First things first, a huge congratulations must go to Scottish Music Collective and Crowded Flat for pulling off a superb inaugural House Guest event. Not only was the sold out day a huge success due to the phenomenal line up, bulging at the seams with a smorgasbord of new Scottish talent, the day ran like clockwork, the dream team in Sleazy’s (where, despite plans, I based myself all day) from bar staff to event management ensuring things ran like clockwork. I hope the success helps this event to go on to be a celebrated annual event much like its template events such as Tenement Trail.
The day was kicked off in style (I imagine – due to family commitments, I wasn’t able to attend until after they finished) at 3pm downstairs in Sleazys by Sister Madds, and with the Variety bar joining the fray a couple of hours later, it was a smooth ride in terms of band handovers, and never a moment without an opportunity to bathe in the joy of live music.
As I alluded to, despite the event taking place across three venues – upstairs and downstairs in Nice n Sleazy, across the road at the Attic and along the street at the Variety, I ended up staying in Sleazys for the duration. Partly due to the bands, partly due to anxiety and FOMO (what if I left and didn’t get back in again ‘cos it was too busy?) and partly due to bumping into and catching up with so many of the good folks involved in the vibrant independent music scene in Glasgow and beyond.
As with every event of this type, there were several band time clashes, meaning I couldn’t possibly see every band I wanted to. This was inevitable from the day I first clapped eyes on the poster when the festival was announced, there were so many “must sees” on that list, kudos again to the promoters…The overlapping times for the bands in Sleazys worked in my favour though meaning at least I could take in more bands even if it wasn’t for a whole set.
Missing Sister Madds meant the first band I caught was The Noise Club. One of the reasons events like this float my boat is, not only the opportunity to see bands that I already love all in one day, but also the chance to catch bands I’ve not had the opportunity to see before. The Noise Club was one such band, the first of several “new to me” bands that caught my imagination on the day, a riotous performance for early in the day that had the packed Sleazys worshipping at the alter of Noise. Wine Moms went down a storm too, but I exited early, still recovering from the aural assault by the dog collared and robe bedecked previous band.
Cue meeting a few folk in the bar before catching the first of the bands upstairs in Sleazys, Perth’s Knackered, the band swapped roles throughout their upbeat set that blended elements of pop punk and baggy indie rock with a swagger. I had to pick their brains later for places to go in my many nights away in Perth…From Perth to Falkirk and a band I first saw at a Summer Sessions night in King Tuts alongside another couple of todays scheduled bands Pizza Crunch and Tina Sandwich (who unfortunately had to pull out due to illness) – ably replaced by Dutch Wine), Static have continued in the ascendency since I first saw them, with their guitar driven high energy rock, including upcoming new single Drop Dead Diva, certainly creating one of the early highlights of the day.
I’ve been desperate to see Glasgow’s Pedalo since their debut single, Better, was released last year, so it was a delight to be able to catch their sublime set with the sun streaming through Sleazys window, their euphonious jazzy blues tinged indie pop a perfect sound for the sun being out. A quick “see you later” to some friends before I managed to catch the end of The Zebecks downstairs including latest single Medicate railing against toxic masculinity and mysogyny.
Back upstairs in time for another new to me band that came highly recommended in the form of Straid, let’s just say they blew me away, with their 3 guitar assault on the eardrums, ranging from searing driving shoegaze through melodic grunge to full on epic head exploding wall of guitar sound creating a heaving mosh pit, at one point knocking me off my feet despite being on the periphery. No time to dilly dally… as soon as Straid finished their set it was back downstairs again for the end of another stellar set this time from Her Picture and their rhapsodic soaring indie rock.
The rest of my night was spent between watching top class band after top class band in the basement venue, and catching up with loads of folks around the venue. It was great to feel such a vibrancy and a buzz in the venue, the atmosphere was electric, a sign of how healthy the DIY music scene is on Glasgow right now.
I’ve not managed to see Pizza Crunch live for what seems like an age so it was a pleasure to reacquaint myself with their music, things really kicking off for their closing salvo of Celexa and Twelve Month Seasonal Depression. It’ll be no secret to anyone for me to reveal that my personal music highlight of the day was the formidable Junk Pups, a band that never fails to impress, a quartet individually at the top of their games, and coming together to create a glorious Dolly Parton meets the Cramps sonic delight. If there is any justice in the world this band will be huge.
Before the “secret” final band took to the stage, it was the turn of another band from my “work home” of Perth in the shape of splendid six piece Parliamo who played a blinder, their perfectly formed alt-pop bangers creating a frenzied reaction from the packed out basement crowd.
I’d had theories about who the secret band in Sleazys was going to be with my head going to all the wrong places seeing several members of recent BBC Introducing Scottish Band of the Year, Bottle Rockets in and around the venue. I should have realised that I’d also seen the members of the actual final band for the night, Soapbox, around the venue all day… Despite the lateness of the hour, and the long day running up to now, the band performed one of the most emphatic and inspiring sets of the day. Tom is a frontman who, when not on stage is a quiet and unassuming character, on stage though, it’s an entirely different matter. His stage presence is forceful as he belts out their defiant punk anthems. This old bloke even got stuck into the mosh pit such was the draw of the set. Highlight for me was recent single Fascist Bob, a huge fuck off to the fash, even more powerful given their recent brush with US branch of blokes with microdicks, the pathetic proud boys who clearly have no ability to decipher messages in songs…
A great end to a fantastic day of music and more.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m ready for round two, when do next year’s tickets go on sale?
Upcoming dates:
The Noise Club, Straid and Push Bar – 17/5 The Hug and Pint
Pedalo, Ryan Harley & Bootlace – 13/4 Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
Soapbox, Junk Pups, Demo 26/4 King Tuts