemed like a very long time until I realised Vega and I last crossed paths, in the live arena, ten long years ago (March 2011) at London’s (sorely missed) Borderline. Vega were newcomers in those days opening for Houston, an act coincidentally now also on the Frontiers label.

Black Deer Festival 2019 - June 21st (Day One)

July 01, 2019 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Blues, Classic Rock, Country Rock, Country, Folk, Hard Rock, Live Review, Singer Songwriter, Southern Rock, Stoner, Psych

For the first day of the annual Black Deer Festival, the gods have been kind and the sun is trying to break through the clouds. The UK is back in love with country music and all things Americana - at least on a musical level. This level of acceptance for the genre has not been seen on our shores since Dolly, Kenny and Tammy topped the charts and the Wembley Country Music festival was a must-see on BBC2. Black Deer is only in its sophomore year but it already feels like a must do on the crowded festival calendar.

Dan Reed Network - 229 The Venue, London - 23/11/18

November 26, 2018 by Rich Barnard in Classic Rock, Blues, Live Review, Rock, Hard Rock

I set out on a crisp November evening to catch the Dan Reed Network on the London leg of a fourteen-date UK tour in support of their new album, Origins, at the intimate club 229. The night is hosted by radio station Planet Rock, (those tongue-out champions of chunk, churn and chug) and thus the black t-shirted rock credentials of the evening’s opening acts are beyond question. Hollowstar, from Cambridgeshire, are satisfyingly old-school bluesy hard rockers who sell out of CDs while they’re still onstage and Glasgow’s muscular Mason Hill - who also swiftly win the crowd - deliver a heaviness of the type I haven’t witnessed in years. It’s fantastic to see these hungry young guns perform with so much passion and pride and both acts give tonight absolutely everything they’ve got, which is plenty.

The Sheepdogs - The Borderline, London 05/11/2018

November 12, 2018 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Country, Live Review, Country Rock

With so much music available these days it’s very easy for a band to slip between the cracks. It’s going to happen no matter how hard you try to keep your finger on the pulse. Until a recent email (thanks Tom) arrived in the RGM inbox with an invite to check out The Sheepdogs I was totally in the dark. The band name doesn’t exactly help as it brings to mind visions of that old British TV institution ‘One Man and his Dog’ but any such apprehensions were blown away by the road-hardened Canadian quintets perfect mix of classic and country rock which proved to be a total joy.

Knights of the Rose - Arts Theatre, London

July 06, 2018 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Live Review, Theatre Review

On a blisteringly hot summer night, your RGM scribe finds himself walking the red carpet with knights on horseback and burning torches for company. It’s a surreal but fitting introduction to Knights of the Rose a new production at the boutique Arts Theatre in London’s West End. Knights of the Rose takes us on an epic journey full of romance, brotherly love and jealousy told through an unlikely mix of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Bon Jovi.

The Texas Gentlemen + Howard Rose - Bush Hall, London (07.02.18)

February 09, 2018 by David Vousden in Alt-Country, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Live Review, Singer Songwriter

My introduction to the band of musicians that form the Texas Gentlemen was via Paul Cauthen’s excellent ‘My Gospel’ album. Browsing the credits, which is pretty refreshing to be able to do in this digital age, and the names of Beau Patrick Bedford, for his terrific production work, and guitarist Nik Lee stood out. Bedford is effectively the leader of The Texas Gentlemen a band of session musicians who’ve become go-to players for a host of artists including Joe Ely and Kris Kristofferson, which really tells you all you need to know about how good these guys are. With so many great players on tap, eleven Texas Gentlemen worked on ‘TX Jelly’ their debut album; you’re never quite sure who’ll turn up which is bound to keep things interesting.

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical - London Coliseum

August 11, 2017 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Live Review

Back in the early seventies, a young songwriter was attempting to find a home for a slew of ridiculously overblown songs that featured the perfect American storm of sex, motorcycles and rock n roll. This heady stew of teen angst and raging hormones, delivered with Wagnerian excess, would prove to be a very hard sell. The songwriter was Jim Steinman and he'd already been working in musical theatre for some years when he crossed paths with a budding actor/singer, with the voice to match his imposing frame, who went by the unusual moniker of Meat Loaf. The larger than life singer possessed the vocal power, range, and bravado to bring Steinman's songs to life and they began the search for a record label which would prove very difficult. In other words, they were turned down flat by pretty much every label executive in America until the Cleveland label (an Epic offshoot) took a chance and the slow build to rock legend status commenced.

Ian Hunter & The Rant Band - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London UK

November 17, 2016 by David Vousden in Live Review, Rock, Singer Songwriter, Classic Rock

Earlier this year Ian Hunter released his first record in four years the excellent ‘Fingers Crossed’ which displayed that the former Mott The Hoople frontman had lost none of his ability to recognise a good tune and coin an interesting phrase. The album really is terrific and still gets regular spins at RGM towers (check out our review of the album here). The announcement of a date at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire had me very keen to pop along and check out the man and his Rant Band in the flesh.