Trashcan Sinatras – Ever the Optimist – album review

August 8, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve been listening to the new Trashcan Sinatras album religiously since its release last week, and I don’t use that word lightly, music has been my religion for as long as I can remember, with Trashcan Sinatras always holding a special place in my heart, alongside the likes of The Smiths, The Associates and The Jesus and Mary Chain.  Ever the Optimist already had the feeling of being a Trashcans classic on the first few listens, so much so I was struggling to find the right words to use in describing the music, and the way the album was making me feel. … Read the rest

Lemon Drink – live in Glasgow with Maz and the Phantasms, Osmara and Needle Green

August 1, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Another absolutely bangin’ four band bill to enjoy with even more reason to celebrate as gig day was my last day of work before two weeks annual leave… what better way to start a holiday than with some live music to help shake off the shackles of work and let loose.

As is my tradition, I arrived in plenty of time to grab a good vantage point for the first band. Having read various reports of unacceptable toilet habits at gigs I should point out that despite finding a spot at the barrier, I still know where the toilets are…nuff said.… Read the rest

The Claudettes – Garage Glamour – album review

July 30, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I first came across Chicago’s The Claudettes when I was writing for Louder Than War and had the pleasure of reviewing their Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium album in 2018. That was the start of a Transatlantic love affair with their music which continues to this day, and witnessing the band playing live remains as one of my bucket list gigs.

While the band has gone through several line-up changes over the years, at the core to of The Claudettes and their sound is the much-fêted blues pianist Johnny Iguana whose CV is the length of your arm and reads like a list of great and the good of lauded blues musicians. In recent years he is also credited as co-composer, with Jeffrey Qaiyum (JQ), with scoring the first four seasons of the impeccable TV drama The Bear.… Read the rest

Hen Hoose & Friends – The Old Fruitmarket

July 28, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The Old Fruitmarket is a wonderful venue, not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but the acoustics are tremendous and this was a wonderful musical occasion in association with the Commonwealth Games and the Merchant City Festival. Talking of the Merchant City Festival I’m also buzzing for this Friday’s indie music showcase featuring 4 Outta 5, Radhika, f.o. machete, Youth of America, and Lungleg, having taken a day’s annual leave to go. Unfortunately, personal circumstances changed and I now won’t be there for the first two bands, hopefully arriving in time for f.o. machete. This really disappointed me as I’d been trying to see Radhika live for ages, but the planets have just never aligned, so it was just as well she was opening proceedings at this very special gig…

Radhika was the first of three supports on this wonderfully varied and eclectic bill, playing her indie dream pop solo and acoustically ahead of the County & Western stylings of Riley and the acoustic folk of the delightfully engaging duo of Carol Laula and Yvonne Lyon.… Read the rest

Fog Bandits & Alcatraz – Live in SWG3

July 25, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Friday night, well, late afternoon in Glasgow’s SWG3, and it was a lovely evening… this gig was supposed to be in the outdoor arena, but a couple of days before, the promoters moved it to the Galvanisers Yard due to “weather.” For weather read poor ticket sales. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve seen ticket price reduce to £10 then freebies on offer… and that is no slight on the bands I was there to see. I hadn’t bought tickets originally as I couldn’t go all night, and no offence to Kyle Falconer but I’m not sure he was ever a big enough draw to fill the venue… I heard rumours of 300 tickets sold in total…

Anyway, not my concern as I was there bright and early for the two opening acts.… Read the rest

Micko & the Mellotronics – The Trinity – album review

July 23, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I’d love to go for a pint with Micko Westmoreland. Funnily enough Micko is the sartorially elegant and distinctly left field genius behind Micko & the Mellotronics, who have recently released their third, and best, album to date in the fittingly titled The Trilogy. So why the “go for a pint” statement? Quite simple really, I find him to be quite an intriguing character, with a background, among other things, including playing Jack Fairy in the glam-rock inspired epic Velvet Goldmine, several musical scores recorded under the name Bowling Green and of course his three most recent works under the Mellotronics banner, which, to state the bleeding obvious is where we’re landing at today. … Read the rest

King Tuts Summer Nights – Limerence with So Boring, Bed and Late Night Getaway Drivers

July 20, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

My third gig of this years Summer Night season (if you count the pre-Summer Nights warm up up with Alcatraz, Awful Eyes & Leisureland) and all bands on the bill were a first for me, buying a ticket having heard great things about so boring. live gigs and being addicted to Limerence’s debut single She Bites since its release.

As always with these gigs… well pretty much any gig… I was in position ready for the first band. That’s one of the things I love about these multi band bills, half hour sets with a quick turnaround between so there’s no hanging around for ages.… Read the rest

Dead Pioneers – Wagon Burner- album review

July 17, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m currently listening to Wagon Burner for the umpteenth time on my commute to work, while at the same time reading Chris Brookmyre’s latest novel, Quite Ugly One Evening. Music and books, two of my favourite pastimes. As I listen and read, it becomes apparent that there is a link, howevertenuous it may seem, between the two, based on the social commentary that forms the core of them both.  

Wagon Burners is the third vitally unapologetic and intensely passionate album from the forthright Dead Pioneers on which they continue to kick against the pricks, the pricks in this case being racism, the rise of right wing and the conveniently brushed under the carpet and, if it wasn’t for voices like Greg Deal’s, conveniently forgotten genocide of the indigenous people of America and the theft of their land.  Quite… Read the rest

King Tuts Summer Nights – Close Control with Corrine, Brittle and Bite the Bullet

July 11, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

My first time experiencing the 2026 Summer Nights series of gigs (bar the brilliant opening party last week with Leisureland, Awful Eyes and Alcatraz) was for one of Scotland’s hottest properties right now, Close Control, who captured my imagination earlier this year with their edifying debut single, Proximity, one of 2026 tracks of the year for sure.

As always with Summer Nights, the bill features an eclectic mix of bands ahead of the headliners with Brittle opening the night playing a fierce set of earnest alternative post-hardcore rock with shades of nu-metal influences set, my highlights being Be Mine and an ironically bruising Delicate If you’re heading to Belladrum this year, be sure to seek them out.… Read the rest

Gichard – Chins For Lefty – album review

July 7, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

When I listened to Gichard’s debut album, Chins for Lefty for the first time, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d just heard. I knew I loved it, but my head was full of questions, mostly along the lines of what the hell did it all mean? 

Since then, and having listened to the album dozens of times now, I’m still not sure I fully comprehend. And I love it for that. It’s one of these records that probably asks more questions than it answers, and I hear something new or different each time I listen, whether that be a little musical nuance or a rethink of what the lyrics actually mean, sometimes they question the absurdity of life, and are often seemingly obscure.… Read the rest

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