Presenting Again - Another Aye Tunes Gig

It’s been a while, both since I blogged anything, and since I did a gig type thing. Time to dust off some cobwebs then.

There’s a gig next Wednesday, April 16th. My first one a good nine months, so it’ll be like a little newborn baby. Well, there might be some screaming and crying certainly, but we’ll try not to rip your perineum to shreds.

Here’s who is playing:

Boygirlanimalcolour

Literally the first band put on at a solo Aye Tunes gig, having opened the show at the first event back in January 2011, Boygirlanimalcolour are just back from a lengthy break themselves. I got along to their first gig in three years or so recently and had just as much fun as I did back in the olden days. Describing themselves as 90′s emo throwbacks, expect loud noises, jumping around, and music much more complicated than the jumping around makes it look.

FALLS

Another band I’ve had before, returning with me for more loud fun. Falls played an Aye Tunes gig a couple of years ago in the days before The Captains Rest closed, which ended up being one of the sweatiest moments of my life. I’m not really seeing this one being much drier, just taking place a wee bit down the road. This time round they’ll be bringing with them their very first proper release, the Dirtbox EP, to launch. Possibly literally, so prepare to duck. Big riffs, huge hooks, loud noises, shouty. Essentially all of the Aye Tunes favourite things. Also Welsh, handsome and heavily tattooed, so take note people who are into those things.

Here’s a teaser for Dirtbox.

Bonus, here’s one of the songs from the EP, Hammers?

The Black Art

Joining the two returning bands are The Black Art. This isn’t just their first Aye Tunes gig, but their first gig anywhere ever. The Black Art say that they are a 2-piece loop-savvy duo that make a considerable racket that lands somewhere between QOTSA and That Fucking Tank. Sounds good to me. Get down early to catch their first performance. You might even already know the men behind The Black Art from past bands.

All this is happening on Wednesday April 16th at The Roxy 171 on Great Western Road. That’s a tiny wee place, so if you are super eager to make sure you can get in you can buy a ticket in advance here.

Bringing a pal? There’s a bundle deal available online only, where you can get a pair of tickets for £8, saving you money to buy chips. Or, if you are bringing a very special friend, some mints and some protection.

Things should kick off around 8pm and it’ll cost you five quid on the door or in advance. That’s right, ONLY five pounds. None of that six quid ticket nonsense for me, cause it saves me messing about with pound coins as much.

If you are into that kind of thing you can say you are coming on Facebook here.

Ooh, That Looks Good - Some November Gigs

Look, look, I’m still barely a blog!

There’s a lot of people I like doing things for the rest of the month, so I should really pop my head and hands out from under the warmth giving duvet for just long enough to quickly mention them in the hope that someone will read this and be convinced into going to something.

I don’t like the chances of anyone reading this, but hey, strange things happen sometimes.

Thursday 7th November
In Wrecks bring their previously digital only debut EP Creation Myths into the physical World, and launch the CD with a free gig at Bloc. Support comes from the heavily Aye Tunes endorsed A Fight You Can’t Win AND Black International! Three fab bands for no entry fee, marvelous.

Friday 8th November
I can’t go out on Friday, which is annoying, since there’s a pair of gigs I fancy, but does save me having to make a choice I suppose.
At The Roxy 171 you’ve got The New Fabian Society and the wonderful, fabulous, terribly handsome Birdhead.
Down the road at Nice ‘n’ Sleazy there’s more good stuff in the shape of Trapped Mice, Galoshins and Where We Lay Our Heads.
Rubbish night to be otherwise engaged.

Saturday 9th November
When I met Ian from Trapped Mice recently he recommended Saturday’s entertainment to me, which is Enablers at Stereo. Despite a load of material being freely available from their Bandcamp I’m ashamed to admit I’ve still not listened to them ahead of the gig. Normally I wouldn’t fork out cash on a gig when I’ve not heard the band, but since support comes from the dual assault of Adam Stafford and the John Knox Sex Club, both of whom I’d crawl through broken glass to see, and I’m right there, waving my money at someone to let me in.
That does mean that I’ve had to turn my back on The Second Hand Marching Band though, who are launching their new single at The Glad Cafe at the same time. With support at that one coming from The Just Joans and Ex-Teens it made for a tough call, but until I get a functional clone I can’t be in two places at once. One day, one day.

That lot will see you through to the weekend, I’ll be back around then to update this here post with more of November’s gigs, since typing all those words already was clearly enough work for one night.

Yeah, I forgot to update this last week. Hands up who is remotely surprised? None of you? Thought so. Enablers were great by the way.
Anyway, here’s more stuff.

Wednesday 20th November
One of those gigs where the line up is all folk I like, one has played a gig for me, others almost have, and others are on my wishlist if I ever do that kind of thing again is happening at The 13th Note. Algernon Doll made one of my favourite records of the year this year with Citalo-Pop and played an Elliott Smith song for me at a house gig, so are obviously brilliant. Lovers Turn To Monsters shouldn’t need an introduction round here, since Kyle Wood is consistently one of my favourite artists in the country and has done stuff for me before. Poor Things are the ones who kept getting away, the stars never quite aligning for me to get them on one of my bills. I’ve not seen them in ages either, so it’ll be nice to get caught up there. Lightnin Papa Tam is the dark horse of the bunch, with just the one song, Got Soul, around to listen to so far. One good song though, and Tam has a fine pedigree from previous projects.

Thursday 21st November
You’ve got Miaoux Miaoux and Machines In Heaven at Stereo, lush.

Sunday 24th November
Black International again, yay! They’ll be headlining this time round at The 13th Note. Support from Pinact - more on them in the next bit - and Frankeneinstein. I might have to risk running for late buses and venture out on a Sunday for a change.

Thursday 28th November
GIG CLASH! At The Old Hairdressers our pals The Yawns are playing, along with a bunch of other bands who use the same practice rooms. More details here.
I’m off elsewhere on the night though, along to The Roxy 171 to witness the magnificent Book Group launch their new single. You can get the single and advance tickets in a cheap bundle deal here.Support comes from the also ace Pinact, and an evening of high quality awaits.

Friday 29th November
Edinburgh dwellers get their chance to partake in Book Group fun, with a single launch gig at Teviot Row House. See just above this bit for tickets and that.

That should keep you entertained for the rest of the month, while also providing a useful guide to stalking me.

Gig Plugs, Mine and Other People

As you should know, this Saturday is my latest gig venture.

Taking place at The Art School in Glasgow, I’ve got Cleavers, The Cherry Wave and Mad Nurse playing. It’ll be excellent and you should come. Further details, including songs and stuff, here.

There’s other cool stuff happening over the next week or so too. A lot of it involves bands that have done gigs for me before, so here’s some plugs for their efforts.

Birdhead haven’t done anything with me, but are fab anyway, and one day I’ll get them to say yes to a gig. They play Bloc on Wednesday night with Electric Gardens and Kill Surrrf

Black International have a new single out, released by Electric Company Music, and are off on tour to launch the thing. On Thursday they are at Edinburgh’s Wee Red Bar, joined by the fab Little Anchors and Algernon Doll. Friday has them at Broadcast in Glasgow with Young Philadelphia and Pinact, in a night of entertainment where everyone has played a gig I’ve been involved in. After that they are off to Sheffield and Nottingham, but I doubt anyone reading this is from there. Until midnight on Tuesday you can get a ticket for the Edinburgh or Glasgow gigs and a copy of the 7″ single for just £6, which is a grand deal, here.

King Tut’s Summer Nights starts this week. I made a pie chart about the bands playing.

I probably won’t bother.

Saturday is all about me, so while other gigs are available, I’m not telling you what.

Sunday has Miaoux Miaoux, now with a new full band, playing at Stereo in Glasgow. Support comes from Jonnie Common and Atom Tree. Cheaper than door price tickets are available in advance here.

Into next week and our best friends forever The Spook School are back in Glasgow, playing at The Glad Cafe on Tuesday the 23rd. They are supporting Tunabunny, who I’d have endorsed on their name alone. Then I heard their album and they are now one of my new favourite things.

Next Gig, Cheap Tickets!

Time waits for no man, so I’d better get on with plugging the next Scottish Fiction Presents: Aye Tunes Vs Peenko shindig eh?

I’ve been left in charge for July, so you get a very loud line up of bands I like, a bit more like my solo efforts than the group ones so far.

Mad Nurse have only made a brief appearance on the blog before in Friday Freebies, ages ago. You can still get hold of a free EP from them here, and I also fully encourage spending a couple of quid on their recently released The Rip EP here. They should be getting things off to a suitably raucous start.

The Rip by Mad Nurse

The Cherry Wave have been pleasing my ears for about a year now, since the release of their first self titled EP. Both that and their second EP, Blush, released earlier this year can be yours over here. I asked them to play mostly because I like them lots, but also in part because they’ve been causing trouble recently, and I always enjoy that kind of thing. Wear your best shoes for them, to enhance your gazing fun.

Blush EP by The Cherry Wave

I asked Cleavers to do a gig for me a full year ago, having decided they were my favourite new band in ages. They couldn’t do it then, but this July they can, and although they aren’t so new anymore, they are still one of my favourite bands in the country. They also cost me a decent chunk of cash, since they seem to put out something new for me to buy with alarming regularity. Noisy, brash, fast, but packed with melodies, I’m really delighted to finally be putting Cleavers on. If we ask them nicely they may even bring pyrotechnics.
There’s loads of stuff available over here, a lot of it can be had for free, but as the band were recently robbed in London I’ll urge you to pay for the music if you like it and have a few extra quid, they’d really appreciate the cash.

Broken Birthday Teeth by Cleavers

The gig takes place at The Art School on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow on Saturday July 20th, probably starting about 8. Entry will cost you a mere six pounds.

BUT if you buy a ticket in advance this week, you can get in for just £4. Bargain, eh? Tickets are available here. After Saturday the price goes up again, so act fast for big savings now, as people say in annoying adverts.

Gig Plug: Beerjacket, Shambles Miller, Lovers Turn To Monsters - This Saturday!

There’s only a few days to go until the next Scottish Fiction/Aye Tunes/Peenko gig, so just in case you’ve missed me blabbing about it all month, here’s a reminder of the details.

Venue wise we’re on the move again. The final Aye Tunes solo gig took place at The Roxy 171 at the tail end of last year, and we’re taking this gig back there.

We’ve roped in a trio of my favourite singing men with guitars for this.

Headlining affairs is the magnificent Beerjacket. I’ve never been short on praise for Beerjacket, having been a fan since before this blog even properly started up. Animosity was an Aye Tunes album of the year, although it was also one of my earliest attempts at reviewing something, the results of which I can’t bear to read it was so badly written.
Beerjacket will be playing songs we know and love, but will also be playing some brand new songs that’ll be on his next album. This gig will be your first chance to hear some of the new stuff, and a rare chance to see Beerjacket in a teeny tiny venue instead of somewhere much bigger.

Jack Chasing Jill by Beerjacket

Shambles Miller is another well known face round here, having popped up on the blog a ton of times, and having played at a previous Aye Tunes gig too. Shambles is never short of a witty remark, but in between those he’ll make you think and perhaps even give the heartstrings a wee yank. Come and see, smile, and marvel at his trusty and long serving flyer introducing himself. I’d say don’t start him talking about Mike Tyson and/or Chris Brown, but he’s got a song about them now, so that’s sorted.

Confessions by Shambles Miller

Lovers Turn To Monsters round off both the line up for the night, and my wee list of favourite singer/songwriter types. West Lothian’s answer to Robert Pollard, it seems you can barely go a month without Kyle, he of the lengthy stage name, firing out a new batch of songs. The scary thing is that there’s almost never a duff one. When not knocking out hit after hit of his own he also has a fine knack for doing other people’s songs. I’ve long wanted to have Lovers Turn To Monsters play at one of my gigs, so I’m happy that’s happening at last (although I did have Boygirlanimalcolor play the first Aye Tunes gig). Hmm, I wonder if I can get him to play Batman Forever?

Rabbits by Lovers Turn to Monsters

The gig takes place on Saturday 23rd February, at The Roxy 171 on Great Western Road. Things should kick off around 8pm. There’s a Facebook event here, if you are into that kind of thing.

Now, when I see people saying things like “buy tickets quick, there’s not many left!” I usually picture them sitting amidst a pile of unsold tickets. Not when I say it though. The small size of The Roxy, and me essentially being the box office for the gig, means I can honestly tell you we’ve got a single figure number of tickets remaining for this one. Should you want to come then, you should probably get one of those remaining tickets quickly, which you can do here.

Gig Tomorrow, Plug Plug Plug

We didn’t have time to change the poster

It’s time, once again, to remind you that I’m doing stuff. Tomorrow (Saturday Jan 26th, in case you aren’t reading this on the day it was written) is the third of the gigs put on by myself, Neil from Scottish Fiction and Lloyd from Peenko, with the witty and creative Scottish Fiction Presents: Aye Tunes Vs Peenko title. Suggestions for snappier promotional titles welcome. I suggested SPAFT, since it includes the initials from all our blogs. This suggestion was, correctly, dismissed.

We’re moving to The 13th note for this one, with the fun kicking off from around 8pm. It’ll only cost you six pounds to get in.

Here’s what you’ll get for your money.

Black International - stepping in at the last minute for the sadly unable to appear King Post Kitsch, the Edinburgh two piece gathered rave reviews for their recent King Tuts gig, so come catch them before they get huge egos and demand a rider that would bankrupt me! They also happen to be a huge favourite of mine, so I’m happy to have them back.

In Debt by Black International
Plastic Animals - another big favourite round here, and another band who I apparently haven’t robbed blind or offended, since this will be their second gig with me involved. This lot make lovely noise.

Automaton by Plastic Animals
The Yawns - and a band I’ve not put on before! Their debut album caught a fair bit of attention when released last year, and this gig is the last on The Yawns’s UK tour to promote the launch of the album on lovely, shiny vinyl. You’ll be able to hear lots of songs and buy a record if you wish.

The Yawns by The Yawns

Hugs - lurk near Neil, Lloyd or myself and chances are you’ll get hugged. Especially later in the night when we’ve been drinking. Don’t let that put you off though.

The Skinny said “go find a new favourite band” about the gig, and who am I to disagree? Well, these bands are already amongst my favourites, but that’s not the point.

So that’s Saturday the 26th, at The 13th Note, doors open at 8, and six quid in.

Self Promotion Alert

Behold my mighty Paint skills.

This time last week we were hours away from the first Scottish Fiction/Aye Tunes/Peenko blogger circle jerk gig. It went pretty well, good bands and a decent crowd. Rather than do the sensible thing and hibernate for a bit, I have two more gigs in the next three weeks. Let me tell you about them.

First up is another of my solo ventures, as I dust of the ever insightful Aye Tunes Presents label for another gig. As is normal with these gigs now, I’m off to yet another venue this time round. The gig will be in the intimate surroundings of The Roxy 171 on great Western Road. You know the one, it used to be The Liquid Ship ages ago.

Young Philadelphia are the latest in a line of two piece bands making lovely big walls of noise. Debut EP RESI was a deliciously teeth rattling slab of experimental noisy rock, and my ears are still ringing a bit as I write this from seeing them last night. I can hardly wait to see what they do to the small space of The Roxy.

RESI by Young Philadelphia

Easter I first heard on a tip from Song, by Toad. As with many other bands I’ve first heard from there, it was a darn fine tip. Their debut album Innocence Man was released earlier this year, and is a gorgeous bit of work, one of my favourite things I’ve heard this year. I’m delighted then to be welcoming them to Glasgow, all the way from Manchester, for this leg of their current tour. Shades of Pavement, Sebadoh, The Wedding Present and more of that ilk mean Easter would quite happily slot in on a compilation tape of my favourite bands. They aren’t afraid of getting loud either, so there’s a chance of some Scanners style head exploding on the evening.

Damp Patch by Easter

LeThug have been pleasantly tickling my ears for a while now and I’ve been keen to drag them into doing some kind of gig for me for the best part of this year. Naturally then I’m chuffed that the stars aligned this time round, and they’ll be getting the evening going. Bits of ambient electonica, drone, and fuzzy shoegaze all add up to a mighty tasty musical pie. Yum yum.

Demo by LeThug

Tickets for this gig can be bought in advance for £5 here, or you can pay on the door on the night, where it’ll cost you £6.
If you are into Facebook you can indicate your attendance here.
This will be my last solo venture into gig putting on for the year. Maybe longer, but certainly for the year.

After that gig is done, I get to rest for, ooh, a whole week!

The second Scottish Fiction Presents: Aye Tunes Vs Peenko takes place on the last Saturday of the month, November 24th, again at The Flying Duck.
We’ve got a couple of old friends dropping by for this one, in the shape of Campfires In Winter, who played at the very first Aye Tunes Vs Peenko gig, and Behold the Old Bear, who played at my last Aye Tunes gig. Some of Behold the Old Bear also played the first AVP, but let’s not confuse things.
Joining them is the fab Gav Prentice. Gav just released his debut solo album, and we’ll be helping him give The Invisible Hand a good old launching.
Again, you can tell us you are coming over on Facebook.
Tickets for this one cost £6, available on the door or in advance here.

One Week To Go: Behold, the Old Bear / Plastic Animals / Left of Venus

Just one week to go till Aye Tunes gig night again, so it is time to plug the darn thing once again.

Continuing our nomadic existence we’re off to another venue again, this time we’ll be setting up shop at The 13th Note on Tuesday, September 11th.

Here’s what’s in store.

Behold, the Old Bear
Once a side project, now a real grown up band, Behold, the Old Bear are the new ship captained by Raindeer of Mitchell Museum fame. A five-piece making “Melodramatic Polar Blitz Alt Pop”, with a debut album coming soon on Gargleblast Records. There’s heartbreak in there too, Peenko sometimes needs a wee cuddle after hearing 7 Maybe 8. Probably my favourite “new” band of the year too. Come and find out why I like them so much for yourself.

Plastic Animals
I’ve been trying to do something with Plastic Animals for ages, even more so after bonding over a shared love of Urusei Yatsura, and finally the stars aligned this time round. Formed in Edinburgh way back in 2006, they finally got their shit together in 2011 and expanded both their sound and line-up to which has helped develop the sound much more. They make atmospheric, guitar-driven, harmonious noise. They released an EP under the name of “Automaton”. After the first hand-made batch sold out, Scottish DIY label Strange Fish Records are re-releasing it in September. Plastic Animals have shared stages with some terrible bands over the years, but also some great ones like PS I Love You, Milk Maid, Broken Records, The Scottish Enlightenment and PAWS.
Ghosts by Plastic Animals

Left of Venus
Left of Venus is the solo guise of Thomas Campbell, instrumental guitarist from Glasgow, blending ambience, minimalism, classical, and noise by way of the electric guitar.

So there you go.

That’s Behold, the Old bear, Plastic Animals and Left of Venus at The 13th Note, on the 11th of September.
Doors open at 8pm, and it’ll cost you five quid on the door to get in.
Should you be so inclined, you can claim you are coming on Facebook here, but I’ll be happier to see your faces on the night.
Come along or the terrorists win.

Presenting Again

Goodness, it hardly feels like any time at all since I was a nervous wreck about the last Aye Tunes gig, but here I am with the next one less than two weeks away already.

Continuing our nomadic existence we’re off to another venue again, this time we’ll be setting up shop at The 13th Note on Tuesday, September 11th. I’ll try my best to say nothing inappropriate about the date.

Here’s what’s in store.

Left of Venus
Left of Venus is the solo guise of Thomas Campbell, instrumental guitarist from Glasgow, blending ambience, minimalism, classical, and noise by way of the electric guitar.

So there you go.

One Last Plug - Gig Tonight!

Just a couple of hours to go till kick off, so here’s one final attempt at wooing the undecided into coming along to The Captains tonight.

Come along from 8pm, pay me six pounds, and see:

Eddy & the T-Bolts: Bandcamp - Facebook

<p>&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://eddyandthetbolts.bandcamp.com/track/john-mcclane-2″&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;John McClane by Eddy &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; the T-Bolts&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</p>

FALLS: Bandcamp - Facebook

A Fight You Can’t Win: Bandcamp - Facebook

<p>&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://afightyoucantwin.bandcamp.com/track/shedding-skin-making-bones”&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;shedding skin / making bones by A Fight You Can’t Win&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</p>

Please?