Duncan Reid and the Big Heads

Duncan Reid – And It’s Goodbye From Him – Interview

August 6, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

This past weekend Duncan Reid & the Big Heads will have played their final gigs at Rebellion, with their final hurrah following on the 7th October in The Lexington, to mark the release of the glorious final album And It’s Goodbye From Him. I caught up with Duncan recently when we started off chatting about the 17 year old “Kid” Reid joining The Boys, all the way through to the new, and many would say best, Duncan Reid and the Big Heads album.

Kid Reid & The Boys

The Ginger Quiff: Before we start talking about the new album (And Its Goodbye From Him), we’ll take a look back to when it all first began, tell me about the first time you picked up a bass guitar and what was it like being involved as a 17-year-old, joining ex members of London SS and Hollywood Brats at the early days of the punk scene?… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 – Part 11

October 10, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Another bumper batch of singles, demoes, or tracks that have somehow made their way into my slightly detached world . I’ve been trying desperately to keep on top of all the new releases and singles that keep catching my eye/ear, evidently I am only human and there are loads I’ve missed, and some probably included here that have been out for a while but I’m only getting my lugs around them now.

As always, these are in no particular order and where available, they’ve been added to the Ginger Quiff 2021 Playlist.

First up, its a bittersweet song…

The Jazz Butcher – Time

Many of us will have been shocked and saddened by the sudden passing this week of one of independent music’s most highly respected and talented free spirits in The Jazz Butcher iconoclast himself, Pat Fish.… Read the rest

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads Don't Blame Yourself

Duncan Reid & the Big Heads – Don’t Blame Yourself -album review

May 16, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Every now and again in your chequered and bumpy journey through life, there are special bands that come along. Ones that help you along that road, helping to smooth the bumps, to make the uphill parts of that journey a bit less exhausting and carry you across the massive potholes and dodge the unexpected sinkholes.

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads is one of those bands.

When music is such a massive part of your life, you have unbounded admiration, even love, for loads of bands, many of them holding a special place in your heart, and you attend countless gigs filling your life with the sights and sounds that bring you pleasure, it is a nigh on impossible task to pick favourites.… Read the rest

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads, Reaction & Powderkeg – Live in Glasgow

November 19, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Music is good for the soul

Music is good for your very being, listening to some of your favourite music in a live environment does make a difference.

There is an element of unfairness here. So many creative, artistic people are struck by mental health illness yet music itself has the ability to lift the soul and raise the spirits. It certainly forms an important part in keeping my body and soul together. Granted it is not the only thing, but without it, there would be a black hole…

If Carlsberg made Friday night gigs in Glasgow…

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads would be headlining, with Airdrie late 70’s punk legends Reaction and young rock stars in the making PowderKeg…

Oh, wait…

Substitute Mainy for Carlsberg and the dream becomes a reality.… Read the rest

Reaction – Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired: Album review and some…

November 6, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Airdrie – So Much to Answer For…

I didn’t think I would see myself focussing so much of my leisure time on the outputs of the Lanarkshire town of Airdrie.

Airdrie. A town I don’t know much about, apart from it being home to a few friends, the Diamonds (Airdrieonians FC) and that one of its famous landmarks is something I remember hearing about on the radio and TV from my youth, the Blackhill transmitter.

Interesting fact fans. Airdrieonians FC are the first football team in the World to have a fans group as the main sponsor of their kit. Life-long Airdrie fan Mark Allison’s image appeared on the shirts having tragically died from pancreatic cancer aged only 49.… Read the rest

The Vapors – Live in the Bungalow Bar, Paisley. 1st July 2018

July 2, 2018 By neilho27@sky.com

Paisleys burning…

What a way to round off a smouldering hot weekend.

Another scorcher. The weather? Well yes, it was. The scorcher to which I’m referring though was another all-conquering night of entertainment in Paisley’s famous Bungalow Bar.

The Vapors blazed a trail though their back catalogue with barely a chance to take breath. Granted, with the heat outside and in the venue, there wasn’t much of an opportunity to draw breath. I reckon even without the weather I’d be wiping the sweat from my brow at the end of this blistering gig.

WHT TH FCK S TRSMT?

As half of Glasgow seemed to be heading to enjoy the sunshine on Glasgow Green for Arctic Monkeys only festival appearance this year.… Read the rest