Vagabond Spectre - Mirrors - 11 Track Album - Polymath - Release Date: 27th January 2017

Vagabond Spectre

Mirrors

11 Track Album

Polymath

Released 27^th January 2017

Vagabond Spectre – Kiev, Ukraine

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/vagabondspecter

Genre: Indie Rock

Well it looks judging by the cover that the Astronaut is having a disco on the moon, however, the music although not disco isn’t too far removed from the 80’s culture of electronic, running along the lines of Soft Cell, although not as electronic as that but this has the rhythms and the beats that really significantly make this band a whole new ball game!

As ‘Half a Billion Miles’ belts out with its subtle tones and soft keyboard melodies I can’t help but be transported back to an era that I secretly liked, for the electronic aspect, despite being an out and out metal head, as I learned keyboards and love that beautiful sound of notes that float uncontrollably through the brain cells and add in a great melody!

‘She’s a Bird’ is another soft and subtle graze in a meadow and yet it isn’t all sweetness and light – it does have its kicks and swirling rhythms. The vocals definitely suit the music 100% - nobody would know that this is a band from the Ukraine whatsoever! That's if it wasn't for the names giving them away!

‘Dancing in the Light’ well this is where that Astronaut comes into play I think! It is definitely a body swayer for sure! The solid melody and little stabbing rhythms are quite pleasing to the ear.

‘Scars as Notes’ is a floor gatherer… it is bursting with amazing zest and I would go as far to say invigorating!

‘Guru’ is a very subtle and sombre affair, with a scratching rhythm that is like a shoe shuffle effect. It soon wakes from its sleep and melodically transforms into another ‘hip swayer’ with a sing-along chorus and has put a smile on my face!

‘Joshua’ is a profound track that punches through subtle waves and leaves the ears overwhelmed with captivating melodies and rhythms that melt into a cascading harmony with an underlying edge!

‘So Complicated’ is anything but complicated and probably the least complicated on the album although probably a little weaker than the previous tracks, but the band have produced a good rhythm yet again!

‘Suitcase Full of Dreams’ is quite a strange concoction of unusual sounds and soft vocal caress.

‘Running’ feels like you just opened a music box and then it explodes into this rapturous melodically ambient track that your body cannot ignore.

‘Wait for you’ is a great track, full of electronic noises and harder rhythms that are dark and inviting. The subtle vocal tones are a prominent feature here but surrounded by an edgy and forthright swirl of dreams and incorporating magical harmonies.

‘Late Night Crawling’ is rather a sparse track that features heavily on a drum beat at least at the start and I can now hear a slight foreign accent that was completely covered up before.

I can honestly say I haven’t heard anything like this for a very long time and it is great to re-live the 80’s scene, even if it was 37 years ago. They were magical – just like this album!

9/10

Track List:

Half A Billion Miles

She’s A Bird

Dancing in the Light

Scars as Notes

Guru

Joshua

So Complicated

Suitcase Full Of Dreams

Running

Wait For You

Late Night Crawling

Members:

Pablo Specter - Vocals

Egor Gavrilenko - Bass

Yuri Smalius - Guitar, Sound Producer

Alex Okremov - Drums.

Vermilion Whisky - Spirit of Tradition - 6 Track E.P - 10 South Productions - Polymath - Release date: 10th February 2017

Vermilion Whisky

Spirit of Tradition

6 Track E.P

10 South productions

Polymath

Release Date: 10^th February 2017

Vermilion Whisky – Lafayette, LA

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/VermilionWhiskey

Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/Metal

Biography:

“Hailing from South Louisiana, Vermilion Whiskey is a working man's band, steeped in whiskey fuelled Rock-N-Roll tradition. Their musical roots run deep like river veins stretched across their beloved home state & beyond. VW lives for the thrill of the stage, no matter the crowd size, you will find 101 proof Vermilion Whiskey. Where the good times roll, they can be found, sharing their own brand of hard-nosed rhythms with any and all who live to pass a good time! Long live the riff!”

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Born in 2010 you can really feel the bands pulse with the first track ‘Road King’ generating that southern feel. It draws up imagery of driving down one of America’s long freeways on a good solid Harley and letting the wind blow through your hair, so certainly good driving music!

Vermilion Whiskey - Road King

The gut-wrenching riffs are fuelled with menacing devilment and wholeheartedly pump a few gallons of blood around the system on listening for sure.

A lot of the band's influences simply shine through on this album like Sabbath for instance, with deep pulverising bass hooks and good solid vocals, not similar to Paul Rodgers but a lot deeper!

Gritty, and eager to seduce with their special brand of rock they will have you gurning in front of a mirror with a hairbrush in no time at all.

The band more than dangle a carrot in front of the Donkey and like the Donkey, you will obey their commands with each riff and blended rhythm that comes your way and a sure-fire way to get your hair dried faster than a conventional method!

No nonsense, no frills just seductive methods of engaging the general metal public with hearty rhythms so the head connects to it in no uncertain terms!

Flanked with repetitive and intrusive beats and rhythms it can only do one thing and that gives the listener a good compelling listen from start to finish.

The doom element Sabbath brought to the tablet is running rife in Vermilion Whisky’s tracks. So profound and mesmerising and although it isn’t anything new to behold so to speak, it still manages to hit all the right spots and leave one feeling exhilarated for the experience.

Seeded with plenty of deep rhythms and overwhelming presence this is one forthright E.P with balls! It is music you can feel in the gut and turns the skin on resulting in goose-bumps and plenty of quivering spines!

The hearty growling vocal is just what the doctor ordered and I could have this in an IV no danger at full strength and administered daily! This medicine is good medicine and guaranteed to cure the blues!

9/10

Track List:

Road King

The Past is dead

Come Find Me

One Night

Loaded Up

Members:

Thaddeus Riordan - Vocals

Ross Brown - Guitar

Carl Stevens - Guitar

Jeremy Foret - Bass

Buck Andrus - Drums

Lauren Hoffmann & The Secret Storm - Family Ghost - 11 Track Album - Polymath - Release Date: 27th January 2017

Lauren Hoffman & The Secret Storm

Family Ghost

11 Track Album

Polymath

Release date 27^th January 2017

Lauren Hoffman & the Secret Storm – Charlottesville, VA

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/laurenhoffmanmusic

Genre: Alt Rock

Biography:

“Brimming with sensual intensity, climaxing with anthemic rock choruses, honest, haunting, sultry, sexy… These are words that have been used to describe the work of Lauren Hoffman & The Secret Storm - an alternative rock band formed around the eclectic songwriting of Lauren Hoffman and featuring cello, electric violin, rock guitar and rhythm section, piano, synth, and vocal harmonies!”

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On listening to this CD I get the impression Lauren Hoffman sounds a lot like Tori Amos. In fact, her persona and character sound similar in a lot of ways to Ms Amos, which isn’t a bad thing at all, but then although thought provoking is nothing new to the listener.

It is a CD that does slightly grow on you if you can tear yourself away from the metal genre and allow yourself to fully listen and get absorbed in the very sensual words that are sung hauntingly by Lauren, but I will always feel more comfortable in a ‘metal’ environment and some of the songs have left me completely cold and unengaged.

I do, however, like the fact that unusual instruments are used within the album like the electric violin and cello. It isn’t every day you hear those instruments being played, so it is a welcome change from just the usual drums, bass and guitar.

I have to admit on looking at the cover I wasn’t convinced it would be a CD I could relate to, and although very melancholy but it does hold the attention somewhat and allows one to take stock of their thoughts, However, I do find myself craving a heavier vibe and a more up-tempo beat! And not something that can be thrown on mainstream radio at a whim for commercial purposes.

I cannot fault her voice or the musicians accompanying her, but find that a lot of the songs do sound quite similar which usually leads to boredom and so perhaps not a band I would make a point of going and listening to live, but for the mainstream crowd, no doubt will be flocking to see this band perform.

There is, however, one track that jumps out at me and that is ‘Family Ghost’ (also the title track) that harbours a solid leverage on which to rest one's laurels along with a superb rhythm and quite a compelling track to boot!

Family Ghost

‘The Dragon’ is somewhat eerie and makes good use of the electric violin but it is a very slow and otherwise a pretty non-descript track as I have found most of the CD, but this is well out of my comfort zone, so not surprising.

The songs are obviously themed with Lauren’s findings of life and very well written and arranged, but not something I could feel fully comfortable with and therefore cannot completely let myself go.

6.5/10

Track List:

Don’t Look Back

Feel it all

Let the waves crash on me

Sick with Love

In the Sun

I just broke up with a guy who kinda looks like you

Family Ghost

Fast lane

Broken

The Dragon

Till it lasts

Members:

Lauren Hoffman – Vocals/Guitars

Tony Lechmanski – Guitars

Catherine Monnes – Cello, Electric Violin

Ethan Lipscomb – Keyboards/Piano

Jeff Diehm – Bass

Jordan Marcini – Drums

Kevin Ardrey – Drums on ‘Broken’

Roadhog, LIVE at The Scavenger's MCC Rock Night - Roundhouse, Bolton - 21.01.17

Roadhog

‘Live’ at The Scavengers MCC Rock Night

Roundhouse, Bolton

21.01.17

Roadhog – North West

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Roadhog-Classic-Rock-Band

Members:

Graham Roadhog Lee – Vocals

Kevin McGinn – Guitar

Neil Humphrey – Bass

Pete Almond - Drums

Arriving unusually early, although not for Oggy and I, as we enjoy the very start of a gig, getting there, choosing a table and making sure everything is in working order before the rest of the band get there, it is usually the given, and last night was no different.

The Roundhouse is the home of The Scavengers and it’s a superb venue with a large stage and people just flock to it, especially for one of the Scavenger nights! The atmosphere is always welcoming and the people are just lovely.

It was good to catch up with Daz and meeting Paul Hollingshead the DJ last night, who managed to play nearly everything I asked for apart from Smash into Pieces – one amazing band to check out if you haven’t already, for sure! Soon after Nicky Watt turned up and sat with us, which was great seeing her again and to have a catch-up.

Paul 'Ming' Hollingshead

The gorgeous Nicky Watt

The long-suffering: Jane Craig

The Roundhouse was filling up slowly but surely, but before everyone came in I grabbed a handful of raffle tickets and everyone laughed or rolled their eyes at me… Like Phil Lynott “I know I’m gonna win!” (Cold Sweat) and I was already asking Oggy what he wanted from the 3 crates of ale as prizes and although it was just crates of ale, cider and beer, it mattered little… for me, it is the thrill of winning, but more about that later….

The stage is huge and with now two bass bins and two tops either side the stage was set. The large Scavengers banner was hauled into place and the sound check began. For me, the sound check although important to the band is also important for me because it means I haven’t missed anything.

More and more people started pouring through the door and once more friends were reunited. It’s always great to see that. Great meeting up with Moz and Phil again, and seeing Tanya and Morph and of course seeing the room fill up with Devils Disciples and Satan’s Slaves, friends of the Hells Angels, who have always fascinated me since a teenager and still do!

The music was great too. Lots of Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails as well as other great tracks from Disturbed and Pantera.

Before the band went on stage for their first set, everyone decided to get something to eat so for me it was a fish supper… a tiny piece of fish, which kept me going until I could get home and take my 5 crappy chemo tablets.

Finally, Roadhog started their first set.  It is always slower at the start just to warm everyone up and warm everyone up they did! The band added a lot more songs into each set and literally blew the audience away, although the second set was much faster and heavier and that is when I can hardly contain myself and I have to get out of my seat and go and show some appreciation and love to the band, it is also good exercise and where strangers soon become friends of course!

As the first set finished the raffle was drawn and the first ticket called was 26 I had 25 – typical, but then I won second prize and went up and got some John Stones Bitter for Oggy’s Dad! I also won a second prize too but decided to give someone else a chance and threw my ticket back in. I could feel everyone looking at me and thinking “Oh no, not again!” lol

The band had a breather and got themselves ready for the next onslaught, but first, we all caught up for a chat around the table at the front. The music streamed out and we all had a laugh.

 Argh! Not another photo: Pete Almond - Kevin McGinn and Jane Craig

 Kev and Jane on the prosecco again!

 Pete - OK I will smile for you

Neil: Well, I'm not smiling for ya! 

Oggy and Neil: Hey Oggy, got a joke for ya! 

It's all about the METAL! 

Oggy and I

As the band went on stage the atmosphere went up a few notches and everyone’s eyes were on the stage. Apart from a few mishaps with ale and Neil being the sole target - although an accident, and Kev’s lead from his pedal board coming loose the set was superb. One by one people were occupying the dance floor, singing and going wild! Literally! Mainly the women although a few blokes got up too and blew dry their hair in front of me – just awesome! And even more so were the compliments that circulated from people who had never even seen the band live before, one being Alec who was completely blown away the band's antics on stage, and added himself to the Roadhog page there and then. – Good stuff!

As Oggy dedicated “Word-up” to me I could hardly just sit and watch and chose to partake in some movement, too much sitting doesn’t do one’s hip much good, although moving too much…. Well, stuff it! And soon others were following and joining in the rebel rousing it was fantastic! Of course, the band sing the Gun version adding their own words but that is why I like it more! Little did I know that behind me Nicky was filming me and Jane was taking Photos…? I had to laugh when I found out hours later when I got home and reviewed the footage!

 Sometimes you just have to get up and strut your stuff!

As the end of another successful Scavengers do came to a close a lot of people had left but there were still a considerable number of people still milling around and chatting, and the music played on as the stage was cleared of gear.

Great and memorable night! Thank you, everyone,, who made this gig a really special one!

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Special thanks to the Scavengers for a great event, Jane Craig and Nicky Watt for their superb company and having to put up with me all night! – Get well soon Bill, you were sorely missed! Jillian Twinkie Dawes, Charlie and Jan Brown, and Billy and Lisa Smith, Moz and Phil, Daz, April Green, and Jugs for the chat and kind words – appreciated! Paul 'Ming' Hollingshead for the fantastic DJ (ing) and to the bar staff who helped to keep the doors closed and stop us all freezing! And of course Roadhog, Oggy, Kev, Neil and Pete – it wouldn’t be the same without you!