Music Feature - The Ginger Quiff

David Delinquent – Better Yourself

July 6, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

David Delinquent’s latest song Better Yourself has been available via bandcamp for a couple of weeks now. This isn’t really a review, as I feel that the song, the lyrics and David’s message speak for themselves. Suffice to say, I’m in the process of writing a piece for my blog that mirrors the sentiments contained in David’s lyrics. We can all be better people.

Please head over to Bandcamp and name your price, all proceeds from the sale of the song go to CRER (Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights) Scotland and Stop Hate.UK.

David Delinquent Bandcamp

I will leave the rest of this blog to David himself (taken from his Bandcamp page)

I chose this artwork for a couple of reasons, first and foremost to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and the events currently taking place in the US and here in the UK.

… Read the rest

udebeard - As You Walk Away e.p - front cover

Rudebeard – As You Walk Away review

July 5, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

My last two blogs have been rockabilly and country focussed respectively, in the spirit of fairness and variety, next up it’s a bit of pirate ska. This time, courtesy of Rudebeard and their follow up to the Wideos on the Rise EP

Incorporating Liquidator style keyboards into the welcoming introduction to As You Walk Away, the lyrics kick in with a less welcoming message. The typical Glasweegie farewell “Don’t let the door hit you on the arse, as you walk away”. Having said that the laid-back mellow groove of the track is most relaxed and easy-going. A great wee vibe to kick-off the three tracks.… Read the rest

The Best Bad Influence – Rock-It! album review and interview

July 2, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Vibrant and Animated

Last year in a short interview with The Best Bad Influence, I described them as “one of the bands I am most excited about”, that label still stands today. They are one of the most vibrant and animated live bands I’ve had the pleasure to witness in recent years, bringing the raucous spirit of rockabilly to a new generation, much like the 80’s revival did for me. In doing so, they also allow the likes of older music fans like myself to regain some of their youthful enthusiasm for the music. Their bouncing gigs are a melee of old and young.… Read the rest

Vulpynes – Sister – track review

June 24, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m way behind on catching up with new music. Work has been full on, but I’ve got a few days off now so a bit of breathing space to share my thoughts on a few recent single drops…

Dublin grunge punks, Vulpynes, recently dropped a new track Sister. Powerful duo Kaz and Molly are a force to be reckoned with, a boisterous duo with a luscious line in scuzzy grunge punk. Sister is as raw and visceral as you would expect. Vocals filled with rage and fury. “I’m your real friend, sister” the lyrics seethe, making you feel fear for that sister.… Read the rest

The Claudettes: Johnny Iguana Interview

June 13, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Chicago’s piano blues based jazzsters with added rockabilly flare and punk attitude The Claudettes recently released their stunning new album High Times in the Dark. Reviewed by yours truly for Louder Than War. Shortly thereafter, their touring plans (along with those of every other band) to promote the record, including a trip over the Atlantic to the UK, fell foul of COVID 19. Leaving 2020 as a barren gigless wasteland.

Johnny Iguana

Lead Claudette and pianist extraordinaire, Johnny Iguana, took some time out to share some thoughts on the lockdown brought about by the pandemic, the new album, and the current world-wide climate.… Read the rest

Starless – Earthbound – album review

May 28, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

The indefatigable Last Night From Glasgow show no signs of letting up in the light of COVID 19. With a bulging release schedule and a roster already bursting at the seams with talent, things are just ramping up.

The latest release from the label comes in the form of a roll call from many of the great and good of the Scottish music scene past and present.

Starless is the brainchild of the eminently talented Paul McGeechan. Writer, composer, engineer, producer and famed around these parts for being part of seminal Glasgow bands Friends Again and Love and Money.

Unfettered Charm & Beauty

Starless are releasing their second album, Earthbound, following on from the unfettered charm and beauty of their debut a couple of years ago.… Read the rest

Richard Davies and the Dissidents Human Traffic album cover

Richard Davies & the Dissidents – Human Traffic – album review

May 26, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

After a weekend of bullshit, lies and pretence, I needed something good and honest to replenish my faith in humanity. The new album from Richard Davies and the Dissidents does just that. The former Tiny Monroe/The Snakes guitarist takes on lead vocal duty and is joined by other alumni from the alt-rock/alt-country scene. Former The Snakes bandmate and Mega City Four drummer Chris Cannon and Case Hardin/Last Great Dreamers bass guitarist, Tim Emery. With Nick Beere (guitars) and Neil Scully (keyboards) completing the “last gang in town”.

This album is an antidote to all those self-righteous, self-serving, so-called public servants. Those whose only interest is themselves and the green folding stuff.… Read the rest

Diablofurs – Neon Satellites – review

May 20, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Birdland

In 1989 a band of four young guys, each with a shock of peroxide blonde hair caught my attention and my imagination with their sneering attitude and rage filled punk rock tunes. The excitement and energy displayed by the bands tunes and their live performances was incandescent. Electrically charged songs like Hollow Heart, Rage & White were bursting with vitality and, while the band imploded after only one album, their light radiated brightly and fiercely for that short period.

Diablofurs – Neon Satellites

Fast forward 31 years and another band have caught my imagination with the vivacious punky pop on their debut album Neon Satellites.… Read the rest

Ex- Ex-Tracts – The Complete EPs Collection

May 19, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I have recently been enjoying the new EP from Meek and Mowbray (see last singles roundup I posted), The “Meek” of the duo is the never resting and highly talented CT Meek, poet, author, raconteur, lyricist, musician, entrepreneur, feel free to add your own descriptions to the list. The man seems to have an inexhaustible creative streak, judging by the copious amount of high quality material he endlessly produces. Countless of his own books and now into editing the 14^th volume of collaborative book of poems and shorts stories, For the Many, Not the Few.

This work rate is also reflected in the output of the band Ex-, with 7 EPs and an album to their name.… Read the rest

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads Don't Blame Yourself

Duncan Reid & the Big Heads – Don’t Blame Yourself -album review

May 16, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Every now and again in your chequered and bumpy journey through life, there are special bands that come along. Ones that help you along that road, helping to smooth the bumps, to make the uphill parts of that journey a bit less exhausting and carry you across the massive potholes and dodge the unexpected sinkholes.

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads is one of those bands.

When music is such a massive part of your life, you have unbounded admiration, even love, for loads of bands, many of them holding a special place in your heart, and you attend countless gigs filling your life with the sights and sounds that bring you pleasure, it is a nigh on impossible task to pick favourites.… Read the rest