t’s been an uneven experience at Shepherd’s Bush Empire tonight. Both Toseland and Bad Touch have offered enjoyable support slots, even if hampered a little by bad sound. Toseland, in particular, have shown they really know how to fill a half hour effectively, with frontman James Toseland coming across very jovially. He’s so likeable that it doesn’t matter or not whether you’re familiar with the material, you’ll have a good time regardless. The evening’s first credited headliner, Night Ranger, were largely awful: not so much classic Night Ranger of old as the Jack Blades Show with support from Kelly Keagy. Their set was ruined further by the worst sound we’ve encountered at a large venue for a number of years…if not ever.
Monthly Archives: March 2018
REAL GONE GOES OUT: Night Ranger – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London 11/3/2018
This evening at Shepherds Bush Empire has been billed as a double headline show between Night Ranger and Skid Row. However, it isn’t long after Night Ranger take the stage, it becomes clear that the event is nothing of the sort. Night Ranger’s set design is limited to a few extra Marshall amplifiers which are placed in the middle of the stage, rather than at the back. Kelly Keagy’s drumkit looks awkward, placed on stage left (audience right) and facing towards the middle rather than facing the audience. The band, in turn, are only given about three quarters of the stage to work with. Somewhere behind the amps, Skid Row’s drum kit sits in wait. So much for “double headliner”: Night Ranger have been given a support band’s set up – and that’s before we get to the massive issues with their performance.
DELUXE EDITION DREAMLAND: Dollars And Sense – The Comprehensive Tin Machine
Despite David Bowie constantly changing his musical style and image, many people raised eyebrows when he formed Tin Machine, a rock band with guitarist Reeves Gabrels. Maybe the general ambivalence to the band was due to it being a victim of its own timing – David had filled most of the immediately preceding years with some of his most commercial music after all, so maybe a core of the audience weren’t prepared for the band’s harder sound?
Edenthorn: New video + live dates
On April 20th, UK alt-rockers Edenthorn release their anticipated second album ‘Exist’.
Before the album appears, you can get a taster for it via a new video for the single ‘Mind Like A Minefield’, which can be seen in full below.
Todd Rundgren’s Utopia reunite for US tour; box set coming soon
After 32 years, Todd Rundgren’s 70s prog outfit have re-united. Rundgren has kept himself extremely busy recording and touring during that time, of course, but there were always a core of fans who hoped the band would one day return.
In 2018, Utopia will be touring the US, stopping at various major cities. They’ll also be releasing a limited edition box set containing all 7 of their studio albums.