GTFM Rock Show Preview

“It’s Heaven And Hell… and The Devil You Know“

This week, we feature the new album from Heaven and Hell, otherwise known as Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice, its called ‘The Devil You Know’, with several tracks and an interview with Tony Iommi.   We’ll be previewing the forthcoming local shows from Saxon, Dan Reed and Albert Lee with tickets to give away. This weeks new music includes tracks from Remonn, Dragonforce and Slipknot plus the usual rock news from the web and new feature ‘Rare Track’ chosen by Rock Show listeners.

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email DJ Andy Fox via rockshow@gtfm.co.uk

Listen live in the Pontypridd, South Wales area on 107.9 FM

or on the Internet by pointing your media player at

http://qtss.lrc.glam.ac.uk:8000/gtfmmp3

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The GTFM ROCK SHOW with ANDY FOX,

22.00 to 24.00 every Wednesday

Saxon – Re-issues Part II

The second batch of this EMI series charts Saxon moving from being one of the standard bearers of the nwobhm era to trying to broaden their fanbase worldwide, specifically targeting the massive American mainstream market.  Unfortunately it also charts something of a falling off in quality too although it’s fair to say that each in it’s original offers something worth hearing, whilst in this reissued format each also offers no less than nine bonus tracks per disc; enough to satisfy the most ardent Saxon completist?

DENIM AND LEATHER

Details: 1981, (2009 reissue), EMI, CD

From the opening, razor sharp guitar riff of lead track “Princess Of The Night” it’s clear that Saxon still possessed plenty of inspiration at this point despite the demands of delivering albums in what now seems ridiculously quick succession.  The ability to deliver a thought provoking, well constructed lyric is evident too not only via the nostalgic story of the lost steam age but with more up to date content too as the magnificent “And The Bands Played On” displays.  Recording the first ever Donington Monsters Of Rock festival a year or so earlier, if any song qualifies as a “National Anthem” of British metal it’s this.  From the soaring opening lick, through the instantly identifiable motif to the perfectly descriptive lyrics it brings instant recall not only to anyone at that first event but to anyone who witness any of those original Donington festivals that marked the highpoint of the British rock calendar through to the mid 90s.

The defiant “Never Surrender” is trademark stuff too, despite a riff apparently interchangeable between any number of nwobhm bands, whilst the timeless “Denim And Leather” itself also manages to tap effortlessly into events of the time, effectively capturing the resurgence of a genre into four superb minutes.

“Rough And Ready” falls a little thanks to a lack of a chorus whilst “Play It Loud” fails to hit the heights of accompanying tracks too but there is nothing to demand the skip button.  Quite simply it’s a continuation of the Saxon juggernaut that ran throughout the early 80s.  Another fine album and one that now benefits too by live versions of many of the tracks, a number of which come from what sounds like a triumphant gig at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon.

Highlight: And The Bands Played On

Score: 3.5/5

POWER AND THE GLORY

Details: 1983 (2009 reissue), EMI, CD

Whilst not producing anything to match the heights of “747″, “Dallas 1pm” or indeed “And The Bands Played On”, 1983’s “Power And The Glory” still delivers a solid set of traditional British styled metal although there are hints of the search for US acceptance creeping in, notably on a couple of songs.

An album I’m guilty of overlooking in favour of earlier releases there is in fact something of a treat to be found with the first four tracks, those that would have made up the old A side.  “Power And The Glory” itself opens up and offers some interesting comparisons to Iron Maiden’s “Two Minutes To Midnight”, “Redline” reprises the biker anthem themes of albums past atop a tasty bit of boogie-rock whilst “Warrior” proves that the ability to pen a historically themed epic was still safe and well at this point.

“Nightmare” changes tack a little and is the first to hint at a growing maturity and ambition delivering a more polished performance and some fairly smooth backing vocals to boot.  Fortunately it’s still a fine song though, and after a slight lull of the presumably written with the live set in mind Slade like bawler “This Town Rocks” and passable “Watching The Sky” it’s only surpassed by the crafted guitar work and subtle time changes of “Midas Touch”.  A fine piece that indicates that Saxon were more than aware of the Iron Maiden recipe for success and well capable of emulating it.

The suitably epic “The Eagle Has Landed” complete with an impressive lengthy guitar introduction, again shows off those ambitious intentions with some prog-tinged leanings unheard perhaps since the formative debut five years earlier.  More polished again, it nevertheless makes an impressive curtain closer  to a fine set and I guess that if your were around at the time gave positive signs that Saxon would be able to develop nicely.  Indeed the additions of a number of previously unreleased demos indicate that with titles like “Stand Up And Rock” and “Saturday Night” failing to make the final cut, quality control was still high.

Highlight: Warrior

Score: 3.5/5

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CRUSADER

Details: 1984 (2009 reissue), EMI, CD

Unfortunately, the polished yet still uniquely Saxon-like direction hinted at previously failed to materialise on “Crusader” and unlike their compatriots Iron Maiden and Def Leppard they were unable to capitalise on their early success.  They were of course able to maintain  level of success but from this point onwards Saxon albums seemed unable to keep up the flow of consistent quality that marked previous releases. The troubles not immediately obvious of course as the opening pairing of “The Crusader Prelude” and the epic “Crusader” itself are as good as just about anything the band have produced before or since.  Again it’s a historically themed piece that really defines what the band does best.

Now, I actually wrote about “Crusader” on this site not too long ago and nothings changed really.  A second delve into the annals of history produces  the Mayflower inspired “Sailing To America”, which impresses later in the album as does a cover of Sweet’s “Set Me Free” but really there is just too much filler here, too much trying to emulate Def Leppard’s success and not enough doing what the band do best.

The bonus tracks largely consist of demos that made the final selection on this occasion, although both “Borderline” and “Helter Skelter” (not a cover of The Beatles “White Album” rocker) are as far as I know newly surfaced.  A little extra value perhaps on an album to go for when the earlier ones have been purchased and consigned to the shelf I think.

Highlight: Crusader

Score: 2/5

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Queensryche on GTFM Rock Show

This week the featured album on the GTFM Rock Show was Queensryche’s new opus “American Soldier“.  It’s an album that is winning excellent reviews in the likes of Classic Rock magazine and during this segment lead singer Geoff Tate adds context by explaining the inspiration for the work, the ideas behind some of the songs and the impact the project has had on him emotionally as well as telling how the band intend to deliver it live on their forthcoming tour.

Please note that the competition mentioned in the piece to win copies of the “American Soldier” album has now closed.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

(5.1mb, 12 mins)

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Confessions Of A Vinyl Collector

I look forward to April. With my birthday falling on the 10th of the month I can usually afford an extra trip or two in search of some new titles. Before that tale though I had cause to be in London again earlier in the month and although I found more on CD than vinyl on this trip to the capital there were still a few finds worth recording.

Stratus – Throwing Shapes… a nwobhm” super-group” with Tino and Chris Troy (Praying Mantis), Bernie Shaw (Uriah Heep), Clive Burr (Iron Maiden) and the relative unkown Alan Nelson (Stampede) combining for their only album. Actually, Nick (the guy who wrote the UFO reviews) gave me this one. He found it for 60p in a charity shop, played it once, then passed it on to me. That good eh?

Revival Records in Soho turned up just one find…

Various Artists – Heavy Metal Records… a blue vinyl, round sleeve label sampler from 1984 that includes treats by the well known Accept and DiAnno, the lesser known Eloy and Wrathchild and the likes of Reckless, Pet Hate and Bullet amongst others. £3

Just a few doors on from Revival in Berwick Street is Sister Ray Records. Plenty of second hand vinyl here and a couple of albums left with me…

Little Angels – Jam… one of the leading lights of the late 80s early 90s British rock revival that the rest of the world largely ignored in favour of American hairspray metal. This was their final album, a UK album chart topper and includes the bonus 10″ live album that features the band’s cover of “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. £5

Vain – No Respect… and what I recall as being one of the best of those American hairspray bands. I can recall seeing these support Skid Row on that bands first UK headlining tour and being impressed. Two or three of the titles on the back actually bring snippets of songs back to mind too. But my God look at the style? I can’t yet bring myself to spin this! £3

BRISTOL RECORD FAIR- 12th April

So the 10th of the month brought about my 38th birthday and whilst the kids got me some excellent books, my wife a couple of excellent cd box sets that concentrate on psychedlic rock and acid rock of the late 60s and early 70s, my parents and parents-in-law were kind enough to include some notes that fluttered out of the cards and into the wallet ready for an opportunity to be spent on some records. That opportunity offered itself on the following Sunday, the 12th, with a record fair at the Novotel across the bridge in Bristol. A good haul I reckon and unusually for me, a little change left in the pocket for another day too.

Firstly the big buys….

The Kinks – Lola verses The Powerman and Moneygoround… a truly excellent album that I’ve waited years and years to hear. Ray Davies at his best with some perfectly observed lyics about the workings of the music business. “Lola” is of course the albums well known track but there is so much great stuff on this album that rarely gets a mention. £8

Led Zeppelin – III… long time readers may recall me mentioning when I bought Scorpions “Tokyo Tapes” and the “Monsters Of Rock 1980″ album about four “seminal” albums a cousin lent me when I was in my teens. Well “III” was another of those and finally I’ve found a copy in a condition I was happy with at a price I was willing to pay. Truly a great, great album. A real fine example of the poles Zeppelin were capable of operating at. The thunder of “Immigrant Song”, the class blues of “Since I’ve Been Loving You”, the superbly reworked folk song “Gallows Pole” are just three highlights. And yes, the wheel had to work too. £8

John Otway & Wild Willy Barratt – self-titled… offbeat, quirky, uniquely British music that is a delight to listen to but probably was never released expecting a large-scale following forming. Do a Youtube search for “Really Free” for a perfect example of what this pairing delivered. I never realised before that Pete Townshend was so involved in the making of this album either. £8

Ian Hunter – All American Alien Boy… the first of an unintentional number of Mott The Hoople related purchases I ended up with at this fair. “…Shizophrenic” has long been a favourite Hunter solo album of mine but until this day I hadn’t bought anything else. I don’t think I’ve heard anything off this before and again the cast list brings a surprise as “The Singers” include Mercury, May and Taylor from Queen. Priced at £5 I ended up effectively getting this for £1 as the seller combined this and the three above for £25.

Moving on next to a “4 for a Tenner” set of boxes I soon turned up enough to take advantage of that offer…

AC/DC – Let There Be Rock… the fourth of the seminal albums! Delighted to find this in superb condition and at a great price. My problem has long been finding the same issue as the one I was lent so many years ago but yep, this one features the excellent “Crabsody In Blue” tucked away as track two on side two to complete my nostalgic trip back to my teens.

AC/DC – High Voltage…well if your in for one ‘DC album why not get two? Some great tracks on this but I get extra value from the letters printed on the back cover. I don’t know whether they are real or spoof but “Dear Bon, My Dad says that under your leather trousers there lurks something mean and terrible…. love Helen” is a snippet of the humourous prose on offer.

Thin Lizzy – Bad Reputation… a gap that needed filling in the “T” section. Lizzy’s 1977 platter recorded by the legendary four piece line up although you have to pay attention to spot Brian Robertson on the picures. He’d obviously the main man by the time the cover art was chosen! “Opium Trail” though is a thing of beauty at track three.

Ted Nugent – Free For All… okay, so I’m not that big a fan of Nugent usually finding his solo albums lean towards the odd killer and plenty of filler but “Free For All” has been a target for a while thanks to pre-Bat Meat Loaf appearing on lead vocals on a number of tracks. It’s just been a long time since I heard that particular collaboration and I fancy checking it out again.

On a sliding scale downwards, the next stop was a “3 for a fiver” box where obviously the covers were getting a bit more lived in but it’s what’s in the grooves right?

Paul McCartney – Choba B CCCP…. sorry Mark but after a confession without the great man it was time for him to return! Macca’s late 80s Russian released covers album whereby he remembered that back at the beginning of the Beatles he was a fine rock ‘n’ roll singer. None of the syrupy Wings era ballads here, its classics like “Kansas City”, “Lucille” and “That’s All Right (Mama)” ripped up in fine style.

The Who – It’s Hard… another hole in the collection that needed filling was the “other” Kenney Jones era album. There is very little written about “Face Dances” or “It’s Hard” these days as obviously people tend to revisit those classic earlier albums more often, but with “Eminence Front” sitting there on side one it can’t be considered all bad can it?

George Thorogood & The Destroyers – More… well you don’t walk away from a 3 for £5 offer with only two records so I decided to take a punt on another GT album. Nothing I’ve heard on this 1980 release although the cover does include a big red sticker boasting that it “includes their big hit “Bottom Of The Sea”". Just how big was it I wonder?

Now the overall success of a record fair can often be measured on how successful you were on finds in the £1 boxes and with six that I thought worthy of a coin I reckon we can tick Bristol off as a good ‘un.

Status Quo – Rock Til You Drop… post “classic era Quo” which means it has its share of clunkers but there are a couple of tracks in Parfitt’s rocker “One Man Band” and Andrew Bown’s reflective title track that I reckon are well worth a listen. There’s a whopping 8 extra tracks on the CD version of this album. I picked up a copy ages ago second hand for £6…. but despite not being scratched it doesn’t bloody play properly. Superior format my arse!

Eagles – On The Border… now I know I normally get a bit of stick for buying Eagles albums but they serve a purpose for me now and again. Besides it was only a pound remember. Can we just call this a collection filler and continue?

Mott – Drive On… ages ago I bought “Shouting And Pointing” and whilst it wasn’t the best album in the world (I gave it 2/5 I think) it had it’s moments. I figure there must be something on “Drive On” worth hearing too otherwise why would they have released it, right? One of the tracks is called “Stiff Upper Lip” which at least gives the opportunity to consider what they did with that phrase against what AC/DC did with it.

Brave Belt – Brave Belt… now this is one where I’m hoping anyone whose bothered to read this far might help out. This is actually credited as “Randy Bachman, Fred Turner and Robin Bachman as Brave Belt with Chad Allan” and appears to be a 1975 release on Warners. Now why didn’t this get put out as BTO? What happened to preclude this? Maybe someone can enighten me and save me trying to discover it somewhere on the net for myself?

Mott The Hoople – Greatest Hits… for a pound you can’t go wrong although I have decided that Greatest Hits does not necessarily mean the best of Mott The Hoople as the absence of “Thunderbuck Ram” is so noticeable. Nevertheless all the best known hits are there, “Dudes”? check. “Memphis”? check. “Roll Away”? check. “Honaloochie Boogie”? absolutely.

Ian Hunter – Ian Hunter… a definite case of last but certainly not least. Released in 1975 I’m making the assumption that this self-titled effort was Hunter’s first solo album and of course the much covered classic “Once Bitten Twice Shy” provides the lead off track. Another great British telent that really doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Hopefully the Hoople reunion will lead to a reassessment of this gifted artist.

Now very little has been made of Record Store Day over here in the UK, there have been a few ads in the better selling magazines but little in local shops so I figure it must be an American generated effort that’s yet to catch on here.  Well ever the one for cementing Anglo-American relations and doing my bit etc. I decided I would honour the event and visit a couple of my occasional stores to celebrate the occasion. (Any excuse eh?).

I saw a piece on the local news during the week about the new Carmarthen Indoor Market opening so I decided to start there and see how the new look “Slipped Disc” was shaping up. Chatting to the owner, she was clearly disappointed that there isn’t the space of the old Market and a fair proportion of her stock has had to be taken home meaning she has to rotate stock more. On the positive side though, the new layout means the fish counter is now considerably further away so that musty, old record smell can emanate with more effect.

Realistically the thought of increased stock rotation might actually make it more worthwhile visiting more frequently in future but today I came away with just two items…

100% Proof – 100% Proof… released in 1981 on the Myrrh label this is one of those obscure finds I get ridiculously pleased at digging up. Obscure nwobhm the Bible according to Malc Macmillan describes 100% Proof as “having more than a passing resemblance to AC/DC in places” and finished their entry by adding that they are worth checking out “if they’re ever offered for sale at a suitably affordable level, especially if you’re partial to a bit of undemanding boogie…” £4 was, I thought, suitable, and I hadn’t even read the entry at the time of purchase.

Edgar Winter Group – Shock Treatment… now Edgar Winter is one of those artists I’ve been meaning to check out for ages. Now any sane person would go out and buy a “Best Of” compilation wouldn’t they? Maybe even just download a few mp3s and see what gives? But no, that seems too easy and little fun to me so I took a punt on this 1974 CBS gatefold release as a starting point to work from. £5

With only £9 spent in Carmarthen I still had a bit of money left so took a lovely, sun-drenched drive through the Welsh countryside up to the University town of Lampeter and made a long overdue trip to “Hags Records”.

Kings X – Out Of The Silent Planet… was the first platter to catch my eye. In a year that has yet to offer much that I think can be termed outstanding, this band’s January show is still clear in my mind. An album I haven’t heard in full for years, it’ll once again allow the opportunity to try to understand quite why they never got the adulation they deserved back then, but I’m sure I’ll end up deciding once more it was just that they didn’t fit the image of the times. £3.50

UFO – Space Metal… a double album reissue that the material from UFO’s underrated first couple of albums. Issued in 1976 on the German Nova Records imprint this was presumably an attempt to cash in on the band’s later success. It was actually sitting in the rack next to a £20 copy of the debut album, but I have that on CD already and wasn’t willing to pay that price. This seemed better value by far. £6

Kooga – Across The Water… final purchase of this Confession then falls to one of Wales leading lights of nwobhm Kooga. The band fronted by future Skin singer and recent GTFM “Listen Again” featured Neville MacDonald. This has recently had a reissue on cd done by Rock Candy I think so perhaps someone has cashed in their original vinyl. I can’t really understand why anyone would want that cover in anything other than big enough to appreciate 12″ format personally. The music? Oh yeah – that’s supposed to be pretty good too. £8

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GTFM Rock Show Preview

“Queensryche and an American Soldier“

This week, we feature the brand new concept album from Queensryche, the concept that is ‘American Soldier” with tracks and an interview with singer Geoff Tate. We’ll have copies to give away.  We’ll be previewing the forthcoming show from Bob Catley at the Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd, supported by recent guest Neville MacDonald and Myke Gray from Skin.  This weeks new music includes tracks from New Device, Mastadon and Heaven and Hell plus the usual rock news from the web and new feature ‘Rare Track’ chosen by rockshow listeners.

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email DJ Andy Fox via rockshow@gtfm.co.uk

Listen live in the Pontypridd, South Wales area on 107.9 FM

or on the Internet by pointing your media player at

http://qtss.lrc.glam.ac.uk:8000/gtfmmp3

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The GTFM ROCK SHOW with ANDY FOX,

22.00 to 24.00 every Wednesday

Golden Earring’s first three albums reissued

With the long established Dutch rock masters Golden Earring returning to the UK for the first time in three decades recently this set of three releases on reissue specialists RPM Productions proves a most timely and interesting set that whilst never near the heights the band would achieve, nevertheless provides an excellent lesson in the beginnings of the band.

The Golden Ear-rings – “Just Ear-rings”

Details: RPM Productions, 1965 (2009 reissue), CD

Debut album “Just Earrings” surfaced in 1965 and features an unsurprisingly British influenced set of tunes that even with the addition of five bonus tracks (including the impressive rocker “Chunk Of Steel”) still fails to break through the forty minute barrier, such were the unofficial constraints of the time.  Even on this first release though there is enough to identify why the band were able to build up a home following of a magnitude that would support them from hopefuls to career musicians.

That the songs largely consisted of original compositions is important to consider at the time when The Beatles were only just beginning to produce albums full of their own material.  “Nobody But You” actually proves a nice slice of period pop with a distinctly Lennon-esq vocal to invoke interest, whilst the harmonica infused “Holy Witness” and the latter “Please Go” too both indicate that Dylan influence had reached the shores of the low countries by this point.  “No Need To Worry” impresses too packing a Kinks like punch alongside more Merseybeat vocal harmonies.

There’s no doubt that at this point the music is largely derivative, but it’s quite fun to play the “that sounds like” game as the album progresses, but before the days of international exposure for all but the best bands there is more to see why Golden Earring not only survived but ultimately flourished.

Highlight: I Am A Fool

Score: 3/5

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Golden Earrings – “Winter Harvest”

Details: RPM Productions, 1967 (2009 reissue), CD

Released a couple of years after “Just Earrings”, 1967’s “Winter Harvest” follows a similar style although the band had obviously developed their sound somewhat producing a work that is very much of it’s time.  The piano especially seems to emerge as a more dominant instrument by this point but even with the extra experience listening now this comes over as a more hit and miss affair with some of the new ideas not quite as impressive as presumably desired.

For worth hearing rockers such as “Another Man In Town” or the firey “You’ve Got The Intention To Hurt Me”, both again boasting vocals that aren’t unlike John Lennon in voice and delivery, you’ve got to enjure the ordinary late 60s pop of “Don’t Wanna Loose That Girl” or the forgettable “Impeccable Girl” which appears something of a re-write of Elvis’ “I Can Help”.

There are a few other points of interest amongst the 18 songs on offer (4 bonus tracks on this disc).  “Dream” adds horns to good effect, a knack the band have possessed throughout their career.  The appealing “Lionel The Miser” nods favourably toward Ray Davies once more and there is a definite added assurance about the excellent “Smoking Cigarettes” and the dreamy psychedelia of “You Break My Heart” whilst “Baby Don’t Make Me Nervous” struck me as the first track that hints at the Golden Earring sound of years to come.

“In My House” provides a yardstick too.  Clocking in at nearly four minutes this Dave Clark 5 sounding stomper is about twice the length of anything on the debut.  A debut that although improved on in places here but not consistently so.

Highlight: You Break My Heart

Score: 2.5/5

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Golden Earrings – “Miracle Mirror”

Details: RPM Productions, 1968 (2009 reissue), CD

By the time this album emerged from the studio the initial invasion and early influence of British beat group from the early to mid 60s had pretty much waned.   Golden Earrings’ third album reflects a band who had ridden the changes well, progressing gradually from beat group to effective psychedelic pop-rock outfit whilst notably, “Miracle Mirror” also sees the first appearance of singer Barry Hay with the band.

The sound by album three was largely onto that of many late sixties pop-rock bands.  Similarities now are closer to that of Procal Harum and maybe, the Moody Blues with the busy, full production sound of songs like “Crystal Heaven” suggesting that quite possibly as much time now could be given to one song as was offered to a whole album a few years previously.

“I’ve Just Lost Somebody” and the Who like social comment of “Who Cares?” both strike as similarly accomplished efforts whilst the Monkees’ like pop stomp of “Magnificent Migistral” indicates that an eye was still on the pop charts. By and large though the enthusiasm, energy and a little of the appeal of the debut album seems to have been replaced by this point with a band more confident and looking now to stretch themselves towards artistic fullfillment rather than chart recognition.  The short “Sam & Sue” even offers a little showcase to the ever-present band founder George Kooymans.  A sure sign perhaps of things to come.

It’s a more consistent album overall too.  “Mr. Fortune’s Wife” offers a haunting organ to reinforce the rise from promising Bealtes/Kinks copyists.  Mature material in the shape of the gentle “Born A Second Time” and the reflective bonus track “I Wonder” and “Remember My Friend” (two of five extras this time) supports this whilst with “Must I Cry”, do we get the first hints of guitar based, progressive rock rearing it’s head in the bands catalogue?

Again, as with it’s companion discs, it’s of it’s time and would perhaps be well down the list if setting out on an investigation of the Dutch band from scratch.But if like me you have a tolerance for sixties music as well as seventies rock, and an interest in how a long established band developed it’s an interesting hours entertainment.  One thing you can expect from RPM too is that the musical journey will be well supported by informative sleeve notes making not just this but all three discs more than welcome releases.

Highlight: Must I Cry

Score: 3/5

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Ian Gillan GTFM Rock Show interview

Twelve minutes of promotional interview courtesy of legendary voice of Deep Purple, Ian Gillan makes up this week’s GTFM Rock Show “Listen Again” piece.  Broadcast last Wednesday along with three songs from new solo album “One Eye To Morocco” Gillan talks about the recording of the album and how the solo process differs from that with his main band plus offers his own views on those seemingly ever present Deep Purple MkII reunion suggestions.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

(6Mb, 12 mins)

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Jaded Sun live in Cardiff

Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff 11th April 2009

With “Gypsy Trip”, Jaded Sun produced one of my favourite debut albums of recent years so the chance to catch the Irish outfit locally was too good an opportunity to miss, and live they proved every bit as impressive as their album suggested they would be. The small but excellent setting of Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff providing a fine venue to a band on the rise.

Opening with the punchy “Breaking Through”, all but one of the tracks from “Gypsy Trip” was aired and each sounded at least as impressive as their cd equivalents with the bluesy, Zeppelin-esq slowburner “Sweetness” and main set closer “Positive” two tracks noteworthy as possessing that extra something in a live setting. It surely won’t have gone unnoticed by the band the especially warm welcome given to the funky “Hey You!” either; a fine, fine track and clearly one that I wasn’t alone in particularly looking forward to hearing in the flesh.

One test any band with just one album under their belt faces is what to do to get the set-list up to acceptable length (although at a more than reasonable £5 entry, to be honest just the 10 tracks from the album would have been fair return). Jaded Sun passed this test by sticking an impressive burst through Tom Petty’s “Running Down A Dream” into the main set, allowing likeable and endlessly energetic frontman John Maher to work up a sweat, whilst also road testing a couple of new tracks that offer a hint of what album two might bring. “Whiskey Drinker” turned out to be a blistering blues-rocker emerging from a Rory Gallagher like shinkicker of a riff whilst the excellent “Fire” encouraged comparisons to the Black Crowes with its languid, bluesy groove. Both increase the anticipation nicely.

Encore earned the five piece promptly get the whole club moving a final time with a blast through the classic “Gimme Some Lovin’“. The familiar blast of hammond organ replaced effectively by harmonica, I found this a particularly interesting finish, as Thunder are another of the acts this band remind me of at times and this of course, as well as being a Spencer Davis Group hit back in the sixties, was a big seller too for Thunder some 20 years ago. Here we are now then with Thunder about to say goodbye and another blues-rock rooted five piece with a highly effective twin guitar set up, a solid as rock rhythm section and a classy singer with energy and ability in abundance looking more than capable of taking their place. I hope they make it… and I certainly hope they remember South Wales on future tours ‘cos I’ll be there.

Set List: Breaking Through / Crazyman / Can’t Stop / Crave / Higher / Hey You! / Whiskey Drinker / Sweetness / Fire / Running Down A Dream / Fever / She’s Got Class / Positive / Gimme Some Lovin’

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GTFM Rock Show Preview

“Ian Gillan has One Eye To Morocco“

This week, we include an interview with Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan who has just released a solo album ‘One Eye To Morocco’.  We feature a new album from American band Parlor Mob called ‘And You Were a Crow’ and we’ll be previewing the forthcoming show from Pink Floyd tribute band ‘In the Flesh’ plus giving tickets away to see their show in Monmouth on Friday 24th.  This weeks new music includes tracks from Neil Young, Great White and another track from new supergroup Chickenfoot plus the usual rock news from the web and new feature ‘Rare Track’ chosen by Rock Show listeners.

——

email DJ Andy Fox via rockshow@gtfm.co.uk

Listen live in the Pontypridd, South Wales area on 107.9 FM

or on the Internet by pointing your media player at

http://qtss.lrc.glam.ac.uk:8000/gtfmmp3

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The GTFM ROCK SHOW with ANDY FOX,

22.00 to 24.00 every Wednesday

Ozzy Osbourne Interview

Delayed a little due to me taking a short Easter break, this GTFM Rock Show “Listen Again” piece was broadcast last Wednesday, the 8th April.  With the show featuring the recently reissued, extended and remastered Black Sabbath classic “Paranoid“, presenter Andy Fox delved into his interview archives for segments of two interviews with Ozzy Osbourne.  Taken from two very different periods in Ozzy’s career, it’s interesting to hear his changing views on Black Sabbath and his typically forthright views on a number of subjects!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

(18 mins, 8.3mb)

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