neilho27@sky.com - The Ginger Quiff

Lola in Slacks – Moon Moth album launch

October 24, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Saturday 23rd October finally arrived. The date for the launch gig for the wonderful album Moon Moth from the alluring five piece that is Lola in Slacks (album review here). It was a busy night for gigs in Glasgow, a most welcome sign given the last 2 years, with the likes of Billy Bragg, Mickey 9s, Calva Louise, The Last Great Dreamers and Powderkeg, amongst others, competing for the ears of the discerning music fans of Glasgow. On any other given day, I could have been at any one of these gigs, but tonight, there was only one gig for me.… Read the rest

The Skints, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – Live Review

October 23, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Originally booked for the larger (and frankly, not as good IMHO) Oran Mor in the west end, the gig had been venue-shunted to the more intimate King Tuts Wah Wah Hut for reasons unbeknown to your scribe. Given the venue is half the size of the original booking, I guess you can make your own assumptions.

The Skints have a long relationship with the city and have forged bonds with local heroes Mungo’s Hi Fi as well as their sister club nights at Walk And Skank- there was actually an aftershow with Josh from the band as guest DJ at the Berkeley Suite but given my vintage years, I left that one to the young team. … Read the rest

Tugboat Captain, The Just Joans and Curdle – Live in the Hug and Pint

October 21, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Back in The Hug and Pint for the second time in a week, this time a three band bill put on by Angus from Double A Side records who released Tugboat Captain’s LP, Rut last year.

Curdle

First up was the wonderfully dark Curdle, a band wholly suited to the month of October with their sinister lyrics and don’t mess attitude fuelled trippy riot grrl pop. I’m just loving being back at live gigs, and making up for lost time, so I’m soaking up every minute of every band I can. Having first seen Curdle supporting Dead Hope in the Old Hairdressers, I’ve been hooked on their music ever since.… Read the rest

Lola in Slacks – Moon Moth – album review

October 20, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

It seems somehow appropriate that I am sitting writing this review just gone midnight, with everyone in the house asleep bar me. The music of Lola in Slacks is ideally suited to late night listening. I feel something is missing though. Ideally, I should be in some sophisticated smoky wine bar in Paris, brushing shoulders with poets, artists, authors and musicians and other such classy and stylish bohemians. I guess late night in Glasgow’s South Side with only cats as company and a wee bourbon and coke as refreshment will do for now. Until this incoming Saturday that is…

If, like me, you have been waiting with barely contained excitement in anticipation of Moon Moth, you won’t be disappointed.… Read the rest

Katherine Aly – The Hug and Pint – live review

October 15, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m not saying my first week back at work after being laid up with COVID was shite but, well, no maybe that’s exactly what I’m saying. It was stressful, unsatisfying and well, just a bit pish. (Disclaimer: These are my opinions and just a result of how I was feeling and the general shitness of everything just now, these are not a reflection of my employers in any way shape or form – think that should do it – I do actually enjoy my job…)

Anyway, back to the case in point. It’s Friday and I have a weeks annual leave.… Read the rest

Ian M Bailey – Songs to Dream Along To – album review

October 14, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

The deeper we get into 2021, the more I’ve come to realise that the only thing I can truly rely on from this increasingly frustrating, nay, infuriating year is that there is seemingly an unending supply of superb new albums around every corner. Certainly enough to distract me from losing my mind over each new headline and sensationalist reporting that comes with it.

As if one high quality album with its inspiration rooted firmly in the past isn’t enough in a week, following hot on the heels of The Courettes Back in Mono is the sublimely beautiful Songs to Dream Along To from Ian M Bailey.… Read the rest

The Courettes – Back in Mono – album review

October 12, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

What’s not to love about The Courettes? I mean, lets face it everything about this band screams sheer class. The supremely talented duo have not left a stone unturned in considering exactly what they want The Courettes to be. Their divine retro aesthetic, from their image and their instruments, through the design of their cover art and on through to the music and its production, you can be under no illusion of what to expect. They wear their influences well and truly on their sleeves, coming from a very specific and distinct place and time in history, but allowing those of us who missed out on the opportunity to live through that era vicariously to experience it for ourselves.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 11

October 10, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Another bumper batch of singles, demoes, or tracks that have somehow made their way into my slightly detached world . I’ve been trying desperately to keep on top of all the new releases and singles that keep catching my eye/ear, evidently I am only human and there are loads I’ve missed, and some probably included here that have been out for a while but I’m only getting my lugs around them now.

As always, these are in no particular order and where available, they’ve been added to the Ginger Quiff 2021 Playlist.

First up, its a bittersweet song…

The Jazz Butcher – Time

Many of us will have been shocked and saddened by the sudden passing this week of one of independent music’s most highly respected and talented free spirits in The Jazz Butcher iconoclast himself, Pat Fish.… Read the rest

Pat Fish – The Jazz Butcher RIP

October 6, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

I was saddened to hear today of the sudden death of the eloquent gentleman who was the frontman of The Jazz Butcher. As a latecomer to the band, who first came to my attention with the inclusion of their track Looking for Lot 49 on the Creation compilation, Doing it For the Kids, I quickly sought out their back catalogue, and had been a fan ever since.

Pat was still very active as a musician and had only very recently recently postponed an online gig as he had been feeling unwell. However, his death has come as a shock to those closest to him.… Read the rest

Vardy – Pandemonium 555 EP – review

September 30, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

“Someone get me outta this place…” (Vardy – Outta This Place) something I’ve increasingly thought over recent weeks as I read the progressively more and more bizarre headlines, wondering if the last two years have actually been real? And it appears it is not the only thoughts I have in common with Daniel Vardy, the Vardy in question here, recently having released his 7 track Pandemonium 555 EP.

Pandemonium is an appropriate title for these seven steroid injected frantically energetic, vitriolic, indie guitar anthems tinged with a visceral punk attitude, his East Midlands accent demonstrating elements of both anger and desperation throughout the songs.… Read the rest