on the 6th of March 1973 Led Zeppelin played 2 hours and twenty minutes at Kungliga Tennishallen in Stockholm, Sweden. An evening that I'll never forget where John Bonham kicked off the show with the intro to "Rock and Roll" and they went on: "Over The Hills And Far Away", "Black Dog", "Misty Mountain Hop", "Since I've Been Loving You", "Dancing Days", "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" Page played the intro to "I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" followed by the "The Song Remains The Same", "The Rain Song" and the highlight of the evening, a 25 minutes version of "Dazed And Confused" followed by "Stairway To Heaven", "Whole Lotta Love (medley: "Everybody Needs Somebody" - "Boogie Chillun" - "Baby I Don't Care" - "Let's Have A Party" - "I Can't Quit You Baby")", "Heartbreaker" and "The Ocean"

Rory Gallagher's performance at Konserthuset, Stockholm in October 1979 is one of my alltime favourite concerts. Rory was in absolute top form and beat the shit of his battered Stratocaster. He had just released Top Priority, one of his heaviest albums, and kicked off the proceedings with storming versions of Wayward Child, Bought And Sold and Follow Me. After this breathtaking start he cooled down the proceedings a little with Out On The Western Plains and As The Crow Flies. The intensity gradually increased again and the concert became a long line of highligths with songs like Going To my Hometown, Last of The Indepencence , Shadow Play and Bullfrog Blues. Both audience and Rory was soaked in sweat and the concert ended with the full tilt heavy blues attac of Messin' With The Kid.
Harald "BigRedMachine" Bjervamoen

Friday 9th of June,18.15 hours(GMT+01:00) 2006 at Sweden Rock Festival, on stage Cactus:
Tim Bogert(bass), Carmine Appice(drums), Jim McCarty(guitar), Jimmy Kunes(vocals) and Randy Pratt on harmonica. From the loudspeakers, Little Richard's song 'Long Tall Sally' with the words: 'Have Some Fun Tonight..', a great starter!'Let Me Swim' followed, then one of my fav ones 'One Way or Another' presented with a great riffology and heavy guitar work and great bassplay.
'Cactus Music', a "Rock'n'Roll Boogie" song from their new album, Cactus - V, with some spirited harmonica played by Randy.

'Brother Bill', blues boogie with an almost Jimmy Page sounding guitar solo by McCarty. 'Muscle And Soul', great heavy blues track and inspired guitar playing, great vocals from Jimmy Kunes and a crunchy bassline from Bogert. At the end of the song comes an uptempo part that leads into a passage of superb slide guitar playing by McCarty.

Then it was time for 'Oleo',with the lyrics.."I was up this morning rockin' with the raising sun".. this song is one of my absolute Cactus favourites..with a screaming guitar solo by McCarty.  'The Groover' , a new great one with an almost Duan Allman slide guitar play from Master McCarty and then time to get 'Evil', with killer guitar licks and an heavy bassline and...That's not EVIL, perhaps Evil Go(o)d!!!

Back to the boogie rock roots with 'Big Mama Boogie'.the long intro with McCarty's pumping riffs, Randy Pratt's harmonica following the riffs and the lyrics 'I like to Rock and I Like to Roll.....Most of all Darling I Like to Ball....' ..6 minutes into the song it's time to 'Boogie Baby' ..launching an heavy blistering solo by McCarty clocking at 1 minute and 30 seconds..foreplay in 6 minutes and 1 minute and 30 seconds to go..hmmm..reminds me of something...by the way..a great song and a classic one!

'Parchman Farm' played in an heavy manic speed..and then the Encore: 'Rock 'n' Roll Children' and time for Mr. McCarty to unleash some killer solos, again!

The band was very inspired and they seemed to be enjoying themselves onstage.... and was I Having Some FUN? YES!!
Review by Claes "Hazelnutz" Hassel.

2006-06-08  at  Sweden Rock Festival 
Leaf Hound, has only one album under their belt.
"Growers Of Mushrooms" was released as far back as 1971. Over the years the album has become a collectors item and the band has gained cult status among the lovers of heavy, 70's blues rock.
Their set on Sweden Rock 2006 was naturally built around that album. Founder member, vocalist Peter French is the only original member in the lineup. Usually this is not a good sign, but Leaf Hound is an exception to that rule. The band is supertight and manages to make the old songs sound even better than the originals. This is largely due to the guitars provided by new hotshot Luke Rayner. His guitarplaying is very 70's, with plenty of solos(with feeling), often with his foot firmly planted on the wah wah pedal.

Peter French, one of my favourite vocalists (also with Atomic Rooster and Cactus) is plain awsome. He is perfectly trimmed, very cool looking and has a huge smile on his face. It's almost ironic that Peter French, who sounds better than ever, is playing on Sweden Rock's smallest stage, while colleagues like Ian Gillan and David Coverdale, who has lost a lot of their former vocal power are headlining this years festival.

One of Leaf Hounds new songs "To many Rock'n Roll Times" which has surfaced on the reissue of "Growers Of Mushrooms", is one of the evenings highlights. What on record is a fine but pretty conventional heavy blues number, is stretched out to a massive killer of a song in the live fomat.

Another surprise highlight in the set, is Atomic Rooster's "Breaktrough". The song was dedicated to the late and great Vincent Crane.
Leaf Hound's version is simply brilliant, with standout and emotional vocals from Peter French. It's a crying shame that a vocalist of this calibre hasn't received more success.

This was may favourite concert at Sweden Rock Festival 2006 and the band are welcome back for concerts anytime. 
Review by Harald "BigRedMachine" Bjervamoen.