The Ginger Quiff - Musings on music and mental health

Songs that Saved Your Life? Pt 1*

July 17, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

*Borrowing from lyrics from Rubber Ring by The Smiths, and a book by Simon Goddard with the same name.

“The passing of time
And all of its sickening crimes
Is making me sad again
But don’t forget the songs
That made you cry
And the songs that saved your life
Yes, you’re older now
And you’re a clever swine
But they were the only ones who ever stood by you”

My experiences in the last few weeks have inspired me to write a (currently undetermined) series of blogs covering some of the albums that, without being too over dramatic, played a part in saving my life.… Read the rest

Live Music – The Best Bad (Good) Influence…

July 10, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

This is a post I started writing earlier, but the outcome has changed as a result of today’s activity…

Rollercoaster of Emotions

I’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster for the last few weeks, experiencing some of the highest highs and the lowest lows I’ve felt in a long time from a mental health perspective.

Yesterday I finished delivering a two week induction training course in Perth for 10 new starts, and I’m now emotionally and physically drained after two weeks of putting my heart and soul entirely into work. I’m glad to say the actual training was an entirely positive experience, with the odd left field issue thrown in to test me.… Read the rest

Tom McGuire & the Brassholes – Interview

July 4, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Tom McGuire & the Brassholes have recently released a couple of top quality soul funk singles and on the eve(ish) of their gig this Thursday at the Euro Championships fan-zone in Glasgow Green, I had to the opportunity to pose Mr McGuire some questions.

Oh Savanna

The Ginger Quiff: You’ve returned recently with a brace of stunning singles, most recently Oh Savanna, and prior to that Super Solid Soul Vehicle. I read that Oh Savanna was based on a meeting with a real person, and Super Solid Soul Vehicle is inspired by the wonderful Bill Withers. Tell us more about the story behind Savanna.… Read the rest

Daniel Wylie’s Cosmic Rough Riders – Atoms and Energy – album review

July 1, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Last Night From Glasgow’s Hive imprint is home to yet another sublime pop masterpiece in the shape of Daniel Wylie’s Cosmic Rough Riders latest long player, Atoms and Energy. Mr Wylie has pulled it out of the bag once again with this collection of ten bewitchingly charming and perfectly formed melodic treasures.

This man’s knack for writing an addictive song grabbed me from the off, nearly wearing new grooves on both sides of The Thieves single Talk Your Head Off/The Party and feeling aggrieved when an album never surfaced with a release of one of my live favourites at the time, Star Spangled Banner.… Read the rest

Monica Queen – Thrum/Tenement & Temple – Interview

June 20, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Anyone who has heard the stunning vocal talents of the one and only Monica Queen will rush to tell you she is one of Scotland’s brightest talents. With such an extraordinarily dynamic and unique voice, I guarantee that once heard, she is never forgotten.

From bands like the wonderful Thrum and Moni, through collaborations and supergroups such as Belle and Sebastian’s Lazy Line Painter Jane and the remarkable Gracious Losers, and recent albums with bandmate and partner, the equally talented and in demand guitar slinger Johnny Smillie, such as the astonishing and affecting Tenement and Temple album, she can put her voice to anything.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 Part 6

June 6, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Here it is, Singles Round Up 2021 Part 6 – since I published Part 5, the quality songs just keep coming this year, and that is only the ones I am just about keeping up with. For every superb song I manage to listen to, I’ve probably deleted a handful of e-mails that may have contained another cracker.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again -don’t let anyone ever tell you that there are no good new bands or new music out there. If that sis what you think, you’re just too damn lazy to find it…

Here are a selection of the songs I’ve been enjoying of late.… Read the rest

Jim McCulloch – When I Mean What I Say – album review

June 1, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve never had the good fortune to meet Jim McCulloch, but I’m willing to bet he’d be one of life’s good guys. I’m also willing to bet that the vast majority of music fans will own or love at least one song featuring the talents of McCulloch the maestro in their collection. Whether they know it or not.

I may be wrong, but he gives the impression of being a quiet unassuming genius who just loves creating and playing music. Keeping his head just under the parapet focussing on what he loves and producing some timeless, unforgettable records in the process.… Read the rest

We’ll be coming, we’ll be coming…

June 1, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

…when you hear the noise of the Cundeez and Rudebeard boys, we’ll be coming down the road.

Remember the old days, remember the O’Jays… no, I’m going down the wrong cut de sac here. Remember in your youth (if you are of a certain vintage) when Scotland qualified for competitions with clockwork regularity? Only to crash out to some minnows in the group stages right enough, but qualified none the less.

Even if you weren’t a football fan, you knew we’d qualified. Who can forget being on the march wi’ Ally’s Army and Andy Cameron in 1978 when we all thought we were really going to come home from Argentina as trophy winners only for our dreams to be crushed.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 5

May 12, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Mirroring last weekend, I’ve spent all the time my body can manage doing manual labour in the garden, so I’m back to trying to empty my inbox of the influx of e-mails that show no sign of abating.

As before, not reviews as such, more just a round up of singles, tracks or demos that have stuck their heads above the parapet and caught my attention. Where available, I’ve added them to The Ginger Quiff 2021 playlist on Spotify featuring all the bands/albums that have appeared on the blog (or in reviews I’ve done for Louder Than War) this year.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 4

May 3, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

I find it virtually impossible to keep up with the volume of new music that fills my inbox on a daily basis. I would love to say I had time to listen to everything, but there aren’t enough hours in the day. If only I didn’t have to work to pay the bills.

Anyway, here is the latest round up of some of the singles and demos that I have managed to listen to and enjoyed, tunes that have caught my attention in the last few weeks. Seeing as it is a hideous, rainy bank holiday Monday, I am taking a welcome break from digging up the garden to pull them all together in one place.… Read the rest