The Ginger Quiff - Musings on music and mental health

Baby Shakes – Live, The Flying Duck, Glasgow

July 18, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I love a good gig, and usually have a few to look forward to weeks or months in advance. There is something to be said though for Impromptu gig nights. The other night in Glasgow was a case in point.

I’d seen the Baby Shakes gig advertised and had swithered whether I should go, mid-week, last few days before I’m off for a couple of weeks so busy at work. I’d unconsciously put a mental x against it as one of those, I’d like to go, but I’ll stay in.

Of course, if that had been the case, there wouldn’t have been much more to write about.… Read the rest

Curdle – Curdle -Album Review

July 16, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Not officially a “new” album as such, but as the album has just earned itself a vinyl release on Double A Side Records (having appeared on the wonderful Play it Like a Woman compilation), now is as good a time as any to revel in my love of the music of Curdle. A band who seem to announce a new live date every couple of days, and I can never get to any of them … as I keep saying, maybe next time.

I first came across the band when they supported Dead Hope in Glasgow’s Old Hairdressers and fell in love with the dark but uplifting racket they made, making sure I purchased the album on its release.… Read the rest

Bubblegum Lemonade – Desperately Seeking Sunshine – album review

July 11, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Having made mention of The Martial Arts on a recent blog and Paul Kelly’s welcome return with 4 glorious tracks on the I Use to be… EP, it would be remiss of me not to feature another stalwart of the Scottish indie-pop scene.

Bubblegum Lemonade

So, here’s to the multi-talented Laz McCluskey of Bubblegum Lemonade fame. It has now been several months since the band’s latest album Desperately Seeking Sunshine landed, but on the evidence of the 12 sun-kissed tracks on offer here, you don’t have too far to look. And thankfully the cantankerous Madonna is nowhere to be seen.

Laz has hit a fruitful vein of creativity on this, his latest release in a long line on the Matinee Recordings label.… Read the rest

An Eclectic Cornucopia of Charismatic Congenial Creations to Charm and Captivate

July 10, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

There are several tracks/singles and EPs that I have been sitting on for a while or I’ve just received that been enjoying recently

Katherine Aly

Starting with the sublime Katherine Aly. The Skin I’m Made Of is an achingly beautiful piano driven ballad. Aly has a beautifully distinctive voice, crisp and clear with no warbling affectations and the song reaches the parts other vocalists can’t reach. Some may have been lucky enough to catch her recently as I believe she supported Goodbye Mr MacKenzie in Dundee. I hope to hear a lot more from her in future.

The Martial Arts

Next up is stalwart of the Scottish indie scene, Paul Kelly, returning with The Martial Arts.… Read the rest

A Beautiful Night Out – Therapy? & The Levellers in Kelvingrove

July 3, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Another West End evening

Sunday night and I found myself Kelvingrove bound for the second time in a week.

Having experienced a couple of days that hadn’t quite gone to plan up until then, I was hoping for a positive end to the weekend. Great company was a good omen for starters, and despite the Glasgow summer being as unpredictable as the next gig announcement in a year of pleasant surprises so far, it looked like the rain would hold off.

Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble was playing an acoustic support set as we stood shooting the breeze while waiting outside for a ticket to arrive.… Read the rest

The Wildhearts, Terrorvison & Gun live

June 27, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

An unusual set of circumstances today, it was hot in the city. Taps aff weather if you will. And I was going to a gig in Kelvingrove Bandstand. I’ve been to several of these before, and despite the summer dates, I have battled biting cold, light drizzle and heavier showers. Not so tonight, maybe not quite the taps aff weather it had been earlier in the day but certainly t-shirt and no jacket weather.

Baby Chaos

It was an early start having three bands on the bill that could each have been headliners in their own right, plus support from Baby Chaos.… Read the rest

How Could Anyone Love Him?

June 24, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

How could anyone love him?

He looked in the mirror above the sink knowing the resultant reflection should scare him but reacting with complete indifference. He knew the person looking back at him only too well these days. Nothing shocked him. He didn’t think he had the ability to feel shock any longer.

A soulless gaunt face stared back at him. Ghostly hollow sunken eyes, ghastly pale sallow skin that looked as if it would break and fall away if anyone breathed near him let alone had the inclination to touch his cheek fondly.

Three weeks or so – maybe more, maybe less, he had forgotten – time was inconsequential – growth of facial hair was populating his face.… Read the rest

Rev Magnetic – Versus Universe – album review

June 21, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Luke Sutherland

Having loved the music of Luke Sutherland in his previous incarnations, Long Fin Killie especially, and devouring his novel Jelly Roll in one sitting, I was disappointed that I had allowed myself to lose touch with his musical career of late.

Thankfully, Rock Action labelmates, and kings of shoegaze, the mighty Swervedriver reacquainted me recently with Sutherland’s latest and, in my opinion his best, band, with Rev Magnetic providing the main support on their tour supporting Future Ruins.

Rock Action

I should take a moment to pause here and complement Rock Action on a quite phenomenal roster providing some of my favourite albums of last year and also 2019 to date – Swervedriver, Rev Magnetic, Twilight Sad, Katheryn Joseph, Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert, Sacred Paws to name a few – and of course label founders the mighty Mogwai themselves.… Read the rest

Membranes What Nature Gives...Nature Takes Away

The Membranes – What Nature Gives… album review

June 19, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Four Seasons for the punk generation

It took a while for me to find the right words to put to this review. On the first couple of listens I was totally blown away, lost for words.

You see, What Nature Gives…Nature Takes Away is far more than just an album. Like nature itself, it is profound and unstoppable, a Tour De Force, an irresistible masterpiece in four parts. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for the punk-goth generation if you like.

What The Membranes give…

It feels like the culmination of an entire life’s work, a cycle of life just like nature itself, it seems like the whole of The Membranes career has built to this overwhelming pinnacle.… Read the rest

Reaction – Keep It Weird, Keep It Wired – album launch review

June 17, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

It seemed a long time in coming but Saturday’s launch gig for the vinyl version of one of 2018’s standout albums and the SAY listed Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired.

McChuills

There was a buzz of anticipation around the excellent McChuills venue on Glasgow’s High Street and an opportunity to catch up with friends old and new over a few drinks in the relaxed and friendly bar ahead of the evenings festivities as the inimitable dapper gentleman that is the one and only Nicky Stewart warmed up the crowd with some punk classics on the decks.

Talking of dapper gents, the equally debonair Alex “Mainy” Main was manning the merchandise and as grabbed a couple of words with him, I noticed a piece of ReAction merchandise that I didn’t own.… Read the rest