AOR Underground

29/07/2024

I'm quite chuffed that Classic Rocks webpage has reprinted my story of Christian AOR that was originally printed in their AOR magazine over ten years ago. If you've ever wanted to delve into this scene, then this is a great starting point. Enjoy it.

From The Sweet Comfort Band and Petra to Stryper and beyond, this is the history of Christian melodic rock

28/07/2024

As you may be aware, i went to Norway recently on a cruise through the Fjords. Amongst a myriad of entertainment, that came in all styles, was an evening with Chesney Hawkes, which turned out to be thoroughly entertaining. Throughout the evening Chesney regaled us with tales and songs from his career. He proved to be far from a 'one hit wonder', a man that doesn't look any different from when he did over thirty years ago. Throughout the show the audience got to ask him questions, which he read out and answered accordingly. I asked him how crushing was it to have been in a film with Roger Daltrey (The Who) and then have a number one single, only for it all to have been taken away as quickly as it was given. He sarcastically answered "Thanks, Rob!" Before telling us that it was indeed a hard time, one where people wouldn't answer his calls which ultimately lead to him being dropped. Of course he finished with a rousing version of 'The One And Only'. He was as nice off the stage, as he was on it. If he ever decides to tour this one-man show, which he should, then i'd be at the front of the queue and so should you.

20/07/2024

One of my fave things is listening to smooth Westcoast with a coffee early in the morning and todays little beauty was this. 'In Your Eyes' borders that fine Westcoast/Soul line perfectly. And look at George, he's smoother than his music and looks timeless. The big hit from this album was 'Let Me Love You (One More Time)', which was written by David Paich (Toto) and James Newton Howard, and it could almost be a Toto song. With that in mind, you'd expect Toto's Steve Lukather to be all over this record, but he isn't as Benson is an accomplished guitarist in his own right and cooks up a storm throughout. A fabulous mornings entertainment, from an overlooked classic.

17/07/2024

"Stevie Nicks? Who's he then?" Whilst that may be a very famous quote from an old TV show called Auf Wiedersehen Pet, I can guarantee that everybody in the CO-OP Live arena in Manchester knew who Stevie Nicks was last night. At 76, the soft-rock Queen may not be as fleet of foot as she was, but she can still command and captivate an audience as much as she ever has. As a new venue, the CO-OP Live is a huge grey, carbuncle of a building that, to be fair, delivered a fantastic sound for an Arena, but it came with all the usual trappings of these type of venues and that includes beer at £8.50 a pint! But with show one of only three that Miss Nicks is doing in the UK, then it was a must see and is only the second time she's visited in seven years. Aside from superb versions of 'Wild Heart', 'Belladonna' and 'If Anyone Falls', it was down to 'Stand Back' and 'Edge Of Seventeen' to provide my own personal favourites. Finishing with the poignant and touching 'Landslide', Stevie Nicks proved that she's still worth every penny of the extortionate ticket prices that some people paid tonight. If this is the last time we see her in this part of the world, then she bowed out in a style fitting of one of music's true icons.

06/07/2024

Yesterday was the release day for the new Cats In Space live album, a warts ‘n’ all account of their recent ‘Kickstart The Sun’ tour from last year. Double vinyl and a double CD is what’s on offer and it’s worth buying both to get the full show. But may I first point you in the direction of James Heron’s wonderful documentary over on YouTube. Watch that first to see all the blood, sweat and fears that went into this tour and then play the album to get the full experience. It’s worth every second of your time and every penny of your pocket money. Crikey, those cats have done it again.

In other news I’ve been privy to three new Cats tracks, I know, lucky old me. A rip roarer, that’ll have Greg Hart windmilling for England, a slow burner and a stonking cover from a seventies powerhouse that’ll have you spitting your tea out at its bombast and pompous delivery. It’s a worldwide mission and resistance is still futile.

01/07/2024

TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL
It may have been just another rainy Saturday in Manchester, but the smiling faces inside The Rebellion Bar were enough to brighten any dull day. Here for the Tower Of Fire festival, a precursor to Firefest in October, this was a gathering of like minded people some of whom hadn’t seen each other in years. And that was what this festival was all about, a chance to catch up with people and enjoy the cream of the current melodic rock crop.

With Gabrielle de Val opening the proceedings in a gentle, hauntingly beautiful manner with an acoustic set that featured the likes of ‘Candle In The Window’, ‘Moonlight Shadow’ and ‘Kiss In A Dragon Night’. It was an effortless and smooth set that bodes well for her full, electric set at Firefest in October.

Featuring members of Ya Ya, Angels Or Kings, Samson, First Strike and Omkara, a band that had the patronage of Myke Gray at one point, White Skies are more seasoned than a Jamie Oliver roast dinner. Their debut showed plenty of promise, as did their first few live shows I caught over a year ago. But let’s be honest, there was room for improvement and that development was realised tonight. The addition of several new songs, plus more gigs under their collective belts revealed a band that were comfortable in each other’s presence. In singer Mick White they have an affable and instantly likeable frontman and with songs like ‘What Do You Know About Love’, ‘Black Tide’ and new song ‘If This Is It’ they delivered on all fronts.

Up next were Saracen, a band that I’ve never seen in their forty plus years of existence, who very nearly stole the show. With singer Steve Bettney as their only original member these days, Saracen proved to be a much heavier proposition live than their earlier recordings would have you believe. Whilst Bettney is sixty-seven, he looked and sang like a man half his age and made songs like ‘Crusader’ and ‘Swords Of Damascus’ seem effortless. However, stunning versions of both ‘Heroes, Saints & Fools’ and ‘Ready To Fly’ were quite possibly the songs of the day. This was the biggest surprise and quite possibly, the set of the day from a bunch of old-school musicians that delivered on every front.

And then the moment that every AOR fan in this room had been waiting for, the arrival of Remedy. Their brace of albums has placed them at the top of the current melodic rock crop, with their new album ‘Pleasure Beats The Pain’ one of this years finest. What I like about this band is that they are not afraid to move forward, to progress and take chances. There’s a gulf between their debut and ‘Pleasure…’, one that sees them pushing towards a harder edged direction, but all that can change as nothing is set in stone with this band. Their performance tonight was superb, a Scandinavian masterclass of slick, punchy and well executed hard rock, the kind that this region built its foundations on. From ‘Living On The Edge’, through to the likes of ‘Angelina’, ‘Moon Has The Night’ and ‘Sin For Me’, Remedy made an awful lot of people happy tonight.

Whilst Atack had the likes of Lee Small and Chris Childs on their debut album, neither were present tonight. But that didn’t dampen a set of old-fashioned hard rock, the kind hewn from and fashioned on Deep Purple’s back catalogue. Coming complete with a Hammond organ, their authenticity was unwavering as Keith Atack lead from the front throughout. This was the kind of set that can only come from musicians that have been around the block, knocked on every door and knocked again. If you were a musical purist, this was your set of the day.

Playing your debut show and headlining a festival is an audacious start to any bands gigging career. Armed with scant rehearsal time, Nitrate proved that pure adrenaline will get you far as they ran their luck tonight and got away with it. Their brand of AOR is slick, akin to cruising down the motorway on autopilot with no sharp curves or dangerous bends in sight. The scenery is good and the soundtrack perfect for a rainy day in Manchester. Bringing Alexander Strandell over from Sweden, the former Diamond Dawn and current Art Nation singer showed that even with limited rehearsal he was still capable of giving a great performance. Playing songs from both ‘Renegade’ and ‘Feel The Heat’, Nitrate were given a heroes welcome as the likes ‘Dangerzone’, ‘All The Right Moves’ and Big City Lights’ were afforded a rapturous response. I’d imagine that main man, Nick Hogg, was a relieved and happy man at the end and rightly so.

Asides from the music, it was fabulous to see so many people that I haven’t seen in years, and, for this writer, that was this festivals unique selling point and another reason to buy your Firefest tickets if you already haven’t. Thanks to Bruce Mee and Greg Dean for the hospitality and passes and to all the bands for being exceptionally good. This festival was sunshine on a rainy day.

Rob Evans

24/06/2024

I've got an original copy of this for sale at £15 plus postage. Get back to me if you are interested. It's the SPV/Steamhammer CD version from '88, Cat Number SPV 60-7582.

22/06/2024

With the Tower Of Fire festival only a week away, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is and buy a ticket. You’ve all bemoaned the fact that there hasn’t been an AOR festival in eons – let’s not count HRH AOR, as that’s a travesty – and you are getting two in the space of a few months. Let’s face it, if you chucked another couple of bands on the TOF bill, you’d almost have a Gods Of AOR. So, if you’ve not bought a ticket, then please do so. In the meantime, if you are on the fence them maybe this little run down might persuade you to part with your money – it’s your festival, so use it or lose it. Here’s a rundown of the runners and riders…

NITRATE
Me and the Martin brothers, Tom & James, go back over twenty-five years and in that time they've become synonymous with quality, hook-laden AOR. So, when they threw their lot in with Nitrate’s grand fromage, Nick Hogg, you knew that both parties were going to benefit. Both Nitrate’s ‘Renegade’ and ‘Feel The Heat’ albums have brought the AOR goods. With tonight’s show their debut performance, you can expect all the sparkle that those albums delivered, with an extra coating of sugar to sweeten the delivery.

ATACK
It’s only when you read Keith Atack’s CV that you realise that this guy has been around the block and knocked on a few doors in his time. A member of the teen sensations, Child, as well as working with Robert Hart and the Illegal Eagle’s, Atack’s current band has more pedigree than a container full of Chum. You can expect a rollicking, riff-tastic, Hammond drenched set of some of the best songs that Deep Purple never recorded. Be prepared and bring strong trousers.

REMEDY
These Swedish boys will be, quite possibly, the most anticipated band of the day and, let’s be honest, there’s some strong competition. Their debut album housed a stunning array of songs, the kind built on the foundations laid by such Swedish AOR royalty as Europe and Treat. Their new album, ‘Pleasure Beats The Pain’, sees them embrace those old school values whilst adding a spritz of modern day production techniques. It reveals them to be a band that aren’t afraid of change, or one that won’t stand still for too long. I guarantee that this will be an ‘I was there’ moment.

SARACEN
A luscious blend of pomp and prog with strong AOR leanings, Saracen were a band that rode the melodic end of the NWOBHM movement, much like White Spirit and their ilk. Whilst it would be churlish to expect them to play songs from their first two albums, but we hope they do, you can expect a broad cross section of material that has graced their modern-day albums. It’ll be a lush landscape of pomp and circumstance, a rose amidst all the hard rock riffola.

WHITE SKIES
Relative newcomers on the scene, but ones with a resumé as long as the pockets on Bass player Rob Naylor’s trousers, White Skies will surprise many. The brainchild of Ray Callcutt (Ya Ya) and Mick White (Samson and First Strike), White Skies have a pure AOR sound on their debut, one that is sure to be rocked up in the live arena. Don’t miss them.

GABRIELLE DE VAL
The first time I saw Gaby was in the salubrious surroundings of Bolton and the Railway Inn. That night The Val played to about forty people, a travesty if you ask me. So, please do me a favour and turn up early to witness an impeccable acoustic set from one of modern day AOR’s first ladies. If she’s good enough to work alongside Robert Tepper, and gigs like that don’t come easy, then she’s good enough to make you arrive on time.

Tickets are available from https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/Rebellion/Tower-Of-Fire-Festival/38055831/

Rob Evans

02/06/2024

I actually got to watch a preview of this documentary way back in March and it's a fabulous documentary, one that is well worth your time. It's a tale of friendship and favours, a melding of like-minded souls all pulling in the right direction to achieve their goals. It also shows the level of respect afforded to James Heron, the films director, as he pulls in many favours to achieve the end results that became the 'Kickstart The Sun' theatre tour. If you've ever watched the 'Fellowship Of The Ring", a film all about friendship and camaraderie, then this is the rock and roll equivalent. Cats In Space, GREG HART Cats in Space

It’s 2023 and the CATS in SPACE team face a dilemma …. Your music is rich and evocative of a certain era because it’s made and played the same way as it was ...

25/05/2024

I can't believe it's nearly been five years since I last saw Hannah Wicklund in Manchester as part of the Planet Rock Roadstars gig. I covered that gig for Planet Rocks short lived magazine and it was a most enjoyable evening. Supporting Greta Van Fleet on their recent arena tour has done her no harm judging by the amount of younger people in the audience, most of whom were probably still in school five years ago. Arriving on stage in slippers, before sliding them off and playing barefoot, Wicklund had all the grace of a pointy toed ballerina in the kinda dress that had been reserved for Tinkerbell. It may be my unfamiliarity with her new album, 'The Prize', but it was the tracks from her 2018 album as Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones that stood out the most, with 'Shadow Boxes and Porcelain Faces', Mama Said' and especially 'Bomb Through The Breeze' being my highlights of a quite wonderful set. If you've the chance, then grab a ticket for this show and witness an artist that brings flair and grace to a performance that is, at times, quite spellbinding. At the age of twenty seven, Wicklund is a nineteen year veteran of the music scene, which is quite astounding. Long may she continue.

11/05/2024

Caught up with Romeo's Daughter last night in Llandudno at the Motorsport Lounge. A quite fabulous evening that saw the Romeo's doing two sets, with the first a quite spellbinding Acoustic set which was the main attraction for me tonight. Following it with another set of classic material all done electric, it was quite possibly one of my favourite RD shows of recent years. There will be a full review in the end of June issue of Powerplay.

27/04/2024

You know a band are on the rise when the balcony is open at your local venue and the sold out signs are up. The last it time i saw the Chester Live Rooms so packed was for Robin Trower, so to witness a band on their debut album being afforded such a packed crowd was heartwarming. But the thing is, they deserve it, they really do. I first saw them supporting The Struts, they blew me away, well, actually their vocalist, Tom Hollister, blew me away as he is that good. And in Chris Buck they have a guitarist that would have made Hendrix and Clapton give up if he were around in the late sixties. It's like watching a youthful Dave Gilmore (Pink Floyd) at times as he's that expressive. They played their debut and a few other bits and it was fabulous - although verging on the familiar near the end, but hopefully songs from their second album will add a bit more depth to their set when it's released. You probably won't see them in such an intimate setting again, as their rise will ensure that they play much bigger venues than this. I'll sum up how good they were, i actually bought a fu***ng ticket! Yeah, that good.

22/04/2024

Today is all about Firefest, a 5,500 word overview of their ten-year reign. Over a hundred and forty bands and eleven shows all condensed and dissected. Available in the June edition of Fireworks magazine in the UK.

31/03/2024

Starting the UK leg of their fortieth anniversary shindig with a blistering eighteen song set, British AOR legends, FM, were in the form of their lives last night at Nantwich Civic Hall, a hometown gig for Steve Overland and Jim Kirkpatrick. Starting with 'Digging Up The Dirt' and finishing with 'Other Side Of Midnight' FM belied their years with a youthful energy that would put most younger bands to shame. This was AOR perfection, and then some.
Opening act, Brave Rival have been supporting their debut album, 'Life's Machine', for the best part of two years. About to release their second, 'Fight Or Flight', in August they delivered a compelling array of songs from both, with highlights like 'Heart Attack', 'Guilty Love' and new song, 'Stars Upon My Scars' simply compelling. I doubt that there are two better singers in this country right now than Chloe Josephine and Lindsey Bonnick, their chemistry was spellbinding, running FM all the way to the finish line. This tour could have peaked on its opening night, it was that good. Forty years and flying.
Full review in the end of April edition of Powerplay.

25/03/2024

As the latest issue of Fireworks hits the racks in your local newsagents, it concludes the history of the Gods Of AOR festival via a six-page spread on the 2003 show. Ten installments spread over eleven magazines, it's been a huge undertaking that has taken over two and a half years to bring you the full story. That's over sixty-thousand words, ten brand new interviews conducted with Mark Ashton and over a hundred interviews conducted with various band members that played the show. It's been a blast, and quite possibly one of my favourite articles that i've compiled over the years. Check it out and buy them all.

09/03/2024

Get ready for a brand new Cats In Space live album in May. The majority was recorded at Milton Keynes and selected other shows. Having witnessed the MK show I think i can safely say that this will be a superb addition to the Cats discography from the band that put the grand into grandiose. Below is the official statement from the band.

Yes, CATS in SPACE are firing on all cylinders and ready to launch their long-awaited, blistering, double, live
album this May, together with a documentary style film about their successful 2023 tour.
FIRE in the NIGHT - Live was recorded during the 'Kickstart the Sun - Part Il' theatre tour in 2023 when our
fabulous sound crew captured the full two hour show. As always, this release will be available in CD,vinyl
and digital formats and due to the sheer length of the performance will once again be delivering both
quality and value on double CD and limited double vinyl LP in a choice of colour variants. It will be the final
release on the band's Harmony Factory label in conjunction with Cargo Records.
A lead single, and crowd favourite, Johnny Rocket' is set to be released ahead of the album in March 2024
on all digital platforms. The album release is scheduled for early May 2024.
For the love of it, a film made by James Heron of Carriage Return productions, chronicles the stage
production from conception to delivery of the CATS in SPACE Kickstart the Sun tour. It is a detailed insight
into the highs and lows of modern day touring for original rock bands and shows the unique way that the
tour was put together. All in all a fantastic opportunity to see behind the curtain before the release of the
album!
Whilst on the subject of Johnny Rocket', he is also set to appear later this year, in a full-length feature
cartoon book designed and published by Sentinel Publications. The team are putting together the full
Johnny Rocket' story that first appeared on the 2019 Day Trip to Narnia album and is set to be a very special
publication.
"We are super stoked with the recording of the album, thanks to our amazing live engineer Pete Russell and
the fans who made every night so special throughout the tour. It really has captured the power and
excitement of the band's show... It will be a fitting finale to our time with Harmony Factory label, as we
head down a new flight path for a very exciting future for all of us in Cats in Space. More to be revealed
soon! As ever we have a LOT going on this year so keep your eyes peeled for updates.. we are all thrilled to bits!"
Johnny Rocket - written by Greg Hart & Mick Wilson
Published by Cherry Red Songs 2024
From the forthcoming album:
Fire in the Night - Live Harmony Factory HF15
CATS in SPACE / Felicette Ltd 2024

04/03/2024

Well, i finally got round to going back to that record shop in Blackpool, Jims Vinyls and cleared out the rest of the stuff that i didn't pick up last time. Most of these are Japanese pressings, some without the OBI strip which is a shame. Nice copies of Steve Perry and Aldo Nova and a lovely copy of the Steffanie album as well. This shop is most certainly a Westcoast fans dream. Also managed to get to King Bee in Chorlton near Manchester, picking up a copy of Sonic Boom for £20! Bargain of the year, as its normally well over a hundred quid. Finally, i also went to Reel Around The Fountain is Stretford, picking up both Target albums featuring Jimi Jamison and a great copy of Foghat's Fool For The City.

28/02/2024

Still got a few Lost Jewels CDs available, message me for details. I only have one copy of most of these titles, so be quick.

WHISPER ALLEY - UP YER ALLEY
LAROCHE - S/T
TIMOTHY LEWIS - LOST ANGELS
FURY - S/T
WIZEKRAK - THROUGH THE YEARS
NIGHT WORK - S/T
GRAFFITI - ROCK THE WORLD
HELTER SKELTER - SINSATIONAL
STRIPPED GYPSY - TROUBADOURS OF FORTUNE
RED HOT - EYES OF THE WORLD

21/02/2024

Just a quick one to say thank you for the huge amount of Birthday posts and messages. It's always appreciated. X

14/01/2024

A bit late with this one, but i had the pleasure of witnessing Steve Overland & Jim Kirkpatrick at Alexander's in Chester on Thursday. A fabulous evening of acoustic songs from the FM back catalogue and a whole host of stories to accompany them, this was thoroughly entertaining on every level. Opening with 'Tattooed Needle' and finishing with 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine', and stopping off at 'Dangerous', 'Crave' and 'Blood & Gasoline' along the way, they were a formidable duo with an excellent line in banter. With stories of Spike offering Steve clothing advice, tales from touring with Saxon and working with Desmond Child, this was a great insight into the world of Steve Overland over the last forty-odd years. Bring back yesterday, indeed.

09/01/2024

What absolutely terrible news about Tony Clarkin of MAGNUM passing away on Sunday after a short illness. I first saw Magnum way back in '79, supporting the Blue Oyster Cult at Stafford, Bingley Hall. There's no doubting that Magnum in the late seventies and throughout the eighties were one of this country's finest pomp rock bands, to be fair, they still are. Driven by Clarkin's quite wonderful songwriting, it was no wonder they were headlining places like Hammersmith and the Birmingham N.E.C by the end of the eighties. I doubt we'll ever see a songsmith this good over the next forty years. My condolences go out to his family, his band and his musical partner in crime, Bob Catley. Good night, god bless. X

31/12/2023

As we close the door on 2023, i'd like to thank everybody for their support over the course of the last twelve months. Whilst my AOR top ten will be in the pages of Powerplay at the end of January, I thought i'd share my ten favourite albums over all the genres.

ROMEO’S DAUGHTER – ‘Slipstream’. This is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite album of this year. All the subtle nuances that you’ve come to expect from this band are all present and correct, with songs like “Everything”, the simplistic “How Does It Feel”, the riff hungry “Inseparable” and “Fake” proving my point.

CREEPER – ‘Sanguivore’. The ghost of Jim Steinman is shining down on Creeper as they deliver a fabulous concept album that evokes memories of albums like ‘Bad For Good’ or Pandora’s Box. This was quite possibly my most played CD of the year.

JIM KIRKPATRICK – ‘Dead Man Walking’. If you love the bluesier side of the recent FM output, then this album is for you. Whilst his guitar playing needs no introduction, his vocals prove to be a revelation throughout. Over the course of this album, he puts young pups like Greta Van Fleet and Crown Lands firmly in their place.

METALLICA – ’72 Seasons’. This is the sound of heavy metal thunder from the titans of thrash. It's by far and away the best thing they've done since the "Black Album", mixing everything that is great about this band. It's more in tune with the aforementioned "Black Album" than it is "Master Of Puppets", but there's no denying that this is a fabulous album.

STARBENDERS – ‘Take Back The Night’. These kooky Goth kids deliver an album that will steal your soul and sell it to the highest bidder. A lot harder edged than their last album, ‘Take Back The Night’ is packed full of eighties riffs and sweet harmonies.

BERNIE MARSDEN – ‘Working Man’. This posthumous album from the late, great Bernie Marsden is a beautiful body of work that showcases what an impressive voice he has. The whole album has the feel of an FM radio staple from the late seventies, early eighties. Both the performances and songs are stunning throughout.

SMOKEY MIRROR – ‘S/T’. If time travel were indeed possible, and who’s to say it isn’t, then temporal tourists Smokey Mirror would be a prime example of its very existence. Theirs is the sound of the late sixties as it morphed into the seventies, a riot of fuzzed up electric boogie, extended guitar solos and hair, lots of hair! A fiery riot of Hendrix, Sabbath, Blue Cheer, MC5 and Iron Butterfly, with their modern-day equivalent being Ethan Miller’s quite wonderful band, Howlin’ Rain.

CROWN LANDS – ‘Fearless’. If Greta Van Fleet are the new Led Zeppelin, then this lot are the new Rush. On ‘Fearless’ this Canadian duo give us a guided tour of the Rush discography in just under an hour, with the eighteen-minute title track its pinnacle. Hopefully next year they’ll finally give us some full shows.

THE BITES – ‘Squeeze’. Fun time rock and roll from these Cali-kids is what this album is all about. There’s an air of Australian boogie to tracks like ‘Knockin’ On The Door’, ‘Pretty Boys’ and ‘Cold, Clean Lady’ and if AC/DC meets Jet via the Californian sunshine is your thing, then step right up.

SWEAT – ‘Who Do They Think They Are’. The seventies never went away for these boys and girl. It’s a distillation of all things that made that decade so great, so expect lashings of Hammond and guitar solos by the truckload.

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas everyone and here's to a great day tomorrow. Next year promises to be packed full of Lost Jewels goodies and loads of other stuff that is in the planning stages. Lots of exciting articles coming up for Fireworks and the the usual AOR Underground goodness in Powerplay. Have a great time. XX

16/12/2023

The Stables Theatre in Milton Keynes saw a band shining brighter than a thousand (kickstarted) suns last night. A packed house of over four hundred people got to witness Cats In Space at their most beguiling best, a fluid display of musicality that at times almost seemed nonchalant, but was far from it. Back in July I witnessed this show in Lancaster, in its infancy and watched a very tentative display in the opening hour as they found their way around songs they’d never played live before. At the time I stated that this show was akin to a snowball being pushed down a hill, gaining momentum with each gig until, like last night, it became an unstoppable avalanche of preposterous proportions. The gig was the perfect business model for where this band want to be in the next year or two, a theatre extravaganza that was pure entertainment for over two hours. They pulled at every emotion last night, from the simplistic ‘Hero’ through to the bombastic ‘Bootleg Bandoleros’, it was like they were hard wired into your nervous system inducing unadulterated adulation. And that was just in the first half, by the time they concluded their second set this crowd were on a feline frequency as the Cats whipped them into a fervent frenzy via tracks like ‘Too Many Gods’, ‘Marionettes’, ‘Thunder In The Night’ and ‘I Fell Out Of Love With Rock & Roll’. They are the champions of cheeriness, the titans of tenacity and the band that put the grand into grandiose. This was as good as anything I’ve seen this year, a spectacle that was put together on a shoestring, but looked like a million dollars.

14/12/2023

Tonight, from the deep south of Derby, These Wicked Rivers gave Chester a good kicking. This was my first sighting of this most wonderful of bands and I have to say I was impressed. They are most certainly a better live band than their recorded output would have you believe. Their stage set was straight from the early seventies, all scarfs and lampshades and multi-coloured backdrops made it look quite delightful. They also looked the part, with guitarist Arran Day looking like a renegade from Skynyrd or Blackfoot via the Confederate army. He also had a nice line in pirouettes and reminded me of Blackfoot's Charlie Hargrett at times. They played a lot of new stuff tonight with the likes of 'Lonely Road', 'The Family' and 'Force of Nature' boding well for their new album in March. With crowd favourites 'Testify' and the electrifying 'Don't Pray For Me' rounding out a succinct and sweet set, their future looks very promising.
Openers The Karma Effect (Pictured) are quite possibly one of this country's best new classic rock bands, with tonight's performance just cementing that reputation. With a new album, 'The Promised Land', out in the new year and a tour with Bad Touch in March, big things are around the corner for this most wonderful of bands. With songs like 'Steal Your Heart' and 'Testify' in their arsenal, how can they fail.