The Ginger Quiff - Musings on music and mental health

Mark Shaw: Then Jerico – Live in Room 2

April 18, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

16th April 2023 in Glasgow’s Room 2 stripped years off me, maybe not physically, but certainly mentally. First (pardon the pun), I’d seen Then Jerico way back in November & December 1987 in the QMU and Edinburgh Playhouse respectively on the Winter Safari tour at the ripe old age of 18, fast forward to ‘89 and this time it was the Playhouse and the famous Barrowland for the Big Area tour. I may have aged 33 years in the interim but in Room 2 on Sunday night, as stage time approached, I felt the same youthful exuberance I’d felt all those years ago, a giddy sense of anticipation potentially unbecoming of a man of my advancing years.… Read the rest

Drunk Gods – The Immortality Project – album review

April 17, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

I honestly thought after hearing nothing from Drunk Gods since their single Found the Lord & Lost My Soul/Pet Hate, back in 2018, that Ewan was on an indefinite hiatus, maybe he had found “the lord” and lost the music mojo? Thankfully this is not the case, with Ewan taking to social media at the turn of the year announcing the imminent return of Drunk Gods, this return now cemented with the release of The Immortality Project, the follow up to 2015’s self titled debut, and album title perhaps a wry observation and a hint that you can’t keep a good man down.… Read the rest

His Lordship/Bruno & The Outrageous Methods of Presentation – Live in Stereo

April 11, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The month of April, and a week of annual leave, got off to a remarkable start gigs wise. What with a double header from The Fabulous Courettes on the Monday, including the most unusual venue for a gig I’ve ever been to, in the chapel in Barlinnie Prison, and the second with Three n Eights in tow, closely followed by the return of His Lordship to Glasgow after a triumphant slaying of the McChuills crowd last year. Two of the best live bands on the go just now, back to back, what more could a body ask for?

I’ll tell you what more a body could ask for.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up – Part 3 – March 2023

April 10, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Another month and another immense list of songs for your aural pleasure. Don’t let anyone ever tell you there is no good new music about these days…

As usual, there is an evil Spotify playlist for you to sample the songs before you go to the artists own sites to buy their music if you like it….

The Black Delta Movement – Zip Tie & Photograph

Zip Tie from garage rockers The Black Delta Movement is initially an understated slow burner, a low and slow sinister rumble that builds in speed and increases in intensity as the song reaches its powerfully climactic zenith.… Read the rest

The Day The Courettes visited Barlinnie Prison – Gig Review

April 5, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

After what has been a full on few months at work, I awoke to a bright & crisp sunny April Monday morning, hailing the start of a week’s annual leave. And what better way to spend my first day of doing as little as possible, than in the company of “the hardest working band in showbusiness”, the dynamic husband/wife duo, The Courettes.

You Know That’s a Prison Don’t You?

This was set to be a day, and a gig experience, to remember. One like I’d never seen never before, or likely to again. The first of a double header of gigs in Glasgow for Flavia and Martin on this most glorious of Monday’s saw them following in the footsteps of a select few performers over the years, including the infamous San Quentin gig from the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash, by playing a gig exclusively for the inmates of a prison.… Read the rest

Scorpio Leisure, Casual Worker & Spread Eagle – live in The Rum Shack

March 25, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Take one measure of Rum (Shack) add an intoxicating blend of three 100% proof bands and mix well with an effervescent crowd, fizzing in anticipation, and you have a veritable cocktail, enough to brighten another dreich night in Glasgow’s south side. The Rum Shack has built a reputation for itself as one of Glasgow’s best club-sized venues, and rightly so, a great atmosphere building in the bar next door, and transferring to the venue itself, a venue which has great acoustics and plenty of space to get great views of the stage and bands.

I was disappointed not to have made it though to Edinburgh for the first show by tonight’s headliners, Scorpio Leisure, when they supported Lydia Lunch.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2023 – Pt 2 – February 2023

March 19, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

It may be nearly March and all, but shit happens, so here it is better late than never….Another bumper singles round up for February with plenty of top quality tuneage to suit every taste…I’ve used my words sparingly, I’m so far behind and have still to start thinking about the March roundup. Just give them all a listen…they’re all deserving of your ears…

If they’re on Spotify, I’ve added a handy playlist so you can try before you buy via the band links…

Millie Manders and the Shut Up – Rebound

One of the best live acts around celebrated Valentine’s month with this boundlessly energetic anthem to relationship’s destined to fail.… Read the rest

Suede – Live in the O2 Academy, Glasgow

March 16, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Words; The Ginger Quiff All Photos: Stuart Westwood (www.stuartwestwoodphotography.co,uk)

Could there be a better way of spending a dreich Tuesday night in Glasgow than watching one of the best live bands in the country (world?) entertain a fervent and captivated sold out Glasgow crowd? I think not, and I’m sure another satiated 2499 gig goers would voice their agreement having just witnessed a superlative performance, so transcendent it will be nigh on impossible to surpass this year. Any year …

I first saw Suede live in King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in October 1992, a performance that left me gobsmacked, in no small way impacted by the antics of their engaging frontman, not just an extraordinary vocalist but a performer in the truest sense of the word.… Read the rest

SELF ESTEEM – live in Glasgow Barrowland

March 13, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

It felt like a shame that I come from a household of women and I was the only member of said household witnessing the phenomenon that is Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem and her gang rip the roof from the famous Barrowland Ballroom last week. An inspirational role model for women everywhere, and appearing in Glasgow during the week of International Women’s Day, when we can all come together to celebrate inspiring women the world over. I’d waited a long time for this moment, having had tickets twice before to see her in Glasgow only to miss out on both occasions due to work.… Read the rest

Carol Hodge – Vertiginous Drops – album review and interview

March 10, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

As I write these words, it is International Women’s Day, what better way to celebrate than to listen to one of this countries best singer songwriters, Carol Hodge, and her latest long player Vertiginous Drops (best album title I’ve heard in ages too), quite possibly her most accomplished and varied work to date, as she takes her music and songs in different directions and calls upon some well known guests on a few tracks.

I also had the opportunity to talk to my namesake ahead of the official release of the album across streaming sites this week (the physical copies – CDs and vinyl – have been available direct from Carol since the end of last year) where we chatted about taking the plunge into being a full time musician, the new album and song-writing.… Read the rest