Thunder, Gig Review. Hammersmith Apollo, London.

Originally published by L.S.Media. July 14th 2009.

The tour has been billed as twenty years and out! A commemoration and a memorial for one of the most consistent rock acts of the last two decades deciding for the second and final time to bow out from recording and touring. The previous night had seen the band greeted with some incredible emotion by a pumped up Wolverhampton crowd. On the last night of the tour and with only an outside appearance at Sonasphere for their faithful fans to look forward to, the Hammersmith Apollo played host to the final indoors gig by this great British band.

Thunder, Gig Review. Hammersmith Apollo, London. full post

(445 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

Simple Minds, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 22nd 2009.

With a brand new album fresh out of the packaging to showcase to the loyal fans at the Liverpool Echo Arena, it was perhaps unavoidable and surprising for Jim Kerr and the band to dip their toes into nostalgia and open the show with the bass driven Waterfront, which from the very start had the assembled crowd on their feet dancing away and they didn’t let up till the very end of the show.

Simple Minds, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(352 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Deacon Blue, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 1st 2009.

Even before Ricky Ross and the rest of the band finished walking on stage, the Liverpool audience anticipated that they were in for a very special evening of soul/pop from one of Scotland’s finest musical exports, and from the very first words, they were not disappointed. With the aforementioned Ricky Ross and fellow vocalist Lorraine McIntosh coming on stage to sing briefly a vocal only version of The Very Thing which the loyal gathering lapped up totally and from that moment on the crowd never sat down.

Deacon Blue, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(451 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

We Will Rock You, Theatre Review. Birmingham Hippodrome.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 1st 2009.

Imagine a time when live music is banned and outlawed, to even think of picking up a musical instrument is to be condemned by an organisation that rules over all that it sees. Everybody thinks the same, dresses the same, works for the same company and all expressions of individuality erased and considered a dangerous idea of a degenerative past.

We Will Rock You, Theatre Review. Birmingham Hippodrome. full post

(460 words, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

Jon Anderson, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 4th 2009.

After a much publicised health scare, in which he nearly lost his life, Jon Anderson has taken the first tentative steps back to touring and recording. The Lancashire born entertainer shows a lot more of his spiritual side these days as he looked less tense and more happy with himself and his long admired vocal ability.

Coming on stage to some of the loudest applause the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool has seen for a one man show, Jon seemed surprised to see so many people there to hear him play. The audience knew that there might be a few awkward moments for Jon as he readily admits to not having been able to sing whilst recuperating but from the off everybody was on his side.

Jon Anderson, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Bugsy Malone, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S.Media. August 7th 2009.

It is testament to the Liverpool Empire Stage Experience that a musical of this calibre is not only performed by the children of the area but it is done well and with more than a sense of style. From the moment you arrived at the Theatre you were greeted with the sight of the period costume from the Twenties and a fine Rolls Royce parked up upon the pavement.

This production took in over 120 children and all performed admirably and had the packed out audience in the palms of their hands from the opening number.

Bugsy Malone, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(417 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Alun Parry, We Can Make The World Stop. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 21st 2009.

Alun Parry’s new offering is wonderfully titled We Can Make The World Stop and for a while whilst listening, it really seems as though we can. From start to finish the whole album is delightfully crafted, well written and excellently sung.

The opening track and the album title shows perfectly from the start how Alun perceives the injustices within society as he observes that they have got the money but never worked a railway line or drove a bus. The feeling of solidarity pervades through the whole album but there are some songs that hold a mirror up to the cracks that have spread through society.

Alun Parry, We Can Make The World Stop. Album Review. full post

(268 words, 1 image, estimated 1:04 mins reading time)

Quadrophenia, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media

Cast: Ryan O’Donnell, George Maguire, Jack Roth, Rob Kendrick, Sean Croke, Daniel Curtis, Lillie Flynn, Ryan Gage, Kirsty Malone, Brennan Reece, Iris Roberts, Tom Robertson, John Schumacher, Sydney Rae White.

In some critics’ eyes Quadrophenia is the definition of the era of the mod, cool clothes, good music and the spirit of rebellion that had been sadly lost. To others it was time when you saw the rise of the disaffected youth that blighted a generation and the odd sea-side town. From out of this small period came The Who’s Pete Townsend who turned his imagination and past experiences into one of the critically acclaimed albums of the last forty years.

Quadrophenia, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire, Liverpool. full post

(450 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Annie, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 8th 2009.

Cast: Lydia Tunstall, Su Pollard, Michael Morgan, Chris Molloy, James Muller, Gemma James, Gareth Heesom, Simone Craddock, Lorinda King.

A story about an orphaned girl, the depression, 1930’s American society and the undercurrent of child beating doesn’t spring to mind the plot of a heart warming musical that combines some of theatre’s best known songs with some feisty one liners and cheekiness, but in the hands of director Roger Hannah and produces Chris Moreno this classic of film and theatre has been given new life.

Annie, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(312 words, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

Marseille, Gig Review. The Cavern, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D.Hall

Originally published by L.S.Media. September 11th 2009.

Twenty five years after Marseille last played the Cavern, the band made a triumphant return and rolled away the void that had been created when they decided to call it a day. A band that in all honesty should never have been allowed to fade away.

Some people might find it hard to believe that this was a band that was at the forefront of the start of the genre of The New Wave of British Heavy Metal and enjoyed much success, touring with some of the biggest names around and winning the first coveted battle of the bands competition.

Marseille, Gig Review. The Cavern, Liverpool. full post

(392 words, 1 image, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)