Mick Birchall Reviews

Bigfoot  is one of those bands that draw a lot of fan appeal. Their mix of solid riffs and tight solos is what keeps people listening. Their natural charisma is what keeps people coming to their shows. Before their set at Manchester Rebellion, I managed to sit down and chat with the guitarists, Sam Millar and Mick McCullagh. Where we talk about the band's musical tastes, their new singer, the hardships of being on the road and trying to capture their live energy on record. Also, Guns 'N' Roses comes up a bit in the interview.  You've recently recruited a new singer in Sean Seabrook. How's he fit in with the band since his debut? Mick: He's fit in really well and singing brilliantly at every show. So we can't fault him, he's fit right into the band and the chemistry was there right away. Sam: Yeah, we picked him because he felt like the right fit for the job. He's nailing all of the shows, this being the eighth or ninth show. I've kinda l...

On a dark a dreary Friday night in St Helens, I decided to brave the weather and got myself to a local bar for some live music.  Tank is a great bar that houses great gigs throughout the year and this night was no exception. Witch Tripper are one of those bands that you can always rely on to put on a good show, no matter the where they are. The intimacy of the venue provides a great atmosphere when there's live music on. Although the crowd was a little thin to start the night it soon built up to a reasonable size for the venue. There's something about a small venue with loud, live music that makes for a great night's entertainment. Add in a crowd that is more than ready for it you have an enjoyable and rawkus gig, no matter the size of the venue. I was really excited for this show as the last time I got to see Witch Tripper was last year and I've had a hankering to see them again.  Opening proceedings was the Liverpool based hard rock band, Vulture Cult ...

There's something pretty cool about finding a new band. The excitement and fun of experiencing their music for the first time. It's also great when the band is just starting out. Their music is exciting and everything is new to them as well. The Jupiter Blues recently gave me a chance to listen to their new, self-titled EP. I'll admit, it's taken me a while to get around to writing this due to reasons. I've finally had a chance to sit down and listen to the EP and I like it quite a lot. The problem is that there are a lot of blues rock acts coming up through the woodwork these day it can be difficult to separate yourselves away from the pack. Yeah, that can be an issue but I like to believe though it's in the subtle differences where you can really shine as a band. Their mix of blues rock and classic rock 'n' roll is quite compelling, with a decent tone and tight rhythm to back it up. The production is super clear with an excellent balance of every ...

Day two of HRH C.R.O.W.S. was a pretty different day in many ways. For me the day flowed by at a much quicker pace. I think that's because most of the bands had a much more high-energy and looser feel to them. Also I think the crowd was a lot better overall so the general atmosphere was better. Like I said in the last blog  there wasn't a weak band all weekend and this Sunday line up was a pure force of nature. Once again, there were a few bands, and artists, that I was already familiar with and also I discovered some incredible acts alongside them as well. This is the true magic of a festival like this. There's so much variety even within this small niche, which makes finding something new, fun and accessible at the same time. Also I had to buy my ticket for next year right there and then, it just felt right especially with the announcement of next year's line up. I started my day on the "Unplugged" stage, which was a little exclusive performa...

This was such a special weekend for me. When I was a kid I was born and bred on country and rock music. I've always had that love for the southern rock tone. The twang of the guitar and drawl of the vocals, it just always sounded so nice to me. For me this is one style of music you can't fake. There has to be sincerity and soul to the music, otherwise you come off as a poser and it just doesn't work. So, when I heard that Hard Rock Hell were putting on a weekend dedicated to outlaw country and southern rock, I immediately knew I was going to be there. I will say, this has to be one of the strongest HRH weekends I've ever been to in terms of performances, there wasn't a weak or boring band all weekend. Every band and artist had their own style and brought their A-game to the show. The crowd was lively and up for a great weekend of music. Unfortunately I couldn't get around to seeing every band, so I apologise if I miss the odd band here and th...

So... how do you make a fair review of Ninja Sex Party . A band that, in all honesty, doesn't take themselves all that seriously in the first place? Well, I might as well try. Cool Patrol is their fourth album of original music and sixth album overall (they've made two cover albums as well). As I have been on holiday recently I have had a good chance to listen to this album and everything it has to offer. Also, I want to look at how it differs from their previous work, as this is the first album of their own songs since 2015 with Attitude City. I have been enjoying their music and style of comedy for a while now, ever since I was introduced to it by my friend. I've grown to like them more and more with every release. In all honesty, this album feels like the most complete of their records, from a production standpoint. It's the best sounding, the clearest in tone and has the newest musical ideas for the band. Most of the songs are big sounding glam rock anthems wit...

I think it's pretty fair to say that I have become a bit of a fan the Japanese electro-punk band, Man With A Mission . The first time I heard of them was with the 2015 EP they did with Zebrahead, Out of Control. I also got to see them on the subsequent tour with Zebrahead and Patent Pending. Their music instantly caught my attention with its high energy and their unique stage presence. It is certainly something to remember. I've had a chance to listen to their new album, Chasing the Horizon and I really like it. I've been wanting something this year with that bit of a spark and Man With A Mission were the right band to bring it. Their great blend of electronica and punk rock really make this album feel alive and fun. Chasing the Horizon makes interesting use of all of the band's elements and is put together in such a way as to keep you listening. The riffs are tight and the electronic elements are well integrated at every moment they're used. I li...