Feature - The Ginger Quiff

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SELF ESTEEM – Prioritise Pleasure – album review

November 4, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

In a previous incarnation SELF ESTEEM, aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor, was one half of indie/alt folk duo Slow Club. Since the band split in 2017, Taylor has written and recorded under the moniker of SELF ESTEEM. Over the last year or so she has released a series of perfect pop singles, culminating a couple of weeks ago in her second solo album, Prioritise Pleasure. Since it’s release it has rarely been far away from my turntable. I’ve been prioritising my listening pleasure, alternating between this and the new Broken Chanter album, Catastrophe Hits.

Absolute Triumph

Prioritise Pleasure is an absolute triumph from so many perspectives.… Read the rest

Positivity – have you had your plus sign today? The daily battle with your demons

November 3, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Positivity

The late musical genius who was Prince Rogers Nelson once sang about Positivity on his Lovesexy album.

“Positivity (Yes!)
Have you had your plus sign today?
Positivity (Yes!)
Do we mark you present, or do we mark you late?”

Being Present

Those lyrics mention “do we mark you present”, to most people this may seem like the norm, they may be generally optimistic people, who have a positive outlook on life, they live for the moment, always in the present, not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. For others it might not always be as simple as that.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 12

November 1, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Another round of up of singles, EPs, tracks and demos that have grabbed my attention recently. Kicking off with a few LNFG releases…

Annie Booth – Tropic

Annie releases the second offering from her upcoming album, Lazybody, which is due out on the 19th of November. The follow up to Cocoon, Tropic, is yet another slice of touchingly atmospheric and expressive alt-pop laden with stirring strings and a suitably autumnal video. Annie’s sensitive and eloquent vocal has the usual comforting, protective effect as the song reaches its glorious zenith. Annie is playing a Lazybody album launch gig on the 28th November in the perfectly intimate setting of The Glad Cafe.… Read the rest

The (Fabulous) Courettes – Back in Mono…in Mono

October 29, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Last night The Courettes cemented their place as my new favourite band with a frenetic supercharged performance, fittingly in Glasgow’s Mono, supporting the release of their third, and in my opinion, best album to date, Back in Mono. The emphasis of last nights gig was fun with a capital F.U.N. Despite being three albums in, this was their first visit to Glasgow, hopefully there will be many more to come in the future.

On a miserable Thursday night in raintown, I made the effort to dress from head to toe in black and white in tribute to the this most stylish of bands, and ventured out in the pissing awful weather.… Read the rest

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

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