Album/Single Review - The Ginger Quiff

Interview with Tulsa Queen

July 2, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

On the eve of her debut “live” gig, I had an opportunity to catch up with Wiggy from Curdle about her solo country (and beyond) project, Tulsa Queen.

Tulsa Queen

The Ginger Quiff: I’m assuming the name comes from the great Emmylou Harris song, tell me about the inspiration behind Tulsa Queen? Which other country artists inspire you?

Tulsa Queen: It sure does. I absolutely love that song. When i first heard it i couldn’t get the chord changes and the lyrics and the whole feel of it out of my head for weeks, it’s so gorgeous. I just love country music (the good country music, not the shite!)… Read the rest

The Best Bad Influence – Rock-It! album review and interview

July 2, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Vibrant and Animated

Last year in a short interview with The Best Bad Influence, I described them as “one of the bands I am most excited about”, that label still stands today. They are one of the most vibrant and animated live bands I’ve had the pleasure to witness in recent years, bringing the raucous spirit of rockabilly to a new generation, much like the 80’s revival did for me. In doing so, they also allow the likes of older music fans like myself to regain some of their youthful enthusiasm for the music. Their bouncing gigs are a melee of old and young.… Read the rest

Vulpynes – Sister – track review

June 24, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m way behind on catching up with new music. Work has been full on, but I’ve got a few days off now so a bit of breathing space to share my thoughts on a few recent single drops…

Dublin grunge punks, Vulpynes, recently dropped a new track Sister. Powerful duo Kaz and Molly are a force to be reckoned with, a boisterous duo with a luscious line in scuzzy grunge punk. Sister is as raw and visceral as you would expect. Vocals filled with rage and fury. “I’m your real friend, sister” the lyrics seethe, making you feel fear for that sister.… Read the rest

Shot Balowski – Eton’s Burning EP review

June 24, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Shot Balowski, the purveyors of one of the Ginger Quiff top ten album of last year, released a three track EP last week. If you are of the “keep politics out of music” brigade, look away now. Eton’s Burning is the lead lockdown anthem taking a swipe at the old boys’ club.

Kicking off with Debbie’s sonorous bass throb, the dynamic thrusting guitars crunch into life with Simon’s distorted vocal spitting venom backed by Tef’s thundering drums. The track ends on a plea. “Don’t dial 999”, in a squall of Manic Street Preacher style guitars. Class.

England’s (not) Dreaming

As a former Morrissey devotee, you may be forgiven for thinking I may be offended by track two.… Read the rest

Bob Vylan – We Live Here – album review

June 8, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I have been angry, truly angry. But ultimately, I know my heart is full of love.

In the last week or so my mental health has taken a dip. While I thought I was dealing well with the current situation, it would appear otherwise. I can’t put my finger on one particular trigger, the low point I reached was the culmination of several factors.

Anger (is an energy?)

I was an incredibly angry version of myself last weekend. So much so that I received a very scathing and personal direct message – accusing me of having “a lot of anger” and having “no love in me”.… Read the rest

Starless – Earthbound – album review

May 28, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

The indefatigable Last Night From Glasgow show no signs of letting up in the light of COVID 19. With a bulging release schedule and a roster already bursting at the seams with talent, things are just ramping up.

The latest release from the label comes in the form of a roll call from many of the great and good of the Scottish music scene past and present.

Starless is the brainchild of the eminently talented Paul McGeechan. Writer, composer, engineer, producer and famed around these parts for being part of seminal Glasgow bands Friends Again and Love and Money.

Unfettered Charm & Beauty

Starless are releasing their second album, Earthbound, following on from the unfettered charm and beauty of their debut a couple of years ago.… Read the rest

Richard Davies and the Dissidents Human Traffic album cover

Richard Davies & the Dissidents – Human Traffic – album review

May 26, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

After a weekend of bullshit, lies and pretence, I needed something good and honest to replenish my faith in humanity. The new album from Richard Davies and the Dissidents does just that. The former Tiny Monroe/The Snakes guitarist takes on lead vocal duty and is joined by other alumni from the alt-rock/alt-country scene. Former The Snakes bandmate and Mega City Four drummer Chris Cannon and Case Hardin/Last Great Dreamers bass guitarist, Tim Emery. With Nick Beere (guitars) and Neil Scully (keyboards) completing the “last gang in town”.

This album is an antidote to all those self-righteous, self-serving, so-called public servants. Those whose only interest is themselves and the green folding stuff.… Read the rest

Diablofurs – Neon Satellites – review

May 20, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Birdland

In 1989 a band of four young guys, each with a shock of peroxide blonde hair caught my attention and my imagination with their sneering attitude and rage filled punk rock tunes. The excitement and energy displayed by the bands tunes and their live performances was incandescent. Electrically charged songs like Hollow Heart, Rage & White were bursting with vitality and, while the band imploded after only one album, their light radiated brightly and fiercely for that short period.

Diablofurs – Neon Satellites

Fast forward 31 years and another band have caught my imagination with the vivacious punky pop on their debut album Neon Satellites.… Read the rest

Ex- Ex-Tracts – The Complete EPs Collection

May 19, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I have recently been enjoying the new EP from Meek and Mowbray (see last singles roundup I posted), The “Meek” of the duo is the never resting and highly talented CT Meek, poet, author, raconteur, lyricist, musician, entrepreneur, feel free to add your own descriptions to the list. The man seems to have an inexhaustible creative streak, judging by the copious amount of high quality material he endlessly produces. Countless of his own books and now into editing the 14^th volume of collaborative book of poems and shorts stories, For the Many, Not the Few.

This work rate is also reflected in the output of the band Ex-, with 7 EPs and an album to their name.… Read the rest

The Countess of Fife – Live EP – review

May 17, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

The quality lockdown releases are coming thick and fast. With the lack of ability to go crate digging in these times, I’m relying on one of my favourite people just now, the postman, to bring me my regular fix.

This week has seen a few quality releases drop on the doormat including the new 4 track live EP from The Countess of Fife. The EP dropped hot on the heels of their debut online live performance, and arrived with me just shy of last nights second such event. This was one of the best online sets I’ve seen since I started attending remote gigs…

Powerful rich vocal

I first heard the band when they supported Goodbye Mr MacKenzie on their triumphant return to Glasgow’s Garage last May when I wrote: “The Countess of Fife, the band fronted by Fay Fife of Rezillos fame, still drew a substantial crowd.… Read the rest