Brenda

24 (and a bit) for ’24

December 31, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

When I started doing this little feature a few years ago, I didn’t consider having to add another to the list each year… but hey, there is plenty to look forward to already in 2024, new bands, older bands returning, albums, singles, re-releases and gigs. In no particular order, but starting with the earliest one in the calendar…

Tina Sandwich and Sister Madds – Already having produced one of my favourite single sof both of the last 2 years, Tina Sandwich were part of the line up at my first gig of 2023 at King Tuts New Years Revolution. On 6th of January Tina’s back at the same venue but this time as headliner!

… Read the rest

Albums of the Year 2023

December 30, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Before I list my favourite “Albums of the Year 2023”, an apology.

I have been inundated this year with new music, new albums, requests for reviews and features. First, I’m happy that there is so much great music out there and that I’m party to being able to hear and share that new music, but secondly, a huge apology to many bands and artists whose music I’ve loved and planned to review/feature but it hasn’t happened. I’d love nothing more than to spend my life listening to and writing about music (and the book I keep meaning to finish), but that doesn’t pay the bills.… Read the rest

Singles of the Year 2023

December 28, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

I have no idea how John Peel narrowed songs down to a Festive 50 every year, he must have received 1000 times the number of songs I receive on a yearly basis. Maybe if I did a Singles of the Year 2023 blog again tomorrow or the next day, things would change slightly as I think of another song that needs to be included, as in the singles round-ups (links to all the round ups of the year at the foot of the blog) I must have listed between 400 and 500 songs this year, another bumper year for new music.… Read the rest

Parallels & Brenda – Live in Nice ‘n’ Sleazy

October 18, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

*All photographs courtesy of Christopher Hogge Photography*

Early week/Monday night gigs in the middle of the month in Glasgow are notoriously a bit of a risk, and so it may have initially seemed in Nice n Sleazy on the first weekday night of the school mid term autumn break, with a pretty sparse turn out scattered around the venue as support band Brenda’s stage time arrived.

Is that something that bothered the fierce Glasgow trio? Absolutely not. Brenda give not one fuck, they are going to enjoy themselves whatever day of the week it is and regardless of who is there to witness it.… Read the rest

Water Machine & Brenda – FREE live gigs in Glasgow

August 11, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

How often does it happen, Water Machine & Brenda, two of the best new bands in ~~Glasgow~~, ~~Scotland~~, ~~the UK~~, ~~Europe~~, nay, strike all that, make that two of the best new bands in the WORLD both playing celebratory sets on the same day, in the same city, both FREE and at separate locations – and what’s more, I could get to them both! Mind you it would be difficult for them to play simultaneously due to one common denominator… more of that later.

Hot off the heels of their triumphant album launch in The Glad Café, and a spot at the Lost Map Howlin’ Fling on Eigg (I didn’t make it, but my tent did…), Brenda continued their celebrations of the release of a truly remarkable album at a packed-out George Square.… Read the rest

Brenda – Live in The Glad Cafe (with R.Aggs)

July 30, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

I think I’ve probably been looking forward to this gig since I interviewed the band in The Bell Jar in February (link here) when we shot the breeze about the band coming together, their name, video shoots in LA and of course their forthcoming debut album.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Hogge (Chis Hogge Photography)

I’ve seen the band live on several occasions since then, but The Glad Cafe, being the official release of their self titled debut album (reviewed here), was set to be something special. Which ultimately is exactly how it turned out, a gathering of like minded individuals in a fabulous, intimate venue ready to celebrate the music of one of Scotland’s hottest new bands. … Read the rest

Brenda – Brenda – debut album review

July 12, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Glasgow is awash with new music talent these days, at the forefront of the bands trading their wares comes the unique synth sounds of Brenda. To avoid any confusion, Brenda is a band, not a person, the coming together of the wonderfully unconventional trio of Litty, Apsi and Flore (also a member of another of the bands at the forefront of the current crop of extraordinary bands mined from this particularly giving seam – Water Machine).

While not exactly shrinking violets or introverted wallflowers, the band are modest in their own descriptions of their talents and musicianship, but in the opinion of this listener, their debut album is up there amongst my favourites of the year to date.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2023 – Part 6 – June

July 1, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

June singles round up featuring some of the best new music around including joint “Singles of the Month” by the mighty Water Machine, Brenda, Bin Juice and KEELEY

I’m afraid time is not currently my friend, so like the May round up…. only just published in July…. There are no write ups of the songs featured.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t listened to all of them. After all, none of them would be here if I didn’t love them all …

Hopefully my time management will improve and normal service will be resumed in July

Water Machine – Water Machine Pt.

… Read the rest

Brenda – live in the Hug and Pint with Hound and Pozi

June 3, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

In a typical turn of events in the Glasgow gig world, I could have been in (at least) two places at once tonight with two of Glasgow’s best new(ish) bands playing at the same time in different parts of the city. I’d bought a ticket to see Brenda supporting Pozi in The Hug and Pint before Junk Pups announced they were supporting Sister Madds at their single launch in Nice n Sleazy. I did do some research on the possibilities of seeing both, but time travel isn’t yet a thing…

Let’s just say, the Glasgow music scene is in fine fettle with bands like Junk Pups and Brenda winning new followers every day alongside bands like Watermachine, Tina Sandwich, Sacred Noise, Brontes, Big Girls Blouse, Pizza Crunch, Casual Worker, Pedalo, Parliamo, Static, Bin Juice, the aforementioned Sister Madds, Dark Amadeus’s and Goodbody to name a few.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2023 – Part 4 – April

April 29, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Four months into 2023 and the new music keeps coming thick and fast, so much to listen to, so much to love. As usual, there is the evil Spotify playlist at the end, try then buy….

Lambrini Girls – Lads, Lads, Lads

Ahead of the release of their EP, You’re Welcome, comes single number three from feisty punks Lambrini Girls, this time tackling the subject of lad culture and toxic masculinity with great gusto, venting their spleen with impassioned fury. Be sure to catch them when they play The Hug and Pint in June, and if you’re going south for Iggy’s Dog Day Afternoon, get their early to see them.… Read the rest