Seasick Steve – Leeds Academy 27th Jan 2009

Now if you had told me 6 months ago that I'd own two CDs by, and pay money to see, an ex-tramp that looks like a scruffy version of Captain Birdseye I would have laughed you out of the room.

Then a couple of reviews in Classic Rock and a session with Radio 2 later, I was hooked. So are a lot of people around Leeds judging by the sold out notices outside the Academy tonight. The place is packed, so much so that it spoils my enjoyment a bit.

Seasick Steve kicks of the show with "Started out with Nothing" and the set contains most of the new CD. Highlights for me were "Walking Man", "St. Louis Slim" and "Thunderbird". The set closed nearly two hours later with an extended version of "Dog House Boogie"

Different to my usual rock music, but very enjoyable. A special mention must go to drummer Dan Magnusson, he was wonderful, keeping everyone's feet tapping all night.

NH

Street Sleeper – The Drop Kick –Wyke nr Bradford – 23rd Jan 2009

So I get a call from my Brother in law saying this bloke he works with plays guitar in this band they do Rock/Metal covers so I might like it. I went along not expecting much, but was more pleasantly surprised. The band in question are called Street Sleeper and I understand this was their first show in about a year. The first part of the set included amongst others covers of songs from Mr. Big, & Aerosmith, Whiskey in the Jar (the Metallica version) and finished with an excellent rendition of Let There Be Rock, more of a “metal” feel than the original AC/DC version that really worked well. The drum/bass rhythm section driving this along really well.

The second set started with Enter Sandman and continued at a pace with (amongst others) The Trooper (ME would have loved it) Rock n Roll, Slither (Velvet Revolver), You Could Be Mine. Tracks from Mega Death were thrown in an a Steve Via inspired solo from Craig on guitar gave the excellent singer/front man a short break before the set was brought to a close with Sweet Child o’ Mine and for Who The Bell Tolls.

By the end of the night the pub was pack with happy punters, and I for one had a great night out. Well done lads, a very professional performance, hope to see you play again. Any chance of some Saxon next time, Wheels of Steel, 747 (Strangers in the Night)?

NH

Paul Carrack – Ritz Ballroom Brighouse – 9th Jan 2009

First gig of the year - another fine performance from Paul Carrack and his band, I’d say slightly better than last year. The set contained songs spanning all of Paul’s career including material from his new CD “I Know That Name”, including the new single "I don't want your love I need your love" and “Ain’t no Love in the Heart of the City” made famous by Whitesnake of course.

A real treat to see quality musicians playing such a small venue, and I could walk home afterwards.

You can download a track free from the new CD at http://www.carrack-uk.com/


NH

Our Favourites from 2008

Here are some of our favourites from 2008, and a look forward to gigs for this year.. keep coming back as we are (fingers crossed) going to have our first ever interview on Rockgig in 2009.. just as soon as we work out how the Dictaphone works.

Most of these will have links on them (some from the actual gig - the wonder of You Tube).. just click to go watch. Some will also appear in the video presentation over on the left. Happy New Year from Rockgig!

ME's selection :
Top 5 CDs

1. Death Magnetic Metallica. Balls,solos,attitude and tunes(oh and a snare drum sound!!)
2. Journey.Revelations.All that we could ever hope for from Arnel and co.
3. Testament.The Formation Of Damnation.Old school thrash for 2008.Roll on the Academy Oxford 19-2-09)
4. Tesla.Forever More.Just a great cd.A bit of old on it and a bit of new.
5. Europe.Almost Unplugged.Stunning acoustic set with some electric geetar.

Top 5 gigs.

1. Now I did mention earlier in the year.Are we allowed an outdoor and indoor gig.?If so Iron Maiden at Twickenham and...
   
2. Metallica at the O2.Gigs should be a celebration from the band and all the fans.Both of these were and more so much more.Beyond stunning.
3. Journey.Hammy O.Arnel can hold a stage too.Neal Schon ripped all night.New songs fitted in so well with the usual standards.
4. Thunder.Astoria.Again a celebration.Danny Bowes we salute you.
5. Queensryche.Indigo O2.At last we see Operation Mindcrime 1 and 2 as the US has.Worth the wait!!

Top 5 DVDs

1. Live After Death Iron Maiden.At last.
2. Black Symphony.Within Temptation.Stunning.
3. Dream Theater.World in Chaos.
4. Rush.Snakes and Ladders Live.
5. Tesla.Comin'atcha live.

2009 is a slight worry as so many big bands put out CDs last year. The Answer in March is definitely one to look out for...

Gigs booked for 2009:

• Tyketto in January
  
• Testament and The Priest Feast in February
• Metallica in March
• Lynyrd Skynyrd in May
  
• AC/DC at Wembley in June!!

NH's Selection :

Top 5 CDs

1. BSC - Folklore and Superstition - (by along way)
2. Big Linda - I love You
3. Tygers of Pan Tang - Animal Instinct
4. Joe Bonamassa - Live from Nowhere in Particular
5. AC/DC - Black Ice

Top 5 Gigs
This has taken some thought, cause I've not really been to a bad gig, the worst was Tygers of Pan Tang when the sound was poor, but the support from Voodoo Six was great and the sound was fine for them and it was only 3 quid

One thing that is obvious when I look back on our site is that Mr. Evans goes to some Premiership gigs and most of mine are 4th division. Including Blaze in a garden shed in Huddersfield, that just misses the cut, because Voodoo Six weren't quite up to the mark that night.

So to pick my five I've looked at the whole package, band venue beer etc. So for example BSC in Dec were great, but the drunk T**TS (I thought we were quite restrained. Ed) in front of me puts it outside the top 5.

So here we go.............

1. Saxon - Holmfirth I think it scored 30/10 so it was going to take some beating.
2. Joe Bonamassa - The Plug Sheffield - you knew you were in the room with greatness....
3. Wishbone Ash & the Hamsters at Holmfirth - a great double act. If the either play near you go and see them.
4. Def Lep/ Whitesnake/ BSC great rock line up . enough said
5. LA Guns/LoveHate Leeds Rios LoveHate were amazing and LA Guns stepped up to the plate and put on a better performance. A great show,though it will always be tinged a bit because the personal tragedy that happened early the next morning.

I've left off 2 great shows from tribute bands Live wire and Limehouse Lizzy, they also were up there as well

NR's Selection

As the editor of this debacle I don't actually get to go to as many gigs as the others, so I won't do a top five gigs, I'll simply say that Black Stone Cherry at Oxford was my favourite. and my favourite DVD was The Foo Fighters at Wembley.

Top 5 CD's

1. Black Stone Cherry - Folklore & Superstition
2. Shinedown - The Sound of Madness
3. Black Ice - AC/DC
   
4. Metallica - Death Magnetic
5. Guns n' Roses - Chinese Democracy

I should also give honorary mentions of Europe - Almost Unplugged(I was very surprised at this!), Joe Bonamassa Live from Nowhere and Journey Revelations (but mostly for the extra cd of old stuff)