Category: Dead Hope

Micko & the Mellotronics – The Trinity – album review

July 23, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I’d love to go for a pint with Micko Westmoreland. Funnily enough Micko is the sartorially elegant and distinctly left field genius behind Micko & the Mellotronics, who have recently released their third, and best, album to date in the fittingly titled The Trilogy. So why the “go for a pint” statement? Quite simple really, I find him to be quite an intriguing character, with a background, among other things, including playing Jack Fairy in the glam-rock inspired epic Velvet Goldmine, several musical scores recorded under the name Bowling Green and of course his three most recent works under the Mellotronics banner, which, to state the bleeding obvious is where we’re landing at today. … Read the rest

King Tuts Summer Nights – Limerence with So Boring, Bed and Late Night Getaway Drivers

July 20, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

My third gig of this years Summer Night season (if you count the pre-Summer Nights warm up up with Alcatraz, Awful Eyes & Leisureland) and all bands on the bill were a first for me, buying a ticket having heard great things about so boring. live gigs and being addicted to Limerence’s debut single She Bites since its release.

As always with these gigs… well pretty much any gig… I was in position ready for the first band. That’s one of the things I love about these multi band bills, half hour sets with a quick turnaround between so there’s no hanging around for ages.… Read the rest

Dead Pioneers – Wagon Burner- album review

July 17, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m currently listening to Wagon Burner for the umpteenth time on my commute to work, while at the same time reading Chris Brookmyre’s latest novel, Quite Ugly One Evening. Music and books, two of my favourite pastimes. As I listen and read, it becomes apparent that there is a link, howevertenuous it may seem, between the two, based on the social commentary that forms the core of them both.  

Wagon Burners is the third vitally unapologetic and intensely passionate album from the forthright Dead Pioneers on which they continue to kick against the pricks, the pricks in this case being racism, the rise of right wing and the conveniently brushed under the carpet and, if it wasn’t for voices like Greg Deal’s, conveniently forgotten genocide of the indigenous people of America and the theft of their land.  Quite… Read the rest

King Tuts Summer Nights – Close Control with Corrine, Brittle and Bite the Bullet

July 11, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

My first time experiencing the 2026 Summer Nights series of gigs (bar the brilliant opening party last week with Leisureland, Awful Eyes and Alcatraz) was for one of Scotland’s hottest properties right now, Close Control, who captured my imagination earlier this year with their edifying debut single, Proximity, one of 2026 tracks of the year for sure.

As always with Summer Nights, the bill features an eclectic mix of bands ahead of the headliners with Brittle opening the night playing a fierce set of earnest alternative post-hardcore rock with shades of nu-metal influences set, my highlights being Be Mine and an ironically bruising Delicate If you’re heading to Belladrum this year, be sure to seek them out.… Read the rest

Gichard – Chins For Lefty – album review

July 7, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

When I listened to Gichard’s debut album, Chins for Lefty for the first time, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d just heard. I knew I loved it, but my head was full of questions, mostly along the lines of what the hell did it all mean? 

Since then, and having listened to the album dozens of times now, I’m still not sure I fully comprehend. And I love it for that. It’s one of these records that probably asks more questions than it answers, and I hear something new or different each time I listen, whether that be a little musical nuance or a rethink of what the lyrics actually mean, sometimes they question the absurdity of life, and are often seemingly obscure.… Read the rest

Summer Nights Warm Up – Alcatraz, Awful Eyes & Leisureland

July 4, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I was fortunate to be invited to a secret gig in King Tut’s last night ahead of the start of their Summer Nights series of gigs. This annual showcase features a whole host of the best of new and emerging Scottish bands and the warm up event featured three bands who have headlined at either Summer Nights or New Years Revolution, Leisureland, Awful Eyes and Alcatraz.

The venue was packed with invited members of bands who are performing at this years event, many for the first time and as such, one of the Summer Nights promoters, Meg hosted a Q&A before the bands played their sets with all three acts giving some insight and the benefits of their experience.… Read the rest

TRNSMT Warm Up Gig – King Tuts – Sister Madds, Tina Sandwich & Lacuna

June 19, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

This pre TRNSMT gig in King Tuts featured three of Scotlands finest DIY/independent bands and laid down a marker for where any discerning music fan going to the festival should focus their time and energy this weekend…

The annual bucket hat festival in Glasgow this weekend is struggling by all accounts, ticket sales have been poor, with deals available on discount websites and new late entry offers to try to boost sales. To me, this is no surprise as, on the face of it, when you look take a glance at the the line up with the headliners in bold type, it is singularly uninspiring, it feels like a confused bill, not really sure itself of who it is targeting, but if you take time to look beyond the dull headliners, there are some golden nuggets to be found, some further down on the bill on the main stage like Brogeal, English Teacher & Rianne Downey early on Saturday.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2026 – May – Part 4

June 17, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The latest part of May’s singles is another smorgasbord from across genres and spanning the Atlantic with a good sprinkling of up and coming Scottish bands and there is an undercurrent of rock n roll/rockabilly and blues in several of the songs in this part of the round up…

First up, having collaborated on their previous single with The Interrupters, Dead Pioneers have joined forces with Sleaford Mods Jason Williamson for The Worst Among Us. The message behind the song is as valid for the UK in our present times as it is for Gregg Deal’s home in the  USA. US Presidents and parties like Reform with their racist narratives are emboldening the far right… “The worst among us cast shadows long” …as seen by recent events in Belfast and closer to home in Glasgow.… Read the rest

Introducing the Band(s) – You Are Here – The New Sound of Scotland CD

June 12, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Having had the seed of an idea towards the end of 2025, and then going through the stress of being let down by an unreliable CD production company, The New Sound of Scotland finally saw the light of day a few weeks ago. The idea for the CD was to celebrate the vibrant music scene in Scotland and the new, young and emerging Scottish bands that form part of that scene. The 30 songs across 2 CDs in this compilation form just a snapshot of the burgeoning underground music scene in Scotland, and the word is out, with many of the bands on this first (?)… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2026 – May – Part 3

June 9, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The first couple of songs in this part were actually April releases which I didn’t pick up on at the time and there are a few others from earlier in the year that I didn’t pick up on…

Based on the current state of the world and the behaviours of some sections of society I’m beginning to think that the name of this next band is something that really should be considered, anyway… Veto Humans debut single Belong to Glasgow, is a moody brooding track with low key vocals that deliver the refrain of the song’s title repeatedly throughout, the vocal soundtracked by darkly glitchy driving dance beats interspersed with some sonorous guitar riffs. … Read the rest