Testament To Jazz

Alex Skolnick is probably best known as lead guitarist of metal band Testament but clearly likes a challenge and can certainly move to the jazz beat and score home runs with new arrangements of some Rock n Roll favourites, from Aerosmith, Scorpions and Tom Petty. An American who likes Europeans (which made the audience laugh […]

Permission To Take A Bow…

Christopher Hawkins stands aloft, a mercurial figure full of energy, with showcase charisma, fully engaged with the crowd and still has a soprano capable voice – apparently he can span a five octave range! Like a Freddy Mercury meme he struts in extravagant dress and plays out theatrical moves which normally would not work with […]

The Tempest, Sadly A Little Dreary

The Tempest Drury Lane The best takeaway was the marvellous restoration of the famous Drury Lane Theatre which has undergone a splendid metamorphosis. It was simply stunning, unlike this production of Shakespeare last play The Tempest, with Sigourney Weaver taking the lead as Prospero. The Hollywood actor was wooden throughout and imparted as much impact as […]

Newton Shaven Not Stirred.

Newton Faulkner in the game for 20 years, but new to me. He is a big guy with a looped ginger ponytail roughly tied up like a poor sailors knot into a misshapen bun on top of his head : his cheeks were shaven. He has a piecing crystal clear voice and fabulous strumming skills […]

Mighty Midge.. One Last Adventure

Dressed in dark grey suit and crew jumper which stayed on all night and with not a stand of hair in sight. Midge kicked off with Marching Men a nod to the era when he was part of new wave band Rich Kids founded by Glen Matlock (ex Sex Pistols) His voice fluctuated and was […]

The Man with the Golden Gun was Lulu

Lulu kicked off her stage performance with Shout which was appropriate as it was the starting gun on her career, she was just 15  and with a glowing endorsement from Lennon and McCartney she was on her way. She is certainly garrulous happy to share tales throughout. On the next song Heatwave she duetted with […]

Copeland -Have I Said Too Much – No Not Really…

An outlandish drummer with a father who worked for the American government as a CIA agent Copeland has lived a very didactic life. His father and family knew Kim Philly when they were based in the Middle East. Later his career blossomed when he teamed up with the “ the magnificently high browed poet King […]

Might Be Fantastic…

The Pretenders Chrissie Hynde, a living legend, now 73 swept onto the stage in blue jeans, black above the knee boots with a black skull t-shirt combined with a pink jacket – the later soon departed as she hit the ground running with her 4 piece band – no keyboards, three guitars and drums so […]

Prelude to Ecstasy – It Certainly Was

Not often do you get to enjoy a 6 piece all female band dressed in a electic mix of romantic, gothic and baroque outfits with accessorised Doc Marten boots. The Party is led by a charismatic lead singer Abigail Morris in stark contrast to her bandmates, she shone in a a 2 piece black suit […]

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