Sister John - The Ginger Quiff

The Bathers, The Cowboy Mouth & Sister John – live in the GUU Debating Chamber

October 28, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The second “grown ups” gig of the week, this time in the impressive surroundings of the GUU Debating Chamber, a first for me, and the third in a triumvirate of gigs featuring the classy trio of Sister John, The Cowboy Mouth and, celebrating the release of the astounding new album Sirenesque, The Bathers.

This time the turn of kicking off what was to be a very special night indeed was down to the multi-talented Sister John, who never fail to impress. Tonight was no different as they treated the gathered throng of music fans to their unique brand of laidback folky rock that takes in all the best bits of the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Velvet Underground, and everything in between, some 60s psychedelia, some tasty Neil Young riffs… As usual I was mesmerised throughout, the soothing effect of their music creating an overall feeling of well-being, especially on Over Again washing away the stresses of the working week. … Read the rest

The Bathers, Sister John & The Cowboy Mouth – LNFG triple bill – live review

May 29, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

This was the second weekend in a row I took in a triple bill of Last Night From Glasgow acts, having been wowed the previous Friday by the album launch show for Slime City in the excellent St Luke’s and the Winged Ox venue, a gig also featuring bis and Casual Worker.

Converted churches seem to be order of the day, this time round Websters Theatre in the city’s West End hosting the trio of Graham Skinner and Douglas McIntyre’s The Cowboy Mouth, the band who have the prestige of being LNFG’s first album release, Sister John and, as I once saw them billed, a seminal Glasgow band, The Bathers.… Read the rest

22 for ’22 (re-visited)

December 19, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

At the end of 2021/start of 2022 I posted a blog about 22 bands/gigs/records I was looking forward to in 2022. I thought I’d have a quick look back on this before I consider the 23 for ’23 blog…

The Courettes

I’m not sure I can say anything about The Courettes that I’ve not said before. Their gig in McChuills certainly did not disappoint and with an album of B-sides and outtakes from the wonderful Back in Mono album to keep us going until the next album proper, the hardest working band in music ticked the boxes once again. Fabulous. Until the next time…

The Courettes – McChuills – The Courettes – Back in Mono (Outtakes & B Sides)

Run Into the Night/Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something

I had been looking forward to the double header from the Glasgow duet and the remarkable Jemma Freeman and her band for ages, and with good reason.… Read the rest

Return to Returned from Sea – Sister John live in the Glad Cafe

September 24, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

glad (adjective) “feeling pleasure or happiness”

I have to say that after a few weeks of feeling little pleasure or happiness, last night, The Glad Cafe was an appropriately named venue for the fifth birthday celebration of Returned from Sea, the gloriously emotional debut album from Sister John. Nights like this should be available on prescription. the power that live music can have over me cannot be emphasised enough.

I think I can be fairly sure I’m not just speaking for myself when I say how special this night was. A quick scan around the venue during Sister John’s set and I observing rapt faces entirely transfixed by the perfect performance from the effortlessly cool quartet of Jonathan (complete with broken finger), Amanda, Sophie and Heather.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up Part 8 – August 2022

September 5, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Another month passes, and another cracking bunch of singles passes through Ginger Quiff towers… new bands, old bands, new songs, classic cover versions… you name it, it’s here. If you feel so inclined, share this blog and share some love for these songs. There is a link below to a Spotify playlist…(I know… I hate Spotify too). Follow the bands, buy their music.

The Fades – You Follow Me Around

The latest single to be released from forthcoming album, Night Terrors, is this boisterous garage rock romp with Dave writing & singing about what on the face of it seems to be about dealing with a cat that can’t leave him alone from the moment he walks through the door, I think all cat owners can relate to that, especially anyone that had to work from home during COVID.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up Part 7 – July 2022

July 30, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m ahead of the game this month for a change, the round up published before the month ends!. As usual, some absolute belters again this month. I’, especially enjoying Rabbit Heart and looking forward to Collars album coming soon…

Pizza Crunch – Wilting Youth

They’ve gone from Young Excitement to Wilting Youth. I know my youth is well and truly wilted… but inside I’m still 19, and listening to the constant stream of top quality singles from Glasgow’s Pizza Crunch helps keep me that way. Well, most of the time… Wilting Youth is the latest in a long line of their infectious post-punk tinged singles.… Read the rest

Sister John and The Bluebells – Last Night From Glasgow – CCA – Live review

May 8, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

The oft rescheduled second night of the Last Night From Glasgow double header of Sister John/The Bluebells finally took place last night, and boy was it worth the wait.

The return to live music was apparent across the city with gigs ranging from The Monochrome Set to Vlure, When Rivers Meet to Dead Pony and Atom Age, and not one but two LNFG double headers, the other being St Dukes and The Muldoons in Stereo.

This time around it was The Bluebells kicking off the evening, one which saw both bands on fire both musically and with their on stage banter with the crowd.… Read the rest

22 for ‘22

January 6, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

In no particular order…22 bands I’m looking forward to hearing more from, albums I’m looking forward to getting my grubby mitts on, and gigs or tours I’m looking forward to attending (fingers and toes crossed) in 2022

1. The Courettes

The band that never rests is already looking ahead to what’s next. Not one’s to rest on their laurels or take a well earned break after an ecstatically received album in Back in Mono, supported by 71 dates across 9 countries, Martin and Flavia have already been in the studio laying down tracks for their follow up. Let’s hope for some more UK dates this year, Back in Mono (live in Mono!)… Read the rest

The Bluebells and Sister John – live in the CCA

December 13, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

My penultimate gig of 2021, and my final Last Night From Glasgow double header extravaganza of the year was a pretty special night that will live long in the memory featuring the first band to re-release a classic album on the Past Night From Glasgow offshoot, Glasgow legends, The Bluebells, and the band who released my favourite LNFG release of 2021, the quite simply magnificent Sister John.

With the year threatening to end as it began thanks to Omicron and rumours of coming restrictions, there was both an sense of foreboding mixed with a n element of relief that the gig was going ahead at all, albeit with a reduced capacity.… Read the rest

Review of the the Year – The Best of 2021

December 9, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

Yet another bumper year for new releases by new artists, classic re-issues and comebacks from some old favourites.

Despite what the salivating broadcasters and media will have you believe, there was so much more to the year than a new album by A****e, the banality of which didn’t even register on the gingerquiff seismograph such was its insignificance in the shadow of so much in the way of superb and exciting music that moved me. (Yes, I know she has a great voice, but oh so dull).

Anyway, no more focussing on negatives, There were so many remarkable albums this year that, once again, I can’t narrow them down to my ten favourites, so before I run down my Top 10 albums of the year, here are those…

In 11th Place (in no particular order)…

It was so hard to leave anyone out this year, I have loved records by so many wonderful and diverse bands and artists.… Read the rest