Kerry Ellis & Brian May @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 12th May 2011

Take one West End star and add one rock legend and you get a fantastic pairing. We are of courses talking about Kerry Ellis and Brian May, and to have both on stage on the one night is a chance not to be missed.

In support was new band Vintage Trouble. As a support act, they weren’t bad though it is hard to describe who they sound like. One description that was heard was ‘James Brown on speed’. Powering through a set of several songs, the audience seemed to take to them. After a short interval to allow the setting of the stage, the main act began.

Or at least, so people thought. After a little light show and introductional interlude, the band appeared from either side, before the familiar opening chords of Dangerland on electric guitar from Brian May before being joined by Kerry Ellis. It didn’t take long for Kerry to make her mark on the audience of the concert hall. To follow up the opening number was I’m Not That Girl (taken from the musical Wicked). From here, she thanked the audience for a warm welcome and thanked Dr. Brian May, causing a cheer to go up.

I Can’t Be Your Friend (This Can’t Be Over) followed by the well known Shirley Bassey song Diamonds Are Forever which showcased her range beautifully. Now it was Brian’s turn to address the audience and ask for permission for both him and Kerry to perform a few Queen tracks along the way…as if anyone was going to object! To start off they performed Somebody To Love and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. At the end of this, Kerry disappeared off stage leaving Brian to play a solo piece. He ten swapped electric for acoustic and a stool, to perform a song ‘written by a good friend called Freddie’. He then went onto mention how Freddie may be gone but he would live on through his music, both getting a rousing applause from the audience. Brian then played Love Of My Life ably assisted by the entire audience.

Kerry then returned to perform an acoustic track with Brian called I Loved A Butterfly. From here, Kerry performed the Queen track Save Me, which she admitted that there had been extra lyrics written just for her. Disappearing from stage, Brian now reminisces about how he first met Kerry, the audition for We Will Rock You and how she set the bar for the character of Meat and she had made No One Buy You (Only The Good Die Young) her own. This would be the next song for her to perform followed by You Have To Be There. A quick stage strip and it was onto The Feeling’s I Love It When You Call.

Another quick disappearance and outfit change and she’s back to perform the rocky Defying Gravity. The next two songs would get the audience up on their feet and doing what Glasgow does best; singing along. These songs would be We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions. Kerry, Brian and the band left the stage and the chanting begins. The band returns with Brian personally thanking the audience for welcoming them and reminding him why he loved Glasgow. Kerry comes back on stage to perform Anthem (from Chess), finishing on a high with the Queen classic Tie Your Mother Down.

For many, this may have been the first time that they had seen and heard Kerry live. To see and hear both Kerry and Brian on the same stage was a wonderful experience. Kerry was vocally stunning and lived up to everything and more than you hear on the CD. And Brian showed that he’s still got it…but why does he have to make playing the guitar like a walk in the park? A very enjoyable night and highly recommended night out.

Photos © Vhari Lannigan

Kerry Ellis
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Brian May
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Sweetbox // Diamond Veil

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Some may have thought that the album may never get released, but finally, studio album no.8 for the group / no. 2 for current front woman Jamie Pineda, Diamond Veil has landed!

Before we go any further, we'd like to apologise. The artwork we're using is actually the Japanese one and not the artwork that comes with the Western download (we just don't like it and we're sure you'll see why and you'll agree!)

As promised, Diamond Veil is slightly more dance orientated than previous release, The Next Generation, though some tracks still maintain the trademark classical sampling. The album opens with the bright, breezy and upbeat Minute By Minute(might have something to do with the classical piece sampled; Morning from the Peer Gynt suite). Keeping with the theme is Bullet Proof (nothing like the a capella clip posted by Jamie months ago) and I Know You’re Not Alone (which features in soon to be released Japanese film Paradise Kiss).

Air Raid raises the bar slightly into dance/R&B territory, kept up again by Under The Influence and Shot Gun. Dizzy & Fever are, to put simply, dance tracks (well you might be Dizzy from a Fever…okay bad joke) although there is a sense of forgottenlyricitius for Fever…Suddenly from nowhere comes the beautiful ballad Nothing ‘bout Nothing followed by the equally beautiful Echo.

Undo This Hurt lulls you into a false sense of a slow ballad before bursting into full pop song. I Don’t Give A Damn comes storming angrily in, being calmed straight afterwards by Once. Dropping the tempo is Indestrucible before closing the album on the ballad Remember This Dance (first single in Japan).

Overall, the album has a different feel to previous albums with more upbeat songs rather than ballads. It feels and plays like a balanced album. There’s no disjointed or awkward moments that can arrive from track order. The samples that were provided by the Japanese label on a special commemorative site of selective tracks (or samples provided by other sites) do not live up to the full tracks potential. And it’s obvious that Jamie has grown more confident vocally from the previous release and that can only be a good thing.

Rating 5/5

Lady Gaga // Edge Of Glory

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If you’re a ‘Little Monster’, then you’re probably lapping up everything to do with Mother Monster’s upcoming album release. For everyone else, you’re probably sick of it. The release of so many ‘singles’ before the album release makes you wonder why bother with an album.

Of the four ‘singles’ released (Born This Way, Judas, Edge Of Glory and Hair), it’s the third that’s caught this blog’s attention.

Edge Of Glory has a retro 80s feel to the entire song, which, in a way, suits Gaga. It’s easy to catch onto the lyrics and, as a whole, this probably would have been enough for us to rate it 5 out of 5.

Sadly, someone somewhere decided that it would be a good idea to release the song the week of Eurovision in Europe, and at times, you could find yourself drifting to Gaga in Eurovision (let’s be fair, she’d probably fit in quite well!)

So far one of the best tracks from the upcoming album although others will probably disagree.

Rating: 4/5

Clare Maguire // The Shield And The Sword

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Clare Maguire returns with the third offering from her debut album, Light After Dark. And it’s a cracker!

The latest oferring is a little more upbeat from the last two singles but the powerful vocals still remain intact. Once more it showcases the range and power of Maguire’s voice and holds the listener from the first to the last note.

Things have appeared to have gone from strength to strength from having a remix of the debut single used featured in an advert for a well known car manufacturer, touring as support for Hurts and The Script as well as completing her first headline UK tour. Hopefully single number three will continue to show what she is capable of and encourage more to check her out.

Rating 4/5

Olly Murs // Busy

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The 2009 X-Factor runner up (who, incidentally has had better luck than winner Joe McElderry…Murs still has a contract!) returns with latest offering Busy.

Sadly, however, there is still nothing original here. As it starts, you can be forgiven for thinking that it’s the latest offering from Bruno Mars (Lazy) which of course is the opposite. Thought slow to start, the pace soon picks up and feels ‘Busy’

The single comes out as he's on tour so he’s got something to promote. Like previous singles, longevity not guaranteed.

Rating: 2/5

Pete Lawrie // A Little Brighter

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Welsh singer/songwriter Pete Lawrie finally gets around to releasing his debut album just a week before going on a joint Highlands tour with Glaswegian Pearl & The Puppets.

The first half of the album sees a nice balance of upbeat, quick tempo and slower, mellow little numbers, opening with the foot tapping, sing along track In The End treated to a new String arrangement opening for the album release. The laid back All That We Keep follows before rousing to the quick paced ramble that is How Can I Complain? Half As Good has a James Blunt-esque feel to, but also feel simple in it’s instrumentation while Fell Into The River brings the first half of the album to a close with a Motown/Soul feel.

The second half of the album feels a little like a ballroom dance with a slow,slow, quick quick, slow slow feel to the song listing. Both Poor Man’s Game and Paperthin show that Lawrie doesn’t need hugely produced tracks and can work easily with the bare essentials. If Not for You and the slight synth tinted Just Dust pick up the pace before dropping it to a more mellow tone with Dance Of Your Own, ultimately ending beautifully on slow piano driven song Jimmy And The Birds On Fire.

Overall, it’s not bad for a debut album. It’s not been over produced, giving the listener a clear distinction between instrument and vocal. It would have been nice if the track listing had followed the same pattern throughout, but this is just a minor issue. If you like your artists to have a honesty and connection with their lyrics, then Pete Lawrie is a recommended listen.

Rating: 4.5/5

KT Tunstall // The Scarlet Tulip EP

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The Scarlet Tulip EP is the latest self released EP from Scottish singer songwriter KT Tunstall. Simply KT and a guitar, all 7 tracks on the EP were recorded live in a solar powered studio in England

With it just being KT and a guitar, you can’t help but be reminded of the Throw Me A Rope EP and Eye To The Telescope. It showcases that, despite recording with full band, she’s still got it when it coms to performing alone and that it's not all pop & rock. These 7 little tracks eminate a calm and reflective side that's maybe been missing for a while and has needed to shine.

Being available on three formats (digital, CD and limited edition 10" vinyl), there's something for everyone. Highly recommeded buy for all Tunstall fans, especially those more familiar with the folier side of her

Rating: 5/5