Van Halen – Long Version Trailer from Van Halen on Vimeo. Can the best Van Halen frontman bring it like he did in the early 1980s? Just reading that sentence over, the likelihood seems very low. Tickets are expected to be $60+. David Lee Roth left the band in 1985 and Sammy Hagar became the [...]
Mostly Autumn, The Globe, Cardiff, 14-Nov-2010
December 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Mostly Autumn are a band who have undergone a major change in the past year, with the departure of much-loved lead singer Heather Findlay and her replacement by former backing singer Olivia Sparnenn. The new incarnation had already won over a large proportion of their fanbase when they toured earlier in the year playing a [...]
Wishbone Ash, Reading Sub89, 1 November 2010
November 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
After seeing Therion, I was back at Sub89 again the following night to see Wishbone Ash. I’d seen them at Shepherds Bush Empire back in May when supported by Panic Room and Mostly Autumn. The consensus amongst fans was that Mostly Autumn in particular completely stole the show from the headliners. But since this gig [...]
Panic Room, Bilston Robin 2, 19-Sep-2010
November 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Panic Room are a Swansea-based progressive rock band that emerged from the ashes of the original lineup of the celtic/progressive band Karnataka, with Karnataka’s backing vocalist Anne-Marie Helder taking on the role of lead singer. They have so far recorded two studio albums, and made their live debut at the beginning of 2008. The Robin [...]
CD Review: Go Well Diamond Heart by Mostly Autumn
October 27, 2010 By 3 Comments
Mostly Autumn’s ninth album, the first with Olivia Sparnenn as lead singer, sees the band renewed and re-invigorated. Strongly recommended if you’re looking for a band who take the spirit of 70s classic rock and make it sound relevant for the 21st century, and love great songwriting, singing and musicianship.
Parade – The Stereo, York, 25-Sep-2010
October 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Because different band members have so many other commitments, live appearances by Parade are extremely rare, which is why I was prepared to make the 400-mile round trip to see them play in their home town of York. Parade is a project put together by York-based singer-songwriter and musician Chris Johnson, who has played at [...]
CD Review: Red Velvet Car by Heart
October 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
On Tuesday, Heart plays “Barracuda,” one of their hardest-driving tunes on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” (which I believe is a very popular TV show). I wonder how many people will recognize the band, while viewers will recognize the song because it’s played at sporting events. Heart has never been one of my favorite bands; [...]
DVD Review – Mostly Autumn, That Night in Leamington
October 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
At the beginning of the year Heather Findlay shocked the progressive rock world by announcing that she was leaving Mostly Autumn after more than a decade to embark on a solo career. The band announced that no way could she be allowed to leave without a proper goodbye. So she would be making one last [...]