NEWS: Underground Music Conference comes to Belfast - Toby Jepson amongst speaker

THE Underground Music Conference (UMC) is coming to Belfast as part of a UK tour, with Wayward Sons singer Toby Jepson amongst the speakers and...the event on April 10th at Limelight2 is free!

The conferene is the one place for artists and bands to get an edge.

The UMC offers an invaluable opportunity to get the lowdown on what’s happening in the growing underground music scene, as well a chance to network and make useful contacts.

Artists, bands and songwriters can all benefit from conference as it continues to move forward as its facilitators and guest speakers meet and speak with bands, listening to what they need and want, then tailor the delivery.

“The underground rock scene has really kicked off,” says Bruce John Dickinson. He should know as former guitarist of Little Angels and The Colour of Noise “It feels like the audience and the bands have reclaimed their own music, and it’s existing outside normal media.

"It’s social media and it’s bands talking to each other, generating the interest, developing a large community, and with this community comes self-sufficiency. Everywhere I look I see talented bands hitting a wall because they don’t know where to turn for help and advice. Our job is to join the dots and help get new music heard.”

Terri Chapman of Rock People Management agrees: “The Underground Music Conference is exactly what this industry has been missing, finally the emerging acts of this thriving scene are getting some professional high end and FREE advice!

"The first Underground Music Conference was extremely successful: I came away from it having signed The Rocket Dolls and they are doing amazing things, already including playing Ramblin Man on the Rising stage this year.”

Claire Lloyd, of Central Press, stresses the importance of smart strategy and tactics in the music business, and making the right contacts. “It may sound like a fortune cookie, but it you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. Even if you’ve got great material and performance, you’ll get far better exposure and results by smart planning and making the right connections.

"I’m very much looking forward to giving a help in hand to bands and artists trying to navigate their way in today’s fast-evolving music business.”

Guest speakers include Bruce Dickinson (Little Angels, Colour Of Noise) Arya Goggin and Mikey Demus from Skindred, Jimmy O from The Graveltones; Toby Jepson (Little Angels, Wayward Sons) Jimmi Wheelwright (Tigerclub) Tom Harte (Trucker Diablo)Ben Ash (Carcass) Mark Clayden (Pitchshifter); Sara Leigh Shaw (The Pearl Harts)  Rob Town (Stampede Press) Andrew Michael & Lisa Mckeown (Ninelives Management) Claire Lloyd (Central Press) Terri Chapman (Rock People Management) also Damian Keyes (DK Music Management) Peter Keevil (TMR Band Management)
Topics covered at the Underground Music Conferences include: Self and D.I.Y. Management; how to finance your band and projects (covering crowd funding, grants, and traditional record deals); planning your career within the industry, and going from local to national level; PR, social media and networking.

What’s more the UMC helps bands make contacts with labels, managers, PR’s, distributor, merchandisers, etc. - contacts that will make a difference. The Pilots already led to some amazing hook-ups, notably the Rocket Dolls signing to Rock People Management and Saint Apache working with 9 Lives Management.

Bruce recently announced the launch of BRUCE’S NEW MUSIC SHOW on Hard Rock Hell Radio and is looking for the newest and most exciting new music out there which deserves to be heard and bring to a new audience.

To submit for this email a track, biog etc. to mycareer@wbear.io if you want feedback send to george george@wbear.io

The Belfast event is on Tuesday 10th April, Limelight 2, Belfast. Speakers in Belfast confirmed so far ae Toby Jepson, Tom Harte (Trucker Diablo) and Rob Town (Stampede Press)

Get your chance to get up to speed on the brave new world of Underground Music and learn what’s needed to succeed on the new frontiers at the Underground Music Conference.

For further details, and to reserve places at these amazing free events, email Claire Lloyd at claire@centralpress.co.uk.

NEWS: Get set for Wayward Sons return to Northern Ireland

THE hard rock 'supergroup' Wayward Sons have wowed crowds across the UK since they burst on to the scene last year after the release of their album 'Ghosts of Yet to Come'.

Following their stunning set supporting Steel Panther (read the review here and listen to Ivor's interview with Toby Jepson here) fans will be delighted that they have confirmed a return to Northern Ireland.

Wayward Sons will play the Diamond Rock Club on Friday 13th April (a venue Toby is familiar with).

Details can be found on the DRC FB page - www.facebook.com/thediamondrockclub.

INTERVIEW: Toby Jepson discusses all wayward thngs

FOLLOWING a stormer of a set in Belfast supporting Steel Panther (review is here) Toby Jepson of the hard rock super group chatted with Ivor in a wide ranging interview.

Covering the band's genesis and his own personal history it is a fascinating listen.

Listen below:

Interview by Ivor Whitten

LIVE REVIEW: Steel Panther and Wayward Sons boomerang into Belfast’s Limelight

A COLD January night was no match for the pulling power of Steel Panther and Wayward Sons, who rocked up to the Limelight, Belfast.

The Limelight was packed in anticipation for a very special evening of some of the greatest heavy metal filled adolescent toilet humour this side of the Lagan.

First on the stage was Toby Jepson’s Wayward Sons and, boy, did they do themselves proud. Nailing every song with vigour and rock and roll panache.

Kicking it all off, they soared into ‘Alive’, ‘Ghost’, and ‘Don't Wanna Go’. The energy of the band radiated right across the Limelight. These guys knew how to rock out. Toby’s vocals belting out the songs like a Little Angel of the A-Rock-alypse.

There was clearly a lot of fans in the audience as it was hard to miss the thrumming massed singing alongside Toby’s own vocals.

‘Killing Time’, ‘Crush’ and ‘Small Talk’ continued the fantastic rocking set. Toby was a rocker par excellence all the while Nic Wastell, the bassist, was giving Toby a run for his rocking out money with an exuberance that defied description. Nic swung, jabbed, and lunged that bass like a halbard cutting through the lines.

It was very clear Toby, Nic, Phil, and Sam were enjoying themselves immensely and the crowd just lapped it all up and the band responded in kind.

‘Be Still’, ‘Something Wrong’, and ‘Until the End’ finished off an incredible set. The group’s energy and joyous interaction with the throng of rockers just made for a perfect performance.

Then came the main course of the night, Steel Panther. There really is no genuine way to describe how utterly entertaining, tight, fun and full on 80’s hair metal cheese these guys are.

They are full on ‘Innuendos? F*** ‘em’, cut straight through suggestive similes and deliver blunt force sexually filled lyrics. Every song is definitely not safe for work and cock-full to the rim of pure mischievous profanity.

They kicked off their set with ‘Supersonic Sex Machine’, ‘Goin’ in the Backdoor’, and the raucous ‘Aisan Hooker’.

Every single song had the whole heaving mass of metalheads going mental for more. The crowd enthusiastically singing along with Michael, lapping up the cheeky, profane lyrics feeling like they were school kids finding a porn mag for the first time.

‘Tomorrow Night’, ‘Wasted too Much Time’, and ‘Poontang Boomerang’ maintained the joyous irreverent exploration of just how dirty everyone’s minds were.

It was bluntly shown how wonderfully freeing the performance was when some of the ladies kindly assented to Michael and Satchel’s request to see titties. They also seemed very impressed with what Belfast had to offer.

Satchel was then given the stage to put on a solo performance that will be passed down from generation to generation.

As he executed his ballsy dance of licks and riffs, the crowd egged him on, which made him encourage the fans even more.  He swung between riff cover to riff cover like Iron Man and Sweet Child of Mine and on it went. It was a long solo that left the crowd satisfied but slightly disappointed when it was over.

On the went the tirade of exuberant and cheerfully delivered profanity imbued lyrics with ‘That’s when you came in’, ‘Weenie Ride’, and ‘17 Girls’.

Finishing off the nights entertainment, Steel Panther delivered their classics of ‘Gloryhole’, ‘Death to all but Metal’, and ‘Community Property’.

The crowd just kept singing, pumping the air and rocking out like they just didn’t care. It was a release of sexual tension (or even just end of a bloody long working week tension) that just hit the G-Spot.

Everyone crushed up as close as they could to the presence of Steel Panther could not stop grinning from ear to ear.

Interspersed in between the songs was one of the best comedic acts that you are ever going to see. Utter trolling, ribbing, and jest filled toilet humour that would perfectly fill an 18+ comedy movie, was executed with perfect comic timing.

These guys, especially Michael and Satchel, were as tight as a gnat’s chuff and worked the crowd to perfection.

Honestly, the whole performance was a jubilant celebration of irreverent, smutty and direct sexual references, unshackled by the chains of insinuation, ambiguity and inference. Steel Panther are the heavy metal equivalent of burning bras.

Which, to be honest, they would probably wholeheartedly endorse.

If you get the opportunity, you grab it tighter than a camel’s arse in a sandstorm and go. It truly is a night to remember.

Review by Ivor Whitten
Pictures by Darren McVeigh

ALBUM REVIEW: Wayward Sons bring the boom on Ghosts of Yet To Come

WE have always had a large amount of admiration for Toby Jepson - his work with Gun, Little Angels and solo recording, not to mention his production credits. When news filtered through that he had assembled a new band thoughts turned to whether he could remain at the top of his game with Wayward Sons.

But when you have rockers of the calibre of Sam Wood, Nic Wastell, Dave Kemp and Phil Martini you have the collective experience of not only Jepson's bands, but a resumé that includes Spear of Destiny, Treason Kings and Chrome Molly brought to bear.

Thus their début album 'Ghosts of Yet To Come' is a true hard rocking release that recalls the 90s, with more than a smidgeon of a tip of the hat to classic acts from the 70s and 80s.

Throughout the riffs and melodies are to the fore, especially on the immense track 'Ghost' and the mid-pace rollick of 'I Don't Want to Go'.

What makes it an enjoyable album is that they are not as clichéd as many of their contemporaries; sure they are treading a similar path, and they nod to their predecessors for example the likes of 'Give It Away' has echoes of The Fountains of Wayne 'Stacy's Mom'.

The album is a trip through memories, but brought right up to date. Jepson is as always giving every ounce into his performance, but with Wood to as a foil the solidity of the songs is clear. And Toby's social stance is present on the likes of 'Small Talk' - a refreshing diversion from others more bland rock lyrics: "I was born into Thatcher's Disaster" is a memorable line.

Many will have the benefit of having samples of the album through the band's decision to release a series of their tracks (four in total) on YouTube, but they should merely be an encouragement to buy this album.

The urgent melodies of 'Crush' are just a flavour of what the rest of the tracks offer (see video below).

For fans of true hard rock this is an essential buy. Unfortunately they won't be with Inglorious in Belfast, unlike other parts of the tour, but hopefully they will land in Northern Ireland soon to give us all a treat with their melodic boom.

Review by Jonathan Traynor

NEWS: Wayward Sons set for album release - video released

FROM being solo artist, band member and producer Toby Jepson has moved on to his next project, and it's a pretty exciting one for lover of hard rock...here's the blurb:

Wayward Sons are delighted to announce the release of their debut album “Ghosts Of Yet To Come” on the 15th September through Frontiers Music Srl.

 Wayward Sons is a UK guitar act made up of Toby Jepson (Vocals/Guitar), Sam Wood (Guitar), Nic Wastell (Bass), Dave Kemp (Keys) and Phil Martini (Drums). They have an impressive resume of groups they have previously worked with – Little Angels, Gun, Spear Of Destiny, Treason Kings and Chrome Molly to name a few - which is reassuring in terms of the band as players, but doesn’t really hint at their sound. Wayward Sons sound nothing like the sum of their parts. The music is hard rock but mixed with a vitality and energy – both musically and lyrically.

The band is set to release four videos to support single releases. The videos together will make one short film. You can see the first video (for debut single 'Until The End') below.

'Ghosts Of Yet To Come' is a hugely accomplished debut album – as might be expected. From the staccato riffing of 'Give It Away' to the melodic intro of first single 'Until The End', from the hard rock of 'Ghosts' to 4/4 rock of 'Don’t Wanna Go', the album sounds familiar yet of its own.

Toby Jepson had the basis of songs written when the band formed. Together they then took these rough song ideas and forged their own sound. Lyrically the album sees Jepson treading a far more personal line than some of his previous output.

“I feel I have unfinished business, stories still left to tell, points to make, noise to create, all of the above... besides, it wasn't a choice, more of a need. My intention is very simple. I want to write about what makes me tick; about what I believe in. Hopefully you will believe in it too. It will be warts and all,” says Jepson.

The album was produced by Wayward Sons (Toby Jepson’s previous credits as a songwriter and producer include the likes of Katie Melua, The Virgin Marys, The Answer and Toseland) and Chris D’Adda (Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds).

“Ghosts Of Yet To Come” will at turns surprise, beguile and inspire…

LIVE REVIEW: Rewinding back the years to bring NWOBHM bang up to date as Saxon, Fastway and Girlschoo rock Belfast

SUNDAY night, Belfast, the night before Halloween - yet it felt like a night in the 1980s had been moved by a strange time vortex to a city transformed, a city where the Troubles have faded; and the metal that inspired a generation and provided escapism in the past was once again vibrant and vital.

Girlschool, Fastway and Saxon all played Belfast in the 80s, when the 'mainstream' was avoiding the city. Like punk in the late 70s, metal stuck a middle finger up to the sectarian divide, raised a can and rocked out.

That spirit of defiance and a determination to deliver accolades to bands who crossed the North Channel to play in Northern Ireland swept throughout the Limelight on Sunday (October 30th) as a cross-generational crowd gathered - in denim and leather of course - to salute the trio of NWOBHM stalwarts.

Sure, they are a bit longer in the tooth in 2016 compared to the heady days of their births, but they shame newer acts who can only but aspire to touch the hems of their jeans in terms of the energy, composure and craft.

Girlschool may have had many travails from the time the played with Motorhead in the long gone Maysfield Leisure Centre, beside Belfast Central Train Station, but they have lost none of the verve.

They mixed up tracks new and old, with as always the three ladies coming to the mics to give real oomph to each chorus. Kim's tease that many weren't born when 'Hit And Run' was released didn't stop the audience singing along in a track all too familiar.

Of the new songs from 'Guilty as Sin' the pair of 'Come The Revolution' and 'Take It Like A Band' (the latter dedicated to their late friend Lemmy) caught the spark of the past and once more turned it into live fire.

Closing with 'Race With The Devil' and a storming version of 'Emergency' the band and the Limelight were grinning with pleasure.

Fastway once played to an almost empty venue in the mid-80s in Belfast, but the Sunday night crowd were not indifferent to the band this October.

The focus may have been on 'Fast' Eddie Clarke for many years, but this is not a one-man act, with Toby Jepson leading from the front, cajoling the audience to reach deep in support. His experience as a singer and rock 'n' roll jester keeps the energy high in a set that tipped more than a nod to hard rockin' blues.

'All Fired Up' had a swing and purpose that drew the back stragglers away from the bar and into a maelstrom, while 'Feel Me, Touch Me (Do Anything You Want)' featured a bluesy lead from Clarke, as John McManus rolled the bass lines smoother than a muscle car eating up the miles on Route 66.

Closing with 'Easy Living' the pace and energy of the early part of the set had waned slightly, but did not diminish the appreciation of the audience at Clarke's return to what Jepson said was one of Eddie's spiritual homes.

Saxon are faithful to Belfast. From their first appearance in 1983 this was just over a year from their show in 2015 as part of the Warriors of the Road show.

Biff is a consummate performer, engaging and still energetic as they opened with title track from 'Battering Ram'.

When many acts urge the audience to chant, clap or sing a long it can seem like a cliché, but Biff is one of the metal originals and it comes across not as a stereotype but as a gentle tease and doff of the cap to the heady days when he was one of the metal standard bearers.

In an age when all the derivatives of metal have vied to be faster, heavier and more controversial Saxon's anthemic sound could be regarded as dated...except the band take such notions, tell them to feck off and play heavier and harder than some of their younger counterparts.

With such a well-regarded collection of songs reaching back across the years they were able to play some old, some not so old and some new - all received with an almost sense that the Rapture had descended on earth and was focussed on the Limelight.

Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt are more than just wingmen to Biff as they pull out masterful riffing and tasty licks.

'Never Surrender' has a message that sums up the attitude of a band and an audience that knows the glory days of metal are compromised by a media environment in which auto-tuned dance troops, reality TV stars and an obsession with fame without talent has become the norm. But, Saxon are not just about rewinding back the years: no, they are about putting metal in its proper context, for the fans by the fans, young or old.

When you see 50 year plus fans, standing next to a 20-year-old belting out 'Dallas 1pm' and 'Wheels of Steel' you know the band has hit the right note, at the right time.

Of course the likes of those tracks and '747 (Strangers in the Night)' and 'Princess Of The Night' drew the largest cheers, but make no mistake, this was not a nostalgia trip. This was heavy metal at its purest, tempered by the years, honed by the ups and downs, but most of all delivered and received with majesty with might.

Review by Jonathan Traynor
Pictures by Darren McVeigh
Reproduction by written consent only

Brewing up a storm at The Diamond - The Brew set for NI

THEY may be one of the best UK rock bands you've never heard of but The Brew have been racking up the plaudits and raising the roofs across Europe; and they're now set for the Diamond Rock Club on May 10th.

The Grimsby three piece have earned a well-deserved reputation throughout Europe, headlining shows in Germany, Spain and Poland. Now, with their fourth album Control they may finally be getting the respect in the UK that they deserve, with acclaim coming from mainstream publications and rock stations.

Control, produced by Toby Jepson, captures the raw gritty rock classic rock sound, with a modern twist.

In anticipation of the UK tour, which opens on May 1st, The Brew have released a new video for the latest single from Control -  Skip. Below is the video for Skip and the previously released Repeat.

Control is out now on Jazzhaus Records.

 

Energy in the song as Toby Jepson wraps up solo acoustic tour at Diamond Rock Club

ENERGY, dynamism and banter were the order of the day as songwriter, producer and former Little Angels frontman Toby Jepson delivered a consummate performance bristling with intensity despite only being equipped with a microphone and a guitar - and that was all it needed to enthrall the audience in Ahoghill.

Jepson may have shared stages with likes of Bon Jovi and Van Halen, but in the intimacy of a smaller venue in the depths of January (11/01/14) the character and talent of the man shines through.

Opening up proceedings was Stefan Murray, who warmed up the audience with a mixture of covers and his own material, of which Silver and Gold was notable. Despite a few equipment hiccoughs Murray showed potential that could be developed by a more judicious choice of covers and a greater use of his own material.

Sometimes volume can make up for a lot of things, but there are other times the volume is not so much the reading on the decibel meter, but the energy, thoughtfulness of the performer.

With a voice to fill an auditorium, and material that translates as well acoustically as it ever did with a full band, Toby Jepson brought to the Diamond Rock Club a scale of performance that can show lesser mortals just how to deliver 'songs'.

Earlier when we caught up with the genial rocker he spoke about how important the actual song is to him, whether he is performing, lyric writing, producing or just being on stage. And the evidence of that personal commitment to the song was more than evident.

This was the last date in Jepson's solo acoustic tour backing his album Raising My Own Hell and was a mixture of songs and answering some frankly weird questions.and stunning performances of classic Little Angels tracks and solo material.

Indeed, many of the tracks aired live had as much power delivered acoustically as they do on record with a full band.

Little Angels tracks The Way That I Live and Back Door Man grew acoustically while Shadow Boxing and the title track of the recent release raised the bar through the passion and wit with which they were delivered.

But this was also an opportunity for the audience to hear a little more about the man behind the songs. Prior to the gig attendees had the chance to pen a few questions for Jepson, which were put to the man by 'Phil'.

Those there heard how Jepson's superhero of choice was The Hulk, how Jon Bon Jovi had always been a gentleman to Little Angels, the awe a performer feels in front of 110,000 people, why Katie Meluah is a strong person, how record labels 'own' artists - and for comic devotees why Marvel is better than DC.

Following a Facebook comment about the 'tragedy' of reality TV shows, Jepson gave an impassioned answer about the talentless numpties who fulfil Warhol's prediction about everybody having their 15 minutes of fame. As Jepson explained to universal acclaim they neither deserve those minutes nor deserve to crowd out TV screens with their useless lives.

Entertaining as the Q and A session was, Jepson's command of the material was outstanding; controlled guitar power and devilishly delightful singing.

Drawing from Raising My Own Hell and Guitar, Bass and Drums solo releases, as well as Little Angels songs, Jepson showed that there is a diversity in his songwriting that reflects personal feelings and personal issues of interest.

Four Letter Word - a song originally penned for Meluah - came across as a passionate poem to the sense of loss and sense of betrayal that comes only when real emotions are caught up in a maelstrom, while Small Talk was huge on the stage.

Crowd pleasers from the Little Angels back catalogue such as Young Gods and Too Much Too Young were greeted like old buddies and worn on stage by Jepson like a pair of favourite, comfortable old jeans - truly excellent, and truly well suited to the venue.

At 46 Jepson self-disparagingly refers to himself as a "grumpy old man" but what his performance at the Diamond Rock Club proved is that he has matured as a person and matured as a multi-talented muso.

And so long as he can hold a guitar, pen a song or sit behind a production desk then rest assured his talent will continue to grow and mature.

Toby Jepson speaks about rock 'n' roll, Katie Meluah, Little Angels and the importance of the 'song' as he concludes his solo tour

TOBY Jepson has emerged as an in-demand producer, singer-songwriter and a solo artist. As he prepared to wrap up his winger acoustic tour backing the wonderful Raising My Own Hell at Diamond Rock Club, we caught up with Toby to hear his views on lyrics, songwriting, producing The Answer and the importance of the song.

In the interview below he also chats about working as a songwriter for Katie Meluah and why John Lennon has been an inspiration in terms of making political, with a small 'p' points in his work.

Toby Jepson interview 11th January 2014

Jepson raising acoustic hell hits the mark

TOBY Jepson - the man behind Little Angels, voice of Gun for a time, and producer par excellence of The Answer's latest album New Horizon - has produced something of an acoustic masterpiece ahead of his winter solo tour, which sees him play The Diamond Rock Club on January 11th.

This six-track release is an absolute in-your-face demonstration of how the man can fill the space which too often is left with aural gaps on acoustic productions.

It is also a demonstration of a lyricist who has evolved, a lyricist who can tackle live issues, awkward discussions with a sensitive touch and a challenge to the mainstream.

Opener, and title track, Raising My Own Hell, sets the tone, with a dynamic mix and a clear statement of intent.

The most rounded and deeply impressive tracks are Patience of a Saint and Shoes. In the former a well-structured arrangement allows the vocals freedom to roam through a skeptics challenge to 'faith' and theism. While it is unusual to see a rock vocalist take on a topic such as this, it is handled with aplomb.

Shoes is a delicate yet up front take on the situation that anyone can find themselves in during these times of austerity. Painting in words a beggar who is a former soldier left scarred by the "brutal touch" of war is a notable point in a poignant ode.

Album closer 'Shadow Boxing' is a slightly off-beat take on Jepson's soundscape, with sax and a tangential at times arrangement throwing the listener briefly off step before they can appreciate the real groove and swing in the song. Available from Jepson's site as a free download, give yourself an aural treat before you buy this album.

The contrasts in this album are also highlighted in this song - while at times confrontational, it is also tender in just the right quantities.

Out now on Townsend Records it's six-tracks should be in every rock fans collection.

Jepson plays The Diamond Rock Club on January 11th. Jepson is also offering to answer fan questions they send in advance.

Physicists now know what The Answer is...rock 'n' feckin' roll on a New Horizon

THE great sci-fi humourist Douglas Adams once postulated that the answer to life, the universe and everything could not exist in the same universe as the question...and as physicists across the globe struggle to find the answer to everything, we in Belfast know there is only one answer on the horizon and it is a New Horizon of rock 'n' roll.

The Answer are loud and proud; they are energised with their fourth album New Horizon storming to one good review after another; and on Friday, 11th October they kicked off a tour that is sure to lift them to yet loftier heights.

Opening for the County Down rockers were Cage The Gods. Drawn from across the British Isles they are a perfect fit as openers. Strong, blues influenced rock, delivered with panache plus the added bonus according to some of the ladies in the crowd of having an ample supply of eye candy on display.

With a few refinements to arrangements and stage craft Cage the Gods could be the real deal in a short period of time. It'll be worth seeing how their debut release works out when they release the ep 'Favourite Sin' in November.

But when it comes to great tunes, stagecraft and an overall fantastic live show The Answer have perfected their art.

After a difficult period in the band's history The Answer have emerged, strident and defiant with new management, new label and a new album worthy of anything other pretenders to their throne have released in the past decade.

And it was with the type of  fuck you attitude that makes everyone grin manically when they emerged on to the Limelight's stage with the title track of the album delivered with a malicious smile: they know how good it is, and it seems as if the crowd do too: for an album not long released there was an immediate mass singalong.

Cormac is perhaps in someways a throwback to when frontmen were expected to be jesters, leading the crowd in a merry dance in the best sense of the words; but to say he is a throwback misses the complements he deserves. He is not harkening back to yesteryear. He has almost helped re-invent the position of the lead singer; taking the best of the past with the best of the present.

And what a set of pipes he has - displayed to their best on the single Spectacular (which was performed with an air of almost soothing yearning for lost youth and youth still to be re-discovered), Concrete and standards like Preacher.that all encapsulate what is great about The Answer

That blend of old and new was balanced well. Long time fans know that The Answer can deliver; but the shot in the arm Toby Jepson seems to have given them on the new album has perhaps, taken them to the proverbial 'next level.

Mickey's bass in particular is allowed to flow freely, for once higher in prominence, allowing Paul's guitar work to develop yet more as he nods to heroes of the blues and rock with flourish after flourish; all the time when the ever grinning Mr Heatley behind the kit has a smile that threatens to split his face.

The Answer always seem to enjoy themselves on stage. No-one but their closest confidantes ever know what troubles and travails they have behind the scenes. But as they exited from the stage at the Limelight this first date of their European tour sees the band determined; focussed on one thing - rocking for all their worth. And they genuinely seemed to be enjoying this show as much as the crowd.

With hard rock enjoying something of a resurgence the ability of bands to stand out from the pack is ever more difficult. On the strength of this performance and the astounding new album the horizon has never seemed so bright a destination to chase for The Answer.

We know that the rest of the audiences on this tour are in for a treat -a superb performance from a superb band. Yes, we may be biased as they are from our neck of the woods, but even the most skeptical of observers cannot fail but be impressed by The Answer.

New Horizon is currently available on Napalm Records and you can catch The Answer right now as they tour the UK and Europe.

Horizon spanning 10-track epic from The Answer

THE gospel according to The Answer is simple - good times rock 'n' roll and with New Horizon the County Down foursome have hit the rock 'n' roll equivalent of a home run, a hat trick in a cup final, or a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Four albums into their 13-year career and it would be easy for a band to coast...not so The Answer.

New management, new label and a new attitude have brought New Horizon storming into the forefront of 2013 releases; a hard rockin' blast of traditional blues and groove with a twist and balls proudly out.

It is a cliché when a reviewer says that a band's release marks a statement of intent, but take a moment to listen to album opener and title track New Horizon...

The late Storm Thorgerson designed
the cover for New Horizon 

This is a song that shows a new dynamic to the band: sharper and focussed attitude but still with the trademark sound of The Answer. To put it another way, if New Horizon had been released in the rock heydays of the mid-80s LA record execs would be waving cheque books and masturbating at the thought of signing them...new label Napalm Records should be lying back enjoying collective orgasms at having them on their roster.

Throughout the album the sound feels newer, tighter, and for the first time since the debut release of Rise the live feel has been captured; producer Toby Jepson has managed to grab the four members of The Answer by their collective necks and wrung out of them what could be a defining moment in their career.

When we caught up with Cormac Neeson for an interview on September 3rd he told us how he felt about the release:

"I think it's out most focussed hard-hitting record so far and hopefully our audience will get it and get what we have to say."

Any fan of The Answer's previous work or any fan of straightforward hard rock will get what the band have to say.

Photo by Carrie Davenport

When the album opens it comes as a little bit of a surprise - in the best possible way - the freshness of Paul Mahon's riffing and the rhythm section of Micky Waters and James Heatley have achieved that knife edge balance between looseness and being tight as a shark's arse.

Waters bass is a revelation. At the right pitch and with a perfect tone it provides pure drive to complement and enhance the rock solid Heatley throughout the album.

Mahon also appears to have taken stock of his always apparent talent and let loose with every shred of his range. From the funk/blues of Leave With Nothing through to fuzzed out solos and concise playing he is the foil to the passion of Neeson's passion, weaving patterns through riffs, off-beat tones and drawing meat from his six-strings.

Of the lead-up to the recording Mahon explains that the cumulative touring and playing to mega-audiences with AC/DC has led to the expansive but tight 10-track New Horizon.

"After all that time on the road, our songwriting’s so much tighter, all the fat has been stripped away and we’re much more direct. songs that we had in that vein seemed to go down with their
audiences, and we took all of that on board," he said.

Of course one could be forgiven for falling for the hype of a publicist's press release amidst the welter of information; but this is an album where the most effusive praise will still fall short of what this album deserves.

Even the down-beat track Call Yourself A Friend is uplifting when its meat kicks in. And the obvious anger of Somebody Else - with its pulsing high tempo vibe - provides a life-affirming song for every disaffected rocker on the planet.

Lead single Spectacular, with its message to be what you can be truly captures the dreams of youth, and how you can always live up to what you want, is a balls-out track that most rock acts would kill for. Listening to the lyrics makes the controversial video - banned by Youtube, but available at the end of this review - make sense.

Tracks like Baby Love Me - co-written with Cosmo Jarvis - keep the blues roots to the fore, through to the album closer, Scream A Louder Love showcase a band at the top of the game.

Neeson explained his approach to lyrics that are multi-layered and at the same time universal truths.

"I wanted to present my message like a Northern Irish guy should, with no frills and totally in your face,” he said.

No frills and totally in your face is what The Answer have always been, and on New Horizon they have captured the elusive elixir of pure hard rock, distilled into 10-track excellence.

New Horizon is released on 30th September on Napalm Records.

The Answer open their UK tour in Belfast's Limelight1 on October 11th! We'll see you there!

The unedited version of the Spectacular video is available to view here.

The 'clean' version is below:

New Horizon dawns for The Answer

THE Answer have long been local stalwarts, favourites at home and getting more and more recognition across the world with big name support slots - now they are ready for the next stage of their career.

With a new label - Napalm Records - and latest release New Horizon set for release at the end of September we caught up with front man Cormac Neeson in the congenial surroundings of a Belfast hostelry before he headed off on a UK and US promotional tour.

Despite the changes the band are upbeat about the next step in The Answer's success story.

"The vibe is very positive right now, we're starting to get good reviews of the album," said Cormac. "We think it's our best one so far, but I'm sure every band says that about every record but I genuinely mean that.

"I think it's our most focussed hard-hitting record so far and hopefully our audience will get it and get what we have to say."

But to get here has not been an easy journey so far The Answer. There have been a difficult few years and with a change of label and severing some ties the band has had to look closely at the next phase of their career.

"At the end of the Revival cycle - our  last record - we had to make some tough decisions with our backroom staff and it was probably the first time in our careers that it didn't flow naturally," said Cormac.

"We had to alter the band's course and we parted ways with a few people we were close to, and for a brief moment you almost felt like a businessman making business decisions rather than a musician writing good songs and playing gigs. And that's not a nice feeling and we have to make sure this band thing works out because it [business 'stuff'] doesn't suit me!"

The result is the new album and he explained where they are now.

"We got over it and we channeled all of it into our new record and we think it is a better album for that. I suppose it's what any decent artist should do is use that as the fuel for their work."

One aspect of the character of the band that always shines through is The Answer's roots and their acknowledgement of their forebears in Northern Ireland.

"We're proud to be part of that tradition, with punk, metal, rock, blues, rhythm and blues and all that deserve a tip of the hat," said Cormac. "But we take that all on board and while we don't shy away from our roots we try to twist it into something new.

"And we make no bones about where we come from and what we've been listening to over the last 20 years."

And given that the band are born, bred and buttered in Northern Ireland, Cormac feels that he can reflect that.

"I feel that my Northern Ireland identity can make a band unique in the global market," he said. And as regards lyrics...

"For me by all means go ahead and singing about whatever aspect of Northern Ireland culture, society or whatever you want to sing about, it's part of what I throw into the pot. I'm not maybe as in your face as Stiff Little Fingers or bands like that but I don't try to sit on the fence."

When it came down to sitting down and writing the album the band took one bold step they have never done before.

"On this record, alongside the shake up of personnel we tried to shake up the writing process and the way we did things in the studio just to see where it led and if it hadn't worked out we could have gone back to what we have done for the past decade," he said.

"So for example this time we've co-written a few tracks with our producer Toby Jepson and co-written another track with a friend of ours called Cosmo Jarvis."

"The decision to co-write was a massive one for us because we're four strong minded people who are used to writing together and get into a rythm together and not pandering to anyone but the band.

"So to have a guy come in and say why don't you try this you're initially 'I wouldn't write a song like that in a million years' but then you give it a go and it's not far off the mark at all and once we put our stamp on it and as a result of that it's a much fresher album. There's a few songs on it that really hit the mark that would have taken us longer to achieve."

With the Limelight1 October 11th date on the cards as part of a wider tour thoughts are turning to the set.

"The main challenge is what to slot in from the new record and what older songs to put in for a balanced set.

"We've been rehearsing for the tour and every day we try a different set. We've that many songs we want to play every song but obviously we can't do that. It's like a jigsaw getting all the pieces together."

In promoting the tour and first single 'Spectacular' the band have become immersed in controversy with a video that was banned from Youtube because of its sexually explicit nature and scenes of smoking and drinking.

"Jesus, don't let my mother see it!" was Cormac's first comment, but he is pretty relaxed about the whole shebang.

"I see it as a true reflection of life. Just  because the political correctness says you can't show smoking and drinking on television doesn't mean it doesn't go on. The video is about going to a party and having a good time and listening to some rock 'n' roll music. I mean its not any wilder than most parties I used to find myself in - maybe I don't go to enough of those any more. It's just a reflection about young people having a good time and nothing more and nothing less."

Nothing less than hard driving hard rockin' music is what The Answer deliver, and with this new focus and the channeling of energies the album - review coming soon - and tour promises to take the band to the next level.

New Horizons is released on September 30th on Napalm Records, with the tour kicking off in Limelight1 on October 11th - tickets available from all usual outlets.

The full audio of the interview will be broadcast soon on www.rockradioni.co.uk

Gunning for Belfast

FOR some time the re-emergence of classic rock acts has been building. Sales of the magazine Classic Rock have been growing at an alarming rate for the pop pickers on radio stations; and while rest of the music business is in a panic about piratical downloads the hard rock scene has been proving that live is still best.

Indeed the hard rock resurgence has been led by many acts that have earned their stripes throughout the years. Such has been the journey of Gun.

They reformed a while back with Toby Jepson, of Little Angels, fulfilling vocal duties. But Gun are not about looking to the past.

“We don’t want to be a nostalgia band and certainly feel we have something still to say,” Jepson told Belfasmetalheadsreunited. “Our challenge is to convince the traditional Gun fans that the new music measures up to the old and that the band has a new lease of life that can keep the audience wanting more.”

Certainly Gun provided a twist in the early 90s to a rock scene still reeling from the pundits proclaiming that grunge was ‘new’ and the rest had to step aside. The sensibilities and panache of albums, ‘Gallus’ for example, displayed a dynamic interpretation that merged riffs and solos with uplifting choruses

New mini-album ‘Pop Killer’ has already been going down well with audiences, not least the storming swagger of ‘Let Your Hair Down’ which merges the traditional Gun sound with a contemporary twist.

“We were determined to do something different, and not simply retread old steps, and so when Dante, Joolz and I started writing, our challenge was to think a little outside the box and try to bring all our favourite elements to the music that we all love without it being to obvious,” said Jepson.

“We felt compelled to use current technology and sounds to augment our collective love of traditional rock and I think we have achieved that. I think that once the music sinks in it will become apparent that everything Gun stood for in the past - pop inflected, passionate, emotional rock - is still there in abundance!”

When Gun touch down in Belfast for their 8th November date it will be after a gig in Portugal and several in Spain. It is also the start of a UK tour which provides challenges for the band.

“Obviously, it’s our home territory and we have a lot to prove, mainly to ourselves,” said Jepson. “We are hungry for it again, and despite being away for such a long time we feel the new band rocks harder and is more ready than ever before. It will be great fun playing the new songs.”

And, if the reaction in Spain is anything to go by Belfast fans are in for a treat.

”The band hadn’t been there for 10 years, and obviously not with me, but the reaction was fantastic and most encouraging of all towards the new songs that are on our mini album 'POP KILLER'.”

With so many rock acts re-emerging with stronger than ever material Jepson took a moment to reflect on the rock landscape:

”I think that we are in an unprecedented period of change in the music business; bands we all grew up with are getting older and the ability to choose what you listen to has exploded. The internet has allowed us all to side step the force-feeding of music that used to happen back in the day, and as a result the audience has the power now; deciding who and what to listen to and so all the bands that were written off by a very cynical business can survive playing live and creating and releasing music on their own terms.

”The challenge is to take this music and create something that truly stands up and can crossover into the mainstream and allow not just the traditional rock fan to appreciate it but anyone.

“I hate the labels, never understood the need to pigeon hole music, I’ve always believed that there are only two types of music; GOOD and BAD! I hope Gun can be considered a GOOD band!”

Here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited we’ve always dismissed the idea of musical genre stereotyping…and while Jepson may hope that Gun are a good band, we know they are!

But what can fans expect on the setlist?

”We are hoping to play most of the mini album,” said Jepson. “In Spain we were playing two new songs with another nearly ready. I suspect we will play three, maybe four, of the songs.

”We are playing what we consider the 'best' tracks from all the albums, and not necessarily the hits. We have our favourites and some of the tunes work best live even though they were perhaps not big songs from the records. We are about to retire a couple of the songs as we have new music to play, and that is what we are really about now; playing the future not the past!

”Gun always made great records and had hits despite the change in the scene. The danger is to be too concerned about 'what’s happening'. The fans don’t believe that stuff, they just like what they like!

“We have some great new music that we feel delivers a future for us and we hope the audience can feel our commitment and determination coming from the stage.”

GUN PLAY THE LIMELIGHT ON 8th NOVEMBER. DOORS AT 8pm, SUPPORT FROM INCH HIGH. TICKETS A PALTRY FIFTEEN STERLING.