Robin McAuley
- Rock Metal Machine
- Sep 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Artists: Robin McAuley / Lyin Rampant
Venue: Blackpool: Waterloo
Date: 08 August 2025
"Robin McAuley is still, at seventy-two, a superb singer. His voice sounds magnificent and he’s a great frontman too, backed up by a very talented band, especially guitarist Keith Atack."
It’s a beautiful sunny evening in Blackpool and my first visit to the Waterloo. The venue is covered in Rock memorabilia – a great place to see one of my all-time favourite vocalists. First up though are recently reformed Scottish rockers Lyin Rampant. Their nine song set, mainly based on their 1987 debut album ‘Up And Cumin’’,goes down a treat with the fans who have made the effort to arrive early. ‘From Heaven To Hell’ and ‘Say Goodbye (Sayonara)’ are two of the standouts.
Less than thirty minutes after the support have departed, the lights go down again and it’s showtime! Lead guitarist and MD Keith Atack walks onto the stage and peels off the first few notes to ‘Save Yourself’ before the band join him and the main man follows quickly with a beaming smile. Robin McAuley sounds in fine voice, belting out the lyrics to the title track from the second McAuley Schenker Group album. Atack’s guitar solo is superb and Tyketto keyboardist / rhythm guitarist Ged Rylands beefs up the sound. Next up is the title track from McAuley’s 2021 album ‘Standing On The Edge’ and the Irishman comes up to the barrier and fist bumps a few of the enthusiastic crowd, looking like he’s really having fun up there on stage. Connor Atack shows off his chops on the drums. ‘This Is My Heart’, also from ‘Save Yourself’, has the crowd singing along in full flow, McAuley effortlessly running the show. Bassist Neil Fairclough adds some neat backing vocals.
The band then head back to 1983…yes, it’s time for some Grand Prix and we’re treated to ‘Shout’ and ‘Keep On Believing’ and the fans are loving it with Mr McAuley enjoying singing the forty year old classics. The final track from ‘Save Yourself’ is up next and a real treat for me as I’ve never heard ‘Take Me Back’ performed live and Atack nails the solo. McAuley released a new solo album earlier this year and we’re treated to ‘The Best Of Me’ and his voice is strong and melodic as ever. Title track ‘Alive’ from McAuley’s 2023 long player is sung with much gusto. “Blackpool, do we have any ‘Bad Boys’ in the house?” yes it’s time for another McSG number and we’re all rocking and rolling in the Waterloo! Rylands comes out from behind his keyboards and plays a few notes on his shiny white guitar and then Keith Atack lays down the opening chords to ‘Gimme Your Love’ from the 1987 ‘Perfect Timing’ album, which just happens to be one of my favourite McAuley Schenker numbers so I’m a very happy bunny, and judging by the looks on my fellow crowd members’ faces they’re enjoying themselves too.
Radio friendly ‘Anytime’ has McAuley asking the crowd to join in with the catchy chorus and we can’t turn him down now can we, and he delivers a top notch vocal. The highlights keep on coming and they don’t come any better than the Grand Prix title track ‘Samurai’ and the crowd are in their element. McAuley is truly majestic whilst belting out the lyrics to this classic which closes the main set. It’s not long before the band are back out with us and ‘Love Is Not A Game’ is a fine way to end the show. The crowd, albeit not as big as it should have been, are thoroughly entertained. Robin McAuley is still, at seventy-two, a superb singer. His voice sounds magnificent and he’s a great frontman too, backed up by a very talented band, especially guitarist Keith Atack.
Review: Az Chaudhry
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