Review by Peter Coates
There is a haunting menace to the vocal arrangement in the title track of this latest release from the Jefferson City, Missouri southern country alt-rockers Shaman’s Harvest…….a band I am ashamed to admit had passed me by until this, Red Hands Black Deeds, their 6 th studio album was promised for review.
Continue reading Album Review : SHAMAN’S HARVEST – Red Hands Black Deeds
Review by Peter Coates
This album has been something of a challenge to review…….and has required multiple listens over the last couple of weeks to be able to gather my thoughts sufficiently to write the review. This is purely because the album is so complex, stunningly diverse and wonderfully executed, that it cannot easily be pigeon-holed, and the musical influences so widespread that it is hard to know where to start.
Continue reading Album Review : THOMAS WYNN and THE BELIEVERS – WADE WAIST DEEP
Photographer: Peter Coates
Review by Peter Coates
The Pierce Brothers are an Aussie duo of brothers Jack and Pat Pierce, offering a set of guitar and percussion country-folk delivered with punch and self-deprecating humour. Both brothers have strong and soulful voices, and most of the songs have a strong beat and some rabble-rousing choruses – opener It’s My Fault and Only One as examples, which all combined to bring the crowd alive……”we’re totally professional……done venues like this 100 times…….at home!”
Continue reading Live Review : Zac Brown Band with support The Pierce Bros – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne – 19 April 2017
Photographer: Peter Coates
Review and photos by Peter Coates
Santana have made it over to Australia for Bluesfest, and have arranged an arena tour around their weekend headline show at the festival – and brought The Doobie Brothers along to open the night with a generally familiar set of songs – not all of the greatest hits, but a decent selection of them.
Continue reading Live Review : Santana + The Doobie Brothers at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – 13 April 2017
Photographer: Peter Coates
Continue reading Photo Gallery : Santana + The Doobie Brothers at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – 13 April 2017
Review by Peter Coates
ERIC GALES – MIDDLE OF THE ROAD (Mascot Label Group / Provogue)
“Now that’s how you start a riff” is spoken with feeling after the opening bar of Good Time which is a sparkling piece of gospel boogie that would not be out of place in a white clapboard church scene out in the US Midwest, featuring Eric Gales as the guitar-wielding preacher, and a the wailing back-up singing of his wife LaDonna Gales giving her all. There are some almost ridiculous testimonials being made about this guy, from the likes of Joe Bonamassa – “One of the best, if not the best guitar player in the world”; Carlos Santana – “He is absolutely incredible” and Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge – “This guy could be the best player on Earth”. He was hailed as being the next Hendrix when he burst onto the scene in 1991 playing an upside down guitar left-handed.
Continue reading Album Review : ERIC GALES – MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
Review by Peter Coates
Quinn Sullivan is another young blues guitarist, already classed as a “prodigy” at 17 years old by some fairly credible media (Rolling Stone and The Washington Post), and when Billy Gibbons reckons you have mastered the blues, and Buddy Guy says “Players like Quinn come along once in a lifetime” you get the idea that there could be something special about this guy.
Continue reading Album Review : Quinn Sullivan – “Midnight Highway”
Review by Peter Coates
It is sometimes hard to try and set aside the fact that I have been a fan of this band for nearly 35 years and listen to a new record with an objective viewpoint – from club shows as Terraplane, and then the arena support slots when they were the next great hope of British Rock, through to the farewell show in 1999, and the next goodbye in 2009, and the triumphant UK tour in 2015. I haven’t loved everything they’ve released, but I do like most of it! The last album, Wonder Days, was a mighty return to their absolute best, so following that up was always going to be a challenge.
Continue reading Album Review : THUNDER – ‘Rip It Up’
Photos by Peter Coates – Inside Edge Photography
Continue reading Photo Gallery : Refused at Prince Bandroom, Melbourne – 24 January 2017
Photos by Peter Coates – Inside Edge Photography
Continue reading Photo Gallery : Sick Of It All at Prince Bandroom, Melbourne – 24 January 2017
Photos by Peter Coates – Inside Edge Photography
Continue reading Photo Gallery : High Tension at Prince Bandroom, Melbourne – 24 January 2017
Interview by Peter Coates
19 year old Blues sensation from the UK, Aaron Keylock, has just released his first album, ‘Cut Against The Grain’ (Jan 17, 2017)… I had a chat with him about the record, his background, and his music. He’s toured extensively with some quality blues and southern rock bands over the past 3 or 4 years, and has also played the Bloodstock and Download festivals, and the Ramblin’ Man Fair.
Continue reading Interview with Aaron Keylock
