Gig - The Ginger Quiff

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

The Interrupters – Live in Glasgow

February 2, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

One of the questions on my mind had to be, how do The Interrupters follow a gig as good as The Wildhearts?

It didn’t take long for them to answer my question.

First up though it was the turn of Buster Shuffle and The Skints. We arrived just as Buster Shuffle were finishing – though I heard enough to tempt me to investigate more of what sounded to me like a Chas n Dave meets ska mash up. The Skints impressed me musically. Some cracking bass lines and laid-back tunes – and you can’t beat a bit of sax. A lovely version of Dawn Penn’s You Don’t Love Me into the bargain.… Read the rest

The Wildhearts & Backyard Babies – live review

January 31, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

The Northmen are coming…

The Norse Gods were smiling on Glasgow tonight, offering up not one but two of the premiere purveyors of punk-tinged sleazy rock ’n’ roll in the world today. (For all I know it could have been three, but due to early doors/stage times I was unable to make it in time for CKY)

Unlike historic visits from the Northmen, this time they came in peace. Well I say peace, but they created an unholy racket, the pillaging and destroying down to convincing guitar shredding and a thumping rhythm section.

Son of Ragnar

Looking like a son of Ragnar, with hair shaved at the sides and a long-braided ponytail, Nicke Borg kicked proverbial arse alongside guitar hero Dregen, bass beast Johan Blomqvist and powerhouse Peder Carlsson took to the QMU stage to a warm Glasgow welcome.… Read the rest

Ones That Got Away – Outstandifold & the Wettygrippers & Garlands

January 29, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

First (maybe even last) in a random series of albums that got away. Ones from last year that I maybe didn’t get around to writing about or that for whatever reason never really got to listen to properly.

Bit of a double whammy this one – and it may, or may not, have something to do with both bands appearing on the same bill in Glasgow at Nice ‘n’ Sleazy this Saturday (1^st February).

Outstandifold & the Wettygrippers

The unusually monikered Outstandifold followed up their last (and rather good) album Box with their (who would have guessed) fourth album. Go Fourth, sees them metaphorically do just that.… Read the rest

Graveyard Bash 2020 – gig review

January 19, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

My 2020 gig duck is broken. Graveyard Bash 2020, what a way to break it.

I’ve seen all three bands on the same bill previously but this was my first Graveyard Bash. Based on tonight’s experience, it won’t be my last.

Unfortunately, the fourth band on the bill, Thee Girl Fridays, had to pull out, but to be honest (and taking nothing away from them) the night was perfectly formed despite their absence.

There was nothing not to love about the whole package on offer tonight…

McChuills

Anyone who has been to a gig in McChuills will tell you it is a fantastic wee venue.… Read the rest

Goodbye Mr MacKenzie – Live in Barrowland

December 23, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Its Monday. I’ve just about finished peeling myself off the ceiling after the festivities of Friday night. No, it wasn’t Christmas night out madness on the last Friday before Christmas, trying to avoid the once a year drinkers and unbearable queues at bars where people don’t have a clue what they are ordering. No, although there were a few beers involved, this was a far more cultured affair. It was the return of all conquering heroes, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, to the world’s greatest music venue, the legendary Glasgow Barrowland.

Who knew 12 months ago, this would be the last gig I attend in 2019.… Read the rest

Ezra Furman: Live in Glasgow – review

November 13, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Once again, Mainy is stepping into the breach with a review of Ezra Furman live in Glasgow, Furman’s latest album, Twelve Nudes, has quickly cemented itself as one of my favourites of the year.

All words by Alex “Mainy” Main

Sheer Force of Talent

Artists such as Ezra Furman don’t come around often. They are the rare breed who become iconic through the sheer force of their talent. Easily referenced genre tags fail to stick as they transcend beyond the terms that would ultimately box them in.

Is it punk? Is it rocknroll? Is it queercore? Is it pop? Yes, yes, yes, and yes.… Read the rest

Shakespears Sister - Live in Glasgow poster

Shakespears Sister: Live in Glasgow – review

November 13, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

As I am on a bit of a forced sabbatical from the Ginger Quiff, Alex “Mainy” Main is filling the void for me. A while ago, I did something I do all too often. I purchased tickets for a gig without checking the dates…schoolboy error. Anyway, thankfully Mainy was happy to take the tickets for Shakespears Sister off my hands and in return, he has shared his thoughts for the GQ.

Cheers Mainy…

Once upon a time I stood in a field and watched Shakespears Sister take the preconceived perception of them as a lightweight pop band and savagely tear it up before casting it to the wind.… Read the rest

The Armory Show – Live: King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut – Glasgow

October 18, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Now and then a gig creeps up on you, one you have been looking forward to it, but has been slightly under your radar, life takes over and the night arrives without you really realising it. You’re expecting a good performance, but then the band strike up the first chords…

Last night was a case in point, The Armory Show (not a mis-spell) surpassed all expectations, speaking to several others after the gig, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Mystify

It had already been a week of revelations and back stories. Having already attended a preview of Mystify, a revealing documentary about INXS frontman, the charismatic Michael Hutchence, which filled in several blanks, revealing the tragic events which subsequently led to his behaviour changes and triggered the chain of events that led to his sad and untimely death.… Read the rest

Pixies – Live in Glasgow, O2 Academy

September 23, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I may recently have been less than complimentary about the latest Pixies album Beneath the Eyrie. I mean, it isn’t a bad album, it just kind of washed over me on the first few listens, it was undoubtedly Pixies, but just didn’t move me.

Sunday night, 22^nd September, Glasgow O2 Academy was an altogether different beast. If you were there and you didn’t feel moved, you are possibly Ed from the opening track of the band’s epic set.

Epic

The set time was listed from 9pm until 10.45pm with a curfew of 11pm. Black Francis and Co pushed the timing to its outer limits, ending their set almost bang on 11pm and I don’t mean, leaving the stage and returning for encores.… Read the rest