Duncan Reid and the Big Heads, Reaction & Powderkeg – Live in Glasgow

November 19, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Music is good for the soul

Music is good for your very being, listening to some of your favourite music in a live environment does make a difference.

There is an element of unfairness here. So many creative, artistic people are struck by mental health illness yet music itself has the ability to lift the soul and raise the spirits. It certainly forms an important part in keeping my body and soul together. Granted it is not the only thing, but without it, there would be a black hole…

If Carlsberg made Friday night gigs in Glasgow…

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads would be headlining, with Airdrie late 70’s punk legends Reaction and young rock stars in the making PowderKeg…

Oh, wait…

Substitute Mainy for Carlsberg and the dream becomes a reality.… Read the rest

Duncan Reid & the Big Heads Live in Scotland

November 15, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Reservoir Droog

Live music fans in Glasgow and Edinburgh are in for a treat this weekend as one of the highlights of the live music calendar comes to both cities. It also marks the beginning of the end of an era for one promoter.

Arch Droog and all-round gentleman Alex “Mainy” Main is the promoter for this weekend’s gigs in Glasgow’s Nice n Sleazy on Friday and Bannermans in Edinburgh on Saturday. These are two of the last few gigs he will be promoting, but what a way to bow out. Whatever you do, if you love live music, do yourself a huge favour, don’t miss this weekend’s gigs.… Read the rest

Reaction – Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired: Album review and some…

November 6, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Airdrie – So Much to Answer For…

I didn’t think I would see myself focussing so much of my leisure time on the outputs of the Lanarkshire town of Airdrie.

Airdrie. A town I don’t know much about, apart from it being home to a few friends, the Diamonds (Airdrieonians FC) and that one of its famous landmarks is something I remember hearing about on the radio and TV from my youth, the Blackhill transmitter.

Interesting fact fans. Airdrieonians FC are the first football team in the World to have a fans group as the main sponsor of their kit. Life-long Airdrie fan Mark Allison’s image appeared on the shirts having tragically died from pancreatic cancer aged only 49.… Read the rest

IDLES – Glasgow QMU

October 21, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

A Date to Remember

Saturday the 20th October was a pretty unremarkable day. I spent it doing tedious household chores. Pretty unmemorable really.

But come 10pm that had all changed. Saturday evening of the 20th October 2018 in the QMU in Glasgow from around 8.30pm until 10pm was extraordinary 90 minutes, long to live in the memory, a date to be written into my history.

Joy as an Act of Resistance

For too long I have listened to people long in the tooth dissing the music of today…No originality. They are just trying to be the new…whoever. Is there such a thing as originality now, can anyone do something that hasn’t been done before?… Read the rest

World Mental Health Day 2018

October 10, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

10th October is World Mental Health Day

I couldn’t let today pass without at least a short blog, a day designed to raise awareness of and education for mental health issues and to provide advocacy for those who are impacted.

Several years have passed since I first experienced crippling anxiety leading to an extended period of depression. The experience had a lasting effect on me and, despite a lapse back into my depression and anxiety controlling me in more recent years, it has changed my whole outlook on life and the way I deal with my own mental health. I am in control and though you can never say never, I intend to keep it that way.… Read the rest

The Super Pumas – Circles Roaming

October 9, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Earworm

I’ve had a new single by The Super Pumas on heavy rotation in the last few days. You know when you hear a song and it just catches your imagination? So much so that you play it on repeat and you don’t tire of it. Anyone reading this who is a generation or two younger than me may not understand the next bit, but I remember filling one side of a C60 mixtape with The Tourist’s version of the Dusty Springfield classic I Only Want to Be With You a song I was obsessed with at the time. I’m still not tired of it.… Read the rest

Tenement Trail 2018 – The Garage

October 7, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Tenement Trail

This is the first time I had attended this festival. To be fair, this post doesn’t do the Tenement Trail justice. I had a lot on the day of the trail so was unable to take full advantage of the entire day’s events. Featuring as it does, 60 bands across 10 venues in Glasgow. What I did see was enough to know that the Trail is a worthy, special event. One that I’m likely to frequent in the future.

Tijuana Bibles

Having picked up my wristband earlier in the day and finishing off what I needed to do, I headed to the Garage early evening.… Read the rest

Cockwomble All of the Koney! None of the Style! EP cover

Cockwomble : All of the Money! None of the Style! EP review

September 24, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Cockwomble

My favourite modern made-up word and one of the new derogatory terms aimed at the 45th person, I use the term loosely, to run the most powerful country in the word. By default, then, also my favourite new band name, alongside Psychedelic Porn Crumpets.

All of the Money! None of the Style!

The band’s four track EP of alt-pop/punk injected with an element of humour proves that you can be in a band with a sense of humour, have fun, enjoy what you do, but aim to make a point with your music while making a pleasing racket at the same time.… Read the rest

Voicex plus plus – CD review

September 20, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Voicex plus plus

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy of Voicex plus plus CD. The 8 track CD was given away to anyone pre-ordering tickets for their recent Leith Depot gig . I couldn’t make the gig, but the band had some CDs left that can be purchased by contacting the band/Paul. I think they may be gone now, but I’m sure if there is a demand, more can be produced.

Post-punk supergroup

Voicex are a genuine post-punk supergroup, featuring ex-members of luminaries like the influential and fabled Scars (Paul Research), Boots for Dancing & Gin Goblins (Coco Whitson) and Matt Vinyl & the Decorators (Colin Bendall) and contributions from current Fire Exit guitarist (also of Heavy Drapes, Twisted Nerve and Baby’s Got a Gun) Richie Simpson.… Read the rest

Reaction/Desperate Measures – Split 7″ on Tarbeach

September 19, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Tarbeach new release

I have finally got round to a wee write-up of Tarbeach Records latest release. Apologies for the delay, its been out a while now. It is another collector’s slab of shocking pink coloured vinyl on 7 inch. On one side a new song from Tarbeach regulars, Airdrie’s Reaction. New Zealand’s Desperate Measures, with Vive Le Rock’s Eugene Butcher, featuring on the AA. This is another Tarbeach release to savour and treasure.

Eldorado

Eldorado definition: the name of a fictitious country or city abounding in gold, formerly believed to exist somewhere in the region of the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers or more generally a place of great abundance.… Read the rest