Devin Townsend has been in the public eye for the last 31 years, first emerging as the lead vocalist in Steve Vai’s ‘Vai’ band project, which lasted an album and a tour, and fizzled out shortly thereafter. Yet that introduction…
View More Devin Townsend – PowerNerd
O2 Ritz, Manchester Friday, 20th September 2024 Haken … where have you been for the last 15 years of my life? I cannot believe that this band has passed me by during all that time. It’s my fault entirely for…
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Playhouse Theatre, Whitley Bay Thursday, 19th September 2024 Big Big Train have a career that spans back over 34 years, since their formation in 1990. For a band with that kind of longevity, you would have expected them to have…
View More Big Big Train / Stuckfish
I had already purchased my ticket for the Big Big Train show at Whitley Bay, yet through fellow TPA member Chris Simmons and his contacts, I managed to obtain permission to do an interview on the day of the gig.…
View More Alberto Bravin – Big Big Train
This release caught my attention primarily because of some of the musicians and singers featured on it, and Todd Rundgren being involved was certainly a huge personal bonus for me. It is, as the title implies, a ‘tribute’ project to…
View More Various Artists – Reimagining The Court Of The Crimson King
Porcupine Tree are one of the most beloved British rock bands that feature progressive aspects within their music of the last quarter of a century. During the noughties, they cultivated a passionate fan-base, as the music took a more hard-rock…
View More Porcupine Tree – Closure/Continuation. Live
2023 marks 20 years since Opeth released the Damnation album. At the time it was viewed by many as a big change in direction, although in essence it still contained a lot of the softer musical attributes which the band…
View More Opeth – Damnation: 20th Anniversary Vinyl Edition
Innisfree Sports & Social Club, Newcastle Tuesday, 21st November 2023 A Tuesday night in North Tyneside, why not go and see some live music? So off to the Innisfree, a working men’s club located right next to Longbenton Metro station,…
View More Tanith / Ma Kelly’s Boys
I struggle to believe that it’s been 25 years since Devin Townsend released this landmark album that greatly showcased his musical genius. I remember getting it as soon as it was released back in 1998, as I loved his previous…
View More Devin Townsend – Infinity: 25th Anniversary Edition
Imagine the scenario when an established recording artiste walks into a record company meeting, after not releasing a full album of new material for almost two decades: “I have this idea. I want to release a single every four weeks…
View More Peter Gabriel – I/O