Category: Indie

Dark Places – a mini festival from The Filthy Tongues

August 13, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The inaugural, I say that in hope rather than having any specific knowledge of this being an annual occurrence, Dark Places festival was to my ears, a roaring success, a glorious celebration of music across a variety of genres, and from new bands to the more established (I was going to say young and old, but let’s say young at heart…)

Martha May and the Mondays

The job of opening the festival was handed to Martha May and the Mondays, a new band for me, part of the virtue of a festival like this, the opportunity to discover music new to you..… Read the rest

The Countess of Fife – Live Review, The Gilded Balloon, Patter Hoose, Edinburgh Fringe

August 12, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Having released one of the standout albums of 2023 and 2024 in Star of the Sea (the album was available last year, but the vinyl launched earlier this year), The Countess of Fife aka Fay Fife of Rezillos fame has built a formidable live band around her in the shape of Willy Molleson on drums (Eliza Carthy), Al Gare on double bass (Imelda May, Jeff Beck), Laurie Cuffe on guitar (Cuban Heels, Vellininios). and on acoustic guitar and backing vox, Kirsten Adamson who has been picking up plaudits herself for her 2nd album Landing Place, including My Fathers Song’s a poignant tribute to her late father.… Read the rest

Water Machine & Brenda – FREE live gigs in Glasgow

August 11, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

How often does it happen, Water Machine & Brenda, two of the best new bands in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK, Europe, nay, strike all that, make that two of the best new bands in the WORLD both playing celebratory sets on the same day, in the same city, both FREE and at separate locations – and what’s more, I could get to them both! Mind you it would be difficult for them to play simultaneously due to one common denominator… more of that later.

Brenda

Hot off the heels of their triumphant album launch in The Glad Café, and a spot at the Lost Map Howlin’ Fling on Eigg (I didn’t make it, but my tent did…), Brenda continued their celebrations of the release of a truly remarkable album at a packed-out George Square.… Read the rest

Carla J Easton – The Hug and Pint (with Ruby Gaines & Kohla) & Brontes (George Square)

August 4, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The Hug and Pint Endless Summer gig season is in full swing and what better way for me to go to my first of several nights in August than to see Carla J Easton play a selection of songs from her upcoming album Sugar Honey.

Before Carla we were treated to two very different, but equally impressive sets from Kohla and Ruby Gaines (as a massive Prince fan I keep wanting to type Rosie!). 

Kohla’s album Romance is due to be released soon with an album launch gig in Sneaky Petes, The Hug and Pint served as a perfect warm up for her.… Read the rest

Brenda – Live in The Glad Cafe (with R.Aggs)

July 30, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

I think I’ve probably been looking forward to this gig since I interviewed the band in The Bell Jar in February (link here) when we shot the breeze about the band coming together, their name, video shoots in LA and of course their forthcoming debut album.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Hogge (Chis Hogge Photography)

I’ve seen the band live on several occasions since then, but The Glad Cafe, being the official release of their self titled debut album (reviewed here), was set to be something special. Which ultimately is exactly how it turned out, a gathering of like minded individuals in a fabulous, intimate venue ready to celebrate the music of one of Scotland’s hottest new bands. … Read the rest

Water Machine, Bikini Body & I Wanna Be a Truck Driver – live in The Rum Shack

July 23, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Similar to the previous week in The Hug and Pint, there was most definitely a palpable air of anticipation buzzing around the excellent south side venue ahead of Water Machine’s biggest Glasgow date. 

I think I can safely say all three bands on the bill played a blinder, more than exceeding expectations, more like smashing it out of the park for a home run. The job of warming up the Rum Shack fell to I Wanna Be a Truck Driver, a band I’d never seen live before but was introduced to by Stuart, aka photographer Blackmagicplastic, at a previous Water Machine gig.… Read the rest

Savage Cut – Holes in the Mind – album review

July 20, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Holes in the Mind is the latest album from the creative hive mind of trio of Brian, John and Liam otherwise known as Savage Cut. I say trio, but more often than not, they bolster their number with a carefully chosen guest vocalist to perfectly match the sound and feel of their remarkable music. 

This latest selection of tunes is nothing short of genius, an inspired mix of styles, with some extraordinary adventures in sound here; ingenious samples, emotive instrumentals and a perceptive choice of guests all coming together to create what is both an eclectic but cohesive collection of songs, all unquestionably sealed with the indelible mark of Savage Cut.… Read the rest

Sacred Noise – live in The Old Hairdressers with Abstract Dancers, Moonsoup and ManyWild

July 17, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

What better way to celebrate the end of Pride weekend than to spend it on the company of the increasingly brilliant Sacred Noise. The band, who have been plying their wares across the Glasgow music scene, played their debut gig in March 2022, since then going from strength to strength, their sound and performance getting better each and every time I see them.

Before Sacred Noise, we were treated to a trio of eclectic bands kicking off with Abstract Dancer whose electro/synth based sound was bolstered by some glorious bass riffing. Unfortunately I was running late and only caught the end of the set, but they piqued my interest enough for me to investigate further.… Read the rest

Lungleg and Curdle – live in The Hug and Pint

July 15, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com
Photo courtesy of Chris Hogge Photography

Sometimes the planets align to create to what, for all intent and purpose, is a perfect night. Some knuckle dragging morons celebrate the date of this gig for what can only be described as their own brain dead reasons, however, the lucky gathering in one of Glasgow’s best venues, The Hug and Pint, had much more of a reason to celebrate in the presence of legendary riot grrrl punks, the wonderful Lungleg and the prime proponents of their unique brand of darkly humorous gore, the one and only Curdle, coming together in the presence of a fervent home crowd to create an electric atmosphere from the off. … Read the rest

Brenda – Brenda – debut album review

July 12, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Glasgow is awash with new music talent these days, at the forefront of the bands trading their wares comes the unique synth sounds of Brenda. To avoid any confusion, Brenda is a band, not a person, the coming together of the wonderfully unconventional trio of Litty, Apsi and Flore (also a member of another of the bands at the forefront of the current crop of extraordinary bands mined from this particularly giving seam – Water Machine). 

While not exactly shrinking violets or introverted wallflowers, the band are modest in their own descriptions of their talents and musicianship, but in the opinion of this listener, their debut album is up there amongst my favourites of the year to date.… Read the rest