Kilmarnock Calling

The Bellfield Tavern

I had been meaning to get across to Kilmarnock for some time to see a gig in The Bellfield Tavern. There are regularly plenty of not to be missed great gigs on in the venue. Unfortunately, up until recently I had missed every single one of them. Hmmmm. I rectified that recently and vowed not to be a stranger to the quality wee venue.

I finally managed to get along a couple of weeks ago to see a fantastic punk triple bill – Fife’s Crimedesk, West Lothian’s Heavy Drapes and all the way from Belfast, The Defects. What a great night (well early evening) that was. Three brilliant sets, a tremendous wee venue, great hosts and loads of friendly faces. I’ll definitely be back.

Kilmarnocks got Talent

However, the previous week I had missed what, by all accounts, was an incredible night of local Kilmarnock/Ayrshire talent in the venue. Four bands with longstanding links to the local music scene. Fortunately I had good friend and stalwart of the music scene in Kilmarnock and Ayrshire, David Munro Orr, on hand to secure me some swag from the night. It doesn’t quite make up for missing a great nights live music, but I can try my damnedest to recreate it by drinking several pints, turning up the temperature in my living room, jumping up and down and blasting the 4 bands CDs. OK maybe not…

But anyway, who were those bands I here you ask?

Well, in no particular order, we have The Three ‘n’ Eights, In the Plughole, Skaghoors, and a band featured previously in my blog, Southern Approach.
In the absence of actually getting to the gig, thought I’d do a shout out to the four bands on here, having listened to their CDs over the last couple of weeks.

The Three ‘n’ Eights

First up, The Three ‘n’ Eights and their new 5 track EP. I’m listening again as I type this up. I have this problem though when I listen to the type of music the band play, I literally can’t sit still. At the moment my head is nodding and I’m bouncing up and down while swaying from side to side. Is it possible to skank sitting down?

The Three ‘n’ Eights play an exuberant blend of rockabilly infused ska. Up-tempo guitar riffing, bouncing bass, dynamic rhythmical drumming, some top notch brass playing finished off nicely with rich lush vocals. Five cracking tracks mostly based on dysfunctional relationships of some form. Boom. ‘Nuff said, ye cannae whack it.

There is something about this style of music that makes me smile and want to move my feet, I would say dance, but that would be very loose terminology if you’ve ever seen me move. When I hear the music start, no matter the hour, I’m off. Recently, despite being in the pub since lunchtime on the day of Scotland Calling, I still found the energy to (ahem) dance all the way through Esperanza’s set at the aftershow. Maybe The Bellfield was saved from my dodgy dancing.

Contact The Three ‘n’ Eights via Facebook

In the Plughole

So to In the Plughole and their six track Social Hand Grenade debut CD.
First off, before I ever heard this band, I knew I was on to a winner. Frontman Scott Walley sports a mighty fine quiff. Much like Southern Approach, In the Plughole have been around for a while…and it has also taken them 30+ years to release their debut.

Their edgy robust, muscular punk influenced guitar sound is a perfect bedrock for Scott’s deep rugged & intensely characterful vocals.
In the Plughole write songs that you can identify with, they cover topics relating to the vagaries of life – life in a small town with nothing to offer (Days Like These), oh… and football…

There is no denying where the bands footballing allegiances lie. Perhaps there is a clue in the title of this article? But if you were in any doubt, the song Rugby Park seals the deal complete with commentary samples.

The last song on the album is eminently sing-able. While the song would undoubtedly have you dancing and singing along, it seems to have an underlying serious message. It starts off as “sitting in a pub on a Saturday night”, but ultimately ends up as sitting in the pub on every night of the week…

Munro has raved about In the Plughole to me before, based on this great introduction to the band, he wasn’t wrong.

Contact In the Plughole via Facebook

Skaghoors

Skaghoors are punks with a conscience. With a heady mix of serious topics covered as a social commentary in their music – anti-war (Another Bloody Hero), homophobia/hate (Choose to Hate), drug addiction (You Lost Control – 2 versions on the album with the Devo inspired Are We Not Hoors version adding keyboards and effects closing the album) – you get the picture.

If the messages in the songs are strong, the tunes more than match that strength. In yer face straight-up melodic high energy punk ‘n’ roll. Tunes in abundance, rich melodies, thoughtful lyrics. I imagine they are a brilliant live proposition. These songs would have the crowd bouncing.

I hear a bit of a Loaded 44 sound here and there and just to bring a smile to my face again – a wee bit of ska to get me going on Ernest Boogie. And a wee bit sax and rockabilly on Sexually Transmitted Love Song.

You think the tempo is going to come down a bit on Get Low, then it ramps up several notches to become a vigourous high speed romp with lyrics spat out with venom.

I love this album – and I’m now totally regretting missing this gig. Maybe I should stop listening now…but two Skaghoors are also in Southern Approach.

Contact Skaghoors via Facebook

Southern Approach

No, just to seal my regret, I’ll continue torturing myself. Southern Approach released their debut album last year (after a 30 odd year wait). They have recorded some new tracks and changed line-up since I saw them last. Original members, Sandy Doherty & Shirley Guthrie have bowed out and Zoe Lewis has taken up Shirley’s vocal duties.

Two new songs are showcased on a CD single – Be Mine and The End Game, along with a passionate stonking live version of “From Afar” (Shirley & Sandy still manage to make it onto the new CD) and sweeping cinematic instrumental track Cascade.

The vast epic sound of the band that was captured on their debut album continues in these new tracks and Zoe proves a more than worthy replacement for Shirley. The chorus of Be Mine has a huge beast of a melody and keyboards add an extra level of atmosphere to the mix.

Contact Southern Approach via Facebook

Do yourselves a favour, if you haven’t already done so, acquaint yourself with what Kilmarnock has to offer – both in its quality music and the tremendous venue that is The Bellfield Tavern. Check out The Westway Kilmarnock Music Scene facebook page for more. There will always be a great gig and a friendly face to welcome you.

Some future gigs at the Bellfield:

The Absolute Jam – 23rd June
The Cureheads/Southern Approach – 8th September
The Lurkers/Reaction – 28th September
Volts (AC/DC Tribute)/Outstandifold & the Wettygrippers – 29th September
Death of Guitar Pop – 17th November
The Sex Pistols Experience – 24th November
Martin Metcalfe and the Fornicators – 30th November
Complete Madness – 6th April (2019)