Feature - The Ginger Quiff

The Countess of Fife – Star of the Sea – album review

November 16, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Those who pledged to Fay Fife & Co’s Kickstarter campaign will be delighted to finally hear the realisation of the fruits of The Countess of Fife’s labours with the release of the CD and digital versions of the album Star of the Sea*, and a launch gig in Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on Friday.

If you haven’t been fortunate to pick up on this project so far from the fireball of frantic energy who is the spirited front woman of the mighty Rezillos alongside Eugene Reynolds, The Countess of Fife is an altogether different proposition from the interstellar punk ‘n’ roll of The Rezillos.… Read the rest

Diablofurs – Dream Skies – single review

November 14, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

In my opinion one of the most overlooked bands of the late 80s/early 90s was Birdland who burst on the scene with their suicide blonde peroxide locks burning briefly but brightly and vigorously with their firebrand energetic shock of punk rock.

Fast forward to now and whatever you do, don’t let Birdland frontman Rob and the rest of his Diablofurs motley crew slip away from you. For those of you who have been unfortunate to miss out so far, or maybe you could just call yourselves lucky that you now get a chance to discover one of your new favourite bands.… Read the rest

The Hurricanes, The Jets, Sugababes, Sacred Noise and Millie Manders & the Shut Up – live in Glasgow

November 12, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve missed far too many live gigs in Glasgow I had tickets for this year. Thankfully I managed to get to three in the past week, despite nearly blowing one out but relenting at the last minute.

Last Saturday I took my brother back to a venue he hadn’t visited since I dragged him along to an eye opener for him in the form of Agnostic Front at Audio. This time around it was for a night of rock n roll and rockabilly from The Hurricanes and The Jets. Cuttin’ a Rug had been playing too, however, we only managed to arrive when The Hurricanes were already in full flow.… Read the rest

Rats From a Sinking Ship – Now Rat’s What I Call Music – review

November 9, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

When Rats From a Sinking Ship announced they were no more in March 2021, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one that read their post with a sense of disappointment. With five albums and 2 EPs under their belts, they have an impressive back catalogue, so when the band started posting teasers such as images with the legend “Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?” the appetite was whetted for whatever was going to come…

The resultant release is a career spanning retrospective of tracks from across their fine array of albums from Rise as One in 2015 through to Glamorous Terrorists in 2020.… Read the rest

Be the Best Version of You

November 9, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m about done with 2022. In my head there is more about 2022 to say good riddance to (how polite Neil, say what you really mean) than there is to say bon voyage to – no 2022, I never want to fucking see you again. Yes, of course a lot of it is personal and a lot is to do with the way my bastard of a brain computes things, but nonetheless, 2022 can fucking do one. Let 2023 bring forth all it has, unleash the beast, loose the arrows, I am fucking ready for you (or at least I will be after another couple of CBT sessions…)

Of course not all of 2022 has been a car crash of a year, there have obviously been many highs, but my mental health has probably been on the descent more than it has on the ascent, resulting in me focussing on the negatives above all else.… Read the rest

The Hedrons (and more…) – live in Glasgow

October 23, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

In the mid-noughties The Hedrons burst onto the music scene in a blaze of unfettered energetic punk rock glory but, much to the disappointment of their fervent fanbase, that flame burnt brightly but briefly and within a couple of years Tippi, Soup, Rosie & Gill were gone, leaving us with their sole album, One More Won’t Kill Us to console us.

Thankfully, Past Night From Glasgow has recently reissued the album, remastered and with extra tracks, which culminated in last night’s gig, nay, celebration featuring the remarkable talents of this most fondly remembered of bands.… Read the rest

Vulture Party – Archipelago – album review

October 15, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

A series of unlinked events and circumstances seem to have conspired and culminated in a lack of reviews appearing recently, subsequently my list of unreviewed releases is getting longer.

There was therefore no rhyme nor reason that I picked Archipelago, the new album by Falkirk based synth pop 4-piece Vulture Party ahead of the numerous other releases I have on my list.

Perhaps it was serendipity at play, as several of the songs here seemed to speak to my current circumstances, or perhaps it is just my own subconscious twisting and turning the lyrics and song messages to my own end.… Read the rest

Cloth – Low Sun EP – Review

October 6, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Glasgow duo Cloth are the epitome of minimalism and using space and quiet as an essential part of their overall sound and impact, proof positive that powerful impactful music doesn’t always have to mean loud, brash and boisterous. This hypothesis is corroborated fully by the four tracks that make up the bands new 4 tack EP, Low Sun released on the influential Rock Action label.

The EP kicks off in unassuming but highly effective style with Old Stories, Rachael’s breathy vocal paired with minimalistic synth backing, before effective layering builds multiple textures, and fills the initial spaces and silences with soundscapes which are both somehow huge and restrained simultaneously.… Read the rest

Pizza Crunch – That Serene Age – EP Review

September 28, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Pizza Crunch are undoubtedly one of my bands of 2022, so it is no surprise that their new EP, That Serene Age, which comes out this Friday, cements my love for a band who I nearly didn’t listen to initially because of their name. A name which I incidentally now love for a variety of reasons.

You may be familiar now with some of the singles that have preceded the EP, Wilting Youth is a particular standout for me and, I’d hazard a guess at it being one of my most listened to songs of the year. The titles of the other singles, Young Excitement and Romanticised Past, may give an indication as to the subject matter tackled on the EP.… Read the rest

Anti Social Worker – Annual Report, Q&A with Paul Wellings

September 26, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

(Courtesy of guest contributor Craig White)

Early Spring saw the release from out of nowhere of ‘Militant Business And Grime Poetry’, an album, as the title would suggest, of street poetry recited to a mix of urban and hip-hop sounds – It’s a very good collection of hard hitting tunes, the words likewise at times, but also autobiographical and tender as well. I produced a very favourable review, amongst others as positive, including one from his old colleague Attila The Stockbroker. It has received useful radio exposure, and he has taken his poetry to a number of festivals, appearances which drew much praise from contemporaries and audiences.… Read the rest