Category: Kiss This

Singles Round Up 2026 – May – Part 6

August 11, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Final part of May’s Singles Round Up, I mean, it’s only August after all…

Another mix of genres and styles from across the gamut of new underground Scottish bands and beyond…

Scott C Park – That’s Love

Kicking off with references to ancient Beltane traditions, That’s Love is the second single to come from Revival, Scott C Park’s (the C stands for Caravan) Revival album, and the second song from an Isle of Lewis band/artist in this month’s round up. That’s Love is a joyous blend of lo-fi slacker rock and traditional Scottish folk that explores the little things in the relationships that show the true meaning of love.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2026 – May – Part 5

August 10, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve been neglecting singles round ups for a while, and as a result I’m STILL on May… and even then, I’ve included some older singles that I’ve missed along the way.

The penultimate May round up has a bit of a leaning towards harder edged/grungy rock in several of the songs, but there is still a good mix of genres, and another hearty dose of Scottish talent.

Fright Years – Never Been Wrong

Fright Years are playing in Edinburgh this week alongside her picture who feature in the final part of May’s round up with their single The Ram. Never Been Wrong is another soaring anthem with a powerful bombast which, as a huge Simple Minds fan, reminds me of their Once Upon a Time stadium rock era.… Read the rest

Fog Bandits & Alcatraz – Live in SWG3

July 25, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Friday night, well, late afternoon in Glasgow’s SWG3, and it was a lovely evening… this gig was supposed to be in the outdoor arena, but a couple of days before, the promoters moved it to the Galvanisers Yard due to “weather.” For weather read poor ticket sales. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve seen ticket price reduce to £10 then freebies on offer… and that is no slight on the bands I was there to see. I hadn’t bought tickets originally as I couldn’t go all night, and no offence to Kyle Falconer but I’m not sure he was ever a big enough draw to fill the venue… I heard rumours of 300 tickets sold in total…

Anyway, not my concern as I was there bright and early for the two opening acts.… 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

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

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – live in Glasgow

July 3, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I don’t use the word icon lightly, with a period in recent years where the word was ubiquitous, utterly overused, everything seemed to be described as “iconic,” almost as much misused as another of my most hated words, literally… literally, everything was iconic… ha ha.

Anyway, when it comes to Joan Jett, the word fits her as perfectly as her tight leather breeks did last night. Hers was a performance of understated cool NYC nonchalance, cutting a suave figure of effortless style, and an air of unhurried consummate professionalism, having the hyper-hyped crowd eating out of her hands from the get go.… 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