thegingerquiff – 2017 – Looking Back

December 31, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

Looking back on 2017

It is that time of year when everyone reflects on their “best of” lists for the past year. Why should I be any different? I may as well join in.

I’m not going to write lists as such, or limit myself to a top 5/10 or whatever. I’ll just go with the flow and shout out some of my personal favourites of the year…

I only started thegingerquiff blog in August and have enjoyed many albums, singles and gigs since then that have featured on my blog, but there were plenty from earlier in the year though too.… Read the rest

The Price of Progress?

December 19, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

The Price of Progress?

I was listening to a news story on the radio the other day about technology, specifically around the music industry.

It was on the back of publication Spotify executive’s salaries and the way we access music in the 21^st Century. The general gist of the story was that the Apple store will probably disappear in the next 5 years as people won’t own the music but stream only. It all smacks to me that the changes are for those high up in Apple and Spotify and less to do with the artists or giving the public what they “want”.… Read the rest

The Dark Side of Christmas

December 15, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

The Dark Side of Christmas

At this time of year, we tend to get caught up in our own bubble. While Christmas is a time of joy and happiness for many, it is also a struggle in countless ways for too many others.

In recent weeks, I have seen a lot of posts on social media promoting things like “Sleep in the Park” and “Social Bite” to support rough sleepers and those without a permanent address. It is great that so many are supporting others. Where is the government?

Rough Sleepers

However, I have also seen some appalling & callous comments on Facebook from people who have no sympathy for rough sleepers: “I have no sympathy”, “give them a shovel” and “it is their choice”.… Read the rest

Marilyn Manson – Heaven Upside Down tour – Glasgow O2 Academy – 5th December 2017

December 12, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

MARILYN MANSON – Heaven Upside Down

Manson recently released his 10th studio album “Heaven Upside Down” signalling a return to form after a few lack-lustre affairs. He injured himself on-stage in New York at the beginning of October when an oversize gun which formed part of the stage-set fell on him. Add the sacking of long-term band-mate Twiggy Ramirez at the end of October due to rape allegations from his ex-girlfriend, this was building up to be an interesting night in the company of Brian Warner.

And so it proved.

A little bit broken

After the elongated intro-music of The Cure’s “Killing an Arab, followed by The Door’s “The End”, the curtain dropped.… Read the rest

The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl - A Fairytale of New York

Christmas songs

December 6, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

Its Chriiiisssssstmas

For many it is now that dreaded time of year when they are bombarded with Christmas songs everywhere they go. Actually, for many it is just that dreaded time of year.

Christmas itself is a great divider of opinion. I could go on at great lengths about commercialism and consumerism, the continued Americanisation of our culture (Black Friday) slowly turning us into the 51^st state. Or the age-old religion versus paganism debate about where many of the Christmas traditions came from and what they symbolise. However, I wanted this blog to be about music.

Not all wine and roses

It did get me to thinking though.… Read the rest

Drunk Gods, Sway & Reptilians from Andromeda

December 3, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

Drunk Gods, Sway and Reptilians from Andromeda…

Playing catch up with blog posts with few recent releases that deserve your attention.

Drunk Gods

Drunk Gods officially launched their new single tonight in Glasgow’s 13^th Note.

The double AA single is available on CD at gigs and from the band members, but will also available to download from the 4^th of December

See my review of the blistering new single(s) on louderthanwar website.

If you haven’t got their debut album – my first question is why? – but its not too late, you can download it from bandcamp or iTunes

Sway

To Be a Man – new single

Sway have recently come to my attention and are a distinctive melodic guitar driven 4 piece from Paisley.… Read the rest

GUN – Live – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – 28th November 2017

December 2, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

GUN – Favourite Pleasures – Live

Arriving before the doors to the upstairs venue opened, there wasn’t room in the bar to swing a cat. Just getting to the bar was no mean feat. However, the doors opened and the crowd dispersed quickly with all vying for the perfect vantage points to see the gig.

Gun – King Tuts

Gun are no strangers to playing this club sized venue having played a “secret” gig as NUG in an earlier incarnation and more recently a series of dates playing “Taking on the World”, “Gallus” and “Swagger”.

Nordoff Robbins

Tonight’s gig served both as a fundraiser for the fantastic Nordoff Robbins charity, in conjunction with the Sunday Mails 7 Nights, and also as a warm up to the bands forthcoming weekend gigs in Ayr and Glasgow Barrowland.… Read the rest

Hazel O’Connor – live in Oran Mor

November 18, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

Hazel O’Connor – MEGA PLus tour, Oran mor

It was a Friday night after what could be described as a “challenging” week at work, in all honesty all I felt like doing was sitting on the sofa and drifting off to sleep in front of the TV.

But I had tickets to go and see Hazel O’Connor and had already missed a Waterboys gig I had tickets for last month so gave myself a shake and headed out.

The gig was in Oran Mor – a great venue that I hadn’t been to in ages (the last time was for Jason and the Scorchers 2, maybe 3 years ago.)… Read the rest

I Am Derek – I Am Derek EP

November 14, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

I Am Derek

North Devon 2 piece “I Am Derek” release their new EP on Friday 17^th November. This follows on from debut (demo) EP (“Zipped” ) recorded and released between Christmas and New Year last year having got together in December 2016. The Zipped EP was picked up by several radio stations across the UK and Canada.

New SONGS

In May 2017 they started writing and demoing new tracks which were again picked up by radio stations. These early demos received radio play worldwide on internet and FM radio stations. One of the tracks, “Boxes”, was voted no 4 in an Australian radio station’s weekly indie chart.… Read the rest

Tarbeach Records – NYC Record Label

October 30, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

Tarbeach Records

Over the years, there have been a number of essential record labels with Scottish roots that have given rise to some unforgettable bands and their music.

The list is massive but everyone must be familiar with at least one of these:

Postcard (Orange Juice, Josef K, Aztec Camera)
Creation (Oasis, Ride, Primal Scream, Jesus and Mary Chain, House of Love)
Creeping Bent (Vic Godard, Secret Goldfish, Alan Vega)
Chemikal Underground (Mogwai, The Delgados, Malcolm Middleton, Arab Strap)

And that is just scraping the surface.

Scottish Roots

Add a new one to that list – Tarbeach Records. Although NYC based, the label has Scottish roots and a number of Scottish bands on their release list.… Read the rest