Category: Music Feature

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

ABBA – Voyage Experience review

July 10, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

When is a gig not a gig…. but it is a gig? The ABBA Voyage Experience in London was a gig not like any other, but still one of THE “live” experiences of my lifetime, and I would imagine, the next… While I was cynical when I first read there was going to be an ABBA experience featuring avatars, or should I say Abba-tars of the fabulous four (yeah I know that “title” has been taken), any cynicism started to reduce over time as everyone I know who had been regaled me with tales of how good it was. It’s not just the show itself, not one detail has been overlooked with highly organised entry, bars and merchandise stalls putting other entertainment venues to shame.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2023 – Part 6 – June

July 1, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

June singles round up featuring some of the best new music around including joint “Singles of the Month” by the mighty Water Machine, Brenda, Bin Juice and KEELEY

I’m afraid time is not currently my friend, so like the May round up…. only just published in July…. There are no write ups of the songs featured.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t listened to all of them. After all, none of them would be here if I didn’t love them all …

Hopefully my time management will improve and normal service will be resumed in July

Water Machine – Water Machine Pt.

… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2023 – Part 5 – May

July 1, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

It’s taken me much longer than it should have to get May’s Singles Round Up done. I blame fatigue from the onset of unseasonably hot weather in Glasgow… as well as a general inability to fit everything I need to do into a seven day week.

Apologies to all the featured bands and artists this month for not getting an individual write up, suffice to say, every single song has been listened to and loved. Much kudos to the vast number of great new songs in May from Glasgow/Scottish based bands and artists here. I hate to choose favourites but special mention to “Singles of the Month” from Sacred Noise, Kohla, Pedalo, Parliamo, Quad 90 and Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something….you… Read the rest

KEELEY – Floating Above Everything Else – album review

June 29, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Following a series of unequivocally absorbing EPs and singles, KEELEY finally release their debut album, the all consuming Floating Above Everything Else, an album which manages to be both heartbreaking in its divine beauty and grace and gloriously uplifting as you bathe in the warm textures of the multi-layered soundscapes helping to tell the story of the tragic backpacker Inga Maria Hauser, and keep her memory alive 35 years after her life was cruelly taken from her, a murder for which there has still been no-one charged. This album’s title surely reflects where this album is destined to be in many album of the year lists towards the end of 2023.… Read the rest

Mental Health in music – Lewis Capaldi & Billy NoMates – a reflection

June 29, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Up until last weekend, I had pretty much dismissed Lewis Capaldi as a nice and funny guy, who had a great voice, but whose music was wasted on me, my most used phrase about him was along the lines of, I’d like to go for a pint but I wouldn’t buy his records..

I’m not going to say I’ve suddenly become a fan of his music, its still not for me, though I can hear its appeal, he undoubtedly has an eminently listenable voice. I would say though, that I have become more of a fan of Lewis Capaldi the man.… Read the rest

Guns ‘n’ Roses & The Pretenders – live in Bellahouston Park

June 28, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

It’s not without an element of happy surprise that I’m writing this blog. I’ve never hidden the fact that I’m not what you’d call a hardcore fan of Guns ‘n’ Roses, or more particularly the voice of Axl Rose, having a tendency to lean more towards the guitars in the band, I did have the pleasure of witnessing Slash and Duff several times in their guise of Velvet Revolver. Don’t get me wrong, I think Appetite for Destruction is a classic debut, one that took its blueprint from the likes of Hanoi Rocks and The Heartbreakers and added their own hard rock edge and punk attitude to create the sound that many others would try, and fail, to replicate.… Read the rest

Ex-, 2 Sevens and Buzzbomb – live in Glasgow

June 18, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Second gig of the weekend, and another first for me, this time around, for whatever reason, it was the first time I’d managed to catch Glasgow’s 2 Sevens live, on a triple bill also featuring Ex- and Buzzbomb.

Currently riding high following the release of their recent EP, 13 (count ’em!), Ex- are always a pleasure to witness live, Colin Meek with current line up, Scott on drums, Dave on bass and Tam on Guitar producing an always sublime selection of first wave of punk influenced guitar band sounds, alongside thought provoking and contemplative lyrics, Meek being a prolific and talented writer also having a wheen of books to his name too.… Read the rest

Lambrini Girls & Bin Juice – Live in the Hug and Pint, Glasgow

June 17, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

In a week which ended in a day spent in a sweltering workplace with no air conditioning, a journey home on train full of bams with a lack of any social airs or graces, delivery companies that just don’t deliver, and a thunder and lightning storm that did little to reduce the humidity, I was in need of some light relief. I nearly turned back from the station as I was running late, doubting I would make it in time for the mighty Bin Juice, and I felt like a hideous sweaty mess, even my eyeballs were sweating, and my hay fever was getting the better of me, but I fortuitously looked at my phone to see that Bin Juice stage time was 15 minutes later than I first thought.… Read the rest