Indie - The Ginger Quiff

Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something – Miffed – album review

December 22, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

If there is one thing for certain, after listening to this album, your feeling will be anything but Miffed, as Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something follow up their 2019 debut, Oh Really, What’s That Then? with this colossal selection of ten astronomically epic and exhilaratingly life affirming songs.

Having been introduced to the music of Jemma and co in 2019 by Ged Babey, the debut album appeared in my top ten albums of that year, and was a fixture on my turntable for some time. I finally got to experience the Jemma Freeman live show earlier this year when they played Broadcast with Glasgow’s very own Run Into The Night.… 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

22 for ’22 (re-visited)

December 19, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

At the end of 2021/start of 2022 I posted a blog about 22 bands/gigs/records I was looking forward to in 2022. I thought I’d have a quick look back on this before I consider the 23 for ’23 blog…

The Courettes

I’m not sure I can say anything about The Courettes that I’ve not said before. Their gig in McChuills certainly did not disappoint and with an album of B-sides and outtakes from the wonderful Back in Mono album to keep us going until the next album proper, the hardest working band in music ticked the boxes once again. Fabulous. Until the next time…

The Courettes – McChuills – The Courettes – Back in Mono (Outtakes & B Sides)

Run Into the Night/Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something

I had been looking forward to the double header from the Glasgow duet and the remarkable Jemma Freeman and her band for ages, and with good reason.… Read the rest

Lungleg and bis live in The Classic Grand

December 11, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

I recently went to a gig by a band with “leg” as part of their name. I left the gig feeling uninspired and despondent as I felt I’d witnessed the result of a band being hyped to the nines on the strength of one (maybe two) songs, a band that could undoubtedly play, but felt like they had no soul. (I know Manda will disagree with me on this…)

Anyway, my final (planned) gig of 2022 was headlined by a band whose name included the word “leg”, and with a support from the mighty bis, I was in no doubt before either band played a note that this was going to be a special night, there was something in the atmosphere, an air of anticipation in the venue that was palpable.… 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 2 – Jo Carley & the Old Dry Skulls, Witch Fever, Unholy Frankenstein, The Bloody Nerve

December 5, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

As I typed the band names in the second of a series of shorter reviews, I realised there was an unintentional distinctly Halloweeny feel about the four bands in this blog (I know, it December now…but I like the element of spooky compatibility), despite the very different music styles. I’ll just say that I meant it and it was all part of the master plan, however much of a lie that may be…

Jo Carley & the Old Dry Skulls – I’ll Put My Voodoo on You

Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls returned with another hypnotic collection of gothic/horror-tinged swamp rockabilly trash blues, Jo drawing you in on opening track Alligator Blues with a darkly seductive introduction “It’s me, I am Jo” unsuspectingly capturing your soul as you become ensnared under her spell, the enticing allure continuing a couple of tracks later when she warns “I’ll put my voodoo on you” on the title track and such is her charm and charisma, you don’t want to resist.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up Part 10 – October 2022

November 22, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

We’re well into the last quarter of the year now so it is time to share the third last selection of the best singles, demos and other tracks that have been earworms for The Ginger Quiff during the month of October… as usual I’ve added any that are on the evil corporate musician shafting platform that is Spotify for you to try, then go and buy music, merch and gig tickets from the bands.

Reaction – Bad Trip Express

Much like their forebears The Clash (just as long as we don’t get a Cut the Crap at some point), Lanarkshire punks Reaction have never been a band to stand still, rest on their laurels or become complacent with their sound.… 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

Diablofurs – Dream Skies – single review

November 14, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

In my opinion one of the most overlooked bands of the late 80s/early 90s was Birdland who burst on the scene with their suicide blonde peroxide locks burning briefly but brightly and vigorously with their firebrand energetic shock of punk rock.

Fast forward to now and whatever you do, don’t let Birdland frontman Rob and the rest of his Diablofurs motley crew slip away from you. For those of you who have been unfortunate to miss out so far, or maybe you could just call yourselves lucky that you now get a chance to discover one of your new favourite bands.… Read the rest