Despite an early curfew, and following on from two support bands, Megadeth stormed through one of the tightest and visually perfect sets to have graced the Carling Academy in a long time.
Opening the set with Sleepwalker from last year’s release United Abominations, and Wake Up Dead from the classic album Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?, Megadeth proved the old adage that less is most definitely more by just letting the guitars do all the talking.
Whenever Magnum return home to the Midlands you are assured a gig to remember, one full of pomp , incredible guitar work and lyrics that stand the test of time.
Opening the first set with When We Were Younger from the latest album Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow, Magnum pulled out all the stops to thrill a capacity crowd. The audience greeted every song enthusiastically, including the seminal Les Mort Dansant, All England’s Eyes and the whole of the album Wings of Heaven, which was being recorded live to mark its 20th anniversary.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. September 2006
Following the release of their stunning new album Suite XVI just a few weeks ago, the Stranglers, now back to a four piece, thrilled a dedicated an eager crowd at the Birmingham Academy.
Opening the set with the riff-crunching5 Minutes, J.J Burnell, Baz Warne, Dave Greenfield and Jet Black rocked and rampaged their way through an evening of old favourites and new material.
Classics such as Peaches, Always the Sun and the ever popular Golden Brown were given their deserved airing alongside Spectre of Love, Unbroken and I Hate You.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. July 2004.
Some years ago The Alarm were a band you either loved or loathed. The public mostly loved them, whereas certain areas of the establishment didn’t. Now, 20 years after their first album and almost completely new line up, The Alarm are back with music and lyrics that are just as potent as their early songs.
The new material matches up perfectly on stage with old favourites like Knife Edge and Marching On. The set opened with Coming Home from the new album In the Poppy Fields and onto Absolute Reality before heading back to the new record for Right Back Where I started From and the stunning Unexplained.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. June 7th 2011.
Foreigner are quite rightly held up as an example of the best within the world of A.O.R music, with a pedigree of music that stretches back over 30 years. It can be seen as still an alien type of music for British fans to attend, however, whether it’s Stadium Rock or Adult Rock, either way it’s still entertaining and as a concept deserves as much attention as Punk or Prog.
Originally published by L.S. Media. June 7th 2011.
One of the problems with bringing out a new album at the start of a tour is that no matter how good it might be regarded in years to come, the first chance that audience members get to hear it, is when’s raw and unfiltered. The live bugs have not been eased out of the set and the band can seem cold, aloof and uncaring about the years of support they have received from their fans and although that is most certainly not the case with Journey, in some eyes it can be damaging.
Originally published by L.S. Media. November 22nd 2011. 
L.S. Media Rating ****
Is there any band in the world like Red Hot Chili Peppers? Even individually, the four members of the band have had lives that have been so interesting, so demanding and so off the wall that reading Anthony Kiedis’ autobiography Scar Tissue is to wonder how they have survived life as well as the pressures of being in one of the top rated and musically phenomenal acts of the last 20 years.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 4th 2012.L.S. Media Rating *****
The Kaiser Chiefs have got to be classed as one of the complete bands to emerge in the last 20 years. No matter how big and popular the Yorkshire lads have got, they look and play the part well of a band who are at home in a huge stadium, such as the Liverpool Echo Arena as they are in one of the many Academy venues dotted around the country.
Dominic Crane, Picture from Allgigs.co.uk.
Originally published by L.S. Media. July 1st 2012.
L.S. Media Rating ****
There is something to be said for the moment where you realise that a performer of glorious musical intelligence is playing his heart out in front of you. That moment is magnified when as a music lover, no matter the genre, you are sure that what you are seeing before you is one of the most unlikely best support acts you are likely to hear in any year.