I attended my first concert on April 2, 1990 when I saw Rush on their Presto tour at the Forum in Los Angeles. In 1998, I started my writing career.
Not too coincidentally, I reviewed my first album – Rush’s Vapor Trails – and first concert – Rush’s Vapor Trails Tour – in 2002 for the Orange County Register. It was one of the highlights of my five year career as a reporter for that paper.
Sometime around 2007 attending concerts became almost a hobby introducing me to music and bands I never would have listened to otherwise.
In 2007, I contacted The Oregonian and offered a free review of Rush’s Snakes and Arrows tour I was attending. They declined. Instead, their reporter covered Britney Spears rather than a sold-out Rush concert.
So, in 2012 I decided to start doing what the local media fails to do on a regular basis – review the music that matters, or at least the music that matters to me.
Once I finally figured out the blog thing I posted all of my reviews here – reviews of bands you’ll probably never read about in your local newspaper.
Since then, I have included album reviews, a couple of book reviews and interviews for those generous enough to give this little website some time.
Requests for Album Reviews
Unfortunately, I will no longer consider unsolicited requests for album reviews. After several reviews were never linked to the artists’ social media pages and finally one artist copied and pasted my review to his personal blog, and didn’t even bother to link to my blog, I have decided to close the door on this venture. My process takes far too much time to not get the resulting traffic.
Good luck and if I come across your material on my own, and enjoy it, then I just might review it.
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Drew's Reviews 
sent you an email
Hi Drew, Frankie from The Safes here. I wanted to reach out to you with a link to our new LP which is being released by 2 Record labels in Spain to see if you dig it and would like to cover our new album on your website, here is the link. I hope you enjoy! Please let me know what you think. Thank you . Frankie https://www.thesafes.com/the_safes_wc.html
Hi Frankie. I’ll check it out! Thanks.
Hi Drew. Just found your site and got totally sucked in. My band Milk Money just released our debut album and it would be an honor for you to just give it a spin. All the info’s at http://milkmoneyrock.com/reckon. Keep fighting the good fight!
Thanks for the note. I’ll check it out
Hi Drew
I came across your blog last year when you wrote about Jimmy Eat World’s last album, ‘Surviving’. I’d not listened to them for a long, long time but your piece encouraged me to delve back in and I’m glad I did! Thank you! Been enjoying the blog since.
I was quite disappointed to learn of the lack of respect you have received before from unsolicited album review requests – I’ve never quite understood artists that behave that way and it’s a shame that behaviour damages opportunities for other artists.
I would love you to have a listen to my band’s debut album, even if only for personal enjoyment (if you like it that is!) I’ll drop a link to our website at the end where you can find the usual links or happy to send over private soundcloud links if you did find yourself curious and that’s you’re preferred method. No hard feelings if not, I totally understand your comments in your about me section.
I hope you’ve been keeping well in these strange times for the world and drop me an email any time if you would like to chat.
Take care,
Scully
https://www.musicglue.com/creaturecreatureuk/posts/our-debut-album-is-everywhere
sure, I’ll check it out!
Drew- Hi there. I’m a fan of your work. Keep those reviews comin’! I’m wondering if you are going to write a review of the new Rush Gigs book? Here’s a link in case you haven’t heard about it: https://www.rushbackstage.com/product/6XAMRU217/rush-gig-poster-book-classic-edition?cp=102112_102215_102525
Thanks for your work.- Joe
Hi Joe, thanks for the note! I have seen this. I thought it was just all the tour posters over the years but i see it’s a bit more than that. Wish I had grabbed the Lee/Lifeson signed version. Not sure I will get it though but if I do for sure will consider a review. Thank you!
Thanks Drew. I bought the Rush Missing Tourbook Collection after reading your review. I think those were great. Any idea where they found each of the essays that are in each one? A couple buddies of mine and I were wondering about that. Can you find out anything about those?
Raymond Michael wrote the essays. I don’t know who he is.
Hey Drew, awesome blog! Sorry you’re not taking submissions (cover blown; I’m a publicist ;)) but will bookmark to discover new music!
thanks for your support!
Hi Drew. I tried to post this earlier, but WordPress hates me. Second try. I wanted to commend you for your album reviews. As a former reviewer, I know doing reviews isn’t easy, and you do a very thorough job. Also, it’s nice to find another Rush fan. In your review of that early Rush concert from 1974, you mention that “Working Man” is dedicated to “a Donna Halper”– unless there are others, I am probably the Donna Halper that Geddy Lee was referring to, given that I’m credited with discovering the band. I have many fond memories of being a deejay and the music director at WMMS back then. Anyway, keep up the good work. Sending lots of love!
Holy moly, I know exactly who you are. And what amazing words of encouragement. Thank you. I’d like to send you an email to say a bigger hello.
Feel free to get in touch any time you want. I’m always happy to chat with a true Rush fan!
Hey Drew, just wanted to thank you for listening to our Rusty Shipp album Dark Side of the Ocean that Jeff at EclecticMusicLover just reviewed. I saw your comment on the post. If you have a minute please let me know what you think of the album and stay in touch with us!
-Russ T. Shipp
my first pass through I liked it. thanks for reaching out. love rockers like you still around!