Swervedriver – Future Ruins -live review

May 15, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

What can I say about last night’s gig, nay, experience, in King Tuts? Intense, emotional, jaw-droppingly beautiful, powerful… I could go on and on with other such superlatives. I was expecting to enjoy it, but not nearly as much as I did. It made the fact that it was only a Tuesday night with another three working days until the weekend eminently more bearable.

Cherry Wave

Cherry Wave who are a new one on me, played a blinder. And a deafener to be fair. The three guitar, bass and drum attack meant visceral distortion, fuzz and plenty of whammy bar vibrato in a wall of sound MBV/shoegaze type manner.… Read the rest

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads at Scotland Calling

Scotland Calling 2019 – a rambling review (of sorts)

April 29, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Having been to every Scotland Calling since its inception, tickets were duly purchased 12 months in advance for this year’s event before really looking at who was on the bill. It may sound strange to say but largely, it hasn’t mattered in years gone by. Not to say that it doesn’t matter at all, obviously the bill will switch off and turn on different people accordingly and of course, being a fan of live music, it is always great to see be at a gig. But for me, Scotland Calling has become an annual day out spent with two of my closest pals.… Read the rest

VoiceX: Live in Glasgow (Mono Café Bar)

March 11, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Waiting

I have been waiting some time to see a live performance from post-punk “supergroup” VoiceX and I’m pleased to report they were worth the wait. It is just a shame that more of Glasgow’s gig going punters couldn’t have witnessed the set. But never say never, there is always next time…

There were several gigs around the city that could have led to indecision and taken away some of the band’s potential audience. The punk crowd having the options of the MeninBlack and the Bard of Salford in town. There was also a potential crossover and carve up of the audience with an all-day gig at the Glad Café celebrating International Women’s Day featuring several bands L-Space and Curdle among them.… Read the rest

The Lee Harveys, Reaction and Fire Exit – Glasgow Audio

February 24, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Party Cities

Glasgow and Dublin are famed for their music heritage and the love of a good party, the two came together in fine form last night in an evening not to be forgotten.

The date – 23^rd February 2019, the venue – Audio in Glasgow, the bands – Reaction, Fire Exit and The Lee Harveys. Just an average Saturday gig night in the city with my best mate? Not a chance.

Something was afoot, the planets somehow aligning bringing everything together in harmonious union. This wasn’t just your average gig, this was a celebration. The atmosphere was euphoric throughout, one which started with eager anticipation and ended with enraptured and slightly merry exhilaration.… Read the rest

The Godfathers – This is War! – Live

February 9, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Live music

Live music. It is all consuming. It is a therapy. A great gig can have so many positive effects on the soul, on mental health, it can take away all the shite of the day and help you escape to another dimension where all that matters is the music.

I have come out of so many gigs in my life and uttered something along the lines of “best gig ever”, every gig can be the best gig ever, just because of living in the moment. The euphoria and endorphins released due to the pure unadulterated enjoyment of experiencing everything that goes along with.… Read the rest

Joe Strummer Night – King Tuts, Glasgow: 22nd Dec 2018

January 4, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

22nd December

22nd December 2002. A date that resonates with people of a certain age and musical persuasion. The date that saw the untimely death of a musical hero to many, John Graham Mellor. Better known to most as Joe Strummer, lead singer of the Clash, the Mescalero’s, Latino Rockabilly War, the 101ers…

22nd December. Since 2003, a date that is now also synonymous with an annual pilgrimage to King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow to pay tribute to the man, the myth, the legend – Joe Strummer.

22nd December 2018. 16 years down the line was no different. Or was it?… Read the rest

Madness – Hydro – 17/12/18 (Glasgow) (Guest review from Mainy)

December 27, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Madness, Madness, They Call it Madness

Magnificent, masterful, and mind blowing. What an absolutely stunning performance.

Madness are without a shadow of a doubt a jewel in the crown when you consider what the UK has given to the world musically. The Beatles, Kinks, Rolling Stones, Bowie, the Clash and the Sex Pistols, have always muscled in to command attention at the front of the pack of greats, but there’s Madness right there too. Cheekily slipping in to rub shoulders with them, and rightfully laying claim to being an iconic institution who can more than hold their own in such esteemed company.… Read the rest

Garry Alexander Borland – Tribute gig – Audio, Glasgow 9/12

December 11, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

High on Emotion

This weekend ended on a pretty bloody special note. A night that will live long in the memory. No, scratch that, a night that I will never forget.

The weekend had kicked off on a high with a brilliant works night out, so it was fitting that it should end on a high too. There were moments of emotion throughout my weekend. My first viewing of It’s A Wonderful Life for the year always ends with my eyes watering slightly, well, quite a lot. And I welled up again during Sunday morning’s Santa Dash. I know, I’m a sap. … Read the rest

Razur Cuts V – launch – Behindthewall Falkirk, Saturday 9th June 2018

June 11, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Razur Cuts

Saturday finally saw the launch of Razur Cuts V and the culmination of muckle hard work by Derek Steel. The latest edition of the cutting edge street literature magazine was promising to be a cracker. The biggest issue to date at 80 pages including an exclusive interview with The Stranglers powerhouse bassist JJ Burnell.

Such an issue was deserving of a bells and whistles launch and Derek and his team pulled out all the stops to make the launch go with a bang, putting on what can only be described as an extravaganza in Falkirk venue Behind the Wall.… Read the rest

Rats From a Sinking Ship – Fight the Future live launch review – The Hug and Pint

March 19, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Rats from a sinking ship – Gig time again

It was exactly a month since I was last at a gig (far too long!). More than that, the last gig wasn’t great from a personal perspective. I needed to have a good gig from Rats From a Sinking Ship tonight to rectify that.

I had great expectations for tonight’s gig and I was not to be disappointed.
The Hug and Pint was a great wee venue too; small, dark, sweaty and intimate. This sort of place is far more preferable to me that the enormous soulless venues like the Hydro, more often than not attracting soulless bands to play them.… Read the rest