Wednesday 30 October 2013

ALBUM REVIEW: Deerheart - Blood Relatives

Blood Relatives' debut album 'Deerheart' is a 10-song, 38-minute pop tour-de-force. Here they showcase their ability to perform pop anthems and to write with striking lyrical genius.

Title track and lead single 'Deerheart' appears early in the album and is the perfect introduction to the debut. Lead vocalist Anna Meldrum shines through in the whole album but major credit should go to her on this one, and it is, like the rest, lyrically strong. 

For what might be considered a short album, it manages to make great impact and will stick with the listener long after first, and subsequent, listens. It is the kind of album that requests, nay demands, multiple listens and will improve your winter with the summery sounds. There's plenty of toe-tapping to be had throughout the length of the album and it's sure to be a big hit on the Scottish scene, and hopefully beyond.

Making a fresh start in 2013 as Blood Relatives is likely to lead this band to bigger and better things. This debut album has a great deal of promise and so much to love that I cannot see anything but a bright future, filled with their bright poppy tracks. I, for one, will certainly be listening for a long time.

'Deerheart' is available now on Comets and Cartwheels

Monday 28 October 2013

GIG REVIEW: Blood Relatives Album Launch 26.10.2013

The blog took a little holiday recently, whilst I also took a little holiday to the States, and so this Saturday was first review gig back and it was hosted once again by the excellent Comets and Cartwheels.

Taking place at the newly (re-)opened Bar & Fly on Clyde Street was the Blood Relatives 'Deerheart' album launch. The new Barfly, in the exact spot of the old one, has had a makeover but wants to offer the same exciting nightlife as before. However there is a problem here, the newly positioned stage on the main bar level stands right in front of the bar itself meaning all punters watching to watch the bands are forced to stand around the bar, blocking off an area that everyone would want easy access to and not allowing anyone a properly full view of the show. It's disappointing for a venue that was so well renowned in its original form, and helped launch so many bands. I certainly wouldn't rush to see a band there again, though the sound was great on the night, even from the back of the room away from the stage.

Support on the night comes from Kill the Waves and Pronto Mama, who amply warm up an ever-growing crowd before the headliners take the stage just after 10pm. Blood Relatives follow the long line of bands in 2013 who have risen from the ashes of a previous band (in this case Kitty the Lion) with a new look and new sound. The refreshed band bring so much energy and likability that it makes for a wonderful atmosphere on the night. Hampered a few times by the loud club downstairs, another strike against the new Barfly, the band perform their new album almost in full for the packed out crowd, who received the album with the price of their ticket in. All in all it makes for a wonderful deal and a great night of music. Blood Relatives start as they mean to go on with bright tunes that you can dance to and that stay with you long after the gig has ended. They can only build on this early success and have a bright future ahead of them.

'Deerheart' is released on Comets and Cartwheels today. An album review will be posted shortly. 

Thursday 5 September 2013

ALBUM REVIEW: Breaks & Bone - RM Hubbert

Fresh off a SAY Award winning second album, RM Hubbert returns with his third release which sees him once again return to his solo guitar roots. Running at thirty six minutes for ten tracks, it is short and sweet but a gentle reminder how extremely talented Hubby is.

The album is made up of striking instrumentals that rival anything else released this year, as well the inclusion of Hubbert's vocals on each consecutive track. The strength of the album, for me, is definitely the instrumental tracks. It is joyous to see what one single man, his guitar and a few other DIY elements can produce. Music is a very strong medium for telling stories and Hubby is one of the best storytellers Scotland has.

'Feedback Loops', one of the tracks to include Hubby's vocals, is also a highlight. Lyrically, it is a beautiful track and the softness of his voice only lends to this, as well the usually stunning guitar. This is a track that will certainly stick with the listener long after you've played through the album. Definitely a standout track of the year, let alone this album.

This album could very well lead to the first repeat winner of the SAY Award as it is so strong, and so unique. A completely different album from its predecessor and yet one that has all the elements to reproduce its success. RM Hubbert can shine completely in his own light here and he absolutely deserves to. An incredible talent who has produced his third incredible album. 

'Breaks & Bone' is released September 27th on Chemikal Underground

Monday 2 September 2013

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Doune the Rabbit Hole 2013

Now in its fourth year, Doune the Rabbit Hole is bucking a trend that has seen small, boutique festivals bite the dust in the last few years. Moving to a new location and taking place on the Cardross Estate in Stirlingshire, the festival was also hoping to move past the troubles of years past and having heard some scare stories of last year’s festival, I was prepared for the worst when I left on Thursday afternoon. Thankfully though, things were running much more smoothly this year and the festival went off with very few hitches.

Opening up the festival on the first evening to the early arrivals were Honey and the Herbs with their lounge psych instrumentals on the Jabber Wocky stage. Their tunes are the right mix between soft and funky to warm the crowds up for who are to follow. The festival, being on a small site, worked with a staggered schedule between their two main stages – Jabber Wocky and Baino – meaning there was less noise over noise (though there were still issues with the Inspire stage having loud music almost drowning out quieter bands on Jabber Wocky). The Fast Camels opened up the Baino stage for the weekend with their power-pop show and gain new fans aplenty with their stage banter and funky tunes. But they were not to be the funkiest band to play the evening as Orkestra Del Sol closed the Jabber Wocky stage on the first night with a powerhouse show, leading the crowd in a mass polka and leaving everyone with smiles on their faces as they headed back to the campsite, or the bar.

The festival site opens fully on Friday morning allowing punters to sample more stages, stalls and installations. There were ample activities to keep the kids busy at the Kids Area, and all your possible alcoholic needs were served by the main bar, Cairn O’Mohr wines bar and the Jeremiah Weed truck. And the lovely people at Jeremiah Weed also brought with them a table tennis set and the Liverpudlian band, Man Get Out. The latter band weren’t to be found on any schedules or listings but prove to be a great find.

The first day of the festival has many highlights and interesting stories, from bands playing in honour of deceased past members (Lady Bird Killers on Inspire stage) and the loud and proud catchy hooks that only We Are The Physics could provide. I was a bit disappointed to not find Esperi on the Inspire stage at the scheduled time, with no notice of any changes but this proved to be the only real scheduling disruption I found over the weekend. Rick Redbeard plays melancholy folk to bring us all down (his words) on the Baino mid-afternoon, and his songs prove to be even more powerful live. He is an early contender for highlight of the festival, quickly followed (in the standings and on the schedule) by Meursault on the Jabber Wocky. The Baino stage is packed out for PAWS’ rock show on Friday evening and their energetic show is exactly what we need to send us further on into the night. Miaoux Miaoux are the days main stage headliner and their synthy pop gets the crowd dancing the entire hour and even longer as the festival continues into the night. The Baino stage runs right into the early hours and before calling it a night for day one, I was able to see the stunning Trembling Bells put on a powerful show perfectly suited for this time of the evening.

The second full day of the festival begins with an early afternoon dance party in the Baino provided by Bar Room Crawl’s apocalyptic funk. It was impossible not to be caught up in it and they certainly started the day off right. The Baino also played home to Beerjacket’s heartfelt songs and strong vocal, as well as Stealing Sheep’s soft-pop that packs the tent and spills out into the main arena. It is one of the biggest crowds of the entire weekend. But the highlight of the Baino’s schedule was the return of The John Knox Sex Club, who prove to be as tight a live band as they were before their hiatus and frankly if you weren’t excited about their return at this festival then you missed out. Getting a hug from lead singer Sean Cumming during their final number is one of my favourite things that happened over the whole weekend. Meanwhile over at the Jabber Wocky, Washington Irving brought their strong live show and folky vibes for the mid afternoon and noted that this was a special show for them as it’s their last live show for the next three months. Panda Su’s soft pop gathers a crowd of young to old on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The Monochrome Set bring their post-punk show for the early evening and the revelers are more than ready to party hard by this time. There was a three-way clash at 10pm on this day with Nevada Base’s stripped back set at the Fruit Stand stage, The John Langan Band on the Inspire a night after having played the Jabber Wocky but with a crowd of as many or more people to enjoy their folk for all and Clinic’s noise rock to close out the Jabber Wocky for the day. They are the first band to properly pull a crowd close to the main stage and they put on a complete performance that everyone will remember well beyond the weekend itself. Doune being a small festival, I was able to catch parts of all three sets in this clash and see all the bands I wanted. However my Saturday highlight had to be when I was walking the site looking for a band to fill a free hour and came across an impromptu drum jam at the big tree in back area of the site. Musicians on the site as well as revelers made up the twenty or so strong drum band, seeing everyone from kids to seasoned musicians playing together on site is definitely my favourite thing I witnessed all weekend and certainly something you would not see at a bigger festival. Small festivals has a special atmosphere all of their own.

I begin my Sunday at the Inspire stage watching young Charlotte Brimmer who performed original songs with her beautiful vocals. She proves to be a brilliant raw talent and will hopefully go onto bigger and better things in a few years time. The Inspire stage also played host to The Rag’n’Bone Man’s one-man guitar and drum show, which shows a level of talent and showmanship I was unaware it was possible for one person to wield. It was an incredible show and I must thank Mark from The Girobabies for the recommendation to catch him. Jo Mango brings her heartfelt alt-folk to the Jabber Wocky on the last afternoon, playing tunes for the crowd enjoying a sunbathe and a sleep with soft vocals and easy listening tunes as the perfect backing. Following on from Jo was Randolph’s Leap with their indie-pop show fitting in perfectly with the summer’s day and going down a treat with the afternoon revelers. Hidden Masters’ good old rock’n’roll show gathers a large appreciative crowd in the early evening before Samba Sien & Diwan provide funky African beats that get the crowd dancing in ways that only such delightful and soothing tunes could. For a second headliner band on the final day of the festival, they are a wild card choice but prove to right in with the festival atmosphere and are exactly what we need on the final night. The Jabber Wocky’s final band for the weekend is the excellent Horn Dog Brass Band. It was an absolute joy to see a brass band with such incredible showmanship and originality headline a Scottish festival, and I wish this happened more often. They certainly deserve to be playing to bigger crowds. Sunday was the day where I spent a lot of time at the Fruit Stand stage at the back of the arena, with its intimate offering some highlights on this day alone. Banana Sessions, another recommendation from Mark of The Girobabies, get the early evening slot and they are perfect summer festival music from talented musicians that gather a crowd in and around the Fruit Stand. Siobhan Wilson’s set could have easily been hampered by a power cut at the stage but instead turns into a totally memorable experience as the talented singer resorts to going fully acoustic for two songs whilst the equipment is fixed, and these two songs have such power and beauty that I was actually disappointed that the power returned for the end of the set. As sun went down on Sunday evening I caught Rachel Sermanni for the first time, her strong vocals and funny stories were perfectly fit for this festival and she gains many new friends during this set. My festival came to an end with the musical and comic stylings of Shambles Miller, choosing to watch him over what he perfectly describes as Super Mario on acid over the side of the arena. He gathers a crowd as his set goes on and his original songs and banter go down a treat, and for a guy who’d been at the festival himself since Friday and suffered a bug bite, he played a very strong set. A superb end to my first festival.

Also available over the weekend was the Low End dance tent, though I never found the time to get there myself.


Doune the Rabbit Hole’s fourth year may have been their most successful yet, certainly in terms of the running of the festival. With so many volunteers and musicians on site for the full weekend it did become hard to tell where the paying punters were but I do hope there was enough to make doing this festival again a viable option. The site they chose this year was also much better suited to a festival experience than previous ones and the locals in the area were apparently all happy to have everyone in town so let’s hope that allows the festival to stay put for the long run. As for the rest of the site, there could have been a few more food options (though I appreciate as a boutique festival they want to offer a different experience, and therefore different food options) and some more lighting over the arena and site itself to make it safer for people moving around at night. There were also more wasps than I’ve seen in my life over these few days but that’s more out of the festival runners’ control than everything else. Overall, this was definitely a successful festival and Doune seem to be on the right track to providing a fully functional, one of a kind festival.

Monday 19 August 2013

NEW MUSIC: Romance - Mast.

Summer may be almost over, but not before another killer song with catchy hooks makes an appearance. And this time it's in the shape of brand new one-man DIY pop band, Mast..

Mast. is the new project from Liam Rutherford, previously of The Darien Venture, whose demise this year saddened me greatly. It is most wonderful to see the members of the band beginning to take new routes in music and produce such quality anthems as this.

The track debuted on The Pop Cop's Music Alliance Pact for August, where you can still download it for free. As an opening salvo for a band, Mast. have started with a track that has incredible replayability, along with a brilliant video to go with it and a stunningly catchy tune that has all the elements of a summer hit.

It's been a brilliant summer, and year, for Scottish music and this yet another show of strength from Glasgow's music scene. I, for one, certainly cannot wait to hear more where this came from. Don't keep us waiting too long, Liam!

You can listen to Romance and watch the video below:




Thursday 15 August 2013

GIG REVIEW: Admiral Fallow at The Queen's Hall 13.08.2013

Slots at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe can be hard to come by, and with venues constantly in use they can also be quite tight, and so given only a 2-hour slot to put on a gig, Admiral Fallow put on a showcase of their own music and talent, no supports, just one full Fallow set. And we're all very glad they did.

"Gig-going connoisseurs amongst you will notice there was no support tonight.", Admiral Fallow's lead singer Louis Abbott notes to the audience mid-set, "That's because we want to play a long time." Rapturous cheer follows this remark and Louis goes on to make a Lionel Ritchie joke, showing that he can still banter with the best of them on the Scottish music circuit. In fact, if you had walked into this gig at a few points you would have been forgiven for thinking it was a comedy show, with the audience participation levels high and lots of laughter. 

But this was very much a music gig and the crowd in attendance were treated to 90 minutes of the best of Admiral Fallow. The band deftly move between their debut and sophomore albums, never missing a beat and proving that they are a band with many strengths. A few of the older tracks have received a little makeover ("so we don't hate them when we have to play them together" Louis notes), in particular 'These Barren Years' which has been given a much slower take that builds to a massive finish. It's hard not be awed when you see a band completely turn a song around and give it a whole new life, just by rewriting how they perform it live. Another such track which gets some new treatment is 'Bomb Through the Town', performed by only Louis, Sarah Hayes and a string quartet. The most wonderful thing about this hauntingly beautiful rendition was you could hear a pin drop in the crowd, the band had their complete attention and adoration. It was a joy to be part of such a thing.

In addition to the older tracks receiving a new lease of life, we also got a small window into the what's next from the band. Playing a never before heard, and not yet named (for the night it was called Queen's Hall Posse, a reference to the continued audition participation throughout. Though I wish it had been called 'Steeeeeeeeeve!', the name given to an as-yet unnamed song when Frightened Rabbit played the same venue a few years back.), we get to see a band that continues to grow and develop, this song is definitely an advancement and a new Fallow but there are also very familiar traits of the band on show. I, for one, am certainly interested in hearing much more where this came from, the song itself has anthemic qualities and will surely be a sing-along hit in years to come. The introduction of the new song also lead to the night's longest running joke; "Pick your favourite current chart hit..."

Other highlights of this gig were the rapturous response to 'Squealing Pigs' (our reward for being so quiet during the new song), the dancing reaching all the way to the back of the room and up into the top decks during hits like 'Beetle in the Box' and 'The Paper Trench' and the well-deserved encore that featured the simply beautiful 'Four Bulbs' performed to an enraptured and completely silent crowd followed by the wonderful 'The Way You Were Raised' to send us off into the night. In fact, the entire set was peppered with hits and highlights that it's hard to pick just a few. And whilst the crowd didn't quite use their voices to sing-along as much as I'd like at a gig, they certainly gave the band the attention they deserved and the band gave us so much to enjoy. The banter is particularly strong, reminding me why going to an Admiral Fallow gig is much more than just a music performance. And they have so much talent that they are bound to follow in the footsteps of Frightened Rabbit, Scotland's current indie darlings. 

The Queen's Hall is one of the best venues in Scotland and, on this Tuesday night, it was host to one of the best gigs of the year, and a performance by Admiral Fallow that those who were lucky enough to be there will be talking about for a long time to come. 

Monday 12 August 2013

GIG REVIEW: Kid Canaveral at Liquid Room 10.08.2013

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is well underway by the 10th, and on this Saturday there were music gigs by no less than Withered Hand (with support from Second Hand Marching Band), Sparrow & The Workshop and Art Brut. In all honesty I did spread my requests around and would have happily attended all those gigs (and paid for them), but it came to be that I found myself in the Liquid Room Annexe for a special Kid Canaveral show.

The Liquid Room Annexe reminded me of those pre-fabricated classrooms from my school days, except in this one noise was permitted, very loud noise. And how they got the capacity 300 people in there, I have no idea but it made for one hot, sweaty night. Unfortunately there was some lost sound in the dead spaces of the annexe in the corridors you walk through to get to the stage area and it was extremely close quarters due to the capacity, but other than that for a pre-fabricated venue added on for the Fringe month, it was an alright venue. It was a shame to find the gig was there though as The Liquid Room itself has some of the best sound on the circuit. 

First up on the night were the boys from Campfires in Winter, who sure do get around. This was my third seeing them in a different venue in the last three months and I stand by all previous statements that they are a band to watch, who've got a bright future ahead of them. The venue's dead spaces did rob them of some of their loud, epic rock so it didn't sound quite as amazing as the King Tut's show had but it was still a well-oiled performance from a young band on their way up. I am sure I'll see them around again and have more pleasant words to say, especially as their new September EP gets ever closer.

Next up was Ballboy, their set was more sedate than the epic Campfires rock show but an equally good warm up for the crowd. Somewhat Plimptons-esque the older guard of the crowd are well involved throughout the set and the front few rows is having a blast. My highlight of the set was 'Something's Going to Happen', which plays to all the bands' strengths and is well received by the now-packed out crowd. Near the end of the set the band play a quieter tune, pointing out to the crowd that the first part of the song starts with a "Shhhhhhh!". This is because this gig was plagued by a sadly typical Saturday night crowd, one where many people would talk right through the acts. It's so disappointing how often this happens and it ruined much of my enjoyment of Ballboy. 

"Thanks for coming, we knew you had a lot of other choices tonight.", David MacGregor of Kid Canaveral states to the sold out room mid-set. With many a gig and lots of other options at the Fringe, you can really tell how grateful the band are that so many people turned out for their show. And they give us a truly wonderful and memorable performance to make sure we don't question our choice at all by the end of the evening. The band perform an effortless live show build on the strength of their second album, with some older hits holding up the middle. Things got particularly special when the Cairn String Quartet joined the band on stage, for such beautiful tracks as 'Without a Backing Track' and 'So Sad, So Young'. The latter was once again plagued by the talkers and KC made no qualms about telling them to shut it throughout the set. When you go to a Kid Canaveral gig as press, it can sometimes be hard not to get swept up in the party atmosphere, where everyone is having a dance (KC are one of those bands who don't need to tell you it's a dance song, because their entire set contains them) and a good time, and remember you need to actually take notes and write about this later. You would have been hard-pressed to find someone in the crowd not singing and dancing along to hit single 'You Only Went Out To Get Drunk Last Night' and 'Good Morning', whilst the sophomore album tracks are wonderfully received, if with a little less dancing. Ending the set on the beautiful 'A Compromise', Kid Canaveral prove that they are a band best experienced live and that they are growing and developing from their early beginnings into a force to be reckoned with on the Scottish music scene.

Whilst this gig suffered from many talkers in the crowd, the lineup and performances made it a brilliant gig for a Saturday night. There were many other choices that night, but this one was dance central and everyone went home very happy that they chose to spend their evening in the pre-fabricated venue off the Cowgate.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

PREVIEW: Doune the Rabbit Hole nears

The festival is well and truly underway, and August is a highlight for small Scottish festivals as Belladrum just celebrated its 10th year. On a smaller scale but with an equally brilliant lineup, Doune the Rabbit Hole will take to Cardross Estate in Stirlingshire on the 22-25th of the month.

Doune is Scotlandʼs independent and entirely volunteer-run festival in its four year history. The event will showcase more than 200 acts over the weekend with lots of homegrown Scottish talent on a show.

Doune The Rabbit Hole aims to create a friendly atmosphere and the eventʼs small scale means that by the end of the weekend everyone will have made new friends, found a new favourite band and created some unforgettable memories to take home. Festival favourites like Bombskare, The Horndog Brass Band and The John Langan Band are programmed alongside more experimental acts like Zs, Clinic and Venetian Snares, opening up the opportunity for the audience to discover new musical experiences.

Some highlights from across the weekend include:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Tickets are a great value £88 for the whole weekend including camping and access to seven stages of live music, DJs, comedy and spoken word, plus workshops, a cinema, and a kids area.

Tickets are available from the festival website http://dounetherabbithole.co.uk/, or in person at Monorail Records (Glasgow), Avalanche Records (Edinburgh), Europa Music (Stirling) and Tickets Scotland.

Follow @dounetherabbit on Twitter or like the festival Facebook page.

Thursday 1 August 2013

GIG REVIEW: Prides & Friends and Discopolis at King Tut's Summer Nights 30.07.2013

Nearing the end of King Tut's Summer Nights, it was time for something a bit different and, by booking a headline band who've only released one song so far, it was a big move. And it paid off massively.

With Plum having pulled out due to losing to her voice, the night was opened by Edinburgh's Discopolis, a four-piece electronic band. My description was pretty much 'disco rock', and it's toe-tapping, head-bopping goodness. Never having been one for electronic/synth bands, it seems like this foursome are going to be one of the few exceptions for me due to their ability to provide impressive soundscapes and tunes that are almost perfectly built for pre-partying before heading out with friends and alcohol. They play an accomplished live show, taking the crowd with them from the start and even manage to make jokes in-between songs including a beard warning for the headliners. A highlight for me is their remix of The Little Kicks' Loosen Up, giving a brilliant song a fresh new life. They end on a typically wild dance track having amply warmed up the filling crowd.


"We know you've taken a leap of faith", Prides note late in their set as they know they have only released one track online before playing this gig. But if their already hit single 'Out of the Blue' was the teaser then it's easy to see why the place was packed. Two members of Prides previously made up Midnight Lion but here they're actually starting to challenge the Chvrches model of beginning with very little content, other than a few things online, and building on word of mouth to achieve a strong fanbase before a 
full release is set. Like their predecessors, they are making it work. This band are not just another electronic three-piece, they have so many hooks in all their songs that they ought to come with a warning. In fact, I was surprised that the crowd was as still as it was during the majority of the set, regardless of whether we'd heard the tracks before or not because they were absolutely beasting. This show was also special because Prides brought with them Cairn String Quartet who provided strings on an auspicious opener and big hit 'Out of the Blue' to close, Louie of Hector Bizerk for 'Run and Jump' and they note that they were so pleased with how he performed that the track has been recorded and will be online very soon, and finally Ross and Mark of Fatherson to make a real sexy song even sexier. The band even trust the crowd enough to perform a quiet number in what is a complete change of pace, and it proves to be an incredible few minutes. However pockets of the crowd couldn't quite keep their mouths shut for this number and some of it was lost because of it, sometimes people need to learn there are bars for chatting and gigs for listening and watching. Having myself only heard 'Out of the Blue', I was incredibly happy to see that Prides are not just a one hit wonder and have an arsenal of superb tracks that everyone will hear in time. 

This show was an absolute blinder, and a very strong gig near the close of the Summer Nights programme. King Tut's once again prove that they are one of the best, if not the best, small venue in Glasgow.

Wednesday 31 July 2013

GIG REVIEW: Fake Major, Campfires in Winter, Kevin Harper at King Tut's Summer Nights 29.07.2013

On a Monday night in Glasgow when the indie rock heroes of my teens (We Are Scientists) were also in town, I once again took a trip to King Tut's Wah Wah Hut for a dose of Summer Nights and the best in new music.

First up on the night was former Little Eskimos frontman, Kevin Harper. Harper presents a fresh take on the one man and his guitar with the addition of his laptop and some very strong vocals. Playing mostly songs from his solo album, with a few Little Eskimos tracks and one very interesting The Pixies cover, the setlist aptly shows his range and talent. Harper reminds me very much of Australia's Ben Lee, both in his vocals and his lyrics. His set is a fresh and change of pace from the Americana flooded acoustic field and he knows how to work a crowd despite not even being sure his set work. Harper is certainly someone to keep an eye on.


It was then time for Campfires in Winter to bring their Scottish rock masterclass to Tut's, and they do so with a large crowd in attendance. The band put on a very energetic show that flows from the crowd to the stage and back again, resulting in lots of noise and bouncing around on both sides. There's riffs aplenty, including from a new track never before been played live that goes down an absolute treat. Campfires are already an accomplished live outfit, going from strength to strength and shredding a lot of guitars in the process. The reception from the crowd proves that they are steadily gaining a loyal fanbase, and if the reaction to finale 'White Lights' is anything to go by then they are almost certainly going onto bigger and better things this year. The finale is loud, proud and a statement of true rock that leaves everyone in the room suitably impressed. The Campfires are one of the strongest bands on the circuit right now and deserve your attention.



Tonight's headline set comes smack bang right in the middle of the festival run for Fake Major and it represents their first full band headline where they actually had the opportunity to sound check, what a novelty. Typically then, there is a few technical issues before the set can begin but the band manage to silence the packed out Tut's with their opener of 'Cotton & Ink'. It's a joy to behold to watch a band render a crowd silent, especially on their first track of the night but that's the absolute power this band have already in their first year of existence. During the set, Richard Ferguson and David McGinty look to almost be performing as one solid unit as their mics as just the right distance apart to present the exact image of a four-armed singer-songwriter that the band describe themselves as. With years as Endor behind them and already a good block of shows as FM, this band are already accomplished live and have the sound for bigger rooms. EP tracks like 'Little Researcher' and 'Love in the Mundane' are very well received, and the band put on anything but a mundane live show joking with the crowd in-between tracks on all things from wanting to play the show for the one person who may not have heard them before (be it a guy, or a woman with a really deep voice), Jarv's colourblindness, and the fact they could easily teach midnight guest Pronto Mama their tunes as "it's only two chords". Many laughs are had by all. The new take on Endor song 'Chapel Doors' is at its best at this show and the crowd adores it, but the highlight of the night for me has to be the two as-yet unreleased Fake Major tracks including never before heard 'Seventeen' as the penultimate track. Both songs prove there is incredible life left yet in this band, they going to be going places, and I have no shame in saying they are absolutely my favourite band of the moment. The set ends on an incredible high with 'Fiction' and everyone is sorry to see them go, but it surely won't be long before they are gracing many more venues with their presence. 

After recovering from that great show I was able to stick around to see the midnight guests Pronto Mama, who brought their loud and proud indie rock show to Tut's bar and they did so with aplomb. It was a brilliant show that caught the attention of the majority in the bar and they've got a lot to get us excited about including by playing new tracks to tease us. 

All in all, this was a spectacular Monday evening with some of the best Scottish music. It was an easy decision in the end to choose this gig because I knew that it'd be one of the best shows of the year. My only disappointment of the night was that there was no Susie-sized t-shirts, but I'll get one in time.

Tuesday 30 July 2013

SINGLE REVIEW: Cheen - Dante

It is, or should be, a well-known fact around these parts that when Andy Monaghan (of Frightened Rabbit fame) is mentioned, my ears immediately perk up. Yes, sad but true. 

And to that end, I got an email recently for the fine folks of Dante, who have been working with Andy on their debut album due out in the autumn. As an album sampler the band have released the track 'Cheen', 3-minutes of alt-folk-rock fusion that is ear candy for all.

The track builds on the band's debut EP, featuring a sound that is more grand and a sign of things to come. As an out-and-out fan of folk in all forms, I was bopping along from the first listen and can report that the track has brilliant replay-ability. It's been on repeat a few times in the last few weeks whilst I have neglected this poor blog. If you're looking for a song that you can bop along to, as well as connect with on an emotional level then you'll find it right here. Certainly for a choice as an album sampler, the band know what they're doing.

I certainly cannot wait to hear more from these guys, and if Brazil Exists is anything to go by then Andy sure knows how to pick bands with bright futures ahead of them.

You can listen to, and download at your price, Cheen below.


Monday 29 July 2013

GIG REVIEW: Michael Cassidy, Sam Fender, Little Fire, Ryan Joseph Burns at King Tuts Summer Nights 25.07.2013

Every year after T in the Park, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow celebrates the best in new and up-and-coming music with the two-week Summer Nights festival programme, showcasing bands to watch out for from Scotland and further afield. And on Thursday night I got to fully experience my first Summer Nights gig with a wonderful almost fully acoustic gig.

First up on the night was Jamie McGeechan of Little Fire, who won this year's Best Acoustic Award at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. The music of Little Fire is that ever-popular fusion of Scottish and Americana which gets the night started off right. There's lots to be said about Jamie's talent, his energy and how he quickly gets an audience on side. One of the nights funniest moments comes from when he introduces the song 'Tell Me What You Want', plays a few chords then declares "I want it to be in tune.". With the crowd with him, and having started with a few upbeat tunes, Jamie shows a more tender side in the latter half of the set with songs like 'All I Need In Life' and newer track 'Caught In The Seams'. The short sets shows the full range of this one man and his guitar band who is sure to be going onto bigger and better things in the second half of this year, including the release of his debut album in the autumn. 

Having to follow the strong opener was Ryan Joseph Burns, who has already had success as a member of The Seventeenth Century. Ryan opens the set with two solo songs before being joined by a band for the first time, making the joke that the songs will at least be less depressing with the band behind him. The set certainly does pick up with the addition of the band and Ryan's own fusion of Scottish and Americana sets itself apart, rooting itself more in the Americana than the Scottish but it is no less brilliant for that. A particular highlight is the single Absence, which is Ryan's take on heartbreak and certainly makes the crowd that bit fonder of him. The set ends on a high with 'Where I Want To Be', getting the crowd bopping and making many new fans amongst the continually filling room. In fact, the set as a whole goes down so well that Ryan returns to the stage to perform an encore. Not often that happens in the middle of the gig.

In the interests of honesty, Sam Fender being on the bill was half the reason I wanted to attend this gig. Having seen Sam on his first trip to Glasgow back in March, I was suitably awed by his talent and with a few more months on the road under his belt he is a stronger act for it. At a young age (only 19!), he's still a raw talent but there's so much promise and talent here at deserves success. After breaking a string just as he was about to begin his second song of the night, he gives a brilliant comedic performance and he definitely could have a second career as a stand-up. His comedic performance wins him many friends in the crowd, a few even suggest he performs acapella whilst he awaits a borrow of Michael Cassidy's guitar. Sam plays a fair few miserable songs, which go down well in Scotland, even on an atypical warm and sunny summers evening. Sam's talent is here for all to see, he's got it in spades and he is winning audiences over one a time throughout the country. This Glasgow performance is sure to only be the start for him, the crowd loves him and makes it well known. In fact Sam comments that it is the best crowd he's ever had so one up for Scotland, who make the Geordie feel right at home. Sam Fender is one the UK's best underground talents, just waiting to be discovered and take the world by storm. I certainly cannot wait to see and hear more from him. 

With the crowd suitably warmed up, it was time for the headliner and tonight that was Paisley's Michael Cassidy, performing with his band.  For me, this was the first time seeing him with his band and it's wonderful to see the songs take on a whole new life with a band behind them. However, it's also clear that Cassidy's strong vocal and lyrical talents are the star of the show and the reason we're all here. We are treated both new songs and hits, both of which are well received by the crowd and there's lots of bopping going on through songs like 'Fifteen Years' and 'No One Else Is Mine'. There are two new songs in the form of 'Gonna Paint It Red' and a nursery rhyme for his niece that he aptly turned into a great track, 'Run Run Rabbit Run'. I'm very glad Michael decided to take the simple rhyme and turn it into such a beautiful track.  There's a good dose of Americana in 'Dancing At The Devil's Door', and 'We Can Breathe' ends the set on a typically strong note before Michael returns for a solo encore that is well deserved. The songs with his band have a much bigger sound but they are still heartfelt tunes that an audience can connect to and Michael himself is amiable, meaning he has all the tools to become one of our best musical exports. It's a shame that his set was marred by pockets of the audience talking loudly throughout, but that is the only little black spot on what is a brilliant night for Michael Cassidy and all the acts.

Summer Nights also features midnight guests in the bar of Tuts but your blogrunner is clearly getting too old for this, as I only manage one song of Thursday's guest Honeyblood. There was a good crowd for them and I'm sure they went down a treat.

For a warm Thursday evening in Glasgow, this gig made for an excellent way to spend it. All four acts gave the crowd great sets and wield simple acoustic guitars with great power. 

Monday 22 July 2013

PREVIEW: Doune the Rabbit Hole adds more acts!

Along with an animated video featuring the current lineup, Doune the Rabbit Hole announced some additions to their already brilliant lineup in the last few days. 


Cult Canadian electronic musician Aaron Funk AKA Venetian Snares heads up the additions and will play on Sunday August 25th. Adding to the already kaleidoscopically eclectic bill, Planet Mu Records’ Venetian Snares take drum ‘n’ bass and breakcore to a new level. Also on the Sunday festival goers will be treated to funky Afrobeats from Samba Sene & Diwan, a seven-piece international Senegalese band currently based in Scotland as well as rambunctious funk rock fusion outfit Bar Room Crawl play on the Baino stage.

Eclectic folk-rock band Trembling Bells and hypercolour indie dance producer- performer Miaoux Miaoux play the Baino stage on Friday; On Saturday we welcome back the indescribably mad and brilliant Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 and John Knox Sex Club make their return to the scene, to the joy of this blogrunner. 

These additions follow up the announce that the festival has also added a dance-themed performance space for live acts and DJs, curated by Glasgow’s Low End Collective. Acts include techno DJ Rebecca Vasmant, Glasgow hip hop duo Hector Bizerk, reggae soundsystem Argonaut Sounds and a plethora of Scottish talent over a range of styles to keep visitors dancing all weekend. 

And it all begins one day earlier this year with an extra mini line up on Thursday night – featuring Orkestra del Solat no extra cost to those arriving early.

These acts join those already on the bill – including Alasdair Roberts & Friends, Clinic, The Pastels, PAWS, Rachel Sermanni, Machines In Heaven, Stealing Sheep, Zs, Robyn Hitchcock, Arbouretum and many more.

Cosmic Dead will now play on Sunday and Mother Ganga will now appear with their project Flaccid House! July are unfortunately no longer able to join us on Sunday due to illness. Zun Zun Egui, The Wellgreen and Flamingods are also no longer performing due to other commitments.

Get tickets right now at http://dounetherabbithole.co.uk/tickets – buy before August 1st to save £10 on adult full price camping weekend passes. Under 12s go free and day tickets are available. Use Go Car Share, the festival’s lift share partners, to fix up up your carbon footprint-friendly ride and make some new friends! http://dounetherabbithole.co.uk/gocarshare/

Watch the animated lineup video below:

Wednesday 3 July 2013

ALBUM REVIEW: Planet Shhh! - Human Pyramids

Human Pyramids is the new project from multi-instrumentalist Paul Russell, who was raised in an old mining village in the central belt of Scotland but is now based on London. The debut album 'Planet Shhh!' includes a number of hand-picked musicians from around the UK including Scotland's own Jill O'Sullivan of Sparrow and the Workshop and Jenny Reeve of Strike The Colours. 

'Planet Shhh!' is a 12-track self-produced instrumental album that proves just about anything is possible. It features orchestral tracks with many a post-rock build-up making for an absolutely towering production. You will be awed by the motions and layers of sound you hear, as the songs are put together with particular care and talent. There's a chance for every contributor on this singular album to shine and its hard to pick just one highlight. 

Fourth track 'Alphabet City' made a strong impact on me, full of layers and quite a different take on orchestral tracks one might expect from an album of this nature, I was blown away by how well put together it was and how it managed to evoke such powerful emotions from the listener. I think you'll be amazed too. 

Each track on this album has its own story to tell, but effectively tracked together they also act as one large musical novel of sweeping orchestrals, monumental build-ups and deep emotions. You'd be hard-pressed to listen to this album and not be swept up in the rich textures and melodies it has in spades, and you'll be swooning from the open to the close at the beauty of this expertly crafted debut. Plus any album with a track called 'Duvet Day' is a winner in my book.

'Planet Shhh!' is released Worldwide on July 15th by Oxide Tones. You can pre-order your copy here.

Monday 1 July 2013

GIG REVIEW: Brothers. EP launch at Nice N Sleazy 29.06.2013

Another Saturday night with plenty of options in Glasgow, including The Wee Chill's 10th birthday at SWG3, lead to difficult decisions on how to spend the evening. Easily tempted by gigs just on my doorstep and having been graciously invited, I took myself to Sleazy's to take in the Brothers. EP launch. 

First up on the bill was Jake Beveridge, a singer-songwriter based in Glasgow. Jake plays heartfelt acoustic tracks, showcasing his strong vocals and lyrical talent. He is in the same ilk as Michael Cassidy, and fans of Cassidy would definitely enjoy Beveridge's music. Full of raw talent, I strongly believe Beveridge could be nipping at Cassidy's heels soon as he's a hidden gem of the Scottish acoustic scene. I certainly hope he wouldn't be hidden too much longer, he's got the right stuff to take him to big places. I've got my eye on him and you should too.

Taking to the stage next were Ayrshire instrumental three-piece, Two Towns Apart. I have never been one for heavier bands, or instrumental bands (unless you're Explosions in the Sky) but I was surprised by how quickly I took to their combination of both. This band are loud and proud, and they're powerful. They present walls of sound, intricately built together with talent and passion as the cement holding the bricks of powerful sounds together. Looping may have become an overused technique particularly on the Scottish scene recently but Two Towns Apart are one of the few who effectively use it to build their songs. In a break between songs we are given an explanation of the bands' name, which relates to the fact guitarist Lewis Glass lives in Irvine whilst Curtis McConnell on bass and Michael Wylde on drums stay in Ayr, with Troon and Prestwick in-between, it makes the band separated by two towns. The band have their own EP due soon and end on an impressive, and impressively loud, note. 

Finally it was time for our headliners to take to the stage. Brothers., previously known as From Now On, are a two-piece rock outfit from Kilmarnock who combine steely riffs with strong lyrical talent to make a big impact. Whilst Fraser Donaldson (guitar and vocals) and Cairns Elliot (drums and vocals) are clearly not brothers themselves, there's a brotherly-like connection in their performance and it gives them an edge that makes their live show particularly brilliant. They even manage to pull off a song called The World is Flat, which they have on played once before. The crowd made up of family, friends, and punters alike lap up the show making their inaugural Glasgow gig under the new guise a very warm affair, and a good new beginning. The crowd even manage to get the band back on for a well deserved encore, and it ends up being a very special one. On request the boys play 'Garden State' from their new EP 'September', the same song they opened the show with, but this time they do it with the help of Jake Beveridge, Two Towns Apart, Fraser's dad and a friend or two. It ends the night on a memorable note, and shows the appreciation for Brothers. is very strong and can only be due to increase as their exposure slowly grows. This band have amples of talent and a lot to show the world so there's a lot of their story yet to be written.  

It's always a joy to leave your flat and be genuinely surprised by live music, and that is what happened on this Saturday evening in Glasgow.