Great Bands & Singers Galore in 2025
Phew – what a frantic year for live gigs, events and world premieres. You think the Swinging Sixties were riotous? You ain’t seen nuthin’ like the…what decade are we in? Ah, yes the Twerkin’ Twenties!
In the last few months your Raver has been out and about night and day in search great new bands, famous rock groups, media events and rising stars of pop, jazz and folk music. Oh and encountering world renowned legends whose careers have enthralled generations of fans around the globe en masse.
LED ZEPPELIN, SIMPLY DAN & RHYTHM & BLUES
Where shall we start our ‘journey’ as politicians like to refer to when busy creating more havoc than any death metal band? Okay, 2025 began with the premiere of acclaimed documentary Becoming Zeppelin shown at London’s BFI IMAX cinema in January and conceived by director Bernard MacMahon. It boasted rare footage of live performances and new interviews with band members that drew cheers from the invited audience.
Were any of the Zep stars present? We were initially told ‘No.’ But, it turned out Jimmy, Robert and John Paul were all there – in disguise!
That same month, I was invited to write a foreword that turned into a lengthy chapter for a new block buster book Led Zeppelin: The Only Way To Fly (Lansdowne) devised by author Richard Morton Jack. On publication in October it received rave reviews and was launched at Books On The Rise, a specialist book store in Richmond, London on November 13. Richard and myself gave a talk to an attentive audience who included Dave Lewis, editor of Tight But Loose, the Led Zeppelin fan magazine and website, who kindly laughed at my more repeatable Zep stories. The book launch talk was followed by convivial drinks with Zep fans from all over the globe in the pub next door.
During the summer I had lunch on two occasions with Becoming Zeppelin’s enthusiastic director Bernard, who hinted there might well be a follow up Zep movie. He also contemplates making a documentary about the upheavals that have revolutionised the music industry. He’ll be reeling in the years…
REMEMBERING STEELY DAN
If recalling the Golden Years of Led Zeppelin wasn’t enough, it was a delight to hear a live band that regularly recreates the music of Steely Dan with a degree of perfection barely thought possible. When Simply Dan appeared at the Pizza Express jazz club in Holborn (September 27th) they gave a performance that was not just a ‘tribute’ but a celebration so accurate and heartfelt it moved at least one lifelong ‘Dan’ fan to tears. He explained he’d never expected to hear ‘Pretzel Logic’ and ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’ reborn and rockin’ in the 21st Century.
Simply Dan is fronted by lead singer/ guitarist Mark Roadnight who introduced a marvellous medley that began with the aforementioned ‘Pretzel Logic’ from the original band’s 1974 album. I couldn’t resist telling lead guitarist Darren Spicer in the intermission, I’d interviewed composer Donald Fagen, when he visited Melody Maker that year.
PRETZEL LOGIC
Donald was very patient when I innocently asked ‘What’s a pretzel?’ He kindly drew one on my notebook. We got on well because I recognised that ‘East St. Louis Toodle-O’ another LP track, was a cover of a 1920s Duke Ellington composition. (Steely Dan sent the Duke a copy of their version, but sadly got no response).
As Simply Dan heated up during two sets that rocked and swung in equal measure, the magical mood they created was enhanced by charming girl vocalists Becky Harris and Lauren Goddard who sang with a passion that matched the musicianship.
When the band romped through ‘Florida Room,’ ‘Time Out Of Mind’ and ‘Don’t Take Me Alive’ we grew to appreciate the individual talents of the bandsmen, notably lead guitarist Darren Spicer and keyboard player Roger Evan.
A blazing brass section comprising Felix Shepherd (trombone), Mark Wilson (alto sax), Jack Thrush (tenor sax) and Tristan Gaudion (trumpet) helped raised the temperature even higher.
During ‘Midnight Cruiser’ and ‘Caves Of Altamira’ (from the 1976 Royal Scam LP) the faultless rhythm section excelled. Drummer Mark Claydon entered the ‘Caves’ with a funky beat, after swinging the ‘Cruiser’ with panache that would have met with Mr. Fagan’s approval – had he’d dropped by to dine on pizzas rather than pretzels.
‘Aja’ a slow ballad offered a chance for Roger’s keyboards to state the melody before drums and bass developed a more casual groove. After ‘Night By Night’ and ‘Gaucho’ came ‘My Old School’ from 1973’s Countdown To Ecstasy when friends in the audience began singing along in harmony.
SIMPLY DON’T LOSE THAT NUMBER
The second set dove into ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’ that hasn’t lost its appeal since first heard on Pretzel Logic a mere 51 years ago. And we all enjoyed ‘I.GY.’ from Donald’s The Nightfly album, the composer’s tribute to late-night radio DJs and a song celebrating memories of The International Geophysical Year. The evening progressed with ‘The Fez’ when the brass section’s teamwork excelled again amidst heated lead guitar solos. Then came an amazing drum solo from Mark ‘Turkish cymbals’ Claydon greeted with cheers by the audience that stood up to shout their approval.
Yep, we were all ‘Reelin’ In The Years’ during that memorable night at the Pizza Express when the girls sang ‘Dirty Work’ and ‘Haitian Divorce’ and the band played ‘Do It Again’. We all wanted Simply Dan to simply do it again – as soon as possible.
SANDROCK RHYTHM & BLUES BAND
Lord Herbert, Woolwich
November 8th 2025
When you want a good time and hear great music by a first class entertaining band, then you don’t have to head for the O2 or Wembley Arena. Yes, you can still find it down at your local pub!
So it was a special pleasure to hear the Sandrockers blowing up a storm at the Lord Herbert, a friendly live music venue where fans can dance as well as quaff the occasional glass of ale. (Or lager in my case). Perching on a stool kindly provided by the staff and only feet away from the band, it was possible to soak up the atmosphere as well as the music.
Much of the excitement was generated by the cheerful personality of singer, bass guitarist and band leader Tony Myers. He not only launched the band into a succession of soul, blues and rock hits but even danced out into the audience, when the excitement began to peak.
There wasn’t much room for the band crammed into a corner of the room but you could see them close-up and they didn’t have to play at Who style volume to win over the enthusiastic audience.
The front line consisted of Tony flanked by excellent singer and lead guitarist Graham Parker while keyboardist Simon Frost delivered all manner of styles from urgent R&B to funky blues.
GREEN ONIONS
Up on the stage sat driving drummer Chris Hussey commanding his sparkling green Yamaha kit with all the expertise of a musician long dedicated to the art of percussion. Their set kicked off with Booker T & The MGs’ ‘Green Onions’ (In retrospect this was a bow to the MGs’ guitarist Steve Cropper who died on December 3rd). It was followed by ‘Everything’s Alright’ another dip into groovy mid-Sixties fare and a fine version of Steve Miller Band classic ‘The Joker.’ Graham Parker sang the narrative lyrics with calm assurance while skipping through catchy guitar riffs and his tasteful solos were complemented by Simon’s sensitive keyboard touches.
Tony Myer’s smoothly melodic backing was also a lesson in how to play bass guitar as a musical instrument and NOT a National Grid electricity generator, as I fear is often the case. The mood created by this thoughtful performance was one of the highlights of the evening. ‘Yeah!’ was the hip-notised audience reaction.
Tony rocked out on ‘Every Dog Has It’s Day,’ with alert back beats from Chris Hussey while Graham was in his ultra cool element on ‘Can’t Find My Way Home,’ Steve Winwood’s 1969 Blind Faith hit.
DANCIN’
Otis Redding’s ‘Dock of the Bay’ was a perfect tune for Tony to sing while taking centre stage and a swinging ‘Rocking Chair’ closed the first set with Mr. Myer’s dancing out into the audience with some of the grooviest dance steps seen outside of New Orleans.
Before the break Tony took the opportunity to announce the band was changing its name. “No more Sand Rock – from now on we are the Back Line Rhythm & Blues Band”. Band bookers please note!
The second set saw the audience ever more heated in their approval, dancing and cheering. Even a friendly dog joined in the applause, barking with its owner’s consent. By now my note book was becoming indecipherable but I do recall shades of ‘Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone’ the 1972 Temptations hit, with a tick tock snare drum beat complementing Tony’s insistent bass. The piece evolved into a real mash up with Simon’s Motown keyboard adding soulful atmosphere.
DRUMMIN’ MAN!
A highlight of the Back Line’s show was Chris Hussey’s dynamic showcase on the Spencer Davis/Steve Winwood hit ‘I’m A Man’. Sung by Graham and Tony and with Simon underpinning the groove they built up tension before Chris took off in a tom tom frenzy. He turned his kit into a one man band, interspersing cymbal crashes with snare and bass drum rhythms all heading for a climax greeted with well deserved cheers.
There was more fun to come, the audience dancing when the band dialled up telephonic hit number ‘634 5789’ before 11.45 p.m signalled it was getting late. Hey ho for the encores and Graham sang Robert Johnson’s ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ complete with splendid blues guitar choruses. Yells of ‘More’ had to be answered with ‘High Heel Sneakers’ the whole band cookin.’ Yep, that’s the power of Rhythm And Blues. May their force be with you. CHRIS WELCH