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Kate Clover is one of a special breed of musician, talented, driven, performs incredible live shows and is still humble, friendly and super cool.  I caught up with her at Loco Club in Valencia, had a sneak listen to sound check and then had a chat over a couple of cold Spanish cervezas.   Kate, it’s great to finally catch up with you. How is the tour going?   It’s been fun – this is like the second month of touring; it’s been great and we love playing in Spain. I think the whole band would move to Spain if we could because it’s a total rock and roll country. When we play it feels good to be appreciate.  Here we are in Valencia tonight and then a long drive tomorrow – we have to wake up at 8am and get straight on the road to Bordeaux, it’s like a 9-hour drive, but that’s rock n roll!     You have a new album out now “The Apocalypse Dream” – tell me about it, the inspiration behind it and where it all started.   Well, it started during the pandemic when there was nothing else to do except write. So basically, I would wake up every day and go for a long walk, listen to music and then go home and write. Which now looking back it feels like what an ideal way to spend that time. I feel like I got to get back in my head a little bit – which was good!   I wrote 30 songs, and they got whittled down to 10. Then last year after the European tour, I was back for 2 days and we went straight into the studio with a producer named Jonah Falco (The Drummer from “Fucked Up”) and he has worked with a lot of bands, he is very punk but at the same time he is also very musical. I wanted to work with him because I knew he had a good ear and it was a great experience to work with him.     The album is out now on digital download, but also on pre-order as a vinyl release. Why was it important for you to release on vinyl?   I DJ a lot and if I wasn’t a musician, I am and still would be a big music fan. Because I DJ I think it’s nice to have something tangible and I like the culture of vinyl and I feel it’s a visual representation of an artist’s statement to their music. I feel a visual component is very important to any piece of music. Now with social media everything is digitized, but when you have a physical product, it makes you appreciate the music more, well for me at least!     I snook into your soundcheck – which was awesome and I am really looking forward to tonight. Have you guys played Valencia before?   We played the outskirts, but I don’t exactly know where. We love Spain! We just lover being here and playing – so I guess tonight is our first gig in downtown Valencia.   (To all the fans out there we are going to start as petition to get Kate and the band to move to Spain)      Your tour schedule is insane! When you are not touring, writing, recording, performing and generally being a rock star, how do you kick back?   I still very regimented. I like to wake up, have coffee and go for a run. Running is my vice. I get to listen to a lot of music when I run and I guess I’m addicted to the endorphins. That is how I relax.  I also record shop a lot. I’m trying to learn to relax!     For new fans out there and people who haven’t discovered you yet – how would you describe your sound?   Punk! Its punk but it touches on a lot of moments in Rock and Roll and I think that’s important to me because from a young age I connect to Rock and Roll, then as I grew up, I found different scenes.  The foundations are Rock and Roll, but when you say that to people it turns them off a bit. I don’t want to label it as just punk, but it kind of fetishizes all the fun, artistic scenes of Rock and Rock.  It’s not just balls to the wall Punk Rock, its musical and fun.     Who are your biggest influences?   I love “The Pretenders” for sure. Oh and Ray Davies – I’m really inspired by the Kinks song writing, I feel like they couldn’t write a bad song, they are leading the charge right now!     So, what Next?   Well after this tour we go back to the USA and are playing “Punk Rock Bowling” in May and in fact I need to announce we have a second European tour in June. We are playing the UK, France, Germany and Italy.  Then go back and write in July, a festival in Mexico city and then we have a support tour - which I can’s announce just yet!     Possibly the most important question – Pizza, pineapple, or no pineapple?   Ok! Our tour manager is from Italy and he cannot understand how people put pineapple on Pizza! But you know, I’m going say “Why not!”  put it on there! Live your life, eat the pizza that you want! Live the pizza dream!     Do you have a message for all you fans out there – Pineapple pizza lovers and haters.   Come to a show, buy the music, have fun and buy some merchandise. You guys are what keeps musicians going.     And finally….. “Rick Perez” (Founder of Reckless Magazine)   I met Rick because we did the same thing – he came to my residency in Los Angeles, and he came early and we went to go eat dinner together and immediately we just clicked. He is from San Diego; my husband is from San Diego - his energy is contagious and he has become a really close friend. He is so driven and really talented. The older I get I collect people like Rick and he is one of the best. I was on the cover of the first edition of Reckless magazine, because Ricks amazing!   Interview and Photo: Rhyan Paul Article originally published in Reckless Magazine: https://www.recklessmagazine.com/home/The%20apocalypse%20dream

On Wednesday 29th May, Valencia received a musical gift in the form on the Hellcopters. The much awaited and anticipated gig took place at the legendary Sala Canal venue, which is situated on the famous Ruta Destroy. Organised to perfection by Hey Tonight promotions the event was a sell-out success with the Hellacopters taking the crowd on a journey through both classics and newer material. The stripped back venue, devoid of lasers, pyrotechnics and LED lighting was the perfect backdrop for the purists. Nothing to distract from the bands on stage.   The capacity crowd was warmed up by veteran Italian band – The Peawees – a classic Rock & Rock quartet whom have been together for 25 years and were a perfect complement to the Hellacopters.   By the time the Swedes took control, the room was already close to a meltdown!   The Hellacopters exploded onto stage the classic sound of incoming helicopters before launching into “Action De Grace” With barely time to take a breath they followed on with “The Devil Stole The Beat From The Lord.”   Nicke Anderson owned the room from start to finish with his trademark hat, guitar riffs and Rock & Roll strut – at times almost melting into the crowd, teasing those at the front who were desperate to be even closer!   The lighting was dark and moody, but the energy was the opposite – the fans moving and singing in unison and becoming one with the music.    Anthems including “So Sorry”, “Rainy Days” and “Soulseller” were stand out tracks, but the entire setlist was delivered with such energy and perfection, It would be hard to choose any that were better or worse than the rest.   Finishing on “By The Grace Of God” the band left the stage to screams of oncore! And One More!!!   The didn’t disappoint and retuned with a encore of four tracks, finally ending what can only be described as an epic night with “(Gotta Get Some Action) Now!”   As always, it was over too soon, the stage empty but fans still sipping on beers and reminiscing on what had just been moments before.     Words and photos: Rhyan Paul

Def Con Dos recently  touched down in Valencia to perform at the 16 Toneladas. A band more commonly known for headline festival slots and large venues - a night of music intensity was guaranteed in the snug surroundings of one of the best clubs in Valencia.   I might be a little biased, because the band have become friends of mine over the last couple of years - but you cannot ignore the fact that they are still one of Spains best Hip Hop / Rap Metal bands. Formed in 1988 by Cesar Strawberry (frontman of the band) they are Spains answer to the Beastie Boys - hard guitar riffs (Alberto Marin), looped samples, deep baselines (J. Al Andalusia) and funky hard drums (Kiki Tornado), fused with the voices of Cesar Strawberry, Sagan Ummo and Samuel Barranco make for an unforgettable sound.    Their songs focus on Spanish folklaw, Pop culture, Politics, news and current affairs - often offensive, always complex with plenty of humour thrown in. Cesar spent two year in jail because of his views and words, a band which stands by its beliefs.    So, back to the concert - tickets sold out months ago, 16 Toneladas was a heaving mass of partygoers, eagerly awaiting for the band to take the stage. When they did, the club erupted!    The next 90 minutes flew by in a blur of back to back Def Con Dos classics with crowd surfing, beer spraying and hardcore partying at its finest! Mara Gilbert from Strawberry Hardcore made a guest appearance for “A.M.V” and “Ellas Denunciaron) “El Did De La Bestia” from the movie of the same title is always a crowd pleaser - in fact every song that the band played pleased the crowd!    I hung out with band afterwards and what makes them special for me is that they are super nice, down to earth and genuinely cool people. There are no offstage ego’s in Def Con Dos - just a mutual respect for each other and a band I am proud to not only have photographed a lot, but one who have become friends. words & photos: Rhyan Paul

“Thin Lizzy” and “Grand Slam” are bands that everyone knows. The man behind both was Phil Lynott, who died far too young. I recently sat down with Laurence Archer - who not only played guitar in both bands but also co-wrote many of the songs with Phil Lynott.   Born in the UK in 1961, one of Archers first bands was “Lautrec” with his stepfather, before moving on to perform in and write for “Wild Horses”, “Stampede”, UFO and later X-UFO. He has lived with Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), toured with “Saxon” on the original “Wheels Of Steel” tour, worked worldwide in the film industry and is now back with the second coming of “Grand Slam”     Laurence, you have been associated with many bands over the years – Wild Horses, Stampede, UFO, Grand Slam and probably most notably – Thin Lizzy.   Yes, “Think Lizzy” and “Grand Slam” is who most people associate me, but also UFO and now the new “Grand Slam”. Over the years I have been in many bands and back in the early days we supported “Saxon” on the “Wheels Of Steel” tour. That band never had a proper record deal, but we had great management and put out independent releases -  that was back in 1979 / 1980. That was my starting block for the future.     How did you meet Phil Lynott and become part of “Thin Lizzy”   I met Phil because just before the “Stampede” era I played with a band called “Wild Horses”.  Jimmy Bain, who was the bass player from “The Wild Horses” and “Rainbow” asked me cover for Brian Robinson who had left the band, which was also managed by the same management company as Thin Lizzy.  Phil came to see three of shows that we did with “Wild Horses” one gig at the old marquee Phil got up on stage with and that’s really where I got to know him. He immediately asked me to come down to the studio where they were recording “China Town”.   I spent time in the studio with him, just playing and that's when Lizzie management approached me and said Phil wanted me to be the next “Thin Lizzy” guitarist.  Every project I have ever been involved in, I have been a major part of the writing, production and arrangement.   From an early age I have loved being in the studio – so it wasn’t long before I was writing and getting involved in the production with Phil as well.   The first time I played with “Thin Lizzy” was in Ireland, being a young man – everything blew me away! I was in awe of Phil and the whole entourage as well.  For me it was a new thing, it was almost an out of body experience! It was great fun, and we had a great connection because he saw my vision as a writer, rather than just a guitar player. That come through even more as I wrote a lot of the material for “Grand Slam”   We would spend days in the studio he had in his back garden, sitting there for hours writing, re-writing until we were happy with it, we would rehearse it and then go out and play it live. Out of all of it, my best memory of that time is my writing connection with Phil.     Then came “Grand Slam” – tell me about that.   There was a gap between “Thin Lizzy” ending and “Grand Slam” starting. At the time Phil had a solo project he was working on, when John Sykes went off to join “Whitesnake” Phil called me and said let’s do this new project (Grand Slam) together. We immediately went into the studio and start writing and rehearsing, then came lots of recording and I moved to Dublin for 6 months and I lived in Phils house with Phil and his mum in Hove. We were using the village hall in this tiny fishing village to rehearse and hone the set.   After that we did 6 or 7 shows around Ireland as “Grand Slam” We didn’t know what to expect when we got to the venues, but when we got there it was crazy! We couldn’t get into the venue ourselves because there would be 2 or 3 thousand people outside trying to get in!  This is when I first realised “Grand Slam” could be a really big thing, the response was incredible. I will never forget those days of because of it, Ireland will always be a very special place for me.   I still find it very emotional to think about Phils death. Just before he died, I went to America to record some songs for the “Grand Slam” project and Huey Lewis was going to produce it so. I ended up in America with “Huey Lewis and The News” doing the arrangements. Phil at that time didn't have a current passport and because of the convictions he had with being caught with drugs he couldn't get a visa to come over. I ended up spending some time playing with Huey and then Phil eventually did come over on an out of date an Irish passport. I still don’t know to this day how it did it!   This is the first time I really realised that Phil was not in a good way – he was smoking heavily, his voice wasn’t in good shape, he was coughing and overweight, still using drugs. We tried to record a track, but it didn’t really work out. Phil wasn’t in great shape and his voice just wasn’t working.   We came back to England and I went to the management company and I said “I really don’t want these tracks to be released” and I discussed having another project whilst we assessed how Phil was progressing. However, the management company used the songs to get a solo artist recording deal for Phil and recorded the track “19” which I co-wrote. I wasn’t very happy with that.   Then I am getting a telephone call from Jimmy Baine saying he cannot get into Phils house - he had gone there for Christmas, along with Phils ex-wife and children. This is when Phil was found unconscious in his bed. That was late December 1986. Then shortly afterwards he died in hospital – he had overdosed, and his body just started shutting down.   At that age, I wasn’t used to losing friends, it was a really hard to comprehend.     Jumping forwards 30 years to 2016 – you and Mark announced you were reforming “Grand Slam”   The story behind that is that the promoter of “Sweden Rock” is a massive “Grand Slam” and “Thin Lizzy” Fan, so he phoned me and Mark up and asked if we would play the festival in 2016.  So we put a band together and it was a fun thing to do, we didn’t really have any plans for it to be a long term thing.  However, it did get me thinking about re-recording the songs I had written with Phil, so that the fans could hear them as we had planned for them to sound. Various people along the way have released bootlegs of our material and labels have released Boxsets, of unfinished material tracks - all of varying quality and not how they should sound.   In 2017 I did a 3G guitar show where I performed with two other guitarists and in my set, I played songs I had written with UFO, Stampede and Grand Slam – and the band I put together to perform it essentially became “Grand Slam”. I had Benji Reid on drums, David Boyce on Bass (the original “Grand Slam” bassist) and Mike Dyer singing. The band sounded good, and the “Grand Slam” material sounded great, so Mike and I went through all the old material new stuff I had written, the band went into the studio, and we recorded the “Hit The Ground” album!   We had no idea what where it is was going as a project and we didn’t have a record deal or management. It was a big investment for us and quite an emotional thing to do – we were all apprehensive that people might accuse us of trying to jump on the “Phil Lynott” bandwagon. Then we got management interest, and a record deal came along – we released the album and things started to progress. In many ways I wished I had called the band something else! We have people wondering is this a retrospective band or is this a new band? This is a new band, and the new album “Wheel of Fortune” has only one track that we wrote when Phil was alive.   The “Wheel of Fortune” Album has been a fantastic project so far.  Rocky Newton has replaced David Boyce on Bass – me and Rocky have crossed paths in many bands and worked together in X-UFO.  We wrote the songs here in Spain and have produced and most of the music videos for the individual tracks here as well.   As a band we have a great relationship and strong friendship - we all get on really well, there are no egos in “Grand Slam” One thing that was really important for me from the start was that I wanted all the band members to be on the same wavelength, to get along and be happy with what we are doing together.  We all have out strange quirks, but the most important thing for us is the music and when we play live it comes across that we are passionate about it, and we all get along together. We recently did a Spain and Portugal tour and the reception was just fantastic, it really cemented us together as a band.   We are all looking forward to 2025, with a concert in Dublin in January then in February we are off on a 25 date European tour, supporting “Saxon” - which we are really looking forwards to. It’s taking us into new territories, so we are hoping it expands the fanbase of the band and introduces us in countries we have not played before.  For me personally its quite special – I toured with them on the original “Wheels Of Steel” tour and to be doing again is really something special.   We are writing new tracks for the new album, recording new videos to support the tracks. We have just released our version of “Whiskey In The Jar” - I never thought I would ever be recording it myself. We did it as a special release to celebrate Phils birthday.  We were worried we were going to get criticized for doing it, but we have had nothing but positive feedback from it, it’s already got 250k views on YouTube!  The record label is going to release it as a limited edition with some special artwork on it – which will be amazing for the hardcore fans.   We will be releasing the new album; we have a charity concert coming up to raise money for victims of the DANA.  2025 is going to be a really busy year, because we still feel we are catching up from the two years everyone lost because of the Covid pandemic.   Aside from “Grand Slam” My solo album from 1986 is being re-released with some bonus tracks and new material. That’s being released on a record label in Japan, because in 1986 it went to number one in Japan and number five on the import charts in the UK.   Yeah - the music industry is “do or Die” and that’s what we are doing, putting our heart and soul into it and giving it our everything!!  I’m not into star signs, but I am hoping 2025 is the “Year of the Archer”! Interview & photo: Rhyan Paul

Supergeroup OFF! recently played at Primavera in Benidorm and did not disappoint! Photos by: Rhyan Paul

On Monday 7th April, The Horrors will play at Sala Moon in Valenica. A long awaited gig and part of the ir sellout tour of Spain- this is one not to be missed! It's almost a nice inside joke that The Horrors, a band that has made darkness their natural habitat, decide to title Night Life's new album. At this point, after almost two decades touring the darkest corners of rock, punk and synth-pop, that Faris Badwan and company have chosen that title is practically as if they were releasing an album of the same name. And it is that The Horrors have done nothing but flee the daylight at the same time that they escaped comparisons with illustrious darm like The Birthday Party, Bauhaus or The Cure. Disc by disc, they have been able to devise their own dark color palette. The Horrors will feature both Night Life and their new line-up (key player Amelia Kidd and drummer Jordan Cook have joined Rhys Webb, Joshua Hayward and Badwan himself). For tickets and more information: 16 Toneladas

Lady Gaga, 14 times winner of the Grammy Award, announces her tour "The MAYHEM Ball", with dates in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom this year, in which she will present her new album, MAYHEM, which received great recognition from critics and fans after its release and debuted at number 1 on Billboard 200. Seven years after her last visit to our country, Lady Gaga will return to the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona on October 28 and 29. After her headliner concerts at Coachella 2025, her stadium residencys in Mexico City and Singapore, and her historic free concert at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Gaga will start The MAYHEM Ball tour on July 16 in Las Vegas, at the T-Mobile Arena. With multiple nights in Seattle, New York, Miami, Toronto, Chicago, London, Stockholm, Milan, Barcelona or Berlin among others, this tour marks its first series of concerts in North America and Europe/United Kingdom since its iconic Chromatica Ball Tour in 2022. "This is my first arena tour since 2018," Gaga said. "There's something electric in a stadium, and I love every moment of those shows. But with The MAYHEM Ball, I wanted to create a different experience: something more intimate, closer, more connected, that lends itself to the live theatrical art that I love to create." TICKETS Tickets on sale: on 3/04/25 at 12h on www.livenation.es Prices: from 55€ (+ distribution costs)

Brilla Torrevieja announces one of the most anticipated concerts of its fifth edition: Camilo, the acclaimed Colombian artist, will be in charge of inaugurating his long-awaited tour of the festival, with a unique date in Alicante and Murcia. The appointment will be on August 13 at Antonio Soria Park, promising an unforgettable night full of emotions. With a meteoric career that has consolidated him as one of the most influential figures of Latin music worldwide, Camilo has conquered stages from all over the planet with his authenticity, emotional lyrics and his characteristic fresh and fused sound. Winner of multiple Latin Grammy awards, the Colombian artist arrives at Brilla Torrevieja in the best moment of his career, after having filled stadiums in America, Europe and Latin America. Camilo's concert at Brilla Torrevieja will not only mark the beginning of his tour in Spain, but it will also be one of the most anticipated events of the summer. The magic of his songs, combined with a spectacular staging, will make this show become a unique experience for attendees. TICKETS FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE CONCERT WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM: BRILLATORREVIEJA.COM

THE MONSTERS + KAMIKAZE HELMETS + INDISPUESTAS Viernes 21 Marzo 202520:00h (puertas) / 20:30h (concierto) Entrada anticipada 18 €(+gg)  ( mutick.com ); 23€ taquilla. (Venta en taquilla sujeta a disponibilidad

British singer-songwriter James Arthur announces The Pisces World Tour, the tour to promote his latest album, "Pisces." As part of his extensive tour across Europe and the UK, which begins next fall, the artist will perform on November 18 at the Movistar Arena in Madrid. James Arthur rose to fame in 2012 after winning the UK edition of X Factor. Since then, he has released several studio albums, garnering millions of streams worldwide. His debut album reached number 1 in the UK in 2016 and went multi-platinum in numerous other countries. Additionally, songs like "Impossible" and "Can I Be Him" ​​have reached the Top 3 of the UK charts. In 2023, the single "Say You Won't Let Go" achieved Diamond status in the United States, making James Arthur one of the iconic artists in history to receive an RIAA Diamond Single certification. Now, the British composer returns with his new work, "Pisces," which will be released on April 25th and which he will perform live on The Pisces World Tour. Tickets availbel from Livenation.es and El Corte Ingles.

The British band led by Justin Young, arrives in Valencia, with the energy of their live, overwhelming guitar riffs and powerful choruses, which will ignite the stage and all of us, as only they know how to do. Other bands already confirmed include: Teenage Fanclub, Death in Vegas, Anna Of The North, Deadletter, Mr Sanchez and Faixa. Deleste Festival 17 & 18 May, Jardins de Vivers, Valencia For more information: https://delestefestival.com

Taylor Acorn a “Hometown” Show To Remember! On Friday the 13th at Lovedraft’s Brewing Company in the heart of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Headways local to the area took the stage to open the night for Taylor Acorn . The room was filled with fans of all ages, but that didn’t stop Headways as they took the stage playing “The Cut Up”. Despite this being the first time for many that didn’t stop the band, as they have an enormous stage presence. They finished out their set with “Ghost”, and the crowd was engaged more than ever. As the switchover began for Taylor Acorn to take the stage, many fans were exchanging posters and bracelets. As the lights dimmed, and music came to a halt Taylor Acorn came running up onto the stage ready to give it all she had. Going right into “Final Nail” the crowd sang along to every word. This show was what she called more of a hometown show to her seeing as she is from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. By the time she started singing her song “High Horse” nearly every fan in the room was holding up a sign that stated, “We Are So Proud Of You”. Truly a moment everyone in that room will never forget, as many young fans in the front reached out to grab her hand. By the set, many young girls were crowd surfing having the time of their lives. The venue’s staff ensured each person was safe. Many went up several times with smiles on their faces. Going right into her well-known song “Coma” in which she sings along with Cassadee Pope on her album. She mentioned this being one of her favorite songs to sing with her friend. One thing is for sure Taylor knows how to work the stage and keep the crowd engaged. As there was never a dull moment. She went right in and began singing two songs on acoustic guitar. After pausing she invited two fans up onstage. To everyone’s surprise, they were about to witness a proposal. The entire room cheered, and the two fans exchanging hugs walked off stage. She went into her last three songs for the evening, and as soon as her well-known song “Greener” began playing everyone was singing along to every lyric. Wrapping up her set with “Psycho” fans were begging for another song. Everyone in that room enjoyed this show.   Set List: Final Nail I Think I’m In Love Sticking Around High Horse Coma Wishing You Hell Nervous System In My Head   Acoustic People Watching Birds Still Sing   Certified Depressant Greener Shapeshifting Psycho Reviews & Photos: Ashley Pineyro