Category: Scottish Punk

The Hedrons – Tired of Taking – album launch with f.o. machete

February 24, 2024 By neilho27@sky.com

All photos courtesy of Chris Hogge Photography

They’re back. With a huge fuck off vengeance. Who’s that I hear you ask? Well, The fucking Hedrons of course… but, before they utterly owned the Room 2 stage, it was the return of another legendary band to return to the live arena. And what a fucking return it was. 

The band with one of the best names in music, f.o. machete (in its original context, not the family friendly “fresh orange” on their current badges and stickers), tore through their set, laying waste to Room 2 and leaving a scene of joyful devastation, and gobsmacked punters, in their wake. … Read the rest

The Alleged – Don’t Hold Back – album review

February 22, 2024 By neilho27@sky.com

The punk scene of the late 70’s/early 80’s was a green light and an opportunity for many to pick up a guitar or drumsticks, or make their voice heard for the first time. Inspired by the early proponents of the scene, many of these bands shone brightly as they made their mark on their local scene only to burn out as they blazed their trail before getting the chance to release an album.

One such band was The Alleged from Glasgow, forming in 1978 and becoming one of the shining stars and stalwarts of the Glasgow punk scene before splitting again only a couple of years later in 1980.… Read the rest

The Filthy Tongues

The Filthy Tongues and Scorpio Leisure – Òran Mor, Glasgow

February 7, 2024 By neilho27@sky.com

All photos courtesy of Chris Hogge Photography Chris Hogge (@chrishoggephotography) • Instagram photos and videos

What a start to the gig year this has been. Already having been entertained by some of the country’s best rising talents in January, my February gigs dawned with a double header from two bands featuring legends of the Scottish alt music scene. Fire Engines, Win, Boots for Dancing and Gin Goblins amongst the bands featuing members of Scorpio Leisure while headliners The Filthy Tongues of course featuring the well-kent inimitable trio of Metcalfe, Kelly and Fin of Goodbye Mr MacKenzie fame, now more than embedding themselves in the story of Scottish music with these songs revealing their even darker more foreboding side… because of course Goodbye Mr MacKenzie songs were all bunny rabbits and flowers weren’t they…?… Read the rest

Albums of the Year 2023

December 30, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Before I list my favourite “Albums of the Year 2023”, an apology.

I have been inundated this year with new music, new albums, requests for reviews and features. First, I’m happy that there is so much great music out there and that I’m party to being able to hear and share that new music, but secondly, a huge apology to many bands and artists whose music I’ve loved and planned to review/feature but it hasn’t happened. I’d love nothing more than to spend my life listening to and writing about music (and the book I keep meaning to finish), but that doesn’t pay the bills.… Read the rest

Singles of the Year 2023

December 28, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

I have no idea how John Peel narrowed songs down to a Festive 50 every year, he must have received 1000 times the number of songs I receive on a yearly basis. Maybe if I did a Singles of the Year 2023 blog again tomorrow or the next day, things would change slightly as I think of another song that needs to be included, as in the singles round-ups (links to all the round ups of the year at the foot of the blog) I must have listed between 400 and 500 songs this year, another bumper year for new music.… Read the rest

The Hedrons – Tired of Taking – album review

November 29, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The Hedrons announced their return with a bang playing an energised set in SWG3 towards the end of last year to mark the re-release (& for the first time on vinyl) of their debut album, One More Won’t Kill Us on Past Night from Glasgow, with the promise of more to come. A few months later they teased us with the hotly anticipated rollicking rollercoaster that was their killer single Heartache, now the long awaited follow up to that impressive debut, Tired of Taking, is finally available on your chosen digital platform for your aural delectation. For sure this album proves the title of that debut, one more won’t kill them, damn right, it’ll only make them stronger.… Read the rest

Dark Places – a mini festival from The Filthy Tongues

August 13, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The inaugural, I say that in hope rather than having any specific knowledge of this being an annual occurrence, Dark Places festival was to my ears, a roaring success, a glorious celebration of music across a variety of genres, and from new bands to the more established (I was going to say young and old, but let’s say young at heart…)

Martha May and the Mondays

The job of opening the festival was handed to Martha May and the Mondays, a new band for me, part of the virtue of a festival like this, the opportunity to discover music new to you..… Read the rest

The Countess of Fife – Live Review, The Gilded Balloon, Patter Hoose, Edinburgh Fringe

August 12, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Having released one of the standout albums of 2023 and 2024 in Star of the Sea (the album was available last year, but the vinyl launched earlier this year), The Countess of Fife aka Fay Fife of Rezillos fame has built a formidable live band around her in the shape of Willy Molleson on drums (Eliza Carthy), Al Gare on double bass (Imelda May, Jeff Beck), Laurie Cuffe on guitar (Cuban Heels, Vellininios). and on acoustic guitar and backing vox, Kirsten Adamson who has been picking up plaudits herself for her 2nd album Landing Place, including My Fathers Song’s a poignant tribute to her late father.… Read the rest

Water Machine & Brenda – FREE live gigs in Glasgow

August 11, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

How often does it happen, Water Machine & Brenda, two of the best new bands in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK, Europe, nay, strike all that, make that two of the best new bands in the WORLD both playing celebratory sets on the same day, in the same city, both FREE and at separate locations – and what’s more, I could get to them both! Mind you it would be difficult for them to play simultaneously due to one common denominator… more of that later.

Brenda

Hot off the heels of their triumphant album launch in The Glad Café, and a spot at the Lost Map Howlin’ Fling on Eigg (I didn’t make it, but my tent did…), Brenda continued their celebrations of the release of a truly remarkable album at a packed-out George Square.… Read the rest

Water Machine, Bikini Body & I Wanna Be a Truck Driver – live in The Rum Shack

July 23, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Similar to the previous week in The Hug and Pint, there was most definitely a palpable air of anticipation buzzing around the excellent south side venue ahead of Water Machine’s biggest Glasgow date. 

I think I can safely say all three bands on the bill played a blinder, more than exceeding expectations, more like smashing it out of the park for a home run. The job of warming up the Rum Shack fell to I Wanna Be a Truck Driver, a band I’d never seen live before but was introduced to by Stuart, aka photographer Blackmagicplastic, at a previous Water Machine gig.… Read the rest