New Release: Skies Fell - The Kite

Skies Fell, fresh from headlining King Tut's on Saturday, release their new single The Kite this week.

Good wee single this. The Kite is a big, sweeping, epic sounding number, with a great we sing along ending. B-side Stolen Lung is a darker, more low key affair, which actually floats my boat a bit more than the A-side does. Both good songs though, and worth a purchase.

The Kite is available to download from iTunes.

New Release: Butcher Boy - Helping Hands

Following up on the single from last week, Butcher Boy release their third album this week.

I've not had a listen to the album yet, so I can't tell you much about how good it is. Instead I'll pass you over to JC of The Vinyl Villain, who got me to pick up the first two Butcher Boy albums through his comments on them previously, who has written about Helping Hands here.
JC is calling it his album of the year, and has an interview with Butcher Boy's Alison Eales, and a competition to win the Imperial single on 7", over here.

Helping Hands is available to download from iTunes. CD available from HMV.

This Week's Gigs: 29th August - 4th September

Looking for something to do this week? Here's the highlights.

Wednesday:

Redwings, Without Aeroplanes, Thula Bora. Bloc. Free entry.

Three good bands and the most agreeable price of free.

Cults, Kill the Waves. Nice N Sleazy.

Thursday:

Alan Bissett: Pack Men book launch. Waterstones, Sauchiehall St.

Launch event for Alan Bissett's latest novel, Pack Men. I've not read it yet, but on the quality of Alan's previous work I'm pretty sure it'll be good. The launch event kicks off at 6:30pm, entry is free.

Friday:

The Moth & The Mirror, Amber Wilson, Blood Blood. Captain's Rest.

Launch gig for the fab new single from the Moth & The Mirror, which you can download for free here.

The Whisky Works, The Darien Venture, Atlas: Empire. Stereo. (Tickets)

A good thing/bad thing gig. The good thing is that the gig launches The Whisky Works' new EP. The bad thing is that it will also be the band's final gig. Yay/boo as appropriate.

Pronto Mama. The Common Rooms.

Pronto Mama will be supporting themselves, with a half hour acoustic slot followed by their regular set.

Saturday:

Music is the Music Language. SWG3.

Also taking place on Sunday. For full details and running order see Facebook.

Sunday:

French Wives, Poor Things, Shields. 13th Note.

French Wives emerge blinking from the studio for an intimate gig, before going back into it again to finish off work on their debut album. New songs should be on show, and the support is pretty decent. Here's your gig of the week then. Might want to get along early though, The 13th Note is wee and it is first come first served. On second thoughts, can you all turn up late please? I want to make sure I can get in.

AVP4 - Done & Dusted

Excuse me a moment while I get a wee bit self indulgent.

Saturday past was of course the night of Aye Tunes Vs Peenko: The Revenge, and I've about just gotten myself back to normal afterwards. People that put gigs on for a living probably have no such issues, but when I put one on the days leading up to it are... interesting. A mixture of excitement, nervous energy and terror all combine to do weird things to me. So far all the gigs I've been involved in have been worth the three days without eating or sleeping properly before, and happily Saturday was exception.

A huge thank you to everyone that came along to Stereo on Saturday night, as confident that we were that we had a gig people would want to come to I've been to plenty nights with a great line-up and a barely double figures crowd, so it was at first a relief, then massively pleasing to be kept busy on the door dealing with the people coming in. We thank you for choosing to spend your time and money on us, as cheesy as it sounds it is very touching that those that came did.

The reason people came has very little to do with me or Peenko though, they came for the bands, and if everyone enjoyed them half as much as I did they will have gone home happy.

Mondegreen, Miaoux Miaoux and Adam Stafford - who roped in some friends for the occasion - were all brilliant, and we can't thank them enough for trusting us enough to agree to do the gig.

Anyway, enough of the gushing, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone, and I'm almost done, just a couple left...

Thanks Claire for taking photos. That's one of her photos up at the top there, and more can be seen on Flickr, just be warned that there's some of me in there. You can find all Claire's photos over at her Catthouse website.

Thanks Murray for the review over on his blog, and for the assistance manning the merch desk.

Big love to PAWS, drinks were had in your honour and thanks to Stereo for having us.

Last but not least, ok, last and least, thanks to Lloyd for sharing the stress, sharing the beer, and always knowing when to slag me off to distract me when it looks like my head is going to explode.

Now for the first time since April I find myself with no gig in the pipeline. A wee break is in order I think, but I doubt it'll be too long before I start shouting at you to come to something again.

New Release: Aidan Moffat - Stolen Songs

New music from Aidan Moffat is always something to be happy about. Ironic, given his reputation for miserable music I suppose.

Stolen Songs is a mini-album of cover versions, Aidan's take on songs made famous by Cyndi Lauper, Katie Melua, INXS, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Doris Duke, Marvin Gaye and The Kids From Fame. It is, of course, pretty bloody ace.

Stolen Songs is available from Bandcamp as either a download or limited edition CD. While stocks last the CD also comes with a copy of the Angry Buddhists album. I have that already, amongst other things it has Aidan doing more covers of Uptown Girl and the Love Theme From Star Wars on it, so that's worth a punt.

Galleries - New Songs, Free Download and a Situation Vacant

Galleries have been beavering away of late, working on their debut album. Some new songs have been popping up on Soundcloud, so swing over there to have a wee listen. Oddly enough Galleries have also somehow managed to make their way into my dreams. I woke up on Monday morning having dreamt that the band had announced they were splitting up, and had to go and check they hadn't.

The band have also made one of those new songs, Young Wounds, available as a free download. That's good of them, isn't it?

You can grab the download from their website here, and preview it below.

Young Wounds by Galleries

Galleries also are on the hunt for a new guitar player. Hopefully unrelated to my splitting up dream Paul has left the band, and they are after a replacement. You can find out more about what they are looking for and how to put yourself forward here.

New Release: Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island released a new single earlier this month, but I wasn't properly paying attention at the time. You Look Like I Need A Drink is out now, and is a good wee teaser for the Prince Edward Island album, This Day Is a Good Enough Day, which is released next week.

I say next week, the labum is already available to purchase on Amazon.

The band are London based, but listen for more than a few seconds and you'll quickly catch on that they aren't all from there, with singer Darren's Fife accent at the forefront of things.

The single is available from iTunes.

Prince Edward Island- You look like I need a drink by Prince Edward Island

New Release: Butcher Boy - Imperial

Butcher Boy emerge from a quiet period with the release of a new single, Imperial, ahead of the release of their third album next week.

Both songs are pretty much what you'd expect from the band, a bit twee, jangly and poppy. Also, good stuff, as you'd expect from Butcher Boy by now.

Imperial is available on 7" from Damaged Goods, or to download from iTunes, with both formats including non album track Juicy Fruit.

New Release: MakethisRelate - Sugar Glass

Glasgow threesome MakethisRelate have a new single out. Titled Sugar Glass, it is a blast of alternative rock that mostly makes me feel quite old and cranky, but I'm not the target market, and I can appreciate the craft.

The single is backed with an acoustic version, and a Bovine remix.

Buy Sugar Glass from iTunes.

New Release: Vladimir

Dundee four piece Vladimir release their debut EP this week.

Dark, sinister and noisy, the 5 track EP is pretty good stuff.

The band were also Peenko's latest Fresh Meat victims this week, so you can learn a bit more about them over there.

The EP is available from Bandcamp and bigcartel.

Vladimir - I Fight Fire by VLADIMIR

This Week's Gigs: 22nd - 28th August

As I mentioned last week, I'm messing about with the gig guide a bit. Instead of trying to cram in every gig I can find that is happening I'll be including the ones that look good, interesting, or otherwise stand out somehow. Hopefully that will make this less of a pain in the arse to write.

Tuesday:

Foxface. Mono. Free Entry.

Every couple of months I tend to ask "whatever happened to Foxface?", but no one ever answers me. Imagine my surprise when I heard about this gig then, and my further delight at finding a bunch of new songs on Soundcloud. No prizes for guessing where I'll be on Tuesday then.

Thursday:

John Knox Sex Club. Love Music Instore.

Ahead of their album launch on Sunday, John Knox Sex Club have a wee afternoon instore at Love Music.

Roscoe Vacant and the Gantin' Screichs, Bunny and the Misshapes, Dave Hughes and the Renegade Folk Punk Band, Billy Liar. Nice & Sleazy.

Launch gig for the new Roscoe Vacant album, Reckurdt. Ought to be a good gig this.

Finn Lemarinel, Debutant, Panda Su, Brown Bear & the Bandits. Pivo Pivo.

Also likely to be very good.

Friday:

Hei Ensemble, Adam Stafford. Nice & Sleazy.

Hey Enemy, plus a load of their friends, including members of Take A Worm For a Walk Week, United Fruit, Holy Mountain, Idlewild, Desalvo, Song Of Return, Otherpeople, Y'All Is Fantasy Island, Lapsus Linguae, Fighting Red Adair, Hush, Blue Sky Archives, Titus Gein, Household, Bronto Skylift, The Phantom Band, Citizens and more, all crammed on to one stage. Sounds like carnage, and damn near unmissable. Support comes from Aye Tunes hero Adam Stafford too.

Brown Brogues, Ghost Outfit, Rollor. The Electric Circus.

Meanwhile, through in Edinburgh, the Toad at the Circus gigs continue.

Pin Up Nights: Oh You Dancer, Machines in Heaven, Evol. The Flying Duck.

Last Friday of the month means it is Pin Up Nights, and as usual there's a nice pick of live acts.

Saturday:

Retreat! Pilrig St Pauls, Edinburgh. (Tickets)

Day one of the two day live music extravaganza. Burger, No Burger, FOUND, Fur Hood, Rob St John, ballboy, Gummy Stumps, Lady North and Broken Records make up the Saturday bill. More details on Facebook.

Skies Fell, PartWindPartWolf, Omnivore. King Tut's. (Tickets)

New Life Club: Mickey 9s, Magic Daddy, How Garbo Died. Bloc, 11pm-3am.

That line-up just might be worth me suffering the night bus back to Paisley.

Sunday:

Retreat! Pilrig St Pauls, Edinburgh. (Tickets)

Day two has eagleowl, Skeleton Bob, The Scottish Enlightenment, Two Wings, The Pineapple Chunks, Jesus H. Foxx, The Leg and Meursault. Again, more info on Facebook.

LightGuides, Pareto, We're Only Afraid of NYC. King Tut's. (Tickets)

John Knox Sex Club, North American War, Williwah. Stereo.

Aye Tunes Vs Peenko 4 - Tomorrow!

Right then, one last push.

First of all, the sad part. If you follow Aye Tunes on Facebook or Twitter you'll know already, but unfortunately PAWS have had to pull out from the gig for personal reasons. We'll miss PAWS, but their withdrawal is unavoidable. We've got hugs saved for them, and send them all our love.

We do still have a grand night planned, with Mondegreem, Miaoux Miaoux and Adam Stafford.

To hear a bit from all involved visit my preview from last week.

The gig takes place tomorrow night, Saturday August 20th, at Stereo in Glasgow. Please note that as there is a club on after the gig we have an early start, doors should open around 7, with the first band not long after. Tickets are £6, and you can pay on the door.

Just because the gig will be finishing by half 10 doesn't mean you have to plan an early night though. Join us for a drink afterwards upstairs in Stereo, where all involved will be taking turns in spinning some records. Adam promises some Rockabilly tunes, while me and Peenko will no doubt be ruining any kind of good reputation we might have with our selections.

Bedtime For Mitchell Museum

Right now I'm supposed to be writing the last minute plea for you all to attend tomorrow's Aye Tunes Vs Peenko gig. Before sitting down to write it I had a quick look at Twitter, and then at my email, and learned something that has made me really rather sad. It looks like we are losing, at least for a while, one of my favourite bands, Mitchell Museum. Copy/paste time first...

Hello all out there. We’ve come to you with kind of sad news. Of late we have had a few unfortunate instances as a band and, mostly to matters beyond our control and understanding, it seems we may have to take a break for a while.

We’ve have recently lost members of both our on and off stage team, all are just as important in making this thing happen, and we’re not sure how we will do this without them and we’re unsure if we want to.

So we’re taking an extended leave for a while to work out if we still want to make music and how to do that again. We want to say thanks to everyone who came to see us over the years, listened to our music or even just pretended they liked us to sound cool (it didn’t work by the way). You made this all great fun for us and we hope you had some fun along the way too.

Hopefully you’ll always remember us fondly like a kindly old aunt with a beard and a learning disability that was never diagnosed.

Here is the last song that we'd been working on. It seems strangely appropriate...

Bring out the claws, the claws are out. by mitchell museum

Mitchell Museum were a pretty important band to me, way back in the early days of the blog they were one of the first "wee" bands I took myself along to see, and the kindness and encouragement that they showed was really quite lovely. Sure, I was their manager's cousin, but they were still an incredibly friendly and welcoming bunch of guys.

Since then I've seen them a ton of times, and they've never been anything less than wonderful, both on stage and as people.

Myself and Peenko were honoured to have them play at the first of our gigs last year, something which still ranks as one of the best nights of my life, so it is with a great deal of sadness that we have to wave them goodbye, and wish the very best of luck to whatever Cammy, Dougie, Kris and Raindeer do next.

Somewhat worryingly this means that from the three Aye Tunes Vs Peenko gigs that have taken place one band from each bill has called it a day this year. First Come On Gang! broke up at the start of this year, then Little Yellow Ukuleles followed, and now Mitchell Museum. I hope Mondegreen don't get any funny ideas...

Of course, given something else that happened this week, the reason that PAWS are unable to play AVP4 a band breaking up is relatively meaningless, but we'll still be sad to see Mitchell Museum go.

News & Bits - August 15th

Having forgotten to write the news post at all last week you might be expecting a bumper edition this week. You fools, you should know by now to always lower your expectations at Aye Tunes.

New Releases:

A Band Called Quinn - QBCA Remix For East Africa. Available from Bandcamp, proceeds go to the East Africa Crisis Appeal.

Adam Stafford - Build a Harbour Immediately. Download available from Bandcamp.

Amber Wilson - Raise the Alarm/An Affirmation. Available from iTunes.

Cherri Fosphate - Passion. Available from Bandcamp.

The Corleones - I Can't Help It/Bland Conversations. Available from Bandcamp and iTunes.

Discopolis - Lofty Ambitions. Rather fine single, available from iTunes.

Lightguides - Samba Samba Samba. Didn't think this was due out till the end of the month, but you can buy it now from iTunes. If you prefer physical things a CD can be pre-ordered from Alcopop! Records.

Roscoe Vacant and the Gantin' Screichs - Reckurdt. One that got missed with the lack of news last week, this is a cracking album. You can buy it from Bandcamp and iTunes.

Seven Astronauts, or Cancelled Vices:

Yeah, sometimes the subheadings just don't work... Cancel the Astronauts have a new single, Seven Vices, out on September 12th. You can pre-order the CD and get the download now from Bandcamp. They have a couple of launch gigs for the single too, in Glasgow at the Captain's Rest on September 9th with support from Over the Wall and Poor Things, then another on the 11th at The Electric Circus in Edinburgh with support from My Tiny Robots and The Bad Books.

Slow Moving Son(s):

The Son(s) have a new video! You can see the animated video for Dogs, Boys and Men here. The Son(s) have made a few songs available to download for free to go along with the video. Along with Dogs, Boys and Men they've tarted up a couple of songs from the sessions for their debut album which came out earlier this year. You can get the download here.

What's On:

No gig guide again this week (see below for more) so here's a few of the highlights of the week.

Tuesday: Shambles Miller joins the Slow Club at Bloc from 9pm, with free entry and cakes. How Garbo Died play Stereo with Dol Eoin and Pornsec. I have no idea who the last two are...

Wednesday: Milk is good for your bones, but it is also a darn fine gig night in Glasgow. This week at Flat 0/1 Milk have Boycotts, Crayons and Every Genius Delivers. Through in Edinburgh Song, by Toad kick of their Toad at the Circus gig series with The Pineapple Chunks, Dolfinz and Mutch & Thomas, at The Electric Circus.

Friday: Time waits for no man, or Toad apparently, as the second Toad at the Circus gig rolls around quickly, with Amber Wilson, Randolph's Leap and Matthew Healy, again at The Electric Circus.

Saturday is, of course, Aye Tunes Vs Peenko: The Revenge at Stereo. Much more details here. Normally when I have a gig on I pretend nothing else is happening, but through in Edinburgh on Saturday there's some people I like doing stuff, so they can have a wee plug. Night Noise Team play at Henry's Cellar Bar with Miasma and Dancing Mice, and at Pilrig St Pauls there's the Oxjam Wee Twee gig, with The Last Battle, Sebastian Dangerfield and Letters.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes:

From next week I'm rejigging the only regular features I have, this and the gig guide. The news is fun to write, the gig guide isn't, but I suspect both suffer from tl;dr most weeks. The gig guide will stop even attempting to cover everything that is happening in Edinburgh in Glasgow, since most weeks it misses stuff no one tells me about, even after pouring through venue listings and Facebook events. Instead it'll be switching to the gigs on that week that I think look decent, rather than everything I know is on. The news will - assuming there is enough news to make it worthwhile - be getting split up into more than one post, though I'll most likely do a round up at the end of the week too. All of this is likely very uninteresting for you, so I'll stop going on about it now.

Not Long Now: AVP4

Just over a week to go until me and Peenko reunite by popular* demand for the forth Aye Tunes Vs Peenko gig, and we're are entering the pre-gig period where I start to panic and convince myself no one is coming. It would be nice if some people came then. Keep reading to see (and hear) why you should chose Stereo on August 20th instead of something else.

*not popular

After AVP3 last November we decided to call time on the gigs for various reasons, the gigs had gone pretty well and had been a whole lot of fun, but it felt like a good time to step away and do our own things for a while.

Back in April, fuelled by a few beers, fitting since it was after beers we came up with AVP in the first place, Peenko and I started talking about putting together something together again. We suggested a couple of bands to each other, and were in full agreement with the other's choices, coming up with a four band bill that passed the first test - would we pay to go to this gig?

From there bands were contacted, we fluttered our eyelashes, stroked their hair, and pretended we know what we are doing. Imagine our surprise and delight when everyone said yes, they'd do it. Then the tricky part was trying to keep it under our hat for a while. We teased a bit.

Months later the event is almost upon us, here's the details.

Mondegreen are a band I'd been following for ages. Some might call it stalking, but the Judge didn't. I picked them to represent Aye Tunes at Pin Up Nights Bloggers Delight back in May where along with being great, were about the only people to hang around in the kitchen at The Flying Duck for my DJ exploits. We love Mondegreen. Have a wee listen and hear why.

Say It Dont Spray It by mondegreen

Making Cookies by mondegreen

Download Mondergreen's Headless EP from Bandcamp for free.

Miaoux Miaoux is another artist we think is brilliant, and a bit different from what you might expect from Peenko and I. Blending electronics with guitar, layers of bleepy things and angelic vocals Miaoux Miaoux also isn't just great on record, he is fantastic live too, a million miles away from one man nodding over the top of a laptop. Dancing shoes are optional but advised, big stupid grins are almost certain to be provided.

Hrvatski by miaouxmiaoux

Hey Sound! by miaouxmiaoux

Miaoux Miaoux records and downloads are available from Bandcamp.

PAWS first came to my attention with the single Violent Vicky Violet, released back in mid 2010 on Wiseblood Industries, a song which is two and a half minutes of fuzzy indie pop brilliance. Since then they've gone from strength to strength, picking up a legion of admirers and a reputation for energetic, loud and bags of fun gigs. Most recently PAWS were one of the bands chosen to play the TBreak stage at T in the Park, and just released a split 7" with Lady North through the excellent Gerry Loves Records. I can tell you from experience that the single launch in Glasgow was frenetic - stage invasions, crowd surfing, and an attempt at a human pyramid all accompanied the glorious noise coming from the band. A brilliant band, and even better live band, and yet another that never fail to leave me grinning like a turtle.

Paws - Lekker by gerrylovesrecords

Winners Don't Bleed by wehavepaws

Buy PAWS goods from their shop, and get the PAWS/Lady North split 7" from Gerry Loves Records.

Adam Stafford is a many of many talents. Not happy with being a brilliant musician, he is also an award winning filmmaker and founder of the Wiseblood Industries record label. Formerly the singer and songwriter of Y'all Is Fantasy Island, we'd be much sadder about the demise of that band if it wasn't for the quality of Adam's solo material. Adam very kindly agreed when we asked him to not just play our gig, but to use it as the launch night for his new album Build a Harbour Immediately. Conflict of interest means I can't actually review that album without being accused of bias, but it is a quite extraordinary release, one I won't be surprised popping up on Best Of lists at the end of the year. The album moves away a bit from Adam's previous solo accapella albums, featuring contibutions from Emily Scott, Zoey Van Goey's Kim Moore, and former Yifi members Robbie Lesiuk and Steven Tosh. It goes without saying that if me and Lloyd didn't love the album, we wouldn't be wanting to launch it. When it first surfaced last year the song Shot Down You Summer Wannabes stopped me dead in my tracks, and became one of my favourite tracks of the year. Summer Wannabes reappears on the new album in a different form, but remains jaw dropping. Inventive and seemingly endlessly creative, Adam is also a captivating live performer, who always has a trick or two up his sleeve.

Shot-down You Summer Wannabes by Adam Stafford

Fire & Theft by Adam Stafford

Pre-order Build a Harbour Immediately on very limited edition cassette (with download code) from Insularis Records. The album is also available to download from Bandcamp now. Find a whole lot more from Adam Stafford and Y'all Is Fantasy Island at Wiseblood Industries.

Aye Tunes Vs Peenko 4: The Revenge takes place on Saturday August 20th at Stereo on Renfield Lane, Glasgow. Advance tickets are avilable here, or just shoot me an email if you want one. You can let us know you are coming and keep up to date on Facebook. Please come along, you'll help stop me getting a stress ulcer.

News & Bits - August 1st

Pinch punch first of the month. A fair amount of news this week, and a chance for me to reference one of my favourite songs, which goes some way to making up for the fact that I'm supposed to be in the pub right now instead of writing this.

New Releases:

Jonnie Common - Master of None. This snuck a little early digitally, but is officially released today. You can buy it from iTunes. A limited vinyl version is available here.
Lady North/PAWS - Split 7". On the off chance you've missed all my mentions of this so far, the latest Gerry Loves Records split single is out today, buy from Bandcamp. There are launch gigs in Edinburgh tonight (Monday) and in Glasgow on Wednesday too.

The Mouse That Ate The Cat - Falling Down. Brand spanking new single from TMTATC, available from Bandcamp.

The Pineapple Chunks - A Dog Walked In. New album from The Pinapple Chunks, available now from Bandcamp for a very low price.

Note: I make up the new releases section by adding in what I know is out and going over new additions to eMusic on a Monday. eMusic hasn't yet updated with new releases today, so I'll come back and fill in any blanks once it does.

Ah Yes, Ain't That Fresh:

Fresh Air have released their second Inside Track compilation. 18 tracks of top notch Scottish music, including Loch Awe, Black International, Supermarionation, Plastic Animals, Trapped Mice, The Spook School and loads more, all for the minimum price of £2, with proceeds going to Waverly Care. You can download the album here.

Staff:

Adam Stafford releases a new single on Friday. Fire & Theft will be available as a free download from the Wiseblood Industries site from August 5th. You can hear a b-side, Miaoux Miaoux's remix of Shot Down You Summer Wannabes below. Adam launches his new album at Stereo on August 20th, with Miaoux Miaoux, PAWS and Mondegreen all supporting. You knew that already though, right? Tickets for that gig can be bought here, or from myself, Peenko or any of the bands.

Summer Wannabes (Miaoux Miaoux remix) by Adam Stafford

Branching Out:

Olive Grove Records have announced that the latest members of their family are The Moth and the Mirror. Debut album his World, Honestly is set to be released through Olive Grove on October 10th, and you can grab a free download of a new track, Lights in the Sky, from here.

Still Afraid:

I got a lovely wee surprise in my post the other day, a promo CD containing two new songs by We're Only Afraid of NYC. The band had been very quiet, but popped up again at the end of May with a new video and song, Walls. Walls will be released as a free download on August 22nd, but you can get your hands on it right now with a purchase of a ticket to see the band support LightGuides at King Tut's on August 28th here. As someone that has been following the band for quite a while now I'm delighted to see them back, and even happier that the new material is another step forward for them.

Stuff:

Due to it having a mid week release, I missed out the new Scrap Brain single last week. You can download Take It for free here, and see the video here.

Make Sparks have been awfully quiet of late, but have sprung back into action in the last few weeks. A new single will be released in September, with the band going on tour to accompany it. In the meantime they've kindly packaged up a bunch of their old songs as a cheap download from Bandcamp, and are also giving away the b-side to the new single for free.

Martin John Henry releases his debut solo album in October, but you can get a wee taster right now. First Light is available to download for free from Bandcamp, and has me eager to hear the rest of the album.

Former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra is playing at Glasgow's O2 ABC next week. Support comes from Desalvo and Bronto Skylift. Half price tickets are available here, just enter desalvo as the promo code.

The Red Show release a new EP on Friday. You can pre-order it at Bandcamp, and find all their previous EPs there too.

French Wives have announced an intimate Glasgow show to celebrate finishing the recording of their debut album. The gig will take place in The 13th Note on September 4th. You are advised to turn up early. French Wives are also playing at the first Tidal Wave of Indifference gig in Edinburgh on September 24th, with Star Wheel Press, the douglas firs and Lost Telegrams, tickets available here.

Bellow Bellow have stuck up a couple of demos for free download.

The Whisky Works are joining the club of bands who are releasing something and at the same time splitting up. They will release new EP In Fiction and play their final gig at Stereo on September 2nd, tickets are available here.

This Week's Gigs: 1st - 7th August

How did it get to August already? Blimey, time flies when you sit on your arse for most of it.

Either this week is fairly quiet, or I've missed a lot. Consider this edited highlights if you like. There are a couple of crackers though.

Monday:

PAWS, Lady North, Vasquez. Sneaky Pete's. (Tickets)

Edinburgh leg of the PAWS/Lady North split single launch. Go, buy the single, enjoy.

Manatees, Divorce, Citizens, The Downs. Stereo. (Tickets)

Wednesday:

PAWS, Lady North, Hairy AREA. Captain's Rest. (Tickets)

See Monday, really.

MILK: Over The Wall, The Mouse That Ate The Cat, Team Kapowski. Flat0/1.

Why do these two both have to be on Wednesday? Coin toss needed, I think. TMATC release a new single on Monday, but more on that in the news post tomorrow.

Alright the Captain,What the Blood Revealed. Bloc.

Thursday:

Alright the Captain, Black International, Pensioner. Henry's Cellar Bar.

Ooh, splendid.

Friday:

Le Reno Amps, Chris Devotion and the Expectations, Cuddly Shark, Bad Bad Men. Stereo.

A return of sorts for the Barmellodie night. This will be your last chance to catch Le Reno Amps for quite some time, as one of them is heading off to China, making gigs somewhat tricky.

Tall Tales, The Honeymoon Period, The Belle Hops. 13th Note.

The Red Show, Underclass, Suspire. Maggie Mays.

Saturday:

F.O. Machete, Muscles of Joy. Stereo

Avast!, Verse Metrics, People, Places, Maps. Sneaky Pete's.

Sunday:

Scottish Independent Record Fair. Summerhall, Edinburgh.

Running from 1pm on Sunday, the record fair will have stalls from a bunch of Scottish indie labels, along with acoustic music and DJ sets all afternoon. More details here.

Born To Be Wide: Edinburgh Night. Electric Circus.

Kicking off at 7pm - so you could pop along after the record fair - the night will feature short ten minute taster sets from a number of local bands, including Lady North, Capitals, Rachel Sermanni, Withered Hand, and more. A wee bit more about this, including how you can earn yourself free entry, should be in the news post tomorrow.

Spotlight: Black Jash

It is probably about time I did another interview thing, isn't it?

I can never think up interesting questions, so these don't roll round all that often. I've cheated a bit this time, but we'll get back to that.

Black Jash then. Hailing from Gretna, the first I heard of them was from Vic Galloway, when he picked them when a guest on Glasgow Podcart all the way back in February 2010. An EP was promptly purchased when available (5 Track, which you can get on iTunes) and enjoyed, with a mental note made to go see them sometime. Fate has so far conspired against me on the last count though. One day, one day... There has also been split cassette releases, with Male Pattern Band and If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now.

The interview? Well as i said above, I cheated. Instead of doing it myself I roped in Kate from Charles of the Ritz to interview Bob of Black Jash. What? I'm a lazy man! Here's what happened.

I got asked to interview Black Jash and I shuddered half in nervous anticipation and half in sexual delight. I thought I'd better do my research, and by keeping a weather eye to Gretna's horizon, and my ear to the drum pounding ground, I was able to throw myself into a terrifying world full of sordid games, danger and Crap Alan's. I tried to contact all the members of theJash - the two drummers and the bassist, but all were "unavailable for comments" according to Bob, the lead singer and guitarist, the dirtiest of the bunch. The monarch of the Jash. When I asked him why the others declined to speak to the press, he muttered something about how they don't speak unless he says they can. He slurred his words as if he was the bastard love child of Elvis and Sid Vicious. Live, they are the most filthy, disgusting thing I've ever seen/heard. He pummels you with insults and swinging hips, demanding to know why you even bothered to show up to see them. One of a kind and Black Jash are the band that makes masochists of us all. I bribed Bob with Irn-Bru and a twenty deck of Mayfair for some answers to my questions.

Black Jash in repose, by Mike Griffiths

A lot of your songs are about Gretna. Is it really that much of a hell hole? Does it inspire you?

It's no more of a hell hole than anywhere else, there's good and bad wherever you go. It's not easy dealing with tourists and mildly racist comments from both sides of the border though. All the Deep Fryers think we're in England or may as well be and all the Morris Dancers vent their hatred for the whole country, of which borderers have very little say in, on you. Aye we're surrounded. To my recollection there are no Gretna specifics in our songs, it's more certain types of people that everyone has where they live, and every community has a Crap Alan or Black Jash. I don't hide my Gretna accent, maybe that's causing the confusion?


Who are Black Jash's main influences?

The Stooges, I'm a fan of proper frontmen like Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, GG Allin, Lux Interior and the like. I can't be on with meek tortured souls, I want a pure throbbing phallus. I like ODB, Wu-Tang and The Beastie Boys, I think the ego rappers have, getting on a microphone and telling everyone you're on it and openly saying everyone else is worse than you, is really admirable. It's hard to master doing that and not be hated on for the idiot you're being. Have I nailed it? Some folk say so. I hate myself so you're not going to get a valid answer from me. You'll have to come check me out and decide for yourself. Please give nonviolent criticism.

Who taught you how to dance?

I know you won't believe this but I've never had a lesson! I think my styles are genetic, having seen my Dad's moves at numerous family parties I’d have to say it's not him. My Mam used to go to dance schools and my Sister's in a dance group so I think it's off the good old Fife stock that I get my moves from. Fife for Life. I've always wiggled my hips on stage but in the early days I stopped myself when I realised I was doing it. After seeing Spawny from Big Ned openly does it I thought to myself "Hey, I've got a better arse than that, let’s show the ladies the goods available". I still do wish I was Spawny though.

How do you usually decide who to do the split tapes with? Is it a case of collaboration/admiration or do you just take what you can get?

It's admiration. The 'size' of the band is a factor too. I wouldn't send a gushing email to a band already with a record deal, they have to be unsigned and to my taste. It helps if they're from a different part of the country/world too, broadens each other’s fan bases and trying to shift that many cassettes in one town is sheer idiocy. They're the ideal format for a split. One side each, nobodies 'on top' either.

What are Black Jash’s world domination plans?

The Tortoise from The Tortoise and The Hare saga is a massive inspiration. Myself, Alex and Neill went to see the 'Transatlantic Feedback' film about the Monks at Indie Cinema 'Star & Shadow' in Newcastle and it changed my mind greatly about our imminent world domination. I'd much prefer to be stumbled upon by the next generation of music fans, or the one after that. That's why we release cassettes. Someone that finds one of our cassettes and listens to it hopefully will not know what era we're from and have to do a bit of homework, type the name into Ye Olde Google, to find out what we're about. So the plan is to plod on as we are, get fed up with each other, not talk for years then get a phone call pleading for us to reunite for a one off show, back catalogue reissue box set with mouse mat and usb storage pen in the shape of a pineapple, documentary and hopefully we'll get the Black Jash lighters made we've been saying we are going to for years.

Are you as much of a dick in real life as you are on stage?

Obviously.

What about local bands/musicians that you like? Any that compare to the Jash?

I just realised the other day that I haven't listened too much else but music made at Green Door Studios for about a year. Nothing else gets me going. So anyone that records there I rate everything else I don't. I'd be lying if I said anything other than Black Jash is my favourite, followed closely by Charles of the Ritz, the band I drum for. (If I was reading this I'd hate me too.) Why would I be in a band... nae front a band I didn't think was awesome? I'd be wasting my time and be unhappy. I know it's not the done thing to say it but it's not the done thing to wear bodyform bandit masks and I've done that.

Did you know your bassist looks like Jim Morrison?

His hair did a few years back. He also looks like Mick Jagger, Vernon Kay, Mica and Brian Ferry, he's got one of those faces you really want to punch, wait 'til it's slightly healed then punch again and again, then pay for him to get a new one. He's actually distantly related to Brian Ferry and Neil Armstrong. I couldn't do the frontman thing without Neill to be honest though, he's my rock. I envy how effortlessly cool he is and how I always get asked, before anyone asks how I am, how he is.

How did the idea for the two drummers come about?

After we stopped playing with Liam we went through a few one off shows with drummers. Sam from Casual Sex was my favourite. Brickyard sound technician extraordinaire Nic Jay was the closest we had to a constant drummer at the time. We had a gig in Carlisle where we the only band on the bill and I thought we should make i a bit extra special. Black Manajash Arkastra was created. Black Jash and Manatees combined. The line-up was Pauley, Alex and Nic on drums with Greg Wynne on white noise guitar and Neill and I doing our usual. We sounded massive, the vibrations made drunk girls sick and drunk boys head bang. Nic moved to Newcastle and Pauley and Alex just kept coming back to practises. I'm quite insecure about their presence in the band. Manatees are proper and I don't think we can compare in any way to them. Every time I get a phone call from those guys I think 'oh no here comes the bad news'. I like the primal sound we've got now. Drums are awesome. I've always wanted to be a drummer.

How much better are Charles of the Ritz?

I like that I just have to turn up for Charles of The Ritz. I hate gig promotion and the admin side of Black Jash. Organising one drummer is bad enough but two? Getting in touch with a recluse bass player also proves difficult. The Ritz have catchier choruses and appeal to more people. I think the 'Black' in our name closes more doors than it opens. It's not my fault; I didn't name Black Jash, Black Jash. We took the name from the local 'nutter'. The guy you'd shout stuff at to get a chase off. Everyone's been part of a wee gang that does that for funsies. The best fun I had as a youth were running away from people. It's the best kind of buzz I've ever had. Honestly I'm like shit off a shovel for about a hundred yards. Shouting scathing one liners on your feet is a talent I'm glad I've honed. Growing up is such a bummer.

What's in the future for Black Jash?

General jealousy of other bands that get better support slots and releases than us. Ideally more of the same. Having fun and playing gigs we'd pay to go and see anyways.

Will you buy me a drink? I'm skint.

What are you after? I'm not asking for a Rose Spritzer, Jagerbomb or a half though. (Jim: while you are up, I'll take a Guinness...)

Thanks Kate for doing my work for me, and Bob for answering the questions.

Lothario by * B L A C K ~ J A S H *

Black Jash: Facebook

News & Bits - July 25th

Welcome back to your regular Monday dose of me babbling. Always thrilling, isn't it?

New Releases:

Be Like Pablo - Spirit of Adventure/Oh, Emily! New double A side single, available from Bandcamp.

CUR$ES - Solar Temple. Debut album from Glasgow based producer & musician Niall Morris, available as a free download from Bandcamp.

Dam Mantle - We. Available from iTunes.

Dave Hughes - Despite the Blackout. This marks the first time Dave has released something through a label, with the album out through Corporate Records. Buy it here.

Galoshins - EP1. I keep missing Galoshins at gigs through a series of events meaning I'm either too late, or something stops me going at all. EP sounds good though, and I'll catch them eventually. You can buy it from Bandcamp.

Moustache of Insanity - Lynn Lowry. First single taken from the upcoming Album of Death album (I've said album too many times now), available as a free download from Bandcamp.

T Time (Again):

If you want to revisit any of the sets from the TBreak stage at T in the Park, or if like me you want to hear what you missed, you can listen to live recordings over at Radio Magnetic. Also, the TBreak site has a free download of one song from each set.

What's On This Week?

No gig guide this week, as you may have noticed. The guide is always harder to put together when you know you'll be too skint to go to much, so I gave it a week off. Here's some quick highlights instead.

Summer Nights carries on at King Tut's, with Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all standing out as having good line ups.

Pin Up Nights is on Friday at The Flying Duck. Playing live this time round are Eddy & the T-Bolts, Camino Real and Fiction Faction.

Also on Friday at The Electric Circus in Edinburgh there's I Build Collapsible Mountains, Finn Lemarinel, Debutant and Johnny Rapeseed. There's an early start for this one, with doors opening at 5pm and the music carrying on till 10:30.

Late on Saturday at Bloc, kicking off at 11pm and carrying on till 3, is the latest New Life night with Betatone Distraction, The Great I Am and Phiktion playing live.

Sunday sees Jonnie Common launch his Master of None album at The Captain's Rest, with support from The Japanese War Effort and River of Slime.

Reopen The Doors!

I've jabbered on about The Year of Open Doors a fair bit before, but here's another wee plug for it. Cargo Publishing are releasing the paperback edition of the book with new art by Aidan Moffat and an introduction from Irvine Welsh on July 27th, a year to the day from the release of the first edition. To celebrate there is a launch night at The Arches on Wednesday with readings from Alan Bissett, Anneliese Mackintosh and Taggart star Colin McCredie, along with live music from Aidan Moffat, RM Hubbert and Doug Johnstone. Tickets for the launch are £4 and available from The Arches.

Beer News:

Last week Beerjacket announced that recording had been completed on his new album, today he has mentioned that it will be titled The White Feather Trail. More details to come, but new Beerjacket is very good news in my book, so I'm already quite excited.

A Reminder:

And finally, a quick reminder that I'm hoping back on to the self promotion horse. Aye Tunes Vs Peenko 4: The Revenge is now less than four weeks away. It takes place on August 20th at Stereo, with Adam Stafford, PAWS, Miaoux Miaoux and Mondegreen making up our bill. Tell us you are coming on Facebook here and buy advance tickets here. Alternately corner me at a gig over the next few weeks and I'll be more than happy to sell you a ticket.

News & Bits - July 18th

I have nothing of interest to say in the intro. No change there then.

New Releases:

Fatherson - Fatherson EP. Available on iTunes.

Roddy Hart - Road of Bones. Album available from iTunes.

Kid Canaveral - And Another Thing!!! As mentioned last week, the new single from Kid Canaveral, backed with a remix by FOUND and a cover of Missionary, by the other KC. Available from Bandcamp, and now from iTunes.

Lach - Ramshackle Heart. Available on vinyl from Song, by Toad Records, download from iTunes.

The Last Battle - The Springwell EP. Y'know, that EP we had a launch for a couple of weeks ago. It is very good. Buy it from Bandcamp. Also go read an interview they did with my pal Last Year's Girl here.

Verse Metrics - Sleep & Wakefulness. Splendid new double A side single, available from iTunes.

Let There Be Light(Guides):

LightGuides have announced what will be keeping them busy for the next couple of months. They'll be releasing a 7 track mini album - Samba, Samba, Samba - through Alcopop! Records on August 29th. Also in August they'll be heading off on tour with label mates Jumping Ships.

The Scottish dates are:

August 25th - The New Market Bar, Thurso.
August 26th - Dexters, Dundee.
August 27th - The Greenside, Glenrothes.
August 28th - King Tut's, Glasgow. (Buy Tickets)

More info can be found here.

The Casting Call - LightGuides by alcopop

Computer Failure:

A Fight You Can't Win have let us know that The Computers have pulled out of their gig at Sneaky Pete's on Thursday. Bronto Skylift will now headline, with PAWS and AFYCW still playing, the gig is now free entry.

Silent Bells:

In November Gizeh Records are hitting the road, briefly. Sleepingdog, Conquering Animal Sound and Farewell Poetry will be taking part in the Silent Bells tour. On November 15th they'll be at the CCA in Glasgow, tickets available here, with gigs in Leeds and London on the following two days. More info here.

Stuff:

ballboy have put pretty much all their albums up on Bandcamp, giving you the perfect chance to have a listen and spend some money.

The Pineapple Chunks carry on putting up teasers for their upcoming new album. The latest, She Needs Answers, is available for free here.

Queen Jane have made their Confetti EP available for free here ahead of their appearance at King Tut's on Friday.

Linky Gray has a new song up on Bandcamp, and it is quite lovely. You can grab Sunshine for free here, if you haven't already then grab her My Mechanical Heart EP for free too.

I really enjoyed Peter Cat when I saw him support How Garbo Died at their EP launch the other week, so was happy to learn he has an EP available for download. You can pick that up here, at a price of your choosing.

This Week's Gigs: 18th - 24th July

Not sure how much longer the gig guide will keep going for, but since I don't post nearly enough other stuff to give up on one of my regular features it is still here for now. This week would have been a good time to give up, there is loads on and this took ages.

The week and next will likely be dominated by the Summer Nights gigs, but there is other stuff on too. You can read my pick of the Summer Nights gigs here.

Monday:

Kochka. Glasgow Science Centre.

Two gigs by Kochka, at 1:30pm and again at 3:30pm.

Fatherson, Vukovi, The Winter Tradition, The Scottish Enlightenment, plus Debbie Kate in the bar. King Tut's. (Tickets)

I really like The Scottish Enlightenment, and Debbie Kate.

How Garbo Died, Katerwaul, Seas, Starry. The Tunnels, Aberdeen.

Aberdonian readers usually get a pretty bad deal out of the gig guide, I rarely know what is on up there. This one ought to be good though.

Tuesday:

FOUND, Bermuda, Cancel the Astronauts, Verse Metrics, plus Ajimal in the bar. King Tut's. (Tickets)

Tuesday and Wednesday are the two Summer Nights gigs I am looking forward to most. Lots of good stuff on show here, including birthday guests Verse Metrics who will also be launching their new single.

Wounded Knee. Mono.

If I wasn't off to Tut's I'd go here.

Wednesday:

Bronto Skylift, United Fruit, Carnivores, Jackie Onassis, plus As In Bear in the bar. King Tut's. (Tickets)

Yes please.

Thursday:

Song of Return, Otherpeople, The King Hats, Ace City Racers. King Tut's. (Tickets)

The Computers, Bronto Skylift, PAWS, A Fight You Can't Win. Sneaky Pete's. (Tickets)

Must confess to not knowing a lot about The Computers, but the rest of that bill is worth going for anyway. UPDATE: The Computers have pulled out of the gig, which is now free entry.

Citizens, Shields Up, Broken Few. Bloc.

Friday:

Eska and guests. Stereo. (Tickets)

Eska's first gig in about 100 years. Woo.

The Serious Men, Mitchell Museum, Sick Kids. 13th Note.

Plastic Animals, Black International, Supermarionation (solo), Loch Awe (solo). The Wee Red Bar.

Well, that's a blooming excellent line up. This is a launch gig for Fresh Air Radio's 2011 edition of The Inside Track compilation. Last year's is still available here, with proceeds all going to charity.

Randan Discotheque, The Pineapple Chunks, Lach. Electric Circus.

The Just Joans, We See Lights, The Occasional Flickers. Forest Cafe.

Wickerman Festival.

Strawberry Ocean Sea, The Vespas, Ewan Butler. Captain's Rest.

Dead Sea Souls, The Black Rats, John's Weans, Queen Jane. King Tut's. (Tickets)

Saturday:

Kid Canaveral. Avalanche instore.

Kid Canaveral celebrate the vinyl launch of their Shouting At Wildlife with an in store gig, kicking off at 6pm.

Be Like Pablo, Gordon McIntyre (ballboy), Ewan Cruikshanks, Felix Darcy. Nice N Sleazy.

Correcto, Ben Butler & Mousepad, Remember Remember, Ubre Blanca, Galoshins, Black Jash, Her Royal Highness, RM Hubbert. 13th Note.

Free entry, running from 4pm. Tempting.

Young Aviators, Skinny Villains, Poor Things. Captain's Rest.

Enfant Bastard, Moustache of Insanity, River of Slime. Henry's Cellar Bar.

Your last chance to see Enfant Bastard for a while.

Wickerman Festival.

Aaron Wright, Steve Heron. Nobles Bar, Edinburgh.

Davey Horne, The OK Social Club, Val Verde, Dead Electric. King Tut's. (Tickets)

Sunday:

Pensioner, Mondegreen, Pinky Suavo. Captain's Rest.

Pensioner are ace live, while my bandcrush on Mondegreen is legendary.

Miniature Dinosaurs, Gav Livz & MC-VA, Miss Baudelaire, Hector Bizerk. King Tut's. (Tickets)

I like Miniature Dinosaurs and the little I've heard of Hector Bizerk, but the others I have no idea about.