Music Feature - The Ginger Quiff

Johny & the Dead Girls – Dirty Fuckin’ Rock‘n’Roll – EP Review

December 3, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The latest release from the king of scuzzy rock,stand up Mr Johny Skullknuckles – ex-Goldblade & aka JSK, The Kopek Millionaires & Johny Skullknuckles and the Lockdown Lovers, is the aptly titled 6 track EP Dirty Fucking Rock n Roll comes from his latest guise Johny and the Dead Girls.

Dirty Fucking Rock n Roll is just that. A celebration of the music your parents warned you against, just in case it should pervert your mind and soul, attracting you to that seedy world of rock and roll, you know the one, where everyone worshipped The Devil, took copious amounts of illicit drugs, only drank straight Jack Daniels (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) and hid satanic messages in the run out grooves of their records.… Read the rest

The Kosher Pickles – The Kosher Pickles – EP review

November 30, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Glasgow has a great reputation for garage and surf rock, with the likes of Reverse Cowgirls, The Kidney Flowers and The Bucky Rage leading the charge, and a cast of thousands following in their wake – Casual Drag and The Crails to name a couple. Another top outfit that forms part of that scene of rock fiends is The Kosher Pickles, who recently released a self titled 7 track EP, a mix of covers and their own songs which sit seamlessly with the original 60s garage rock tracks, the Glasgow version of The Songs The ~~Cramps~~ Kosher Pickles Taught Us…

Opening in style with a cover of The Others, I Can’t Stand This Love, Goodbye, The Pickles get straight into their groove, full throttle twanging guitars and a solid rhythm section instantly hitting the sweet spot, the band maintaining the frenetic energy throughout the following six songs.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2023 – Part 8 – September & October

November 15, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The months are fairly flying by, into the Winter months already, September and October were responsible for another batch of top quality tunes from across a variety of genres as per usual. Maybe you’ll find your new favourite band in amongst this Singles Round Up! I’ve had to admit defeat, due to broken laptops, tech issues, work, gigs, life…. you know…. realistically I am never in a million years going to be able to do an individual write up for each song, so… its just the songs, and some links to the bands socials or otherwise. Apologies, these songs deserve a write up, but just listen and find your new favourite bands….… Read the rest

King Kurt & The Three ‘n’ Eights live in Rocknrollas

November 12, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

As the chorus of their opening song says, King Kurt are back again, and the way my body feels this morning, it was the first steps on my own road to rack and ruin. I need to remember in the future I’m a man in my 50s and perhaps wrecking should be in the past. But fuck it, it was King Kurt what was I supposed to do?

My first time in Rocknrolla’s in Paisley and it certainly is an imposing and impressive venue. What wasn’t my first time though was seeing tonight’s support band, The Three ‘n’ Eights. A band who, for the uninitiated, play, in their own inimitable style, their unique combination of country punkabiilly, for want of a better description.… Read the rest

His Lordship – Room 2, Glasgow – live review

November 10, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Entering Glasgow’s Room 2 for the second time in as many weeks, I had an overwhelming feeling of deja-vu, the same suave soothing sounds and dulcet tones of the duskily debonair Louise McVey and the Cracks in the Concrete emanating from the stage as the last time I visited, their music creating a hypnotic air of calming re-assurance. The venue wasn’t quite as pitch black as last time though, meaning I was able to see your friendly neighbourhood promoter this time, rather than walk straight into him. His Lordship obviously draw from the same pool of music fans as Kid Congo, as I bumped (not literally this time) into many friendly faces around the venue, as well as noticing several of the same good folks of discerning music tastes from Glasgow and its environs in the crowd, and also having an impromptu school re-union – and believe me when I say that wasn’t yesterday (I’ll get you that pint next time Douglas…)

His Lordship seem to like playing Glasgow, this being the third time I’ve witnessed His Lordship’s live extravaganza in a couple of years (you could say four if you count The Pretenders…) so you would be forgiven for thinking there would be an element of being prepared for what James, Kristoffer and Dave were about to serve up.… Read the rest

Water Machine – live in the Hug and Pint

November 9, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

After a brief break from gigging in their home city, touring south of the border and recording their hotly anticipated debut album, Water Machine returned to gigging at the Great Western at the weekend, so this gig supporting Snooper was their second Glasgow date in three days.

After a stressful day, a gig is always the perfect antidote. That is unless you come up against transport issues and your stress is multiplied… Unfit, out of shape and bedraggled, I walked into the venue just as the band were assembling to start their set. A joyful sight, especially as I had almost ditched any attempt at making it there on time.… Read the rest

Sarah Borges & Carol Hodge – Live in the Glad Cafe

October 28, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The first of two civilised “sit doon” gigs to end the week and the return of Hodge and Borges. And slightly different affair this time around, with Ms Hodge sans band, and Ms Borges joined by just Keith on bass/vocals.

Not that it made a difference entertainment wise, Carol always puts on a show whether it is performing Penis Envy Crass songs, full band performances or solo. Tonight was no exception, with a performance including many of my favourite Hodge compositions – kicking off with Moan of a Thousand Years, and taking us through all her themes – worrying, death, anxiety… including the songs that could be the soundtrack to my own life Stop Worrying Baby, Bear With Me, her cover of Offspring’s Smash and one of the top anti-Thatcher songs out there, The Witch is Dead.… Read the rest

Diablofurs – Welcome to the City of Fun – album review

October 27, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

You know that well known phrase, “Go Big or Go Home?” Diablofurs have done just that with their follow up to the magnificent Neon Satellites, forget Madness and their piddly wee House of Fun, and join me in entering the vibrant and colourful City of Fun. If you know Diablofurs, it will come as no surprise that Welcome to the City of Fun is crammed to bursting full of glorious and hugely anthemic electro-synth punk-pop crowd slayers.

The melee of sound that is the hubbub of fairground noise introduces the albums title track, with a warning immediately following with the opening lyric “welcome to the city of fun, but don’t get blown away,” before the Gang of Furs proceed to do just that… Rob, Suze, Becks, Danii and Kay combining to create an injection of adrenaline, their unbounded vitality helping express their message straight to the core of your being, “welcome to the city of a thousand dreams, you can be most anything you want” and creating an hypnotic burst of neon energy.… Read the rest

Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds – Room 2

October 26, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

If you’re reading this expecting a detailed in depth review of Kid Congo Powers at Room 2, you should probably exit. This isn’t so much a review as the rambling thoughts of an aging music fan with social anxiety issues.

On the way to the gig I posted a throwaway comment on Facebook, (mis)quoting Bill Shankly, “Some people believe music is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

That statement, no matter how throwaway it seemed when I posted it, translated in a way I couldn’t have imagined as I headed into Room 2.… Read the rest

Young Fathers – Live in Glasgow Barrowland

October 24, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

For someone who still thinks the 80s was only a few years ago, the realisation that the last time I saw Young Fathers live in 2014 at the Last Great Weekend Festival was nine years ago came as a huge shock. It also started bringing back memories of standing In the excruciating bar queue after their set, with the one and only Keith Martin, debating the qualities of the band and whether they are better live or on record, as well as generally putting the world to rights. In the interim the band has gone on to great things, from winning the Mercury Music Prize that same year, and gaining plaudits left right and centre, right up to the nomination this year for their extraordinary latest album Heavy Heavy, pipped at the post by the Ezra Collective.… Read the rest