I’ve missed far too many live gigs in Glasgow I had tickets for this year. Thankfully I managed to get to three in the past week, despite nearly blowing one out but relenting at the last minute.
Last Saturday I took my brother back to a venue he hadn’t visited since I dragged him along to an eye opener for him in the form of Agnostic Front at Audio. This time around it was for a night of rock n roll and rockabilly from The Hurricanes and The Jets. Cuttin’ a Rug had been playing too, however, we only managed to arrive when The Hurricanes were already in full flow.
It is scary to think The Jets have been around since the late 70’s and it was good to hear they have lost none of their verve and the three brothers still appear on stage in matching stage gear. You can’t go far wrong when you have a stand-up bass in your band, and in my opinion, the sound of rockabilly is ageless, a sound that can have everyone foot tappin’ along to the music regardless of age. Songs like early single Rockabilly Baby and Yes Tonight Josephine had the packed venue singing and dancing along in unison.
I’m probably going to be a bit controversial here and say I preferred the support set from local boys The Hurricanes. I take nothing away from the professionalism and musicianship of The Jets, its more to do with style preferences. The Jets are slick and with their harmonies, acapella and doo wop they most certainly know what they are doing. I think I just like my rockabilly sounds a bit more world weary if that makes sense, a bit dirtier, edgier, and affected by the dark side of life. The Hurricanes have that sort of sound to me, blowing up a storm whether they are covering the likes of Johnny Cash or Eddie Cochran, or singing their own compositions such as Rockabilly Hair, they have that rebellious/dangerous edge to them, and man can that boy slap a stand-up bass! Long live The Hurricanes.
Nae photies taken on Saturday!
As you will know if you read my blog, my music taste has no boundaries (well, maybe there are some places I wouldn’t go) but my second gig of the week was a very different beast, one which resulted in me taking a bit of a pasting from some quarters. But I feel no shame. I often get asked about musical guilty pleasures, and my responses is always the same. I don’t feel guilty about any of the music I listen to. If I love it. I’ll listen to it. I probably have a lot of music in my collection that may result in questioning looks and ridicule from others. Some would ask why I love Sugababes and detest bands like Oasis. To me, it’s a no brainer.
And so to Sugababes at the Academy, a venue I generally detest, but on Monday I couldn’t have cared less where I was. I was in the presence of the ORIGINAL Sugababes line up – Keisha, Mutya and Siobhan, and that was all that mattered. I do wish we had turned up a little later as we had to suffer some fucking awful banging dance music courtesy of support DJ. It made me remember why I hated nightclubs with a passion.
Anyway, the noise when the three took to the stage was deafening, I honestly don’t think I’ve heard a louder reception for a band there. And to think, I’d had the shittiest of Monday’s and was very close to calling my mate to say I wasn’t going… Opening with Push the Button and going on the play Red Dress, the scene was set for the night. It was great to have the original ‘babes back, and in top form.
The live backing band were shit hot too, providing some electrifying guitar solos to add to the mix. The crowd were happy to indulge the girls in playing some of their MKS songs from the time before they reclaimed their name! And why wouldn’t we when we were treated to a closing quartet of songs that included Overload, and the absolute bangers that are Round, Round and Freak Like Me. Things weren’t over though, as they returned to the stage and almost tore the roof off the venue with a storming version of About You Now.
That would probably been enough for most, but oh no, the week was not done.
On a night in Glasgow where homecoming heroes Franz Ferdinand were playing the Hydro (I can’t mention them without the support in the form of the mighty Los Bitchos) and Jim Bob brought his unique life observations to the Drygate, the only place for me was the Hug and Pint (a controversial venue it seems – one of my favourites in the city, but one not so loved by others) in the company of Sacred Noise and Millie Manders and the Shut Up, and a cast of what seemed like thousands in the tiny venue.
You will no doubt be fed up of my banging on about Sacred Noise if you have followed my posts this year, but I make no apology for bigging up this wonderful band. I’ve been lucky enough to follow the band since their inception online and their first gig earlier in the year, since then I’ve seen them play on at least half a dozen occasions. It has been like watching my child grow and flourish, every gig they play they grow in stature and confidence. Supporting Millie Manders was the best I’ve seen them so far, Kirstin resplendent in her new black hair, her vocals stronger than ever, Anna attacking her axe with venom and creating a noise like never before, while Sam and Robbie, as cool and laidback as ever, are such a tight and solid rhythm section. The band’s sound was harder and heavier than before tonight, and more atmospheric than ever on their slower/quieter moments, like the intro to one of my favourites by the band, Baby Doll and Second Skin. I was glad that when I spoke to a friend who has a long time connection with the music scene, and whose view I respect, highlighted Baby Doll as a turning point in the set for him. The band are currently recording songs for release in 2023. I strongly suggest you check them out now, as they are destined for greatness, their sound befitting of much larger venues than they are currently playing. Judging by the murmurings around me during their set and the cat calls at the end, they gained a good number of new fans at the gig.
All that and Millie Manders and the Shut Up still to come…
And what a band to finish my live music week on. To see this band in such a small, up close and personal venue was a pleasure and a privilege. Millie and Co should be playing to sold out stadiums all around the world. If the Interrupters can do it, why not? The band were off the scale good tonight, the Hug and Pint more packed on a Thursday night that I think I’ve ever seen it, with everyone lapping up everything the band had to offer. The band to an individual played out of their skins, guitar riffs that would have put Tom Morello to shame at points, a whirlwind of excess energy battering several shades of shit out of the drum kit and on bass, George I believe, giving everything a solid beat and rhythm and all whilst looking like the happiest individual I’ve ever come across. Not once did I see the grin disappear from her face.
Then there is Millie who worked the crowd all night long, encouraging chant a long/sing alongs throughout and engaging with the crowd perfectly between songs. The songs draw their influences wide range of styles – at their heaviest and angriest giving Rage Against the Machine a Run for their money, but always having an edge of energetic fun whether that is from pop punk or ska leanings, every single song has a message, but no matter how serious that message, the ultimate feeling you are left with is one of invigoration, excitement, happiness and a general sense of wellbeing. So many of Mille’s songs are personally relatable – Not Okay, Bacchus and Here We Go Again to name a few, and hearing them live is a reassurance that there are loads of people following a similar journey and we aren’t alone. I’ve said it many times before, which makes the number of gigs I’ve missed this year due to anxiety and mental health feel all the more ridiculous to me, live music is a tonic like no other to raise the Serotonin levels.
It was such a pleasure to witness this band in such a small and sweaty venue (though kudos to the Hug and Pint for the air con!), it won’t be too much longer that Millie Manders and the Shut Up will be playing dingy cellars, world domination is just around the corner. The queue of people waiting to buy merch and have a quick word of thanks with the band at the end is testament to that.
That was my live music week. As the phrase goes, a week is a long time in politics and as one vile Tory minister gets ejected from the cabinet and another for some reason is getting a free pass in the jungle, I say fuck watching the news and stupid reality shows, fuck doomscrolling, fuck the press and especially fuck the Tories and get off your arses and go out and support live music. You and your soul won’t regret it.
