Gig preview - The Ginger Quiff

The Filthy Tongues – In These Dark Places – album review

December 23, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

It feels like forever since Back to Hell, the second instalment in The Filthy Tongues dark trilogy exploring the gloomier, murkier aspects of Auld Reekie. The final instalment, In These Dark Places is a flawless ending to the remarkable triumvirate continuing the caliginous tales of the less salubrious side of life in the capital city, but ending with perhaps a chink of light, a certain element of positivity and hope of a rebirth shrouded in desperation and regret?

We’ve been through a rough few years since the last instalment, reflected on the album in singles Gas Mask Blues and Pandemic Pete, both of which display an element of dark humour, which I’m sure we all can relate to in surviving the days of lockdown that felt like aeons, as we all found our own coping mechanisms in getting through.… Read the rest

Water Machine – S/T Demo Tape

December 21, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Water Machine have recently been making waves in the Glasgow music scene, currently bubbling under and fresh from what I gather was a superb support slot at Monorail’s birthday bash supporting Gerry Love, if there is any justice, 2023 will see the band reach boiling point and explode like a geyser.

Enough of the shite water puns. The band’s music deserves better than my lame attempts at humour.

I’ve recently been conversing online with Jimmy from the band, who are a bit of a Glasgow music scene supergroup, and was half joking about creating a family tree to trace all the connections.… Read the rest

LNFG Review special: bis – Systems Music for Home Defence/Lungleg – Maid to Minx (re-issue)

December 10, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Ahead of a very special return this weekend with a gig to support the re-issue of the superb Maid to Minx album from Lungleg with the mighty bis in support, promoting the release of their own latest long player, Systems Music for Home Defence, it seemed appropriate to review both albums in one go…

I’ve always hated the word iconic as I feel it was one of those words that became overused and lost its meaning, much like the word literally, which is literally used incorrectly just about every time I read it somewhere or hear someone say something stupid like “I literally died on the spot”.… Read the rest

Buzz Cutz Pt 1 – Ian M Bailey, The Bobby Lees, His Lordship & Poster Paints

November 18, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

In an attempt to play catch up with the many outstanding albums I have for review, I’m going for some short cuts to try to cover as many of the albums I’ve been listening to over the last few months as I can. The full quiff has not gone, just proverbially shaved it off for convenience on the short term…

Ian M Bailey – You Paint the Pictures

After their previous collaboration on the sublime Songs to Dream Along To, Ian M Bailey has teamed up with the inimitable Daniel Wylie once again to bring us another collection of retro 60s style jangle pop anthems.… Read the rest

The Countess of Fife – Star of the Sea – album review

November 16, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Those who pledged to Fay Fife & Co’s Kickstarter campaign will be delighted to finally hear the realisation of the fruits of The Countess of Fife’s labours with the release of the CD and digital versions of the album Star of the Sea*, and a launch gig in Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on Friday.

If you haven’t been fortunate to pick up on this project so far from the fireball of frantic energy who is the spirited front woman of the mighty Rezillos alongside Eugene Reynolds, The Countess of Fife is an altogether different proposition from the interstellar punk ‘n’ roll of The Rezillos.… Read the rest

Sacred Noise/Watters – live in Bloc+ Glasgow

July 16, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

First up, kudos to Bloc+, what’s not to love about this bar? The whole ethics around the place are fantastic, its whole reason for being, the food (amazing!), the welcoming atmosphere, and especially from tonight’s perspective, its support of grassroots music.

It was with music in mind I was in attendance tonight, mainly, I have to say, to see Sacred Noise, but as someone who soaks up music like a sponge, I was interested to hear Watters having done a bit of research when I’d seen who Sacred Noise were playing with.

This was live gig number four for Sacred Noise, and having been to their debut live performance in the self same venue earlier in the year, I was looking forward to seeing them again.… Read the rest

Tulsaqueen – Tulsaqueen – debut album review

June 14, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

It feels like a lifetime ago that I talked to Catriona about her solo project under the guise of Tulsaqueen (interview here). Having been a well known face around the Glasgow music scene for several years now, with Curdle and Dorothy Hale, her hotly anticipated superb country styled (with a twist) solo album is finally being unveiled with a launch gig in The Old Hairdressers on Friday (17th June)

The album (on Double A Side Records) will be available to stream from all your favourite platforms on the same day, but, being the impatient sod that I am, I pestered Angus and Catriona for a sneak preview.… Read the rest

The Courettes – Back in Mono (B-Sides and Outtakes)

May 18, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

The undisputed “Band of 2021”, The Courettes, never disappoint. In the run up to their next Scottish dates in June, they have filled a gap in between albums with this essential 10” vinyl, and CD, of outtakes and b-sides from last years outstanding Back in Mono album.

As usual with this vital husband and wife duo, the artwork is the first thing to draw you in, the impeccable retro styling of the sleeve giving a sure indication of what you are going to hear when the needle hits the groove. I’m also drawn to the fitting addition of ”fabulous” to their name on the cover, I find it hard to find enough superlatives to use when I’m describing this band and their music, fabulous will do for starters.… Read the rest

Run Into the Night – Common Stream of Consciousness – single review

April 28, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

One of the Ginger Quiff’s “22 for ’22”, the revamped Run Into the Night release the first single recorded as the new 2 piece with Christina on guitar and vox and long term friend and collaborator Andrew (also of Powderkeg) on drums, with additional backing vox from Steven Young.

The result of their hard work is the addictively compelling Common Stream of Consciousness which will be available to purchase (or stream) tomorrow, and infiltrate your own consciousness, lodging itself firmly there and refusing to budge.

Hulking great dirty crunching riffs from Christina accompanied by a vigorous thunder of drums from Andrew herald the arrival of this deeply resonant rumbling growl of a tune.… Read the rest

Introducing the Band… Sacred Noise

March 21, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Sacred Noise, one of my ”22 for ‘22” recently released their second single Part of Me, and are due to play their debut live gig in Glasgow’s Bloc+ on Thursday this week (24th March).

Unfortunately, having followed the band since their inception, I am missing this debut as I am out of the country with work… That doesn’t stop me encouraging the rest of you to throw caution to the wind and get your glad rags on and head over to Bloc+ on Thursday for a cracking night’s entertainment.

Sacred Noise indulged me and agreed to answer a few questions by way of an introduction to the band and their music…

Introducing the Band

GQ: I feel as if I’ve been on a journey with you as a band, following your social media for some time and hearing you grow.… Read the rest