The Apparents – Singin’ Songs & Righting Wrongs

September 17, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

The Apparents

The Apparents new CD album dropped through the letterbox the other day. Having previously reviewed their earlier EP, I was looking forward to popping the CD from the box and listening to the latest offering.

Singin’ Songs & Righting Wrongs

Singin’ Songs and Righting Wrongs. The album title sums up pretty much what you can expect from listening. There is no hiding the bands political leanings given the subject matter, or should I say targets, of some of the songs. Expect passionate rants aplenty, but don’t imagine for a minute that this band are po-faced protesters without a sense of humour.… Read the rest

The Speed of Life – review Glasgow 9th September

September 10, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

The Speed of Life

It seems like I had been looking forward to being entertained by Richard Jobson, punk frontman, actor, author, model, presenter, raconteur and the multi-talented Martin Metcalfe writer, musician, composer, artist for aeons when the day finally came around. With those two involved it was sure to be an interesting and intriguing evening’s entertainment.

We were glad to finally take our seats having endured the typical Scottish summertime in getting to The Admiral. Sun splitting the sky, interspersed with monsoon like rain. In typical fashion the sunny bits were just before leaving the house and while waiting in the station/on then train.… Read the rest

PYLON – Theatre preview: 15th September Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow

September 3, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

PYLON

Glasgow theatre-goers and live music fans have an opportunity to see a the highly acclaimed production, PYLON, at the Mitchell Theatre on the 15th of September. This is the third outing for the unique and exciting production, based on real life events in Shortlees, Kilmarnock, which has been given high praise by critics on its previous showings. The performance is more than just theatre, as it includes live music more akin to live music gigs than stage acting.

The play tells the story of residents of Shortlees through the eyes of Davie who is searching for answers when questions are raised about the electricity pylons in the area causing an increased level of cancer diagnoses in the area.… Read the rest

The Blinders – Columbia – album review

August 30, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Hotly anticipated

Alongside Joy as an Act of Resistance from IDLES, The Blinders debut Columbia is one of the most hotly anticipated albums of 2018.

I was in fortunate to receive early copies of both releases, IDLES having the earlier release date and being mesmerised by their release in recent weeks, The Blinders album had a lot to live up to.

Columbia

I’m glad to say it did not disappoint. Columbia provides the listener with an evocative blend of light and shade, dark matters, imploring pleas and optimistic hopes for the future. The album title comes from the name given to a promised Utopia.… Read the rest

Speed of Life – spoken word & music from Richard Jobson & Martin Metcalfe

August 29, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Speed of Life

After 2 successful and well received shows in Edinburgh and Irvine, Richard Jobson & Martin Metcalfe take this unusual and enthralling performance on tour across the UK over 6 dates.

This project isn’t be the first time the multi-faceted Jobson and Metcalfe have worked together. Jobson has previously provided the vocal for Isa & the Filthy Tongues track Bus Shelter and more recently the pair collaborated on a number of songs on the Skids recent comeback album “Burning Cities.” I’m sure this collaboration won’t be the last.

Green and Blue

The dates will be a combination of spoken word, music, songs and a Q&A
Jobson will read excerpts from his acclaimed new sci-fi novel “Speed of Life”, its name taken from the instrumental track of the same name on Bowies “Low” album.… Read the rest

Trashcan Sinatras – Live in Oran Mor – 2nd August 2018

August 4, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

While most of Europe continues to bask in the biggest heatwave since the summer of ‘76. Tonight in Glasgow it was wet and miserable. There was some sunshine on the horizon though with a trip to see one of Scotlands premier bands live.

This should have been the second time I’d seen them this week. Lets just say, due to a senior moment, I forgot I was supposed to be out on Sunday night at a gig. Hopefully the first and last of these moments…

Anyway, as a result you could be damn sure I wasn’t going to miss tonight’s gig.… Read the rest

IDLES – Joy as an Act of Resistance – Album review

August 4, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Resistance…

As I tried to review this album, technology was resisting me and not causing me joy. Due to the highly anticipated nature of this album, the only preview copies available were via stream. Being an aging gentleman, my preferred listening is via physical format, vinyl or CD, followed by download and streaming only if I really have to. (The album is due for release on 31st August on Partisan)

Colossus

Technology was against me as I managed to listen to lead track Colossus several times before every device I was using turned against me. Fortunately Colossus lives up to its name a gigantic song both musically and lyrically.… Read the rest

SIEL LIEN – I Am Fire/A Little While More

July 24, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Neil Tells the Truth…

Glasgow music fans are in for a treat this Thursday (26th July)

New York Doll, Sylvain Sylvain is visiting to play St Lukes & the Winged Ox. The gig is in support of his book – “There’s No Bones in Ice Cream”.

Not only do you get an original New York Doll, but you get treated to a set by the darkly majestic Filthy Tongues. Metcalfe, Kelly, Fin and company will make your year playing tracks from the first two albums of their magnum opus.

Jacob’s Ladder was one of the albums of 2016 and the second album of a trilogy, this year’s Back to Hell, is already being celebrated as one of the albums of the year in Louder Than War’s mid-year list.… Read the rest

Deep Sky Objects – Desire – new single

July 23, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Desire

I have had a song shared with me recently that I find myself returning to time and again. The track, Desire, is out today and is the latest release from 3-piece Irish band Deep Sky Objects.

The single is a heady mix of hard-riffing guitars exuding the ire of Rage Against the Machine teamed with a warm ostentatious soaring power-pop vocal in the vein of White Lies & Interpol, underlined by a crashing drum-line and solid crunching bass.

The band members include brothers Kevin O’Brien (lead vocals, guitar), Thomas O’Brien (drums and backing vocals) and DD Foley (bass guitar and backing vocals).… Read the rest

The Eddies – Still Takin’ the Mick EP review

July 19, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

The Eddies

Dundee’s The Eddies cement themselves as one of Scotland’s premier punk outfits with their new EP, Still Takin’ the Mick, dedicated to Mick Kilbride. Five tracks in total, and while it may sound like an old cliché the tracks are all killer, no filler.

The band have an flair for a full-throttle humdinger of a tune with a chorus that has you joining in from the off, take the first 2 songs on the EP as prime examples – “No way, not now, go away cos I’m not listening” and “My game – my rules.”

This EP highlights the knack they have and how accomplished they are at this opus.… Read the rest