Category: Review

My Bloody Valentine – live in Glasgow

November 29, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

I don’t remember the last time I set foot in the Hydro for a gig. I detest the place with every fibre of my being, but… it was My Bloody Valentine who, somehow with all my years of going to gigs behind me, I’ve never managed to see live before now. As I walked into the arena I remembered exactly what it was I hated. It’s a soulless cave, and despite the numbers of people in early to catch J Mascis it was devoid of any atmosphere, like a vacuum had sucked the soul from every living being…

Then J Mascis ambled onto the huge Hydro stage and all was well as he proceeded to delight and wow in equal measure with his familiar languid drawl, just him and his acoustic guitar, heavy on the effects and distortion.… Read the rest

November Singles – Part 3

November 24, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

We’re nearing the end of November and the singles keep on coming, with another motley bunch hitting the airwaves since I out pen to paper for the last batch… once again there is sureky somethonh here for every taste, with the young Scottish crew making an impression, and another few songs vying for the title of Single of the Month for November.

First up in this part is the latest single from Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls side project Carley’s Wreck and Ruin, Jo’s familiar vocal capturing me under her spell immediately as her bewitching voice repeats the song’s title Devil’s Got The Poison.… Read the rest

The Courettes – live in St Lukes

November 20, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

Live music is my life blood. Which is why the last few months have been so frustrating as it’s been patchy time, not that there haven’t been plenty of gigs to go to, quite the opposite, I’ve had plenty in my calendar, I just seem to have missed more than I’ve been to. The night before this one being one of those occasions, having looked forward to English Teacher for so long, when it came to the crunch, once more I couldn’t go… and I missed a blinder by all accounts. 

It was touch and go for tonight’s festivities, but I was damn sure that by hook or by crook I was going to make this one, how could I miss my favourite live band?… Read the rest

Son of the Right Hand – EP launch gig – Glad Cafe

November 15, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

It had been too long since I’d been at a gig in the Glad Cafe, especially considering that it and The Rum Shack are my local venues. It was especially great to walk into the venue knowing what I was going to witness, such is the beguiling and intriguing nature of the music of Son of the Right Hand. Clearly the feeling was mutual given the hubbub and upbeat buzz around the cosy and welcoming venue right from doors open. I had a good feeling that it was going to be a gig to remember.

Before the band got to officially launch their EP, we had two support bands to entertain us, with eclectic styles to mix things up a bit.… Read the rest

November Singles… the next batch

November 14, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

With Brontës having laid down the gauntlet and got the challenge for single of the month off to a flier with their captivating new song San Francisco, it is down to all comers to try to snatch the title from their grasp. The next batch for November has revealed some strong contenders, with a huge showing from some rival Scottish acts…

The Treasury’s in Love is the new single from indie-folksters Elgin and the Marbles, and is a clever lyrical take on all things wrong with the current state of the finances of these shores, seemingly made worse with each new chancellor who wanders into 11 Downing Street.

… Read the rest

Shinlifter – Other Conspiracies – EP review

November 5, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

The debut three track EP, Other Conspiracies, from the raucous rising stars of Auld Reekie, post-punk noiseniks, Shinlifter is out now. Other Conspiracies kicks off with Close Encounters, a song that has the band high on adrenaline, musically launching themselves headlong at your jugular with a furious urgency, the lyrics spat out rant-like with an unbridled venom. The driving fuzzy guitars change mid-song to sharp angular riffs that match the pointed lyrical barbs. I do hope you’ve never got on the wrong side of vocalist Olivia Furey, as you’re definitely on her shitlist, “I want to list them name by name from primary school to the present day.” … Read the rest

Quad 90 – debut album review

October 31, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

The debut album from the talented duo of Amelia Lironi and Naomi Mackay, who met while studying music at Riverside College, is an exquisite masterpiece with its stylish melding of 1970s styledisco and funk with 1980’s post punk, their perfectly syncopated dual vocals playing off the sweeping synths, disco handclaps and funk/punk guitar riffs and creating an overall sound that is elegantly suave and coolly sophisticated.

This album has feel good written all over it, the infectious nature of the music, and it’s laidback geniality has a way of catching you unaware, enveloping you in it’s warm embrace until you feel invincible, like you don’t have a care in the world and nothing really matters anymore, apart from the music.… Read the rest

Station Nord – Mind Control Radio – album review

October 28, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

Station Nord is a project by what could be described as a Scottish supergroup, even though some of its members are now divided by oceans, the core element of the band originate from the hotbed of musical talent that is North Lanarkshire. Readers of these pages will recognise some of the names and the dulcet tones of the roll call – guitar wrangler for The Scottish Sex Pistols and Johnny Cash tribute Jericho Hill, Joe Whyte, Jonzip of the first wave of punk band The Zips, Peter Lacey of God Fearing Atheists (whose album I discovered I had two copies of recently…), Walt WXYZ of Tarbeach Records and Thee Effits, jazz bassist Iain Wyper and Dominic Gallagher on all sorts of other “sonic wizardry.”… Read the rest

Gutterblood – Good Dogs Will Never Die – Album/EP review

October 26, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

Gutterblood first came to my attention with the release of their single with political commentator Bonnie Prince Bob, the excellent anti-monarchy rant that is Gardyloo and their excellent Hard Ghandi EP from whence it came. I’m glad to note that the outspoken Bob is back alongside Tom with some hard hitting vocals and lyrics when you pair that with founding member Andy MacVannan whose thunderous ground-shaking bass lines form the solid backbone of the bands sound, complemented by some heard hitting heavy riffing by ex-Gin Goblin Dave you have a band who are in fine fettle angrier and more forthright than ever. … Read the rest

Panic Shack – Live in Glasgow, The Garage

October 17, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

All Panic Shack photographs courtesy of Chris Hogge Photography

Panic Shack were re-visiting our Dear Green Place as part of their powerhouse of a debut album tour having slayed a packed King Tuts in May prior to the album release. Having had the pleasure of being part of the sweaty mass on that occasion, the anticipation was great, and expectations high.

First up it was Punchbag and, having been introduced to the excellent duo The Pill on Panic Shack’s previous outing, then enjoying their return to Glasgow later in the year in Nice n Sleazy, I was hoping for another impressive support band.… Read the rest