Give Me The Fear - Tokyo Dragons (released 26 September 2005)

Not a live review in any shape or form, but I still felt the need to post something about this album so here it is.

I first heard the TD’s at the ‘Rock In The Castle’ festival in Scarborough and was very impressed by them. They were way down the line-up but immediately got my foot tapping and head nodding as I became absorbed by their set. This album is no different.

This is how I remember rock ‘n roll sounded...[more]

Live At Woodstock (DVD) - Jimi Hendrix (released 19 September 2005)

Everyone knows that Jimi Hendrix was good but seeing him at Woodstock really brings it home.

The fluidity and style with which he played – not to mention the soul – were out of this world. Delays on the day meant Jimi and his band of gypsies didn’t go on stage until 9am which might have been a pain for the festival-goers but it does make it easier to examine his playing all these years later. His dexterity and speed throughout some incredibly complex arrangements is plain to see and it is truly breath-taking.

This DVD is not perfect though. Critics point out that it is not a complete reproduction of the set as two songs with Larry Lee on vocals are excluded. Also, ‘Hear My Train A-Comin’ is only included in amateur black and white footage on disc-2 as the official cameramen...[more]

The Wildhearts Strikeback (released 25 October 2004)

No, this isn’t a live music review in the traditional sense but it is a review of live music on a CD and therefore worthy of mention, in my opinion. The fact it’s by the world’s greatest band, The Wildhearts, is sheer coincidence. Honest.

When I heard that The Wildhearts were releasing a live record I was chuffed to bits because after attending their gigs for over 10 years I was dying to have a bona-fide, official memento of their superb performances. Perhaps it’s because my hopes were so high that it inevitably failed to live up to expectations.

Firstly, I should say that the track-listing is spot on – the usual blend of old, new, well-known and less well-known – mixing up songs from a couple of different shows and the fact it is a double-CD is a bonus. However, what was missing for me was the energy and enthusiasm of the live shows. Yes, it is hard, or even impossible, to portray this on record but even so I feel it is a huge dis-service to the band that their shows are left to sound this ordinary on record...[more]