Transatlantic - Live in Manchester

I went to see Transatlantic on Saturday (22nd of May) over at the old manky Manchester Academy 1 in, er Manchester. My feelings regarding the venue notwithstanding, the conert was up there as being one of the best I have ever seen. They came on dead on 7.30pm and didn't go off until 11.30pm - thirty minutes after the supposed 11pm curfew. They only had a 15 minute break during the whole 4 hour extravaganza.

Billy Cobham - Palindrome!

I notice that Billy Cobham has a new album out. It's called Palindrome and it is covers of our 1992 album of the same name. Just kidding, of course, but what a great idea!

It Bites - Live @ Manchester Academy

Went to see It Bites last night (March 6th) at the grotty old Manchester Academy 3 (the tiny venue at the top of the stairs) and it was the best I have seen them since John Mitchell joined. John's voice got off to a slighly raspy start with the opening number Bullet in the Barrel, but soon picked up after that. I still feel he struggles a bit on the Dunnery material, though.

The place was more or less packed, but clearly not sold out - same as it was the last time I saw them them. Incidentally, the support act Aynsley Lister was pretty good: in a Bryan Adams/John Maher kind-a-way. Indeed, the place was packed when they were on but once they had finished around 9 o-clock the crowd thinned out somewhat.