Ginger Wildheart

Ginger Wildheart/”Random” Jon Poole/Carol Hodge – live in Bannermans, Edinburgh

April 20, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Being a lifelong weegie, I don’t often venture through to the East for a gig, normally sticking to Glasgow City centre or its immediate environs. However, with no Glasgow date on this tour, I risked a nosebleed and made my way, with my brother, another ginger Hodge (sans quiff) through to my first ever Bannermans gig.

As I thought may be the case, we immediately bumped into another West coaster who had made the trip through and soon, I was bumping into several friendly faces, making the trip worth it before a note was even played.

Carol Hodge

This was a night of firsts, and despite my championing her music for some time, reviewing her albums and interviewing her for the blog, this was the first time I had seen my fellow Hodge live (apart from on several online gigs during COVID – but they don’t count).… 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

The Wildhearts, Terrorvison & Gun live

June 27, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

An unusual set of circumstances today, it was hot in the city. Taps aff weather if you will. And I was going to a gig in Kelvingrove Bandstand. I’ve been to several of these before, and despite the summer dates, I have battled biting cold, light drizzle and heavier showers. Not so tonight, maybe not quite the taps aff weather it had been earlier in the day but certainly t-shirt and no jacket weather.

Baby Chaos

It was an early start having three bands on the bill that could each have been headliners in their own right, plus support from Baby Chaos.… Read the rest

Hard Rock Renaissance – Psychobabylon & The Wildhearts

May 9, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I read an article recently claiming that heavy rock/metal was on the rise again and is currently one of the most popular music genres in the UK.

One of the key proponents of heavy punk influenced rock/metal in the UK for the last 30 years, The Wildhearts, have just released their first album of new material in ten years in the acclaimed Renaissance Men, featuring their classic line up of Ginger, CJ, Danny McCormack and Rich Battersby. In a tenuous attempt to link the two bands, Psychobabylon, who feature Danny’s bandmate JJ Watt from The Main Grains, also have a new 4 tracks EP out in Is This All There Is?… Read the rest

Ginger Wildheart Interview

May 1, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Ginger – Ghost in the Tanglewood

Ginger Wildheart has recently released his latest solo album, Ghost in the Tanglewood, recently reviewed on my blog. Personally, I found the album to be inspirational. I wanted to talk to Ginger about the background to this very personal album, much of which focuses on his own battle with depression.

While people are more open about talking about Mental Health these days, there is still too much of a stigma around it. The more people like Ginger are willing to share their personal experiences, the further society can progress. It can only help in understanding and supporting those who do battle depression and other Mental Health issues.… Read the rest

Ginger Wildheart – Ghost in the Tanglewood – album review

April 18, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

It took me a while to finally get round to picking up a copy of Ginger Wildheart’s latest album. Historically I have this image of Country & Western music being depressing and this generally draws me away from it. I don’t know why that has been the case, perhaps it is a perception I have built over the years through mis-representation and falsehoods. Maybe similar to strange beliefs some people have about mental health based on mis-conceptions and false perceptions.

With Ginger having had some public battles with his own mental health over the years, I wondered how this would play out.… Read the rest

Ginger Wildheart

August 10, 2017 By neilho27@sky.com

Ginger Wildheart is another artist who has a history of mental illness. His latest episode has led to arrest, attempted suicide and his being sectioned.

Ginger has an amazing wealth of talent and a tremendous back catalogue. I hope he gets the support he needs to get through his latest setback and continue to add to this. I don’t want to wake up to the news of another Chris Cornell or Chester Bennington this year.

Its an old record I keep playing, but I’ll say it again, mental illness, anxiety, depression – they don’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do.… Read the rest