Friday 01
Moonshaker Promotions: THE APPLESCRUFFS (pictured) / + GUESTS
The Applescruffs: (review of an EP): Fast drumbeats and racing guitars set up a great tune. The vocals do the tune so much justice, and that makes the track absolutely complete in every way I don't think you'll find a better punk track around at the moment and it'll take a lot to knock this tune off my top ten! Instantly the song is in your head and the energy given off can be felt, if you're feeling tired put this song on instead of wasting 2 quid on redbull it'll give you wings! So what about the band? One hit wonders? Not on your life! This band took over where the Libertines left off! The four songs I've been listening to are all as great as each other, definitely a Libertines/Sex Pistols thing going on in some tracks but the song 'Lit the Candles at Both Ends' has a Beatles/Bob Dylan sound to it and the band make it work. It's good to see a band only obsessed with making great music, hats off to the guys they are an amazing band and definitely worth their strong following, I just hope more people check them out because if they can create monster sounds like 'Patti' the sky's the limit! So if you're into Punk go find this band live! If you're not, then go find this band live! I guarantee it'll be a very entertaining and electric experience that'll make you want more.Doors 9pm
www.myspace.com/moonshaker
www.theapplescruffs.co.uk
Sunday 03
Equal an Opposite: THE REPEATERS / + GUESTS
Doors 9pm
www.myspace.com/equalanopposite
Wednesday 06
WORD DOGS - spoken word performance group
Word Dogs are a spoken-word performance group based loosely around the Glasgow SF Writers' Circle. We have performed readings of fiction and poetry with the Writers' Bloc group from Edinburgh, and now we are all growed up and running our own readings.
www.myspace.com/worddogs
Thursday 07
Protect & Survive: FROGPOCKET / IVES (pictured)
From a review: John Charles Wilson, aka Frog Pocket, is back again with this new mini-album on Benbecula following his show-stealing 7" installment for the esteemed Planet Mu. 'My Mentle Ass' is a rampant, manic, squashed, chaotic breakbeat onslaught which ends very gracefully and in keeping with the deep, folkloric chimes and rich sound exhibited on 'Jupiter Lady Mountain Village'. Like stumbling into a strange kind of late night show, lit only by candles and shimmering cavelight, this is like some other worldly Bach recital gone astray, or Afx and Squarepusher junior on a mad one, beats underpin melancholy melodies voiced by delicately plucked guitars.. 'Hey hope', meanwhile, makes you want to don sensible cardigans and hit the slopes. There's a clear headed thoroughly scottish musician at work here, the crunch of electronics tempered by the soothing melody of a slow air. Violins and stringed instruments resonate clear in the Frog pocket world, underpinned by sub bass hits and the exuberance of the stunning 'my mentle ass'. Buy. / Ives (Iain Foxwell and Brian Leslie) started making music together some time in the distant past and have since worked at creating a unique sound that stands apart from a lot of the "dance" music that is churned out these days. Ives have always appeared a bit mysterious to the passer-by due to the fact they spend most of their time huddled in their studio writing music rather than gigging. Their sound contains elements from all types of electronic music but they admit their biggest musical influence is Orbital. Their live sound is one of an organic movement welded to the skeletal track of thier original tunes. Basically meaning they can improvise over the tracks like dj's manipulating and changing records on the fly . Recent reviews of Ives live sound have been very posative including "With a set marring the harshness of Radioactive Man to the psychedelic touches of The Chemical Brothers more spectral moments, there was more than enough quality and variety on show to entice out even the most hardened and cynical electro fan."Andy R from The-Mag , and a review from the save nemis gig it was said "If you're at all into your chilled, laid-back electronica, take the time out to investigate these guys at the first chance you get."
www.myspace.com/protectandsurviveglasgow
www.myspace.com/frogpocket
www.ives.tk
www.myspace.com/ivesmusic
Friday 08
Actions Speak Louder: TRUE VALIANCE / BROKEN OATH / MESA VERDE (pictured) / BURNING SCARS OF BETRAYAL
True Valiance: Relentless, energy-filled hardcore from Bristol. Imagine One King Down battering the fuck out of Strife on the way home from a No Warning show! / Broken Oath don't fuck about. The beats and guitars thump like the onslaught of inappropriate artillery similes and there's these totally ferocious vocals over it all, the sound of Regan from The Exorcist in full priest's neck breaking mode. Fantastic. It's all a million miles from the safety of the mainstream - where Kaiser Chiefs coyly offer speculation on civil unrest on 'I predict a riot', Broken Oath are unequivocal: someone has reneged on a promise, and Blood Will Be Shed. Possibly by By My Hands, who scoop their metal from the same bubbling black cauldron as Sunno)))), Hatebreed, Coldplay and that. Vox holler and oozing squnch guitars go molten, glowing rocks boiling up to the surface with occasional bursts of speed and evaporate with every vaporous riff and lick, tongues searing on the coals. Fantastic, also. / Mesa Verde: "Hailing from the heart of Scotland, Mesa Verde are here with their debut EP 'Amor Fati' to give us a taste of just how good experimental music can sound when it's produced in the right way. They're the sort of band that is hard to categorise or pigeonhole, yet their influences are obvious, ranging from prog-rock, to metal, to good old fashioned hardcore. In this 24-minute EP, we're given a taste of exactly what the band is made of. Ending on a colossal 11-minute journey without a name is the finest idea this band have offered on this 4-track EP. There really are bits of everything thrown in here, and it's the sort of idea that shouldn't work at all, but it just does. Pulling together all their influences, they manage to have created a track which sounds entirely unique in today's musical landscape, and serves as a well overdue piece of refreshment from the copycat bands polluting our venues and labels. I'd like to see this band make a name for themselves, as 'Amor Fati' is actually a great record, but because it's so unconventional, so experimental and ultimately so varied; I struggle to see this happening. / BSOB exhort you to 'strike a poser' - more audible vocals but no less astringent guitars, wire brush and Dettol tooth makeover sound. But with intro samples a la Wu Tang, a brilliant remix-esque version '1050 Daggers', which is a bit like ODB/Kelis having a drunken argument on mobile phones from wind tunnels a thousand miles apart while lounge jazz plays in between, they sound [like Cannibal Ox name-checking By My Hands] like they have been at the rap/metal cabinet and this - also also - is fantastic. Very heavy, very exciting.
www.myspace.com/truevaliance
www.myspace.com/brokenoath
www.mesaverde.co.uk
www.myspace.com/mesaverde
Saturday 09
WE SEE LIGHTS / ELECTRIC GHOSTS
We See Lights: It's essential for every band to have a biography. It helps the whole pigeon hole process, in addition it enables band members to write nice things about themselves in the third person (as though this will disguise the true identity of the author). We See Lights, due to the nature of the big bad musical world, have been forced to consider a band biography. Stephen has suggested this: Like Crobsy, Stills, Nash and Young, Allan, Paul and Stephen worship at the alter of harmonic-wonder. Like the Travelling Willburys they never planned to create a Supergroup: they just know Supergroup material type of people. Like The Eagles they all secretly hate each other - jealous of songs they could not write themselves. And like The Proclaimers they sing like they never heard Elvis go: 'Uh Huh'. Califorina stops here. Coming together as they did, they wanted to write an EP together. They asked friends to help. Craig! Johnny, Ciaran and Ross. They liked it all so much they all decided to stay. And so they decided to become We See Lights. Pulling influences from the great songwriters, who need not be mentioned as they are Great, We See Lights have created the bastard child of modern alterative Americania and traditional Scottish music whose babysitter is Brian Wilson on a good day. Whereas the more literary animal, and possibly drunker, Allan Rae suggested this: W3 C LYTES! comin at ya 4 realz. W3 C LYTES are the alpha and omega. They are psycho-psychedelic fully-funklomatic parliamentarians of pain, generational hopscotchers riding the zeitgeist to the future of the past, slipping into the slipstream of schadenfreude and having sex with it while wearing their shoes. They have style and grace, files and mace, and they have rigged the race. They will get on your case. Taking their cue from the agrarian funk explosion of the dakota backwoods and mixing it up to date with polyrhythmic polyharmonic polysemic polemic noise folk, W3 C LYTES travel the scottish highlands like a drunken bruce banner in search of the cure for anger, pain, loneliness, and trousers. They are a superfly troupe that will melt your ears, soothe your fears and lick your tears. When they have finished with you, the burning sensation when you pee will remain for 2-3 weeks.
Thursday 14
Nuts and Seeds: VIALKA (pictured) / WOUNDED KNEE (pictured) / VARS OF LITCHI
Vialka: In a time where part of the neo-folk scene is getting comfortable to "mainstream" awareness and is slowly growing to the point of being just another aseptic product, it's surely fresh to get in touch with such a hard-working outfit as the frantic duo Vialka, comprising Marylise Frecheville on drums and voice and Eric Boros playing baritone guitar and singing. 'Curiosities of Popular Customs', their third tome released in their own label, spans the later-studio-treated tour recordings from 2004's far end. Travelers by nature, Vialka embody the true musical gipsy endeavors, both in the showcased music, a frenetic mixture of everything between punk and math rock, with a certain fragile folk feeling embedded, and their DIY attitude towards touring. This record is an unmistakable example of how to make very serious music through popular parody, as illustrated by the artwork. Only the wrong survive, indeed… / Vars of Litchi: "Live 190706" Written by Scott Mckeating Friday, 12 January 2007 "This review is long overdue. This disc has been slipping up and down the pile of music that I feel has to be covered for a while now. Whenever I find myself getting around to playing it, I'm left thinking what an incredible debut release this is, and that the word needs to be spread. So finally five months later I've gotten my finger out. This four-tracker was recorded at Glasgow's Nice & Sleazy and captures the drums/guitar duo of Jack Figgis and Gordon McDougal in a form that belies the fact that this is their first release. The playing scarcely contains the music's constructive but experimental nature and the very obvious sense of molten energetic live playing. The punchy beats and circular guitar of "Beastie Blotch" blast Live 190706 off in style, the solidly hit but rattling kit keeping the song fuelled up. Strafing treble ends notes make threats to sunder the song in two, there's a real raw-boned fire to the playing. The dark post punk shapings and the Ad Rock rant gives the song a vigorous focus to its rage, letting it work both as a head nodding rush and something deeper. Lyrically, I'm not sure, as it's difficult to make out, but a sense of confusion and reproach is spat out through the mouth of a heartbroken drill sergeant. This melodious racket feel is also found on "Free to Thrash" whose explosions into virulent expulsions (like it says in the title) are interspersed with sci-fi drone guitar. The third track "F Sweet" rides a clinically clear pop groove that gradually begins to warp into something a little more crystalline and spindly. "12 Minutes, " the closer (which is only actually 6:14 long), twists up from the ground and delicately chimes its way into great sucking black holes of static flecked din. The strong echoes of John McGeoch style guitar through the early part of the track, ending in a spilt river of melted guitar parts. There seems to be a great chemistry between the pair, backing each other as they extend the duo sound down different very different paths to most other pairings. It's great to hear a new band that sound able to competently and thoroughly brilliantly tackle diverse material in a live setting. More please."
www.myspace.com/nutsseeds
www.vialka.com
www.myspace.com/iamwoundedknee
www.myspace.com/varsoflitchi
Friday 15
THE ECHO SESSION / THE DOLEDRUMS / THE MIXUPS / EDDIE BEGGAN (The Gems)
The Echo Session play the 13th note in preparation for the release of their forthcoming album "In the dark…& go with your thoughts" . A nice Hungarian fairground feel, with jangly guitars and beautiful harmonies…..NOT ONE TO MISS! / Also playing are The Doledrums who have been playing the circuit for a while and have attracted a great local following, a great band who are anything but the norm….MUST SEE! / The Mixups are a fairly new band and it might possibly be one of their first gigs, COME ALONG A SHOW SOME SUPPORT! / Eddie Beggan (The Gems) plays lovely acoustic guitar and a selection of the tunes from his album are available via myspace………..and you can also purchase the album.
www.myspace.com/theechosession
www.myspace.com/midweekdreamer (the doledrums)
www.myspace.com/themixupsarehere
www.myspace.com/eddiebeggan
Saturday 16
Drive Carefully Records present: HYENA / 18 WHEELS (pictured) / SELLOTAPE
Hyena are a punk rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. Mmmmmm......Rapeman, Scratch Acid, Bardo Pond, All Tomorrows Parties, Kill Rock Stars, Touch and Go, Fugazi, Sonic Youth, Black Flag, Bikini Kill, someyoungpedro, Strawberry Bon Bons, the Butthole Surfers, Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Hella, Tapes, Vinyl, LIGHTS, SOUND and ACTION!!!!! Neon scratchings of the sardonic kind...... / 18 Wheels: Imagine a world Where Grunge happened in New Orleans instead of Seattle. A world where Dolly Parton is President for Life. Where Bono shot himself at 27 and Kurt Cobain flogs ipods. Where Marilyn Manson is a pentecostal Preacher and Morrisey was aborted as a fetus. In that world The 18 Wheels are played on every radio station and No home is complete without one of their albums. In this one they are merely magnificent.
www.drivecarefullyrecords.co.uk
www.myspace.com/drivecarefullyrecords
www.myspace.com/hyenaband
www.myspace.com/the18wheels
www.myspace.com/sellotapemusic
Sunday 17
BRONTO SKYLIFT (pictured) / THE RETROFRETS / COPILOT EFFECT / TERESA BANKS / SUICIDE SKIES
Bronto Skylift were on next, and said they were going to play "3 songs really fast". The singer's statement seemed misleading until the duo launched into a rapid-fire torrent of thrash-punk. Whilst priding themselves on making a racket, it was nonetheless controlled. "Vitamin Girl" was a badgering, yet explosive song, possibly about plastic surgery. "Am Not Me" again allowed singer/guitarist Niall to further harass the Barfly PA with his heavily-distorted guitar drawl. While this band's success will never go far beyond cult, their live show can be regarded as a treat in itself.
www.myspace.com/brontoskylift
www.myspace.com/theretrofrets
www.myspace.com/copiloteffect
www.myspace.com/teresabanks
Thursday 21
is this music? - 1st Birthday Celebration: DE ROSA (pictured) / Y'ALL IS FANTASY ISLAND / THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS
Doors 8.30pm / £5
www.myspace.com/isthismusic
www.myspace.com/wearederosa
www.myspace.com/yifimusic
www.myspace.com/therewillbefireworks
Friday 22
POCKET PROMISE / + GUESTS
Pocket Promise - These four young lads rolled off a Ryanair flight from Ireland in October last year to set up camp in old London town to try and rinse some glory out of the choking Big Smoke. Together since 2000 but as yet unsigned, this download only EP gives a teasing little glance into the band's musical backyard. Opening track 'Déjà Vu' starts pleasingly with a subdued melancholic melody, building to an earnest heartfelt chorus and back down again. 'I Burnt The Roller Disco' is a defiant, upbeat rocky little number, though this is probably the weaker track of the three, staying a little bit too close to the less adventurous end of indie pop rock. Pocket Promise chose to close the EP with a slow muted tear-jerker – and a good choice it is too. The vocals get a chance to show off and shine and they prove they are capable of penning a decent tune when they want to. The boys make pleasant agreeable sounds, easy on the ear, without presenting too much of a listening challenge. Not songs that will change the face of music as we know it, but then again not all music has to be. Light, catchy and ever so slightly tortured.
www.pocketpromise.com
www.myspace.com/pocketpromise
Saturday 23
DAEMONOLITH / AMPUTATED / ACHREN (pictured)
Scottish black metal band Daemonolith delivered a powerful performance, causing the crowd within the small English venue in Bristol, to be drawn to their fate in front of the stage, to experience the band's raw, eerie black metal sound. Feelings of both anxiety, and excitement ran through our veins, at the presence of their outstanding German vocalist Seelenfresser, who towered over us, and I raised my arm in praise of their ritual atmosphere. Daemonolith's cold chords betray the band's black/thrash metal roots, and will appeal to black metal fans everywhere. Hearing Daemonolith live is an infectious experience, and comes highly recommended!
www.myspace.com/daemonolith666
www.myspace.com/amputateduk
www.myspace.com/achrenmetal
Sunday 24
Splendid Dead present: MUTANT MUSIC FOR FAST KIDS & SLOW LEARNERS / CORSAIRS! / RAY FAVOURITE / & VERY SPECIAL GUESTS
Doors 9pm
www.myspace.com/splendiddead
www.myspace.com/wearecorsairs
Friday 29
The End of the Month Club 6TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! - 'The Evel Knievel Leap Year Tribute' with: BOZILLA / THE LEATHERETTES (pictured) / THE TECHNOPHOBES
We've made it to six years of end of month topical electro entertainment, and we've saved up our evel knievel tribute as it's only fitting it's on the leap year night. So expect Captain Adventure, Weevel Kinhell Plastic Stuntman and renditions of Van Halen to be part of the night. Plus party treat bags, venue pass the parcel and top guests in the form of the leatherettes & the technophobes. NICE ! Doors 9pm, entry £4.
www.eotmc.com
www.bozilla.co.uk
www.myspace.com/bozillabozilla
www.myspace.com/theleatherettes
www.myspace.com/technophobes
