Veteran blues-rocker Bernie Marsden has just released his second blues solo album in one year. Chess, released on November 26th, is the follow-up to his Kings album from July 23rd, in which he specifically paid homage to Albert King, BB King and Freddie King, three of the most influential blues guitarists in history – the..
Paul Gilbert – ‘Twas (The Players Club / Mascot)
For those familiar with Gilbert’s metal-based guitar shredding technique, the idea of him releasing an album of Christmas covers might seem a little twee. Others though, might see it as a great opportunity for a loud and proud karaoke singalong to a bunch of familiar party tunes played at full volume. They would both be..
Breakthrough – Underground Sounds of 1971 (Esoteric / Cherry Red)
One of the perks of this job is that you get to listen to music of various types that probably wouldn’t have come across the threshold under normal conditions. It’s a further perk that you sometimes get to compare it with something else you also wouldn’t have come across in any other way. For instance,..
Davy Knowles – the interview
Chinese food goes everywhere and gets stepped on and everyone’s crying… The Isle of Man is a miniature country that carves its own way in the world. Parked out in the Irish Sea between Scotland and Northern Ireland, part of the British Isles but no member of the United Kingdom, it has its own government..
Joe Bonamassa – Time Clocks (Provogue / Mascot)
Blues guitar hero Joe Bonamassa’s live and studio output has been prodigious in recent years. Add in his business and charitable ventures, and it’s clear that he likes to keep himself busy. Nevertheless, it’s the studio albums that are the real highlights, presenting new material that is reworked and moulded into his live shows. Trouble..
Davy Knowles – What Happens Next (Provogue / Mascot)
If you’re struggling to place the name, it’s possible that you know Manxman Davy Knowles from his band Back Door Slam, which released a slew of albums and EPs between 2007 and 2009. Knowles released some more recordings with a different band under the name Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, and then went full..
Joanne Shaw-Taylor – The Blues Album (KTBA Records)
It seems that every new release in the wide world of blues rock these days has Joe Bonamassa’s fingerprints on it somewhere. Not that that’s a bad thing – on the contrary, as well as being the world’s foremost blues guitarist, his mentoring and production skills and marketing acumen seem to sprinkle a little stardust..
Starlite Campbell Band – The Language Of Curiosity (Supertone Records)
There is a flourishing underground scene right now, of musical acts – soloists, duos, trios and full bands – who take their cues from the sixties and seventies, insist on using vintage gear and techniques, and present themselves in retro fashion, but with original material and a modern take on the world. The scene has..
Obituary – Alan Lancaster, former Status Quo bassist
I know exactly when I first became a Status Quo fan – it was in June 1978, when I was 15 and went on holiday to Spain with a mate and his family. My friend brought some of his cassette collection with him – he was a massive Quo fan, and by the end of..
Robert Jon, photo by Phil Honley
Robert Jon & The Wreck – The Bourne Club, Sittingbourne, 17/09/2021
Thursday 5th March 2020. That was the last time I went to a live gig, one of the fortunate ones to see Samantha Fish before she had to pack up her tour halfway through due to the Covid lockdown. Here we are, 18 months later, and I’m fortunate again to break my fast on Robert..