Gig reviews - The Ginger Quiff

The Jesus & Mary Chain & Gaye Bykers on Acid – Live in Glasgow

November 15, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

After a week that, if I was being polite, could have been described as both difficult and challenging, one name was a common denominator in easing my troubled mind. That name was Mary, and they took me from Darklands to Everything’s Groovy across the space of two outstanding gigs over the weekend.

The Jesus & Mary Chain in Stereo

Having rocked my world with their return to perform the classic debut album Psychocandy in Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom several years ago, East Kilbride’s favourite sons Jim and William Reid were due to return to the self same venue to give the same treatment to their follow up Darklands in March last year.… Read the rest

Hanya/The Wife Guys of Reddit – Live – The Hug and Pint

November 9, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Monday night at the Hug and Pint

Last week my working week was due to be bookended by two gigs, Monday night in the Hug and Pint and Friday night in Nice ‘n’ Sleazy. As things transpired, there was a very different outcome to the end of the week than first expected, encompassing the highs and lows of the Glasgow live music scene from the perspectives of both music fan and performers.

My third gig in as many weeks in The Hug and Pint, and a realisation that perhaps I was out too much when the barman pre-empted my drink order when I approached the upstairs bar.… Read the rest

The (Fabulous) Courettes – Back in Mono…in Mono

October 29, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Last night The Courettes cemented their place as my new favourite band with a frenetic supercharged performance, fittingly in Glasgow’s Mono, supporting the release of their third, and in my opinion, best album to date, Back in Mono. The emphasis of last nights gig was fun with a capital F.U.N. Despite being three albums in, this was their first visit to Glasgow, hopefully there will be many more to come in the future.

On a miserable Thursday night in raintown, I made the effort to dress from head to toe in black and white in tribute to the this most stylish of bands, and ventured out in the pissing awful weather.… Read the rest

Lola in Slacks – Moon Moth album launch

October 24, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Saturday 23rd October finally arrived. The date for the launch gig for the wonderful album Moon Moth from the alluring five piece that is Lola in Slacks (album review here). It was a busy night for gigs in Glasgow, a most welcome sign given the last 2 years, with the likes of Billy Bragg, Mickey 9s, Calva Louise, The Last Great Dreamers and Powderkeg, amongst others, competing for the ears of the discerning music fans of Glasgow. On any other given day, I could have been at any one of these gigs, but tonight, there was only one gig for me.… Read the rest

The Skints, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – Live Review

October 23, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Originally booked for the larger (and frankly, not as good IMHO) Oran Mor in the west end, the gig had been venue-shunted to the more intimate King Tuts Wah Wah Hut for reasons unbeknown to your scribe. Given the venue is half the size of the original booking, I guess you can make your own assumptions.

The Skints have a long relationship with the city and have forged bonds with local heroes Mungo’s Hi Fi as well as their sister club nights at Walk And Skank- there was actually an aftershow with Josh from the band as guest DJ at the Berkeley Suite but given my vintage years, I left that one to the young team. … Read the rest

Tugboat Captain, The Just Joans and Curdle – Live in the Hug and Pint

October 21, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Back in The Hug and Pint for the second time in a week, this time a three band bill put on by Angus from Double A Side records who released Tugboat Captain’s LP, Rut last year.

Curdle

First up was the wonderfully dark Curdle, a band wholly suited to the month of October with their sinister lyrics and don’t mess attitude fuelled trippy riot grrl pop. I’m just loving being back at live gigs, and making up for lost time, so I’m soaking up every minute of every band I can. Having first seen Curdle supporting Dead Hope in the Old Hairdressers, I’ve been hooked on their music ever since.… Read the rest

Katherine Aly – The Hug and Pint – live review

October 15, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m not saying my first week back at work after being laid up with COVID was shite but, well, no maybe that’s exactly what I’m saying. It was stressful, unsatisfying and well, just a bit pish. (Disclaimer: These are my opinions and just a result of how I was feeling and the general shitness of everything just now, these are not a reflection of my employers in any way shape or form – think that should do it – I do actually enjoy my job…)

Anyway, back to the case in point. It’s Friday and I have a weeks annual leave.… Read the rest

The First Big Weekend…

September 13, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

My return to live music kicked off in style last weekend with Hugh Reed & the Velvet Underpants in the Bungalow Bar in Paisley. This weekend was what you could call the First Big Weekend (copyright: Arab Strap) of my 2021 gig calendar with not two but three consecutive nights of live music. Bring it on. (Not sure if I should be apologising to my family or whether they were just glad to see the back of me for three nights…)

I’m not going to deny, it wasn’t without some trepidation that I was returning to gigs, and not just due to COVID and everything that goes along with that, but also the being around people in general, and social anxiety aspect of it all.… Read the rest

Hugh Reed & the Velvet Underpants – Live in Paisley

September 6, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

It had been 576 days since my last live gig (not that I was counting or anything) and I will admit to a bit of trepidation. Since the easing of lockdown I’ve experienced having dinner in a pub that the punters were acting as if COVID had never happened, but to counter that I’ve also had pleasant experiences elsewhere when everyone was still acting with a air of caution and sensibility.

In fact, I’d been in Perth for a couple of days with work and on my way home, tired and lethargic, I almost talked myself into not going. Thankfully, I didn’t take that course of action, gave myself a shake and jumped in the car to Paisley.… Read the rest

Garlands Outstandifold Savage Cut Nice N Sleazy

Savage Cut & Outstandifold & the Wettygrippers – live

February 2, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

A sneaky extra gig this one. One of these will I/won’t I nights that ended up as an I will. I was on drop off and pick up duties for Strictly, so it was only a partial gig, having to leave before the headliners, but as the now vegan Meatloaf once said, 2 out of 3 isn’t bad. This was living on the edge for me – gigs three nights in a row. Jeez I’m 50-man, ma lugs can’t cope.

So, three bands on offer for a fiver. Can’t say fairer than that. Especially not in a week when I re-mortgaged the house in order to get tickets for Guns ‘n’ Roses.… Read the rest