Lords of The Riff Tour turns out to be the most aptly named tour since T.Y.R.s "Where the fuck are we tour'.
A Classic Rock/Metal Hammer sponsored tour, it brings together Scorpion
Child (Texas), Monster Truck (Canada), and our very own emerging classic
rock sounding Buffalo Summer (Wales).
The event was the last night of the UK tour held at Manchester's
Roadhouse venue - not the best venue in the world. Fuck, its probably
not the best venue in the street! It was completely oversold, with 275 in the venue, (capacity 250 max!), however, it's still a great
place to get as close to your idols as you could possibly imagine. Only
trouble is, unless you're in the first couple of rows, basically you're
going to see four fiths of fuck-all!
Buffalo Summer came on to a small-ish crowd. These Zep influenced Welsh
young guns have grown in stature since last years HRH AOR appearance.
They dress as if they are in the 70s (my guess is that this is how its
like in S Wales as its 30yrs behind the fashions in the north part of
Cambria)
They play with the verve and vigour of a band wanting to grab you by the
balls (and other lady parts) and make you listen. With songs such as
'Down To The River', 'A Horse Called Freedom', and new ones like 'Money', then
its surely a matter of time before these guys are playing to much
bigger audiences. Bring on album No.2!
Monster Truck and Scorpion Child have been taking turns as to who finish
the shows. Second on were The Truck. Having made the sound-check the last
just went straight into album opener "old Train" with singer/bassist
Jon Harvey looking like Blackfoot's Charley Hargrett (in his hey-day),
and sounding like the bastard love child of Joe Cocker and James Brown!
Nice!
Guitarist Jeremy Wiederman hops and jumps around the stage like a
tazmanian devil, and the combined thunder of Harvey's bass, Steve Kiely's
frantic drumming, and Brandon Bliss' organ (f'narr!), means that the
energy given off could power their own amplification. A mix of their EP
and 'Furiosity', the oustanding highlights were 'The Lion', 'Old Train', 'My
Love is True', and the totally awesome 'For The Sun', a song that reminds
me of Blackmore/Dio in their 70s magnificence.
Scorpion Child were a man down, but two in reality, due to the recent
departure of a drummer and rhythm guitarist, but it did not detract one
iota.
I mean this with no disrespect to Scorpion Child, but the audience seemed to thin out after
Monster Truck. Well, shame on them! Where MT seem more of a man's band, I
think a few of the lovely ladies were there solely for SC front man Aryn
Jonathan Black. I think he dropped something just before he came on
stage and it wasn't his keys! It's easy to point the Led Zep finger at SC
and Black, but they still have enough in their locker to dispel this
comparison.
I sense I bit of dress style going on; all had great shoes, and what
looked like really comfortable trousers. Think Farah for the rock
generation, that only a 47 yr old like me would notice! Black was doing a
double denim look, but jacket and waistcoat, and looked all the rock
star he was.
There was no warming up here folks, just....BOOM! In yer face right from
the off. Scorpion Child have the swagger and confidence in their live
shows that bands with 30 years of experience fail to muster up! Bassist
Shaun Avants just strutted like a peacock with a bass, and what with
Blacks interaction with the crowd, and stage presence, new drummer, Jon
Rice's Muppet Animal style and Christopher Jay Cowarts lead guitar, I
truly din not know who to keep my eyes on as it was all compelling.
'Kings Highway', 'Polygon Of Eyes' and 'Antioch' had the crowd buzzing.
Undoubtedly, Monster Truck definitely have the songs, but fuck me, Scorpion Child have the stage presence.
After a show like tonight, all I can say is that the SC album does not
do this band justice. A decent album but a frigging lightning bolt-jolt
of a gig from the Texans. I came as a fan mainly of The Truck, but also
left with a place in my heart for Scorpion Child.
Where their/my T-shirt states 'Don't fuck with the truck' I urge the
people at CR/MH not to fuck with this tour either. Bring it back later
in the year, same bands, but bigger and better venues. You cant fuck
with perfection!!
THE BEST FUN YOU CAN HAVE FOR A TENNER WITHOUT TAKING YOUR CLOTHES OFF.....FACT!!!!
The site is moving. Please redirect to www.needle-in-the-groove.com as blogger won’t let me redirect to a non-blogger site Rock Reviews - Classic. AOR. Prog. Metal. Album Reviews - Interviews - Live Reviews A blog dedicated to followers of Rock music. email - chesyrockreviews@gmail.com Twitter - @chesyrockreview Now on Facebook! 'Chesyrockreviews'
About Me
- aorwxm
- Born in the late 60's, Chesy hails from a Welsh mining village with a long name and was pretty glad when he got the Hell out of there. He got into Rock/Metal in about 1980, thanks to a TISWAS related incident (Rainbow video for All Night Long) and thankfully has never looked back. Chesy often sang solo in the school choir, but thanks to a puberty related incident his voice is now completely bolloxed, although in his own head Paul thinks he sounds like a blend of Coverdale and Dio (R.I.P). He was brought up on the classics - Deep Purple, Rainbow, Thin Lizzy, Rush, Whitesnake and loved melodic rock and the Hair Bands of the 80's. (Nowadays, he has progressed a little and prefers a more technical and/or progressive metal - Dream Theater, Rush, Symphony X, Porcupine Tree, Pain Of Salvation, Spock's Beard. He hates Black and Death Metal (can't stand the grunting) but for some unknown reason loves the magnificent Opeth! He wont stop this blog until his beloved FM finally play the likes of the NEC as a headlining act!!!
Saturday 29 March 2014
Saturday 22 March 2014
John Wesley - 'Disconnect' Album Review
Most
recently, John Wesley has performed as sideman, guitarist/vocalist for
critically acclaimed UK based recording act Porcupine Tree, during the 'In
Absentia', 'Deadwing', 'Fear of a Blank Planet', and 'The Incident' world tours. He has
performed in the band for nine years, culminating in 2010 with sold out
performances at Radio City Music Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.
John
Wesley's professional music career began in the early 1980's in the Tampa,
Florida area where he founded 1991 Southwestern Music Conference's showcase act
Autodrive. The following year Wesley embarked on a solo career and became the
premier opening act for British progressive rockers Marillion on seven
consecutive tour legs around the world — especially North and South America,
the UK and Europe — where he played for hundreds of thousands of fans. In 1998,
Wesley embarked with White Lion frontman Mike Tramp on an extensive tour as
premier opening act for the prestigious Peter Frampton/Lynryd Skynyrd tour.
Following
this was several world tours as lead guitarist for Scottish neo-prog legend
Fish. In 2001, John Wesley was the primary co-writer of Fish’s 'Fellini Days'
album. He began touring as guitarist and backing vocalist for Porcupine Tree in
2002, and has continued his role with the band through four album cycles and
over 450 shows. In 2011 he performed guitar during Steven Wilson's North
'American Grace for Drowning' tour. In 2013, Wesley toured as lead guitarist with
Simon Collin's 'Sound of Contact' to support the 'Dimensionaut' album. Wesley has
also toured the U.S. and Europe extensively to support his independent releases
– performing as opening act for Marillion, Fish, Porcupine Tree, Sister Hazel,
and Blackfield. I emplore you to dig out a copy of an album John appeared on in
2009 by 'Tilt – Million Dollar Wound', review is still knocking around somewhere!
'Disconnect'
is the opening track and single from the album. The
concept behind the video was to touch upon a sci-fi story about a man who was
‘overdrawn’ at the Memory Bank, a place you could go to when you had to
‘disconnect’ from a painful memory, but at the risk of losing your mind…
It has all the ethereal qualities of
the like of the now defunct Porcupine Tree, and 'Disconnect' fits nicely in this
genre. But, think more in the creative vein of Rush and Pink Floyd, than the
likes of Genesis, Yes and Tull. Wesley is certainly one hell of a capable
guitarist and his solo's just ebb and flow like the oncoming tide in Somerset!!!
(British humour, as you can tell by the correct spelling of humour!)
'Any Old Saint' is just an immense slice
of rock proficiency. Wesley wrings some sweet notes on what I can only describe
as a quite monstrous and delightful guitar solo. His voice isn’t the strongest,
but he's no slouch either. Sing to your strengths? Absolutely!
Wesley managed to rope in Rush legend
Alex Lifeson for ‘Once A Warrior’. The guitar refrain reminds me slightly of
‘Spoonman’ by Soundgarden, mixed together with Rush era 'Hemispheres', and the
result as one classy affair. Lifeson is definitely at his best when he has his
rock hat on! ‘Window’ is as likely a radio friendly poppier song as youre
likely to get on Disconnect and shows another side to Wesley. As you can tell, ‘Disconnect’
is ‘white hot’. Wesley has had a musical epiphany, not worrying about what is
prog and what isn’t, if it feels right, do it, and ‘do it’ he has, with bells
and with knobs on! It’s just one consistent belter after another. Mary Will has
that kind on film soundtrack feel it, a broody darker piece that would enhance
any cinematic mood.
John Wesley has surpassed anything he
has done previously, a remarkable album with some truly excellent guitarwork at
the forefront, with experimental textures and arrangements that will make
Disconnect stand out from the bunch. Why use one effects pedal, when you can
use them all…!
I cant wait to see what he will do next
time around as this will take some beating!
Definitely
a must for fans or The Tree, Floyd and Von Herzen Bros.
Score 90/100
JOHN
WESLEY - Disconnect
1.
Disconnect (05:20)
2.
Any Old Saint (07:43)
3.
Once A Warrior (06:51)
4.
Window (03:32)
5.
Gets You Everytime (03:33)
6.
Mary Will (05:12)
7.
Take What You Need (05:20)
8.
How Goes The War (03:34)
9.
New Life Old Sweat (05:03)
10.
Satellite (05:32)
John Wesley
online
john-wesley.com
facebook.com/johnwesleyofficial twitter.com/johnwesleymusic
www.youtube.com/johnwesleymusic instagram.com/johnwesley
johnwesleymusic.tumblr.com/ pinterest.com/johnwesleymusic/
Line-Up:
John
Wesley - vocals, backing vocals, and guitars Dean Tidey - guitars, Disconnect (1st guitar solo), Any Old Saint (1st guitar solo), Cafe Bustelo Shaker
Patrick
Bettison - bass guitar
Mark Prator - Drums and percussion
Discography:
Under
the Red and White Sky (1994) The Closing of the Pale Blue Eyes (1995) The
Emperor Falls (1998)
Chasing Monsters (2002)
Shiver (2005)
The Lilypad Suite
(2011)
Disconnect (2014)
Saturday 8 March 2014
L.R.S. - Down To The Core album review
L.R.S. started
initially as a way to bring back to the public the amazing vocal talent of
Tommy La Verdi, a singer which came to the attention of the fans on the
fabulous 21 GUNS debut album "Salute" way back in what seemed an
eternity in 1992, the whole project morphed into a power band trio when two
other well known musicians: guitar player Josh Ramos and drummer Michael
Shotton were brought into the picture by the album producer and busiest guy in
AOR, Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE).
The writing sessions were fast and steady, with Del Vecchio managing all contributions from the band members – who lived in different places - and offering a number of his own writings and co-writings to the band, which was anyway able to develop a distinct sound in the tradition of JOURNEY / THE STORM, with hints of Canadian AOR – and do you know what…they’ve bloody well nailed it!
The writing sessions were fast and steady, with Del Vecchio managing all contributions from the band members – who lived in different places - and offering a number of his own writings and co-writings to the band, which was anyway able to develop a distinct sound in the tradition of JOURNEY / THE STORM, with hints of Canadian AOR – and do you know what…they’ve bloody well nailed it!
“I felt honored when Serafino Perugino, Frontiers Records President, offered me the opportunity to return to the homeland of my family and to work with people I respect artistically”, says Tommy La Verdi. “My only complaint is that it went by so fast. I will be happy to continue making many records with Alessandro and Frontiers Records in the future! One the songs on the album is called "I Will Find My Way" and when I got lost while going for a fast little walk in the forest of Somma Lombardo before going into the studio, that song was suddenly my favorite… 8 hours later, it was nice to know that Alessandro and Josh were actually worried about me. We all became friends so quickly, it was very sad to leave each other after we finished recording and filming the videos. I really would love to get this band on the road and play these songs in front of a live audience. We just need to make sure that Frontiers doesn't book any of the shows close to the forest!”
Serafino Perugino is
a guy who knows what he wants and I expect he has little issue in getting what
he wants done. A fan first and foremost, he is responsible for getting some
pretty decent bands formed and RE-formed and in the main for the right reasons.
Here with L.R.S. he has gone and put a gem of a line-up together, and I really
doubt if anyone else out there could do this
L.R.S. have been
formed in the image of some of the great melodic rock bands of the 80s, namely
the Bay Area giants that are Journey. A perfect example of this is the
opening track ‘Our Love To Stay’. It’s a song that would fit in with any
Journey opus of the 80s, and a song that Journey only wish they could muster up
in the 21st Century.
‘Livin 4 A Dream’ is
a straight out of the box ‘get under your skin’ number. ‘Never Surrender’ has
all the opening hallmarks of Journeys ‘Be Good To Yourself’, and is a definite
summer feel good anthem that the AOR fans will lap up in their droves. Theres
the inevitable power ballads, ‘To Be Your Man’ being one, which gives LaVerdi
the opportunity so show off his chops; and the obligatory harder edge song
‘Down To The Core’ to give Ramos’ fingers a flexing, and potential FM/ Internet
radio friendly ‘Waiting For Love’, and final epic closer in ‘Not One way To
Give’.
I could be a little critical and say that some
of the songs are formulaic, but…so are 90% of songs that are out there, and
some bands have lived on the same formula for 30 years, so its not that bad to
work to a formula! Despite that, it’s a very well produced, above average
album, especially when there a tendency for projects like this to get in, get
out and bank some money. L.R.S. are definitely 'not guilty' of passing go and
heading straight to their nearest ‘Bank Of America’ branch.
The resulting album promises to be a shining example of today's AOR music with soaring vocals from a superb vocalist who comes back into the well deserved spotlight and some exquisite guitar playing from Ramos. This is an album not to be missed and an AOR highlight for early 2014!
LRS will also play as a live unit which is great news, and I for one will see you at Frontiers Fest in Milan at the beginning of May
SCORE 85/100
Tracklisting:
Our Love To Stay; Livin’ 4 A Dream; I Can Take You There; Never Surrender; Almost Over You; Shadow Of A Man; Universal Cry; To Be Your Man; Down To The Core; I Will Find My Way; Waiting For Love; Not One Way To Give.
LRS
Tommy La Verdi - lead vocals
Josh Ramos - guitars
Michael Shotton – drums, backing vocals
With:
Alessandro Del Vecchio keyboards, hammond organ, backing vocals
Nicola Mazzucconi bass, fretless bass
Anna Portalupi bass, fretless bass
Jamie Browne bass
Tommy La Verdi - lead vocals
Josh Ramos - guitars
Michael Shotton – drums, backing vocals
With:
Alessandro Del Vecchio keyboards, hammond organ, backing vocals
Nicola Mazzucconi bass, fretless bass
Anna Portalupi bass, fretless bass
Jamie Browne bass
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