2022 - The Ginger Quiff

Collars – Clyde – album review

August 26, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve been a fan of Collars since the came to my attention with their 2021 single Over You, their fourth single. With each single since, they have piqued my interest more and more, honing their sound and creating a series of indispensable and compelling releases in the process. I’d been crying out for an album full of these addictive songs, so when I received the email with the forthcoming album, Clyde, attached I downloaded it at breakneck speed with an irascibly skittish exhilaration. Well, as speedily as my aging laptop would allow at least…

I’ll come back to that stirring and vivacious music shortly.… Read the rest

Sloan Brothers – System Update – album review

August 24, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

I made a rash statement about Sloan Brothers earlier this year after hearing the first single from this album. I said that if the rest of the album was as good, it was destined to be one of my favourite albums of the year. Turns out my radar was on point, as System Update has become one of my most played albums of the year, so it has been extremely remiss of me not to have featured it in some way before now. Time to redeem myself.

Athens, Georgia is already responsible for one of the most successful bands to come out of the USA, which just so happen to be up there with my most beloved bands, and is home to R Sloan Simpson who, having documented and recorded music over the twenty years previously, suddenly had nothing to do during 2020/21 following the decimation of the live music scene.… Read the rest

Introducing the Band – Earl of Hell – Interview and EP review

August 19, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Earlier this year Earl of Hell released their debut EP, Get Smoked which includes the single, Blood Disco, one of my favourite songs from last year and the one which first brought the band to my attention.

The band were kind enough to take some time out to answer some questions for the Ginger Quiff.

A review of the EP appears below the interview.

The Ginger Quiff: Tell me about the band – who is everyone – how did you get together as a band?

Earl of Hell:

Eric – Vocals

Lewis – Guitar & Vocals

Dan – Guitar

Dean – Bass

Ryan – Drums

We got together as a 4-piece in March 2020 after seeing Lewis’s “Uncle Sam-style” advert.… Read the rest

Bob Vylan – Live in Oran Mor

August 8, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Bob Vylan exploded onto the punk scene a couple of years ago with their incendiary commentary of life as a black man in 20th Century Britain, We Live Here (of course one of tonights highlights) which captured the imagination of the nation and was a much needed shot in the arm to a scene whose ageing fan base includes a number of right wing curmudgeons who appear to be oblivious to, or have forgotten, some of what the original punk scene was standing up against back in the 70s. Maybe they are taking the lead from the once great but increasingly irrelevant John ”Rotten” Lydon.… Read the rest

Brat Coven, Brenda & Dusk Amadeus – live in The Hug and Pint

August 7, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

My working week last week was bookended by two of the Endless Summer nights in the Hug and Pint, the latter featuring the darkly gothic shoegaze of Dusk Amadeus, the utter joy that is the experience of a Brenda show, and the first headline show for the angry riot grrrl punks, Brat Coven.

Dusk Amadeus

Events were conspiring to have me miss this gig, having firstly to turn for home realising I’d forgotten my wallet, then eventually getting to the station to discover my train was cancelled. Thankfully though, although I missed the start of Dusk Amadeus set, i did catch the second half.… Read the rest

Slim Jim Phantom Trio & The Hurricanes – Live in Mono

August 6, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve never managed to see The Stray Cats live. I’ve come close a few times, having seen Brian Setzer solo, and havlng had tickets for the ill fated final tour when the headline draw of tonights show fell off the stage before the Glasgow date, leading to the rest of the farewell tour being cancelled! After tonight I only now need to add Lee Rocker to that list.

Walking into Mono on Friday night was like taking a step back in time. A most welcome one I should add, the sea of quiffs of different shapes and sizes, the variety of vintage clothing styles and classic old school rockabilly fashion was a joy to behold.… Read the rest

Monica Queen – Stop That Girl – album review

August 2, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Monica Queen is making a concerted effort to appear in my top 10 albums of the year for possibly the third year in a row with this stunning collection of cover versions and original songs.

An integral part of the Glasgow music scene going back to the 80’s, Monica owns what is surely the most stunningly recognisable voice on the circuit, ebullient and versatile and constantly in demand. Talking of in demand, partner in crime Johnny Smillie is surely one of the most sought after guitarists and producers in Glasgow, what he can’t do with a guitar just isn’t worth knowing.… Read the rest

The Reverse Cowgirls – Fortus et Fidus

August 1, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Hugh Mclachlan and co. return with this exquisite and fitting 10 song tribute to his late sister Kim. The album title comes from the motto of the MacLachlan clan, translating as strong and faithful, an appropriate title for the ten emotionally charged songs on show here.

Reflecting the album’s title, the game is strong on the Glasgow quartets new collection of songs, coming across both as vigorously brawny in their own inimitable brusque garage rock cowpunk style, but dig into the song titles and lyrics and there is a touching depth to them, the love and passion for Hugh’s sister shining through on these songs, such as the seagull backed achingly beautiful lament that is Born for You.… Read the rest

Lemon Drink, flinch., Sacred Noise & Miss the Occupier – Live in the Hug and Pint

August 1, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

What better way to avoid the Sunday night blues than to attend a gig in one of my favourite little Glasgow venues with four (count em!) brilliant bands. Part of the series of the Endless Summer gigs in the venue, the line up was set to make this a very special night, and one which stuck two fingers up to the festivals that continue to lean heavily on white male guitar bands (says the aging white male who can’t play the guitar… but ), a fact which did not pass flinch. by… making a tongue in cheek comment about the line up being made up of white female electric guitar bands instead… Seriously though, on a night where England and Germany were battling it out in the women’s Euro’s, well done England… it was refreshing to be at a gig where male band members were outnumbered 2 to 1.… Read the rest