Tuesday 01
closed
Thursday 03
Hackpen Records Night: BANDS tba
Doors 9pm
Friday 04
Private Function
Thursday 10
DROPKICK / LITTLE PEBBLE / IONA MARSHALL
Country pop touched by the hand of God from Dropkick, arguably one of this countries best alt country bands and exponents of awesome brotherly vocal harmonies. Probably my favourite Scottish pop outfit, if only all pop music was like this....*dreams of a better world*. Anyone who has witnessed the mighty Dripkock live will tell you not only how tight they are, but how immensely enjoyable it is watching a drummer who sings, drums and plays banjo at the same tiome. Awesome! Support from the sublime Little Pebble (fence) who quite frankly makes me melt on the inside (not in a creepy way, or in a raiders of the lost ark climactic face melting way, listen to cry water on his myspace page and you'll understand) and celtic infused folkstress Iona Marshall, who is currently successfully overcoming the limitations of being a solo artist with her intoxincating imagination and creativity. 8:30pm £4
www.myspace.com/protectandsurviveglasgow
www.dropkickmusic.co.uk
www.myspace.com/dropkickmusic
Saturday 12 ***RECOMMENDED***
MARZURAAN (Newcastle) / BLACK SUN + KYLIE MINOISE collaboration / EYE SHAKING KINGDOM
"Newcastle Upon Tyne based four-piece Marzuraan return with Solid Wood to solidify their position as the underdog of the post-drone/noise rock/crawl core scene. Solid Wood reveals yet another perspective to Marzuraan's unique sound with the emphasis switched from mind-piercing feedback and monolithic repetition of riffs to a more harmonic and brooding approach. The warmer yet undoubtedly equally heavy sound can be experienced throughout the first two tracks Punch the Goat and Beating Them Off with a Stick where the sluggish rhythm, softly overdriven guitar and pulsating bass create a hypnotic texture, contrasted by the tortured and necroid vocals, sounding like the inferno of passed away black metal vocalists in one man. Bad Flange makes a brief return to the feedback driven punishment of earlier Marzuraan recordings and definitely represents the most ominous and tormenting moments on this album. Nice Wang fills the final minutes of Solid Wood with a seemingly soothing atmosphere of melodic guitars yet eventually the intensity grows and reaches its climax with just the final gasps of the delirious vocals remaining." / Black Sun + Kylie Minoise ... playing together! Oh fuck! That's gonna hurt like hell! So let me get this straight...we're going to have the sludgiest, most bowel emptyingist, doom band playing with the one-man noise and angst factory?!?! yabba to the dabba to the fucking doo! / Eye Shaking Kingdom – here's a review ... "Unedited and unannotated...from teletext.co.uk. VoidView by David Laing - Far from being an imperfection, feedback can create and sustain an interesting gig. ESK, a duo of Alisdair Crosbie and Nacht Insectum, are one such act - two men, two guitars and an intense level of concentration. They're so focussed during their short set that they face away from the audience and sit on the stage, but they create interesting sonic postcards despite the aural intensity." teletext: surely the zenith of all reviews.
www.myspace.com/black_sun_1000
www.myspace.com/kylieminoise
Thursday 17
is this music? - ENDOR / Q WITHOUT U / NOON
Endor: 'Endor are apparently Scotland's next great hopes, they haven't quite cracked the rest of Britain yet but I can't see why they wouldn't. The hype surrounding their debut release 'Hold On' lead BBC Radio 1's Vic Galloway to near mental breakdown when the bands fans harassed him daily to play it. Apparently he called for an end to the living hell, but did they stop? Did they heck. This, their second release picks up on the momentum and spins its 10 turns. There's something invigorating about this band. A breath of fresh air. It took me a few plays to get the vibe which is also a very good thing. Think Wedding Present meets Idlewild meets Bloc Party before they went pap. 'We Live In Doors' is a cracking single. Even though it's laden with glockenspiels and tinges of twee it's got a spritely spring in it's step. Heavy drums thud as things kick off. Singer David McGinty sung backing vocals on Snow Patrol's latest lp, but don't let that put you off, he's a fine voice. Sort of like a cross between Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) without the Americanisms and Roddy Woomble's younger days when Idlewild were good. It's all wistful, stomping pop and I love it. Everything about it is spot on, even the fact it took more than one play to impact on me. "She Breaks Down in Crisis" McGinty croons. Superb. The beside is 'Lead Balloons' which sounds like an Oxes song title but this is far from being mathcore noise. There's acoustic guitars, organs and splashes of Arcade Fire majesty until things pick up the pace turning this song into a folk romp. McGinty recalling Michael Stipe here, not quite the quality of his voice yet but certainly showing huge potential. / Q without U - You Say Pop (Like its a Dirty Word) - "Title of the month for sure, and indeed a pretty good stab at the subject matter. The Q check all the indie boxes: rattling rythms,catchy chourses and jangly bass - really like Joy Division and The Wedding Present combined by Faustian Pact 4/5" taken from issue 13 of is this music? "Their sound (on the strength of their downloads) is best described as reminiscent of new wave rock, before that came to solely mean people with fringes playing indie-disco on the downstroke. They cite New Order and The Cure, yet one can also hear the transatlantic influence of the Minutemen and the Smithereens... this can all only be a good thing."
www.isthismusic.com
www.myspace.com/isthismusic
www.myspace.com/endor
www.qwithoutu.com
www.myspace.com/qwithoutu
Friday 18
THE FRENCH QUARTER / + GUESTS
"HAILING from Tillicoultry, THE FRENCH QUARTER formed in November 2004 after converting their garage into a rehearsal space. The band's latest three-track demo sees them create some bleakly beautiful soundscapes that are reminiscent of fellow Scots noise-mongerers Mogwai. Comprising Frank Murray (vocals, guitars, piano), Dan Murray (guitars, piano, Juno 60), Ryan Andrews (bass) and Stuart Jamieson (drums), their track Fast is one of the most intoxicating instrumentals you're likely to hear anywhere, with its brooding bass underpinning a subtly writhing keyboard sequence. "Days fade away but the years are here to stay," sings Frank Murray on Sleigh and goodness only knows what he's going on about, but with cymbals gently crashing like waves on a beach and some marvellously understated fretwork the overall effect builds to a wonderfully solemn yet compelling sonic crescendo. Occupying similar musical territory to Perth's own Luxury Car, FQ's music will principally appeal to brooding types who like to wear long dark trench coats, but there's always a kernel of hope amongst these dark offerings. Basically, this is the type of sound the late, great John Peel would probably have loved playing on his classic radio show. Citing Joy Division, Clinic, The National, American Analogue Set, The Longcut and The Zephyrs among their influences, FQ rigidly follow their own wilfully uncommercial muse. Despite having already secured a glowing review for their debut demo on Teletext's Planet Sound, the foursome - who are all in their early twenties - remain one of Scottish alternative music's best kept secrets."
www.thefrenchquarter.co.uk
Saturday 19
Drive Carefully Records present: JUST JOANS / CEYLAN HAY / THE SECOND HAND MARCHING BAND
Doors 9pm
www.drivecarefullyrecords.co.uk
www.myspace.com/drivecarefullyrecords
www.myspace.com/thejustjoans
www.myspace.com/thesecondhandmarchingband
www.myspace.com/ceylanhay
Monday 21
Struck Dum Records: JOHNNY FOREIGNER / THINK:FIRE / TRACK 9 / 2/3RDS OF YOUTH
Johnny Foreigner (Birmingham): "there are 3 of us, we come from birmingham, we dont go out too much and we have a tendency to overcompensate. and we write noisy pop songs for people what like the same bands as we do. last year we put out two 7" records on Laundrette Records. they both sold out and got played on the rah-dio and stuffs. we were pretty fucking proud. this summer we signed a proper record deal, with cone-tracts and everything, with Best Before Records. we recorded an eepee called arcs across the city at southern studios, it got mega good reviews from magazines we'd almost stopped buying and a lot more people started listening to us. maybe you are one of them. thanks. we just got back from new york making an album proper."
www.myspace.com/struckdumrecords
www.myspace.com/johnnyforeigner
www.myspace.com/thinkfire
www.myspace.com/track9rock
Tuesday 22
10 EASY WISHES / STATE OF AFFAIRS / THE CIVILIAN PROJECT
A cool evening of hi octane indie rock a la dinosaur jr / sebadoh / replacements from the lovelyblue panda peoples.....hurrah! (if you have a hat on, now would be a good time to throw it in the air!)
www.myspace.com/10easywishes
www.myspace.com/stateofaffairsrock
www.myspace.com/acivilianproject
Wednesday 23
Indigo Promotions: BANDS tba
www.myspace.com/indigopromotions
Thursday 24 ***RECOMMENDED***
Beyond Good & Evil: BEACH FUZZ / CHEER / SINGLE HELIX
BeachFuzz – wow! 4 people doing the steve reich / terry riley thang! Yas! A combination of woodwind, brass, drums and guitar used to the droningest max. check out their great little video clip on their myspace. / Cheer - "Alec Cheer is yet another talented artist who's found an outlet in the shape of Benbecula's superb Mineral series of CDs. His sound is one of organic, acoustic and delicately electronic tracks that are delightfully arranged and played. Guitars form the main backbone of the CD with a series of Folk-influenced and beautifully melancholy pieces that are chilled, evocative and warm... played from the heart you feel. Vocals play a part here as well but they sit so nicely in the mix and feel so natural that they're never intrusive... just 'right', if you know what I mean. Add to that a textured and layered feel from time to time and you've got yourself a prime piece of work. A lovely and enchanting CD that comes recommended." / Single Helix – "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" whilst making awesome drones / scrapes / tones / harmonics. It should be pointed out the the quick brown fox is bilingual (not that his sexuality should matter), well above 6 ft tall and a member of the entertainment duo lanterns.
www.myspace.com/beachfuzz
Saturday 26 ***RECOMMENDED***
Nuts and Seeds: ANNE ROSSI / ROLLIN HUNT / MANDRAKE SHEPHERD
Anni Rossi - "Equal parts Joanna newsome and coco rosie... Rossi produces a sound so startling I was forced to stoop to beggar status, pleading with the door-woman to allow me to enter without paying cover with the intent of buying Rossi's CD and giving it a good honest listen in the privacy of my own home. On the purchased album, Scandia, Rossi sings, taps (with tap shoes, of course) is keyboardist and masters the viola (NOT the violin,) her primary instrument of choice. her voice is sweet yet smart, tempestuous at times. I cannot recommend this album enough. The greener listener may need to take some time to accumulate full appreciation of this work, but I assure you, it is absolutely worth the effort you may or may not need to grow accustomed to it." / Rollin Hunt – (from the chicago tribune) "The magic of local singer/songwriter Rollin Hunt is how he works with what he's got. Watching him play, backed by his ramshackle band, you sense the chasm between the pop songs he dreams and his delivery -- and his willingness to broach the space regardless of how awkward it may be -- is a winning proposition. Where Hunt arrives with his songs seems like a wholly earnest accident; his voice is pubescent and unstable, but he manages to eke out some soul, despite a slight speech impediment. Stylistically, he hews to classic '60 pop form -- as if someone was trying to imitate The Shangri-La's or The Ronettes but only knew them from a thirdhand description -- it's all unearthly shoo-be-do, horns and melancholy. Except the songs aren't about love, they're hallucinatory narratives about watching your neighbors make out in their window, distributing a pamphlet about yourself so you can be understood, or antelopes. Hunt has only played a handful of shows, but he's already on his way to becoming a local legend." / Mandrake Shepherd – acoustic greatness in the mold of james orr complex / john fahey / will oldham. Although, they really are only reference points as the mandrake takes you on his own journey rather than retreading old paths. Cracking stuff.
www.myspace.com/nutsseeds
Tuesday 29
STROSZEK / WELCOME TO SPOOK CLUB / THOUSANDSOUNDS
"Stroszek began the night with a set of Chomsky-ite electro-pop, which served both as a pleasant surprise and a point of thought. The use of a drum machine - questionable at first - proved a wise move, as it came to suit the bands gloomy, emotive sound especially on "Burning Libraries". Sounding not unlike The Cure, the band drove on through "The Saltire" and the menacing "You've only Got Yourself To Blame" with plenty of energy.... but their sound - not like anything in the charts at present - is nonetheless interesting, and their performance the same." / Thousandsounds current line up formed in July 2007 although the band have been playing together in other forms for the past 8 years nearly. Fusing Atmospheric & Cavernous wall of sound guitar with Funk, Rock and Dub, taking influence from the likes of Ambient Eno, Funkadelic, Lee-Scratch Perry, Early U2, John Martyn, Motown, soul and etheral acts such as The Cocteau Twins and Ulrich Schnauss.
www.myspace.com/stroszek
www.myspace.com/welcometospookclub
www.myspace.com/thousandsounds2007
Thursday 31
The End of the Month Club: OVER THE WALL / DEAD ON THE LIVE WIRE / BOZILLA + FRIENDS
Doors 9pm
www.eotmc.com
www.bozilla.co.uk
www.myspace.com/bozillabozilla
