Category: Gig reviews

House Guest Festival 2025 – Review

April 14, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

In 2024, the inaugural House Guest Festival was such a roaring success, I had high hopes and expectations for this years event. My hopes were most definitely not dashed as Scottish Music Collective & Crowded Flat pulled off another cracker of an event, planned perfectly and executed with a pinpoint precision, with timings being a major factor in events such as this, everything flowed as gracefully as as a swam gliding across water, but I’m sure this meant no end of unseen frantic exertion behind the scenes. Kudos to all involved.

Count the Days


The Sankaras opened proceedings in Sleazys, but my starter for 10 for the day was a furiously energetic Count the Days.… Read the rest

f.o. machete – Mother of a Thousand – album launch gig – Nice n Sleazy

March 27, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

Two sold out album launch gigs in one weekend! Monsieur, with these gigs you are really spoiling us… Well to be fair, this one should have been in January but Storm Eowyn had other ideas. Tonight Paul was pragmatic about the whole affair, “Mogwai were due to be playing the same night, there was only ever going to be one winner there” was his deadpan comment from the stage. 

Mother of a Thousand is a phenomenal album so whoever else may or may not have been playing this Sundays night in Glasgow there was only one place I wanted to be, and the band can be safe in the knowledge that after a such a mind-blowing gig, the album was well and truly launched.… Read the rest

Three n Eights – Leopard Print Hearts – Album launch gig – Audio

March 24, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

Photographs of Corrupt Intentions, Rudebeard and Three n Eights courtesy of Chris Hogge Photography

Yeah, yeah, I know the old cliche, when that gig you’ve just been to is brilliant, nay, the best ever because it’s the one that’s on the forefront on your mind. When you’re on the way home and the memories are still fresh, the adrenaline is still pumping through you and the dopamine high is real, you feel like you can take on the world. We’ve all been there, and we’d all agree that feeling is palpable. All too often though that it is a fleeting feeling, the moment is gone after a short while and, boom, you’re back down to earth with a bang the next morning as reality hits and the vagaries of life return with a vengeance.… Read the rest

Water Machine Single Launch – with comfort and Count Florida

March 16, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

It’s been a long time since I last saw Water Machine, with, pardon the pun, a lot of water passing under the bridge in everyone’s lives in the interim. It’s been all going the last couple of weeks though, with Water Machine playing a gig recently in Stereo, releasing a highly danceable new jangle-pop indie single Tiffany and announcing their debut album release (and accompanying gig) in June. Having unfortunately missed the Stereo gig due to a clash, tonight’s single launch gig was one not to be missed.

Before I got to witness the Water Machine live spectacle again, it was down to Count Florida to open proceedings followed by a band I’ve been excited to see for some time but the stars had not aligned up until now, comfort, whose 2023 album What’s Bad Enough was a triumph.… Read the rest

The Wildhearts – Glasgow Garage – The Satanic Rites Tour

March 15, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

All photographs courtesy of Chris Hogge Photography.


My gig going has been somewhat curtailed recently, with tickets going to waste for several events due to, what’s that diplomatic phrase again…circumstances beyond my control… let’s leave it at that. I suppose there is a certain irony in that. Life has been really stressful recently and one of the things that relieves the stresses of life is the first thing that seemed to  fall through the cracks. 

I’m not gonna lie, but for several reasons, I hasten to add, none of them to do with music, gigs or The Wildhearts, I wasn’t particularly relishing going out after an infernally early start, a long day and a drive home that also meant missing both of the nights support bands. … Read the rest

Jenny Don’t & The Spurs & Wild Devils – live in The Rum Shack

February 13, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

A rare midweek opportunity for a night of Rockabilly and hard-rockin’ Honky-Tonk Cowpunk in one of my favourite local venues, how could I resist? The Rum Shack is garnering a strong reputation as a much sought after venue for live music, a great size, with great sight lines and sound, and when you add to that a band who are quite obviously in their prime, basking in the success of their superb latest record Broken Hearted Blue and clearly enjoying their performance you’ve got a perfect recipe to counter that mid week slump, injecting a bit of joy back into that gloomy feeling… last weekend was a distant memory and this weekend still seems a lifetime away… On this dreich and cold February Wednesday night, Jenny & Co.… Read the rest

Sultans of Ping FC & Meryl Streek – Live at St Lukes

February 9, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

At 16:00 today my plan was a lazy Saturday night in front of the telly, probably moaning about the shite that was on, probably involving at some point three of the unfunniest people on the planet, Michael fucking McIntyre and the talentless dullards from Tyneside, haudit and daudit who are constantly laughing at us as they gratefully take their millions earned purely for being halfwits.

By 16:15 though, my plans were turned on their head by the gracious intervention of several folks. including Meryl Streek himself, after a fortuitous visit to Mr Tony Gaughan’s veritable music emporium, the mighty Blitzkrieg opposite the best music venue in the world, Glasgow Barrowland.… Read the rest

New Years Revolution 2025 – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – Martha May and the Mondays, Human Renegade, Count the Days and Marf.

January 16, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

Just under a week on from my last visit to the venue for a varied four band bill headlined by the excellent Tanzana (whose presence was noted at this gig, along with members of the mighty Sister Madds and one of my tips for 2025, Alcatraz (whose appearance in Tuts last week I unfortunately missed) among others) it was time for another visit and another pick ‘n’ mix selection of genres.

Opening act, Marf., started off their accomplished bluesy rock set with a track exuding a smooth jazzy charm. As their set progressed, so did the intense power and energy of their music, all topped with a compellingly potent and soulful vocal from the first Martha of the evening, before closing out their set with an impressive version of Gorillaz Feel Good Inc.… Read the rest

New Years Revolution 2025 – King Tuts ft. Tanzana, Naked Actress, Aldous and Save Face

January 10, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

My first gig of 2025 was one of King Tuts January showcase gigs as part of their New Years Revolution series with a four band smorgasbord of styles headlined by one of my “25 for ‘25” tips for great things, Tanzana.

So, was it worth braving sub zero temperatures during a tiring and challenging first week back at work following the festive period when I could just have retreated under a warm blanket in front of The Traitors? 

I knew from the first bars of Save Face’s first tune, the cunningly titled Intro, that they alone would have been worth the trip.… Read the rest

Children of Gaza Benefit – Scorpio Leisure, Kirsten Adamson, The Filthy Tongues, The Countess of Fife, The Rezillos – Voodoo Rooms

December 31, 2024 By neilho27@sky.com

The last gig of 2024 for me was a late addition to the gig calendar, at a hastily arranged (and quickly sold out) gig arranged by Fay and Martin. I did swither over it, what with getting over bruised ribs and a sprained ankle, the weather being miserable and the thought of getting home afterwards. However, the deal was sealed as the reason for the gig was to raise money for the children of Gaza/Palestine, which, if anyone follows my socials will know is a subject close to my heart. And of course the line-up featured some of the best acts Scotland has to offer…

I’ve said this before, but I think the future is in gigs with loads of bands playing short sets and a quick change over in between.… Read the rest