Friday 01
This Is Our Battlefield present: MESA VERDE (pictured) / BLACK CHANNELS / HUMAN ERA
Mesa Verde: "I hate how the word 'emo' has been completely bastardised. I want to use the E word to describe this band from Glasgow, but I would use it the same way I would use it to describe La Quiete. Certainly not the way The Daily Mail would use it to describe My Chemical Romance. In fact, this band really reminds me of the frantic emotive thrashing sounds of La Quiete, except they are slightly more cohesive. It has long, steady build-ups and crashes into a cacophony of fun and noise. This EP polarises its melodic with the frenetic and it works. It would make great bike ride music. Oh, and the artwork is really cool as well. It is folded in an unusual way and when you unfold it there is a drawing of someone hanging. / Human Era draw from these tasty influences ... Tad, Honeywell, Shikari, Sunn O))), Bucket Full of Teeth, Crass, Swing Kids, Lungfish, Born Against, Corrupted, In/Humanity,THE Nakba, Floor, Pg99, Takaru, Aviation, My bloody valentine, His hero is gone, Joy Division, Orchid, Melvins, Reversal Of Man, Majority Rule, Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth! d.i.y d.i.y d.i.y
www.myspace.com/tiob
www.myspace.com/mesaverde
www.myspace.com/blackchannelsboat
www.myspace.com/humanerafucker
Saturday 02
Flowers in the Dustbin presents SEDITIONARIES feat: TRANSFER AUDIO / STROSZEK (pictured) / THE REWARD
Stroszek - "Vibrant, threatening and song-writing-wise as good as any of their mentors" Is This Music? magazine. "Named after the Werner Herzog film, Stroszek stood out from the glut of unsigned bands that fills the MySpace universe and caught my attention. Not only is their music going against the tide of the post-Libertines vanguard, but they write intelligent, political and confrontational lyrics of the type I haven't heard from any recent band. A self-described "post-punk-electro-shoegaze" band, they produce a glacial, moody post-punk sound reminiscent of Josef K, the David Bowie Berlin trilogy, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, but with hints of gloomy synth-pop akin to The Cure and Depeche Mode and a textured melodic soundscape like Cocteau Twins. At the same time, the basslines recall the driving feel of Killing Joke and the groove of early Simple Minds. Richey's vocals fall between the Ian Curtis tonality and the low tremble of Richard Butler from Psychedelic Furs. Their lyrics sit within the realm of the The Clash, Manic Street Preachers, McCarthy, and Gang of Four, placing them far above their peers in my eyes. Not since the Manics has there been such brilliant use of political and philosophical intertextuality. Stroszek often references Scottish issues in addition to more general statements about world politics, the role of the media, and history. It's refreshing to hear meaningful poetry in lyrics which actually challenge you. Last summer I was lucky enough to see Stroszek perform live in Manchester, and even though they were limited to a five song set, I was truly happy that I had been there to witness it. The true test of a band for me is whether I enjoy songs I've never heard before as much as the songs I already know, and Stroszek aced this test. They are simply a great live band, one that doesn't need anything other than the music to blow you away. Richey sang with intensity, honesty and anguish; Les's guitar deftly danced through the pulsing rhythms of the programmed drums, weaving haunting melodies; Doug drove each song along in true Jah Wobble and/or Killing Joke fashion; and they all took turns playing the synth in a seamless, but intricately layered, wall of sound. And of course the lyrics gave me that triumphant feeling similar to the one I got watching the Manics - call me weird, but songs that mention Chomsky make my heart swell." the reward - 'The musical influences of this Glasgow four-piece are clear, and they're not ashamed to admit it. Echoes of Interpol, Joy Division and Editors resonate through their music, but The Reward have created a sound drenched in reverb and haunting lyrics which more than stands on its own, shoulder to shoulder with the music of their peers. And they've only been together six months. Earlier this year The Reward were voted Xfm Glasgow's Band of the Week – more recognition like this needed please, this band are very talented.' Doors 8pm, Entry £5 (also available from Tickets Scotland)
www.myspace.com/flowersinthedustbin
www.myspace.com/transferaudio
www.myspace.com/stroszek
www.myspace.com/kochkaofficial
Sunday 03
CHEESECAKE / GLIDER (pictured) / KEVIN TAFFY
Who doesn't like cheesecake? I mean....c'mon! Cheesecake are 66.66% of galchen and will be providing us with glitchy, beat driven electronica. Yum! Kevin taffy is bringing along hi indie rock all the way from londonshire and glider will be zoning us out big style with their splendidly great shoegazing post-rock. Doors 9pm
www.myspace.com/gliderglasgow
Wednesday 06
The Wreckin' Pit presents: THE 241ers / BILLY LIAR / THE LIE DETECTORS / ROSCOE VACANT
From the steaming wreckage of Brooklyn's Stockyard Stoics and London's Filaments, with shuffling percussional support from Mobile, Alabama's Criminal Class USA, and many other friends as well, we are the 241ers. Acoustic because we wrote the songs sans drummer in our living rooms (and also we are old and our backs ache), political because the world is too fucked up not to write songs about it (plus 'Nancy's china sets' rhymes well with 'shiny fighter jets'), and punk because we know no other way. In assbackwards fashion we have first recorded an album and are now setting out into the world to play shows. Come see us! Book us a show! Help put out our album! Buy or copy the thing when it comes out! And for dog sake would someone somewhere please tear this racist, sexist, classist, homophobic, Rupert Murdoch-infested system down to its filth-ridden foundations. See you in the streets! Or at least up the street, at that lame open mike night at the coffee house where all the goth kids hang out. / Billy Liar: 'There's no mistaking the passion, the presence of dedication, or the obvious talent for brilliant song writing.... Hard edged compositions with more than a foot in the genre of punk rock but, and this is where the wonder lies, governed and sustained by the predominant guidance of the acoustic guitar' MUSIC NEWS SCOTLAND
www.myspace.com/thewreckingpit
www.myspace.com/the241ers
www.myspace.com/billyliarmusic
www.myspace.com/theliedetectors
www.myspace.com/roscoevacant
Friday 08
HI 5 ALIVE / BEATNIC PRESTIGE / EWAN BUTLER
What stands out about Hi 5 Alive is their ability to express their enjoyment through performance...With its blast of billowing, guitar-based melodies, the track Friday Nights is just one example of how Hi 5 Alive show us how it's done. Although bearing distinct similarities to fellow indie kings The Kooks and The Cazals, these new boys on the block stand out in how they add a bit more flavour to what is already quite a delicious indie scene. With a bit of kick and excitement, Hi 5 Alive prove that they have something to offer that is fresh and frankly, quite lovely. The track itself dives into a raucous guitar-fused storm, followed closely by vocals that are so endearing, you'll just want to hug them. My favourite bit, however, arrives with the 'woo's and 'yeah's, which are indeed 'woo's and 'yeah's of the very best variety. I think what stands out most about Hi 5 Alive though, is their ability to express their enjoyment through performance. It is refreshing to come across a band whose music is not just lyrics and melody, but that also includes an element of fun. The band are obviously skilled musically, but it is their energy that allows them to sparkle as an up-and-coming act with a future brighter than festival sunshine itself. So, high five indeed guys - we're sure to see you soon.
www.myspace.com/hi5alive
www.myspace.com/beatnicprestige
www.myspace.com/ewanbutler
Saturday 09
This Is Our Battlefield present: HYENA / CITIZENS / SUNSET SQUAD
Citizens are the local boys on this one, playing really chaotic, intelligent, angular hardcore that wouldn't sound out of place on Ebullition. For fans of Yaphet Kotto, Drive Like Jehu, et al. / Sunset Squad hail from in and around Perth and play straight up melodic hardcore, fast and angry and complete with big breakdowns and singalong choruses to boot.
www.myspace.com/tiob
www.myspace.com/citizensuk
www.myspace.com/sunsetsquadband
Sunday 10
CAREER SUICIDE / GEOFFREY OI!COTT / TRIPLE SCHOOL / THE MURDERBURGERS (pictured)
Career Suicide hail from Toronto Canada, count members of Fucked Up and Government Warning among their number, and deliver some of the best hardcore punk this side of 1984. These guys don't so much release records as produce small plastic time machines that'll throw you back to the days of Circle Jerks, The Germs and Jerrys Kids (minus any self-consciously retro bullshit, of course). This is their first appearance in Scotland on a very long-awaited UK tour - if you like all things fast, thrashy and raw then don't miss out! / Geoffrey Oi!Cott: Cricket-themed punk from Leeds. The jokes might be lost on us north of the border because cricket is a shite sport and we all have exceptional taste on that matter, but you can't argue with Geoffrey Oi!Cott's tunes. Think Cocksparrer with less war on the terraces and more legs over wicket. / Triple School: Rip-roaring garage punk two piece featuring the man you've recently seen fronting That Fucking Tank, and (not-as-recently) Dananananaykroyd. Some people have said they sound like Shellac, but then some people need their ears checked. More like Billy Childish going through a Gang of Four/Wire-shaped mangler at top speed, says I. / The Murderburgers: The ubiqutous demigods of Glaswegian pop-punk return to the Note to sate all your music-that-sounds-like-Screeching-Weasel needs. And if that isn't what you need then what's wrong with you? Doors 8.30pm, £5
www.careersuicide.net
www.myspace.com/geoffreyoicott
www.myspace.com/tripleschool
www.myspace.com/themurderburgers
Tuesday 12
The Wreckin' Pit presents: INTRO5PECT / MORAL DILEMMA / INTENTIONS
Intro5pect: a new generation of political electro-punk......We aren't here simply to entertain. Music can be an incredible force for social and political change, through either influence or inspiration. In this artificial, consumerized, intolerant, moneycentric culture, we stand defiant... willing to look past pre-defined labels of race, sex, religion, class, nationality, and subculture, in order to create something new, and to make a positive difference in the world. / Moral Dilemma were formed in the summer of 2004, after lengthy rehersals during a ridiculously hot summer we began playing gigs and have done ever since with the mentality that we'll play anywhere with electricity, from playing at 3 am to amphetamine fuelled punk rockers with make do pass out of guitar amps to every other "established" venue in between. alongside the likes of the vibrators, sick on the bus, the varukers, vic ruggerio of the slackers, the stockyard stoics, the unseen and far too many more to mention as well as playing last years rebellion festival. our album "right ro remain silent" which was produced by peter miles and itch ( king blues) and recorded in 19 hours ( from 10.00am until 5.00am) is curently available at our gigs is distributed through plastic head distribution.
www.myspace.com/thewreckingpit
www.myspace.com/intro5pect
www.myspace.com/moraldilemmalondon
www.myspace.com/intentionsband
Wednesday 13
Beyond Good and Evil: PRIMORDIAL UNDERMIND (USA) / THOUGHT FORMS / JOHN W. FAIL & NEIL DAVIDSON DUO / RENDELECT REMAINS
Primordial Undermind (US): "Reverberating with primitive hallucinogenic drones, garage rock grinds and improvisations that slowly build from half-formed blowouts to cosmic Stockhausen-style epics... PU have crawled out of the psychedelic undergrowth and evolved into something special" - Edwin Pouncey (Savage Pencil), the Wire "underworldy free-rock music... The Undermind is a kind of direct descendant of the big late '60s electronics-powered post-psychedelic ensembles such as Fifty Foot Hose, but much much better " - Julian Cope, Headheritage "These aren't just burnouts playing loud, distorted psych. They're paranoid burnouts playing loud, distorted psych. Behold the swirling madness and tranquility" - Doug Kubert, Zeen "more than enough gnarl to satisfy the goriest of heads" - David Keenan, the Wire "the battle between structure and chaos is a real, levitating joy" - Dave Pearce, Ptolemaic Terrascope Neil Davidson's work within improvising groups of various sizes (including the Glasgow improviser's Orchestra) suggests that he's a good listener: it's always perceptive and supportive of the surrounding sounds and never seems to over-fill or frill. Here, he creates pieces as soundtracks to short films from Boston & Coney Island by Kate Burton. I haven't seen the visuals, but these subtle and, at times, sparse free improv acoustic guitar pieces suggest that he is also a perceptive viewer. There are some complex rhythmic burts, but the slightly melancholic air of the slower pieces is the pervasive feeling here and it feels right, even without the pictures Neil played to. Doors at 8.45. £5
www.myspace.com/primordialundermind
www.myspace.com/thoughtforms
www.neildavidson.org.uk
Thursday 14
TEAM BRICK / GUANOMAN / REMEMBER REMEMBER
Team Brick is a powerful and unique musician from Bristol. His performances incorporate all kinds of instruments, equipment and techniques, including clarinet played through a loop pedal, drum abuse, chiming bells, plucked strings and a cappella rants. His vocals are similarly broad in range, encompassing throat singing, speaking in tongues and cathartic off-mic bellowing, activating the acoustic properties of his whole body. Together, these sounds create an evocative, resonant and mysterious body of work that offers a half-glimpse into an intriguing world of its own. Team Brick has shared stages with Portishead, Lightning Bolt, Julian Cope, DJ Scotch Egg, Fog and COLORIR to name only a few. He is signed to various independent labels including Invada Records, for which his first "proper" CD release, "Alogon" is due out in September 2008. Support from Glasgow's Guanoman and guests.
www.myspace.com/teambrick
www.myspace.com/guanomanmusic
Friday 15
LOCAL TOUR GUIDE / ALAN BURGESS / ALEX WAYT
Doors 9pm
www.myspace.com/localtourguide
Saturday 16
Drive Carefully for Maggie's Centre: GORDON MACINTYRE (Ballboy) / OVER THE WALL (pictured) / THE FELT TIPS / THE SECOND HAND MARCHING BAND
Gordon from the amazing ballboy playing some not oft aired 'boy tunes.i can't wait to see what hidden gems we get treated to! - over the wall sidle on up with some electro based, guitar fuelled songsmithery of the highest order. - the felt tips
www.drivecarefullyrecords.co.uk
www.myspace.com/drivecarefullyrecords
www.myspace.com/overthewall
www.myspace.com/thefeltips
Sunday 17
Nuts and Seeds present: HUMAN ERA / RISING TERROR / BLACK CHANNELS
Rising terror – refreshing french hardcore with a metal edge. "We started to make grindcore in the purest way in summer 2006, influenced by the swedish scene: nasum, regurgitate... including some brutal death parts. After 3 rehearsal and 6 songs, one of our member had to move so we were forced to make a break. In winter 2006, "Show Me Your Tits Records" contacted us to be in a 3ways split with L.A.R.D.O.N and Gleargh, so we've started to record our songs with our shit material. After that, we've decided to continue the band even if we couldn't rehearse a lot. In 2007 the split was released and we began to do a couple of gigs and, in the summer, we'll start a tour in France and UK. Now, a split with Xaros is available, we've recorded some tracks for another split and we're booking an europeen tour for the end of this summer. We still looking for a label !" with top notch local supports
www.myspace.com/nutsseeds
www.myspace.com/humanerafucker
Tuesday 19
Struck Dum Records: BANDS tbc
3 more struck dum acts
www.myspace.com/struckdumrecords
Thursday 21
is this music? – MOUSE EAT MOUSE / THE RED WELL / SPY MOVIE
3 bands from the lovely itm? peoples
www.myspace.com/isthismusic
www.myspace.com/mousehq
www.myspace.com/spymovieuk
Friday 22
THE MARTIAL ARTS (pictured) / THE SQUID / CHATEAU GREYSKULL
"The Martial Arts are in a blissful time warp that traps bands between the 60s and the present day. Equally excellent, check out both "Summer Tweed" and "Finale" to get your daily dose of radiant, sunshiny indiepop." - LOOSE RECORD "As fortune would have it this album landed with me a matter of days after I narrowly missed seeing them live. A shame really as this is a thoroughbred collection of quality guitar driven pop. The production coupled with a generous use of keys - from theremin to synths - keeps the sound fresh making the influences harder to pin down. 'Contemptuous Disdain' is good example that mixes everything up well and even features a hint of ska. Upbeat opener 'Murry & Audree' is reminiscent of 60s beat but could just as easily be pulling from mid seventies Flamin' Groovies. Not that it matters, it's three and a half minutes of timeless pop. Don't Want to Talk continues in the same vain. Four songs in and 'Frost' changes tack a bit - a not quite ballad anchored by piano. Straight away 'Mod Val' kicks in and accelerates away as the guitars are reasserted in something of a punk out. 'Summer Tweed' is another stand out bit of tunesmithery from Paul Kelly - California style pop conceived in Northern Europe. Talking of which, this would have probably been my album for the summer months if it was not already pissing October." - IS THIS MUSIC? "Jaw on floor, dancing boots in turbo, absolutely marvellous, marvellous stuff. Expect great things - if not, you've only your damn selves to blame." - THE SKINNY "I've had this album on repeat since I got it!" – Lennart Wrigholm, Musiklandet.se "An enchanting pop explosion" – Lisa Olaison, Sundsvalls Tidning
www.myspace.com/themartialarts
Sunday 24
tempertemper promotions introduce... TOKAMAK / SAMURAI PIRATE / M.
Doors 9pm
www.myspace.com/tempertemper
www.myspace.com.mdotband
Monday 25
Carlton Studios: ELECTORATE / DEAD OTTER / THE HARDY SOULS
Doors 9pm
Tuesday 26
BILLY LAIRD / TRACK 9 (pictured) / ANDREW BARROWMAN / STEPHEN GOODFELLOW / SIDELINE / PAUL DUNCAN / KIRKTON TERRACE
An acoustically slanted evening of pop punk. Stripped down, meaty goodness. (vegan meatiness of course).
www.myspace.com/track9rock
Thursday 28
BLACK SUN (pictured) / THE FEBRUARY SOLUTION (pictured) / THE BLACK CHAIN / CHEEKY PENIS
Black Sun: Plotkin-mastered recording by Glaswegian doomsters Black Sun manages to capture some of the essence of their formidable and incendiary live shows. Black Sun have always been an uncompromising and deliberately contrary band - early gigs would see them play with a confrontational (and occasionally violent) performance artist called Poledancer and anything up to 5 guitarists. This latest offering does nothing to reconcile that stance, with harmony and melody being neglected in favour of crushing and often sickening noise. This is coloured, thankfully, with passages of almost ambient instrumental scarcity. It is difficult to find a niche to neatly tidy this away into. While undoubtedly a doom band they, like Unearthly Trance, bring something new and unwholesome to the genre, giving it an attitude and vitality too often missing. Stand out track Seven Rooms nods in the direction of the post-hardcore prog leanings of Cult of Luna, but it's the briefest of nods and only then in acknowledgement of fellow seekers. If Black Sun can maintain their momentum and gather the new fans this CD demands then their future is looking very grim indeed. / The February Solution, have played various support slots with bands such as: Textures, Hopesfall, Khoma, Eden Maine, Aconite Thrill, All Shall Perish, and The Abominable Iron Sloth.
www.myspace.com/legionofblacksun
www.myspace.com/thefebruarysolution54
www.myspace.com/thecheekypenis
Saturday 30
THE WHISKY WORKS (pictured) / BLAKFISH (pictured) / TUBELORD (pictured)
Two of Big Scary Monsters Records' finest go head-to-head in a double headliner UK tour for this once-in-a-lifetime gigatunity! Following the release of their highly acclaimed EP 'See You In Another City', Birmingham-based Blakfish have returned to tear-up Glasgow for the second time this year. They've supported shitloads of bands worth mentioning, yet too many too fit on this page. Expect chunky, off-kilter, puzzle-core, with a twist of screamcore. Following tours with Johnny Foreigner and Tellison and the release of their highly acclaimed single 'Feed Me a Box of Words', Kingston-based co-headliners Tubelord are guaranteed to hit you repeatedly about the face with their jarring, disco pop tech punk rythms. If you're not dancing like a fucking madman by the end of the evening then you have, quite clearly, no taste. Support comes from Glasgow-based quartet The Whisky Works. Armed with an ever increasing arsenal of jarring material and a mutual love for Bill Murray, they're epic post-hardcore has poured blood, sweat and tears across the map, bursting a few ear-drums along the way. Delicious. Doors: £3
www.thewhiskyworks.com
www.myspace.com/thewhiskyworks
Sunday 31
The End of the Month Club: CNUT / IAMCHEMIST / BOZILLA (with guest vocalists from MEMBER OF THE WEDDING)
Doors 9pm
www.eotmc.com
www.bozilla.co.uk
www.myspace.com/bozillabozilla
