Romeo's Daughter - Live Review, Barnoldswick Arts Centre 26th Jan, 2025

 

Romeo’s Daughter

Venue: Barnoldswick Arts Centre

Date: 26th January 2025

What happens when a great band, teams up with a great venue and the result is an acoustic set that will be recorded for a live album released later in 2025? I'll tell you….its Heaven…(you can fill the rest by yourself)

This appearance was the second gig to be recorded over this weekend. Sandwiched in-between was a set with just Craig and Leigh performing and taking part in a Q&A which I would have loved to have been present at.

To say the Arts Centre is bijou is an understatement at the venue holds something like 40 people. It really does feel special when you’re a part of Romeo's Daughter gig in such small numbers and puts you right in the centre with the band. 

A lot of bands will write songs acoustically, before taking everything up to eleven. The true test of a song is if an amplified electric song transfers to acoustic and is just as interesting and great as the original version. I can tell you right now, that the songs played tonight are a perfect testament to their craft. 

There is a certain magic about Romeo’s Daughter. A band that has been around long enough to be considered veterans, yet still delivering performances with the vitality of a group fresh out of the blocks. If melodic rock/AOR had a royal family, these guys would be holding court - and tonight at Barnoldswick they proved exactly why.

From the off I could tell we were in for a good night, we could cheer and shout as loud as 40 people can muster for this special occasion of a live recording. 

Most of the songs tonight are from the 2nd wave of Romeo's Daughter and rightly so as there are so many great songs since they reformed. First a triple-header from ‘Rapture’. How ‘Bittersweet’ and ‘Alive’ have not made Romeo's Daughter the darlings of Radio 2 is beyond my comprehension. Leigh Matty has always had the likes of sultry, smoky and sexy to describe her vocals, in this acoustic steering its even more so. It's not long before a trip to the past comes knocking with ‘Colour You A Smile’, and the crowd - small but mighty- responded in kind.

Attending a Romeos Daughter gig is like being in a family. Craig, Leigh and Andy have been together for so long that they could almost finish each others sentences except from figuring what song came from their albums ‘Enemy’ and made for a good laugh, as did Graig forgetting how ‘Time Of Your Life’ actually started. He did comment that ‘its an interesting experiment, retraining the brain to learn the acoustic versions’. Afterwards he did comment that Leighs arms were akin to ‘Pointy Bob’ from Magnum.

They snuck in ‘Since You Went Away’ which only appeared on Organik. The final song of the first set was ‘Cry Myself To Sleep’ an absolute banger of a song, sounding great as an acoustic version.

There was a brief interlude before a second set. 

The second set opened with Wild Child. Heart is the biggest band to cover a Romeos Daughter song if you exclude Steps. Heart's version is a very good cover, but I will always prefer the original. Craig had mixed the intro up a bit which I am a big fan of.  I love a version where its either like for like, or a new interpretation, this was a mix of the two. The latest album is possibly their finest, and ‘Over You’ and ‘Everything’ were present and represent Romeo's Daughter at their utmost best. But this was no nostalgic trip. Tracks from the last 3 albums slotted in seamlessly, proving that Romeo's Daughter is still writing music that holds it own against their classics

A sing-a-long ensued for ‘Don’t Break My Heart’, which the final song being a Tom Petty cover of ‘You Wreck Me’, a song that didn’t chart in the US singles but is a fire cracker of a song, and excellently chosen, and played.

So, that is it. A gig I will remember for a ling time. I was present at the live gig in Derby in 2014, and it was a pleasure to be present at such a small and intimate gig. It was a stunning set from a band that deserves every bit of the reverence they receive. If you get the chance to see them live, take it.

Review by Paul Chesworth

9/10 Still……Heaven In The Back Seat

 

Lightning

Bittersweet

Alive

Colour you a smile

How does it feel

Will be

Time of Your Life

Since you went away (organic)

Cry Myself To Sleep 

Interval 

Wild Child

Enemy

Fly away

Radio

Talking love

Over You

Everything 

Don’t Break My Heart

Tom Petty cover - You Wreck Me

Scarlet Rebels - 'Where The Colours Meet' Album Review

Scarlet Rebels - Where The Colours Meet

What seems like hot on the heels of 'See Through Blue' is Scarlet Rebels third studio album ‘Where The Colours Meet’. Unless your forename is Trigger, you can see a pattern emerging here, essentially ‘lliw’ or ‘lliwiau’. Yes, the lads like a bit of colour in their lives, and its not always red. This album after a couple of listens is brought to you by the colour Black. The last album, ‘See Through Blue’ made it into the UK Top 10 which is no mean feat even by todays standards

Being with a label like Earache has done the lads a world of good. Why you ask? Well, collaborations with Elles Bailey who sings on ‘Out of Time’ and Ricky Warwick add his songwriting skills to ‘My House My Rules’ but more of these two shortly.

One immediate impression is that the Rebels have seriously upped the ante with the quality of songs on offer. Its common for a band to hit you with both barrels on the opening track, and Secret Drug is no exception with its twangy guitar opening giving me a Dokken ‘Its Not Love’ vibe with a blend of ACDC for good measure. For the sharp knives paying attention will know that ‘Let Me In’ is from the last album that the guys did under the V0id moniker. The production is upped and is a more polished version, its still my favourite from the ‘Keep Fighting’ album.  Three songs in and its the utterly brilliant ‘It Was Beautiful’ If you watch the video its so subdued and sad, as Wayne couldn’t look sadder even if he had run over his dog in the tour van. 

’Grace’ is an upbeat anthem and the polar opposite in terms of the vibe of ‘IWB’. ‘Out of Time’ features the rather splendid Elles Bailey, in an emotional break-up song and is utter class. Its a modern rock balled of the highest order, something that Bryan Adams would have made into a huge hit in the early 90s. After 6 songs I think Ive found a thread as Mr Doyle has found a rich vein of sorrow and pain. You don’t need therapy when you can put it in a song for you and your fans to relate to, as is heard in ‘How Much Is Enough’ and ‘Practice Run’ and ‘Who Wants To Be In Love Anyway’ which has a good 80s vibe to it.

‘Streets on Fire’ is another anthem shoe-in for the live gigs. ‘Divide And Conquer’ stops you in your tracks. It's a pulsating, no-nonsense all out rocker. The final track ‘My House My Rules’ was co-written with Ricky Warwick. It's a fitting ending to a captivating album. 

Theres elements and influences coming from many sources. From Springsteen to U2, and Petty to Springfield and the Phonics to DC. They are all here in a little melting pot of colour, that combine for a recipe for success.

Scarlet Rebels have really outdone themselves with ‘WTCM’. Everything shouts out from the rooftops as to its class. The production is better than anything they have done before which elevates the songs to higher levels. The next album though is going to be really happy!

9/10

Secret Drug

Let Me In

It Was Beautiful

Grace

Declining

Our Of Time (Feat. Elles Bailey)

How Much Is Enough

Practice Run

Streets Of Fire

Who Wants to Be In Love Anyway

Divide And Conquer

My House My Rules

 

Black Country Communion - 'V' Review

 

Black Country Communion - V

2024 sees the fifth release by the mega-rock group Black Country Communion. Surprisingly after the last album was BCCIV, they’ve gone with….and I know you’ll be surprised….V

The gang is all back, fighting fit and raring to go. In case you have been living under a rock, for the uninitiated, BCC includes the talents of Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Sherinian, and Jason Bonham. Also along for the ride is erstwhile collaborator Kevin ‘Caveman’ Shirley. For the sake of everything thats come before I think BCC 1-4 have had some really great songs that you could probably make up on hell of a single album with. But with V, and I don’t know if this is because the break between albums has been is greatest, but they have come back supercharged and with added ‘Ooomph!’

Founded in MMIX, BCC came out of the traps like a stabbed rat with 3 albums in 3 years, 2010-2012. This followed with BCCIV coming 5 years further down the line. A break up ensued in 2012 with Hughes stating that Afterglow might be the bands last album, blaming the bands lack of regular touring.  Things got heated, a gig in Wolverhampton was pulled, and Bonamassa wouldn’t let the other 3 use the name Black Country Communion.

However the fickle finger of fate always seems to raise its head when there good chemistry and money on the table (I.e.album sales). I might sound that I have a  bone to pick, but I honestly do not. Ive loved Hughes voice ever since I first heard Burn. Whilst I don’t own a single Bonamassa album, one of my fave BCC songs is The Last Song For My Resting Place. As far as Bonham and Sheridan go I was a fan of Airrace, Bonham, and Sherinians time spent in Dream Theatre and Platypus.

Some 7 years after BCCIX, comes, V. With V BCC have probably (definitely) released their best and most consistent piece of work to date. Hughes is an absolute beast of a vocalist. He has no right to sing this good. He is one of the few (if any) where their voice has got even better in their 7th decade. If you think that the opener ‘Enlightened’ blows away the cobwebs then wait until you get your lug’oles around the first 2 singles where Hughes brings the funk into ‘Stay Free’, with its roots coming from Wild Cherry, and ‘Red Sun’ has a riff that’ll loosen those fillings for you without even having to find a NHS dentist. I can only dream of a set that are like Glenns!

‘Restless’ sees Joe come to the fore for the blues soaked ‘Restless’. ‘Letting Go’ has a riff that AC/DC Bon Scott era would have been proud of. ‘Skyway’ has echoes of ‘Space Trucking’ courtesy of Sherinians opening salvo. In many of the songs it is a vocal and guitar riff trade off between Bonamassa and Hughes. Whatever Joe can play, Glenn can match him in vocal histrionics. Such so is the intro to ‘You’re Not Alone’ I half expect Joe Cocker to pipe up. The song soon melds into Black Zeppelin territory (it had to appear somewhere!) and Bonamassa steps up to the mic in the main. Its a fair trade off, and you have to have a certain amount of confidence to trade off with Hughes, and it works well, and should happen more frequently. 

Theres a thunder and lightning approach to the relatively short ‘Too Far Gone’. Hughes goes on a few vocal runs, whilst Sherinian whips out his Hammond. Finally we are up to ‘The Open Road’ and we are back in Hughes’ bedroom funking it out, but with Bonamassa taking over the reins for the explosive solo in the second half. (I wonder if in future Bonamassa will quit, quoting Blackmore that BCC was turning into a EXPLETIVE band). I certainly hope not.

So, the super-group moniker is used far too freely, but in the case of BCC it is very rightly so. All the gang bring their own game to V, making it one of the best rock albums if 2024, and the best in the BCC catalogue

Okay, so they cant tour for love or money, but is one hell of a legacy to leave behind. 

9/10 or should that be IX/X

Review by Paul Chesworth

Tracklisting - 

Enlighten

Stay Free

Red Sun

Restless

Letting Go

Skyway

You’re Not Alone

Love and Faith

Too Far Gone

The Open Road

BCC are

Glenn Higher - Vocals and Bass

JoeBonamassa - Guitar and vocals

Jason Bonham - Drums

Derek Sherinian - Keys

FM - 'Old Habits Die Hard' Album Review

 

Old Habits Die Hard

In an uncertain world where we are seeing wars being fought, economies crashing and Trump still being a massive bell, its good to know that some things never change - such as an album dropping every other year from AOR and British rock stalwarts, the mighty FM.

The album has been released to coincide with their 40th anniversary (1984-2024), which is a huge milestone because there are not that many AOR/melodic rock bands around, let alone producing new music especially with any consistency. In FM’s case prolific doesn’t describe them enough. Its no good being prolific if the quality isn’t there. Thankfully FM rip up the rulebook and in ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ they have produced some of their finest work since 2010s Metropolis.

Following 2022’s ‘Thirteen’ album, ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ was delayed slightly by keyboard player Jem Davis’ cancer diagnosis (thankfully he’s now received the all-clear) and then by the sudden passing of FM’s founding guitarist Chris Overland (Steve’s brother), which hit the band hard.

“Chris’s passing came out of the blue and it was devastating,” says Steve. To add insult to injury, close friend of the band and longtime collaborator of Jim Kirkpatrick, guitarist Bernie Marsden passed away just two days after Chris.”

The tragedies that plagued the band through the recording process only reinforced FM’s resolve and desire to make the best album that they could to represent their 40 years in the business. The new album is also a fitting tribute to Chris Overland.

On a first listen, it feels like Steve et al (sorry I went all David Coverdale for a moment there) have been Digging Up The Dirt on what used to be the standard offering back in the 80s where you could hear  more than a passing influence from the likes of Toto and Bad Company in particular.

Opening song ‘Out Of The Blue’ takes the Toto AOR/West Coast vibe and its a very smooth sounding track that bands like Toto and Chicago would kill for today. I hate the term Yacht Rock, but in Overlands case its more like Train Rock, as he is the Biff Byford of AOR who share a passion for trains (Crosstown, Runaway, and now, Midnight) which leads us to ‘Don’t Need Another Heartache’. The riff is in ACDC territory, but this song is so Bad Company, and Foreigner sounding, I had to check that they hadn’t got their mate Mick Ralphs in on the guitar solo. ‘No Easy Way Out’ digs deep into his bag of lyrics and comes up with lines that only SO can deliver without being sugar coated. It also has the FM huge hook (pat.pending). I still don’t know how FM aren’t filling stadiums with songs like these, especially with the trademarked 5 part harmonies they offer. 

I've seen a comment that FM are playing it safe with ‘Old Habits…’. No, they are not. I think its more early FM than reformed FM, but that doesn’t mean it been played safe. 

‘Lost’ is one of the smoothest songs they have ever done. If it was any smoother it would be a deluge of dewdrops (look it up). ‘Black Water’ is one of my favourite tracks on the album. It’s the kind of slow burn that gets under the skin after repeated listens and makes FM stand out from the rest of the bunch, and it gives Jim Kirpatrick the reins to play his heart out. Its a fire-cracker of a song.

Leap Of Faith comes out of the traps like a stabbed rat. It's the heaviest song on the album, and proves that FM can rock as much an anyone else, only with infinitely better vocals and harmonies, with Overland singing his arse off. Plus I’m a sucker for a bit of Hammond (B-3, not Alison). Once you see a song called ‘California’ you know what is to come. It is also the perfect companion piece to 2015’s ‘Life Is A Highway’. We are very quickly at the sharp end and ‘Blue Sky Mind’ comes from the pen of Jem Davis who wrote about his cancer diagnosis. The a cappella beginning gives me goosebumps. 

Many, many bands have reformed from the 80s, but none of them are doing it better or more consistently than FM. ‘Old Habits..’ was self produced, and it’s one of the best sounding albums of their career.

Without a shadow of a doubt, it is the best album since Metropolis. Old Habits certainly do Die Hard (with a vengeance)

Score 9/10

Paul Chesworth

Tracklisting - 

Out Of The Blue

Don’t Need Another Heartache

No Easy Way Out

Lost

Whatever It Takes

Black Water

Cut Me Loose

Leap Of Faith

California

Another Day In My World

Blue Sly Mind

Top 10 Albums of 2023 (and a few extra)

Well dear reader its that time of year again. I appreciate the number of visits to this site that you made (well over half a million now). It’s much appreciated for a one man band of a site. It’s been a bit of a restricted year, with not many albums reviewed at all, so the Top 10 in this list are all albums I have purchased in 2023 and all come highly recommended.

1. Rival Sons - Darkfighter/Lightbringer

Darkfighter just shaded it for me out of the 2 offerings in 2023. Rival Sons has seen each album getting better than the last. I’m not 100% sure that Darkfighter is better than Feral Roots (yet), but I would have also preferred this to be a double album. To quote the Fuzzlord, Darkfighter is ‘cinematic’ which is a perfect description, and Lightbringer ‘watching the same film’. I have been watching these guys since 2011 and few bands can match them. 

Hot Track - Nobody Wants To Die / Mosaic

2. Romeos Daughter - Slipstream

Romeos Daughters first release in 8 years since Spin makes Guns ’n' Roses look prolific in their output. But….give me time over prolific any day of the week. You see, RD have never made a duff album and with Craig Joiner pulling the strings together with Leigh Matty's sultry and velvety vocals enveloping you like a warm blanket - it (Slipstream) really is Heaven In the Back Seat

Hot Track - Over You 

3. Dirty Honey - Cant Find The Brakes

Dirty Honey have been conquering the UK and Europe for the last two years. Similar to Rival Sons, Alter Bridge and now Dirty Honey, these bands are more appreciated on this side of the pond than their homeland. Their sophomore album carries on where the EP and debut album left off. In Mark LaBelle and John Notto they have one of the best rock pairings since Jon Bon and Ritchie

Hot Track - Won’t Take Me Alive

4. Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex

Whilst SWs ‘The Future Bites’ didn’t light much of a fire for me personally, its what makes Steven Wilson one of music’s great artists. He doesn’t stand still. All albums sound different, he is always pushing the envelope and rightly so. Just when you think you have the measure of him, he releases something completely different. Impossible Tightrope sounds like it’s from a 70s soundtrack to a Dirty Harry movie and then just adds more sublime layers - a choir, true prog rhythms, and seagulls. Yes, seagulls. Its 10 mins of pure unadulterated joy. Its YYZ for the twenties.

Hot Track -  Impossible Tightrope 

5. Chris Stapleton - Higher

Higher is CS’s fifth album, and bugger me its a great one. He started off in a rock band and did what is now known as a Michael Bolton, switching sides and became a songwriter and then performer. His top 5 songs on Spotify have a total (as of time of writing) of 1.8 Billion listens. No wonder his UK tour next year sold out quicker than….well, Chris Stapleton tour tickets

Hot Track - White Horse

6. Crown Lands - Fearless

Got a Rush sized hole in your life? Look no further than fellow Canadians, Crown Lands. Only in this instance they are only two. Drummer Bowles has a range every bit as high as Geddy Lee, and in Comeau multi talented doesn’t do the guy enough justice. Starlifter:Fearless Pt.II has its roots firmly planted in Hemispheres and 2112.

Hot Track - Starlifter:Fearless Pt II

7. WVH - Mammoth II

As talented as Comeau is, Wolfgang Van Halen takes it up a notch. The Van Halen name means that he will always be compared to his dad. With Mammoth II WVH has levelled any such comparison. II is more accomplished than the debut and shows he isn’t a flash in the pan and living off the name. He has even inherited the knack of making a stand out video to accompany his songs in a time when bands aren’t doing this anymore. Check out the 8minute ‘Another Celebration At The End of The World’. If this doesn’t bring a smile to your face, nothing will.

Hot Track - Another Celebration At The End Of The World

8. Ayron Jones - Chronicles Of The Kid

Thanks to my mate in the US, Gene I might never have come across AJ. Only been a fan for 2 months and his 2020s output has blown me away. He really deserves to be massive, and not in an obese way. He is probably the best solo artist you have never heard of…yet after Steven Wilson. I think 2024 is going to change that. ’Chronicles….’ is peppered with great songs. 

Hot Track - Blood In The Water

9. Those Damn Crows - Inhale/ Exhale

In late ’22 TDC supported Monster Truck. It was my first time seeing and hearing TDC and completely became a fan as they levelled The Ritz in Manchester. I/E is clearly their best album yet and are a band quickly going places. TDC dip into Alter Bridge territory with This Time Im ready, a song about the loss of Greenhalls father that resonates to everybody who has lost a loved one

Hot Track - Takedown

10. The Answer - Sundowners

I saw The Answer early on in their career supporting Alter Bridge and they blew me away. They petered away with a flicker, but returned seven years later with all guns blazing. Neeson is one rocks finest vocalists. They deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Rival Sons, just give it time and they will hopefully

Hot Track - California Rust

A few more lists....

Best Gig(s) - Overland Kirkpatrick, Romeos Daughter, The Sheepdogs, Marcus King, Larkin Poe, Dirty Honey

Best Support Band - Those Damn Crows, Ida Mae, The Sheepdogs, The Damn Truth 

Best Reissue/Box Set - Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous

Top 5 AOR

1.Romeos Daughter - Slipstream

2.Nitrate - Feel The Heat

3.Steve Overland - Six

4.Streetlight - Ignition

5.The Defiants - Drive