Gigs in Glasgow - The Ginger Quiff

Garry Alexander Borland – Tribute gig – Audio, Glasgow 9/12

December 11, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

High on Emotion

This weekend ended on a pretty bloody special note. A night that will live long in the memory. No, scratch that, a night that I will never forget.

The weekend had kicked off on a high with a brilliant works night out, so it was fitting that it should end on a high too. There were moments of emotion throughout my weekend. My first viewing of It’s A Wonderful Life for the year always ends with my eyes watering slightly, well, quite a lot. And I welled up again during Sunday morning’s Santa Dash. I know, I’m a sap. … Read the rest

Duncan Reid & the Big Heads Live in Scotland

November 15, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Reservoir Droog

Live music fans in Glasgow and Edinburgh are in for a treat this weekend as one of the highlights of the live music calendar comes to both cities. It also marks the beginning of the end of an era for one promoter.

Arch Droog and all-round gentleman Alex “Mainy” Main is the promoter for this weekend’s gigs in Glasgow’s Nice n Sleazy on Friday and Bannermans in Edinburgh on Saturday. These are two of the last few gigs he will be promoting, but what a way to bow out. Whatever you do, if you love live music, do yourself a huge favour, don’t miss this weekend’s gigs.… Read the rest

Speed of Life – spoken word & music from Richard Jobson & Martin Metcalfe

August 29, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Speed of Life

After 2 successful and well received shows in Edinburgh and Irvine, Richard Jobson & Martin Metcalfe take this unusual and enthralling performance on tour across the UK over 6 dates.

This project isn’t be the first time the multi-faceted Jobson and Metcalfe have worked together. Jobson has previously provided the vocal for Isa & the Filthy Tongues track Bus Shelter and more recently the pair collaborated on a number of songs on the Skids recent comeback album “Burning Cities.” I’m sure this collaboration won’t be the last.

Green and Blue

The dates will be a combination of spoken word, music, songs and a Q&A
Jobson will read excerpts from his acclaimed new sci-fi novel “Speed of Life”, its name taken from the instrumental track of the same name on Bowies “Low” album.… Read the rest

SIEL LIEN – I Am Fire/A Little While More

July 24, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Neil Tells the Truth…

Glasgow music fans are in for a treat this Thursday (26th July)

New York Doll, Sylvain Sylvain is visiting to play St Lukes & the Winged Ox. The gig is in support of his book – “There’s No Bones in Ice Cream”.

Not only do you get an original New York Doll, but you get treated to a set by the darkly majestic Filthy Tongues. Metcalfe, Kelly, Fin and company will make your year playing tracks from the first two albums of their magnum opus.

Jacob’s Ladder was one of the albums of 2016 and the second album of a trilogy, this year’s Back to Hell, is already being celebrated as one of the albums of the year in Louder Than War’s mid-year list.… Read the rest

Ginger Wildheart Interview

May 1, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Ginger – Ghost in the Tanglewood

Ginger Wildheart has recently released his latest solo album, Ghost in the Tanglewood, recently reviewed on my blog. Personally, I found the album to be inspirational. I wanted to talk to Ginger about the background to this very personal album, much of which focuses on his own battle with depression.

While people are more open about talking about Mental Health these days, there is still too much of a stigma around it. The more people like Ginger are willing to share their personal experiences, the further society can progress. It can only help in understanding and supporting those who do battle depression and other Mental Health issues.… Read the rest

Rats From a Sinking Ship – Fight the Future live launch review – The Hug and Pint

March 19, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Rats from a sinking ship – Gig time again

It was exactly a month since I was last at a gig (far too long!). More than that, the last gig wasn’t great from a personal perspective. I needed to have a good gig from Rats From a Sinking Ship tonight to rectify that.

I had great expectations for tonight’s gig and I was not to be disappointed.
The Hug and Pint was a great wee venue too; small, dark, sweaty and intimate. This sort of place is far more preferable to me that the enormous soulless venues like the Hydro, more often than not attracting soulless bands to play them.… Read the rest

Rats From a Sinking Ship – Fight the Future – Album review

March 5, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Fight the Future

Rats From a Sinking Ship release “Fight the Future”, their 3^rd album, on 17^th March with a launch gig in Glasgow at the Hug and Pint. Ably supported by The Fuck Ups and The Chibmarks along with some punk poetry from Mark McG.

If you are already a fan of the band, you will be familiar with the sound and stance. You won’t be disappointed with either on this storming new album. If you’ve not heard them before, where have you been? It is about time you rectified that.

Vitriolic inspiration

The way of the world at the moment has given Alex Lusty plenty of material on which to base his vitriol on this new album.… Read the rest

Morrissey and Me

February 18, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Not a review

I went to see Morrissey play the Hydro in Glasgow last night.

This isn’t a review of the night. More of a reflection. It may seem self-indulgent, which is one of the things that I may have criticised Morrissey for recently, but I’m in danger of dwelling too much on this and overthinking it, so I just need to get it off my chest and move on. That may seem melodramatic and yes, to an extent it probably is. But I’ve experienced what overthinking and dwelling too much on things does to me, and those who have to live with me!… Read the rest

Ian Donaldson – Live – Websters Theatre 9th February 2018

February 12, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Ian Donaldson

It has been a long time in coming. Ian Donaldson performing his first live solo shows since H2O (and a Few Good Men).

Over the last few years Ian is back in the limelight and has been busy, having launched his first novel “A Rainbow in the Basement” and earlier this year releasing his debut solo album, as well as having his own radio show on Your Radio 103FM.

Friday night is gig night

Websters Theatre is an imposing venue from the outside, a converted church in the West End of Glasgow. It is a venue I’d never been in before.… Read the rest

Gigs in Glasgow next week anyone?

August 4, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

Not in any way an exhaustive gig list for Glasgow for next week, merely a list of highlights for me! (Even if I can’t get to them all)

Monday (& Tuesday) sees the return of Pixies to Glasgow, I missed the last Glasgow gig due to selling out quickly and the secondary ticket market – enough said for the moment – but looking forward to seeing them on Monday in the open air at Kelvingrove (amongst the many other great names playing over the course of 2 weeks). Hope the rain stays off!

Next weekend (as with virtually every weekend in Glasgow!)… Read the rest