Tag Archives: Gig Review

Queens Of The Stone Age, Gig Review. N.I.A. Birmingham.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 91/2 /10

There is something about Josh Homme, his demeanour, the personal swagger or even just the way he stands on stage infront of many thousands of fans, that even when he declares that if the crowd can be patient with him as he is feeling under the weather, it is a gig that is just utterly and simply a wall of ferocious sound. A gig in which a thousand suns exploding simultaneously across the galaxy would barely have audiences raising the eyes upwards and the muted wonderings of what dare disturb a man in full flight.

Queens Of The Stone Age, Gig Review. N.I.A. Birmingham. full post

(436 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

The Bad Shepherds, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There is a moment when you are listening to The Bad Shepherds, whether it is on a C.D. or more importantly in the realms of the live performance that you realise just how important the music they have taken hold of actually is. What is more significant, is what they have moulded out of precious material and given new form to, the music remains, the lyrics don’t really change at all and yet somehow they have either given fresh impetuous to the song at hand or given a completely new radical meaning to the track.

The Bad Shepherds, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(529 words, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

Zappa Plays Zappa, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

As the lights go down inside the Philharmonic Hall, the anticipation felt by the audience as they await the son of the legendary Frank Zappa, the just as eminent Dweezil Zappa, was akin to urged to be patient before the start of the Big Bang, everybody knew how important it was, everybody sensed it, they just couldn’t wait for it to begin.

Zappa Plays Zappa, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(621 words, estimated 2:29 mins reading time)

Sixties Gold, Gig Review. The Lighthouse, Poole.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

If you look back with fond memories of music from the 1960s, then this is the concert for you. With an average age of 60 plus both on stage and off, fans were treated to an evening of nostalgia, which from start to finish stirred the emotions of those heady days long ago.

Sixties Gold, Gig Review. The Lighthouse, Poole. full post

(617 words, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)

Brit Floyd, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Even a torrential downpour hitting Liverpool throughout the day could barely dent the anticipation of Brit Floyd’s welcome return to the place in which it all started.  If anything, it only heightened the expectation of what was to come, what time would allow the people of the city and its neighbourhoods to revel in, the feeling of wonderment and nostalgia that the music being skilfully recreated of Pink Floyd’s greatest moments by the finest musicians and one very special guest.

Brit Floyd, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(488 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Bryan Ferry, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Bryan Ferry at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in 2013. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Bryan Ferry at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in 2013. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

From the moment Bryan Ferry purposefully steps foot onto the Philharmonic Hall stage, there didn’t seem to be a single female fan in the audience who has remained seated for the former Roxy Music icon. Such is the sheer magnetism, the undiluted animal appeal of Bryan Ferry that despite the fact that it has been an incredibly long time without him coming to Liverpool, his music, the way he makes his fans, of either gender, feel, you can only applaud his stature as he performs the music that made him one of the great stars of his generation.

Bryan Ferry, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(579 words, 1 image, estimated 2:19 mins reading time)

The Boomtown Rats, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Newcastle.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

For those that found themselves in the company of Simon Crowe and Garry Roberts in the Bilston Robin 2 as they thrilled discerning audiences as part of From The Rats  in August 2008 the thought that 4/5ths of The Boomtown Rats line-up would tour together during 2013 would have seemed like a dream that could never come true in a million years, an impossible fantasy you would have bet against from the start but slowly and surely the superb Garry Roberts and Simon Crowe have been joined by Bob Geldof and Pete Briquette and with the very talented Darren Beale adding a touch of youthful exuberance to the cause on guitar, The Boomtown Rats took the packed Newcastle 02 Academy and with just a couple of songs performed from a top notch set list, you could see that they had gone down a storm.

The Boomtown Rats, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Newcastle. full post

(598 words, estimated 2:24 mins reading time)

Francis Dunnery, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There is an aura of the prolific, of almost inexhaustible abundance when it comes to Francis Dunnery’s career. Certainly when a listener takes in his output of solo recordings and then weighs them up in time honoured fashion against his fantastic live sets, it is enough to leave you dizzy and overwhelmingly impressed with his work ethic.

Francis Dunnery, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(433 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Steve Harley, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Whether you are a dedicated music fan or someone who goes once a month in search of something to listen to to avoid the endless repetition of uninspiring music talents shows that television produces in the name of making money, occasionally you can’t help but feel that you may just have witnessed the finest gig by the artist you are ever likely to see them do. It doesn’t matter if it is the second, third or tenth time you have seen them perform on stage, something whispers to you at the back of your mind, “Wow, you will never beat that for a superb night.” Your instincts maybe correct but there is always hope that the artist may surprise you.

Steve Harley, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(551 words, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

Arctic Monkeys, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The hum of expectation vibrating about Liverpool’s waterfront was telling of the growing sense of anticipation that surrounded the return of the country’s most prevalent rock band to the city’s Echo Arena. Arctic Monkeys’ latest offering AM has garnished praise as possibly the band’s best collection of songs to date and fans were not left disappointed as the Sheffield act treated their followers to a gig as tempestuous and pulsating as the stormy autumn weather that preceded it.

Arctic Monkeys, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(464 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)