neilho27@sky.com - The Ginger Quiff

A Beautiful Night Out – Therapy? & The Levellers in Kelvingrove

July 3, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Another West End evening

Sunday night and I found myself Kelvingrove bound for the second time in a week.

Having experienced a couple of days that hadn’t quite gone to plan up until then, I was hoping for a positive end to the weekend. Great company was a good omen for starters, and despite the Glasgow summer being as unpredictable as the next gig announcement in a year of pleasant surprises so far, it looked like the rain would hold off.

Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble was playing an acoustic support set as we stood shooting the breeze while waiting outside for a ticket to arrive.… Read the rest

The Wildhearts, Terrorvison & Gun live

June 27, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

An unusual set of circumstances today, it was hot in the city. Taps aff weather if you will. And I was going to a gig in Kelvingrove Bandstand. I’ve been to several of these before, and despite the summer dates, I have battled biting cold, light drizzle and heavier showers. Not so tonight, maybe not quite the taps aff weather it had been earlier in the day but certainly t-shirt and no jacket weather.

Baby Chaos

It was an early start having three bands on the bill that could each have been headliners in their own right, plus support from Baby Chaos.… Read the rest

How Could Anyone Love Him?

June 24, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

How could anyone love him?

He looked in the mirror above the sink knowing the resultant reflection should scare him but reacting with complete indifference. He knew the person looking back at him only too well these days. Nothing shocked him. He didn’t think he had the ability to feel shock any longer.

A soulless gaunt face stared back at him. Ghostly hollow sunken eyes, ghastly pale sallow skin that looked as if it would break and fall away if anyone breathed near him let alone had the inclination to touch his cheek fondly.

Three weeks or so – maybe more, maybe less, he had forgotten – time was inconsequential – growth of facial hair was populating his face.… Read the rest

Rev Magnetic – Versus Universe – album review

June 21, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Luke Sutherland

Having loved the music of Luke Sutherland in his previous incarnations, Long Fin Killie especially, and devouring his novel Jelly Roll in one sitting, I was disappointed that I had allowed myself to lose touch with his musical career of late.

Thankfully, Rock Action labelmates, and kings of shoegaze, the mighty Swervedriver reacquainted me recently with Sutherland’s latest and, in my opinion his best, band, with Rev Magnetic providing the main support on their tour supporting Future Ruins.

Rock Action

I should take a moment to pause here and complement Rock Action on a quite phenomenal roster providing some of my favourite albums of last year and also 2019 to date – Swervedriver, Rev Magnetic, Twilight Sad, Katheryn Joseph, Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert, Sacred Paws to name a few – and of course label founders the mighty Mogwai themselves.… Read the rest

Membranes What Nature Gives...Nature Takes Away

The Membranes – What Nature Gives… album review

June 19, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Four Seasons for the punk generation

It took a while for me to find the right words to put to this review. On the first couple of listens I was totally blown away, lost for words.

You see, What Nature Gives…Nature Takes Away is far more than just an album. Like nature itself, it is profound and unstoppable, a Tour De Force, an irresistible masterpiece in four parts. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for the punk-goth generation if you like.

What The Membranes give…

It feels like the culmination of an entire life’s work, a cycle of life just like nature itself, it seems like the whole of The Membranes career has built to this overwhelming pinnacle.… Read the rest

Reaction – Keep It Weird, Keep It Wired – album launch review

June 17, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

It seemed a long time in coming but Saturday’s launch gig for the vinyl version of one of 2018’s standout albums and the SAY listed Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired.

McChuills

There was a buzz of anticipation around the excellent McChuills venue on Glasgow’s High Street and an opportunity to catch up with friends old and new over a few drinks in the relaxed and friendly bar ahead of the evenings festivities as the inimitable dapper gentleman that is the one and only Nicky Stewart warmed up the crowd with some punk classics on the decks.

Talking of dapper gents, the equally debonair Alex “Mainy” Main was manning the merchandise and as grabbed a couple of words with him, I noticed a piece of ReAction merchandise that I didn’t own.… Read the rest

Thirteen – Controversy – album review

June 17, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Unlucky for some?

Falkirk based punk rock ‘n’ rollers Thirteen launch their latest album Controversy at the end of June. Fans of the band will be familiar with a few of the tracks, with Tattered Sleeve, We Will Overcome and Spirit of Resistance taken from their EP of the same name as the latter. It hasnt been an easy ride getting this album made with Dolly sans band-mates at one point.

Controversy…ain’t what it used to be

It hasnt stopped him getting a solid album together. Dolly gives us another ten tracks in the same raucous rebellious spirit as the EP.… Read the rest

2 Sevens – Not for Resale EP

June 13, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I was recently on holiday in the USA and I wondered why Glasgow’s 2Sevens kept popping into my head as I’d never actually heard any of their music. It was only when I got home I realised it was an unconscious observational moment – the bands original logo was based on the US 7 Eleven retail stores chain…

Well, I can now say I have heard the band’s music, with the band releasing their debut EP, physical copies of which will be available at the bands upcoming gigs.

Not for Resale

The band make a thoroughly enjoyable punk rock noise, I Can’t Take It launching the 3 tracks with persistent riffing, Into You builds to a crescendo from its initial understated bass and drums (not to be mistaken with drum and bass) intro.… Read the rest

The Gold Needles Through a Window album cover

The Gold Needles – Through a Window – album review

June 12, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

The Gold Needles, Hull’s purveyors of fine 1960s influenced psych power-pop prove their worth once again with a delightful selection of sunshine-tinged pop tunes, this time released on legendary US-based label Jem Records. The band appear to have taken the time between their debut Pearls and this new album Through a Window, honing and perfecting their blissed-out sounds.

This album is a cohesive solid set of ten beat pop influenced tunes dropping just in time for summer. Through a window will be a great soundtrack to long hot hazy summer days, if we get any. Even on days when the rain traps you indoors, pop this CD on and the sun will shine in your living room.… Read the rest

Southern Approach – Insurrection – album review

June 5, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Now is the time for Insurrection

The title of the new offering from Southern Approach is timely in its title. The dis-United Kingdom is at breaking point – literally, with the shambolic Brexit debacle exacerbating the divides between the people and those in power and that is before we stray outwith these shores…

Southern Approach was the first band to feature on the Ginger Quiff blog and I’m pleased to say that, despite all the shite going on, the band continues to go from strength to strength with the release of their latest rabble-rousing digital album Insurrection.

Beautiful Inside and Out

In a further act of kismet, there is also a mental health link.… Read the rest