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@ Newcastle O2 Academy II, July 15 2010

When a band member goes solo it gives them an opportunity to explore avenues they would not tend to head down within the confines of their band.

Wil Francis has done exactly that and, under the moniker of ‘William Control’, he has replaced the guitars and double beat drums with electronic synths and backing tracks.  This was Control’s first venture across to the UK as a solo artist and with Newcastle the first night of the tour it proved an interesting challenge for the Aiden frontman. Read the rest of this entry »

@ Newcastle O2 Academy II, July 10 2010

There’s something to be said for chemistry when it comes to four musicians playing rock and roll in a sweaty little club on a Saturday night.

And while Dan Baird’s Homemade Sin won’t be winning Grammys anytime soon they’ll be winning the hearts and minds of music fans the world over for as long as they deliver to this standard. Read the rest of this entry »

@ Newcastle The Northumberland Arms, July 9 2010

On a balmy Friday evening in Newcastle, Plugged-In staged 16 acts across five venues in the city.  Unfortunately, there were also 40th birthday parties, festivals and, frankly, the option to stay in and watch the Raoul Moat/ Gazza action unfold. What to do?

For me and about 40 others, the buzz surrounding the Glitterati made the choice easy.  I had never seen them live and, as they were playing a charity gig as part of Plugged-In, we headed down to see just what they were made of. Read the rest of this entry »

@ Newcastle Legends, July 2 2010

Newcastle got out the hairspray and the eyeliner and returned to the heady days of hair metal for a night of glam with Tigertailz headlining a great four-band line-up.

Kicking off the night was Oslo based band Citizen Charlie. At a time when female rock singers are a rarity, Charlie has the rock and roll swagger of Joan Jett with a voice that is also reminiscent of the ex- Runaway, with a little Patti Smith thrown in for good measure.

Dripping with sarcasm Rock And Roll Poser is a ‘tongue in cheek’ commentary on male musicians and definitely brought a smile to my face.

Next up, Falling Red stormed the stage with high energy and attitude. Tipped by both Classic Rock and Rock The North Magazine as one of the hottest bands of the year, Falling Red lived up to my expectations. Read the rest of this entry »

This week we check out new releases from Joe Elliott’s much vaunted side project Down N Outz - available now with Classic Rock Magazine – and retro singer songwriter Chris Singleton.

There’s some sensational old skool metal from Swedes Grand Magus.

And we review and rate the latest Metal Heaven releases as Bad Habit and Wicked Sensation deliver the melodic rock soundtracks to your summer. Read the rest of this entry »

@ Manchester Academy 1, June 24 2010

When The Gaslight Anthem first touched down on British soil in the summer of 2008 to play a handful of small club shows they had no idea on what they were about to accomplish in this country within two years.

The four fresh-faced punks born out of New Jersey delighted audiences up and down the country with their brand of soulful, Springsteen-esque punk rock. Read the rest of this entry »

@ Newcastle o2 Academy, May 23 2010

This was one gig which should be filed under ‘memorable’. Coheed were incredibly cool, incredibly tight and incredibly energetic.

In fact incredible is the only way to describe an incendiary performance from the US prog metal crew.

In the wake of England’s World Cup win against Slovenia – the Academy had screened the game live – those packed into the venue were already in high spirits by the time Claudio Sanchez and co. took to the stage. The mood just got better and better as Coheed mixed back catalogue classics with choice tracks from their latest opus Year Of The Black Rainbow. Read the rest of this entry »

Hot Water Music – London Islington O2 Academy, June 21 2010

When the news reached the public that Hot Water Music would be returning after a three-year hiatus, and suspected disbandment, fans were already clammering for a UK tour.

And as the committed masses gathered around Islington’s Academy, in assorted abstract band t-shirts, excitement began to rise as they were about to witness an act that no-one expected to grace these shores again. Read the rest of this entry »

This week we review and rate the debut album by Milwaukee’s finest Major Tom (pictured) as the unsigned rockers make their bid for stardom.

But if 70s glam-influenced tunes aren’t your bag then we’ve got more metal than you could possibly manage as we check out new releases from the disturbing Nachtmystium, the furious Angelus Apatrida and terrifying Brit crew Trigger The Bloodshed. Read the rest of this entry »

This week we take a look at four of the hottest new releases as another cracking summer of rock gathers pace.

There’s the second album from US heroes The Gaslight Anthem and some old school thrash courtesy of the mighty Korzus.

We check out rising stars of the UK metal scene Envy Of The State and review Download stars Anarbor. Read the rest of this entry »