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The Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh

12/12/23

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On a wet damp December night, Django Django dropped into Edinburgh on their UK tour for their only performance in Scotland. This four-piece, multi-talented band were sure to warm a few cockles on the cold audience awaiting their arrival on stage. Packed in like sardines in a pull ring tin, the Liquid Rooms was awash with fans old and new. Django Django have built up and maintained a renowned reputation to be a high octane band, and their live gigs are an electrifying experience, this was one I just had to see!

Hailing from London, the four members originally met at the Edinburgh College of Arts, thus forming the pathway to creating Django Django back in 2009.  Since their self-titled debut album in 2012, he band have released five studio albums, the latest being the new album “Off Planet” released in June 2023. Like their music, the band is a mix of North and South. David Maclean ( Drummer & Producer) is Scottish, Jimmy Dixon ( Bassist) is from Yorkshire, while Vincent Neff ( Singer & Guitarist) is from Northen Ireland  and with Tommy Grace ( synthesizer ) also coming from Scotland.

David Maclean comes from a background of musicians and this can be seen in his production within the band. Their back catalogue of songs like ” Black Cadillac” , “Waveforms” which is featured in Grand Theft Auto V game, ” Default ”  “Hail bop” and “Storm”  propelled them to a well deserved critical acclaim for their musical genius. It seemed like it was upwards and onwards for Django Django.

Supporting local music venues and live bands is more important now then ever, with many venues hitting unprecedented difficulties it was a joy to see the Liquid Rooms at near full capacity on miserable damp Tuesday evening. Commanding the stage instantly, Django Django started out on a calm note, which I am sure was a disguise to what was to come. 

With a clean white dress code, that any Daz or Ariel advert would be proud off and with the added eye catching flower and Panther designs, their shirts were hitting the style scene as much as their music was.  I have never personally liked to compare artists and their music but everyone has been influenced at some point in their career by someone or some band and Django Django are no different. I myself could see sprinklings of Franz Ferdinand , Hot Chip, Groove Armada , Daft Punk and Devo creeping into their music. A fusion of dance, rock, electro, and unique drumming throw up a concoction of awesome beats.

As a collective Django Django are a tight and powerful band as the second part of their set proved to be. Like a game of two half’s, the latter part of the gig was loud and chaotic , in the best possible way. Swapping instruments, like they were swapping football cards in a school playground, their musical talents were clear and obvious to see. A band that have crafted the art of applying themselves to every instrument available to them and doing it in style. Django Django are a strong energetic outfit that deliver an awesome and memorable live show which in turn leaves you upbeat and satisfied with what you have just witnessed. Happy Days all around….

Raymond Speedie

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QMU, Glasgow
4th Dec, 2023

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At the Glasgow QMU, the university student union, there is always a vibe of youthful community. On this winters Monday eve we were there for a ‘Shygirl’ gig the venue was bustling for this performance of music that was brimming with style, love and unison with the crowd. It kicked off about 8 pm with a DJ set by Angelita whose face we never saw as she performed under the dark lights of reds and blues.

A steady build up of energy came with her compositions of synthetically presented thumping base and beat with sampled and original lyrics often on repeat. The short evening was ready to receive Blane Muise AKA Shygirl. She released her debut album ‘Nymph’ last year and consequently we were there to see her Glasgow gig of the tour of her new music.

She has accomplished much since inception in 2016 releasing singles and founding her record company. Her musical style arches from a stem of self belief that gives her performance an edge of being incredibly relaxed and capable to entertain. The crowd were obvious fans, who made a lot of noise to welcome her on stage, when she came on she already had everyone in her vivacious hands.

It was music, lyrics, melody and vocal of princely proportions, she has moulded a way to be onstage with total natural unravelling, very much being one with her crowd whom she played with a joyous stick. As her lyrical licks went by and her body moved and ran, she would flick her hair in friendly ways. Her songs stuck out, she writes what she wants and there was a great sense that she was speaking for everyone, rich and winning yet composed and of a certainty.

The music also unravelled the whole room as the strobe lights flickered on and off whether on her or into the crowd. It was of smoothness like jazz with a beat that functioned in its directions, vamping up the room with great waves of inclusiveness, riling with sweetness. Bigging up the vocals and aiming lyrics from her personality in agreement with life, taking and making what she liked and what she knew the crowd would want.

It was very impressive to see this act and be absorbed in a crowd of jovial vibes, youthful celebration and completely free of aggression. The night was short but very sweet; denoting something everyone had a hold on, and sharing something everyone could see. I was impressed by what I felt was honesty coming from a most capable performer; there was something in it to be noticed as things were taken care of.

Daniel Donnelly

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SWG3, Glasgow
2nd December, 2023

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To kick off a night like this one at Glasgow’s SWG3 not far from the river on came the seductively suited and well known act called Motopia. A band whose lyrics were of the most tasteful and gut grabbing story-telling brought to the music stage. The main act of the night being the mighty Mickey 9’s, a group who cause feverish partying, was well in hand as Motopia embellished the night in rock n’ folk brilliance that you just don’t want to end.

So after a half hour set on was to come the next act Ocean Views whose songs were clear and reductive. The selection of music came from the beyond in it’s dynamic change of events to compliment an evening of magnanimous and sheer joy. Ocean’s sound just spread throughout the room that was a scene of enigmatic treasure, music is very much alive in this City and everything was enthralled.

Their perfectly poised amps and intense vocal was so good that in the midst of a heavy yet as I say enigmatic rock n’ roll filled me with a tinge of sadness just at how elevated everything seemed. The Mickey 9’s entourage is miles long in its creation of esteemed music that blends so many styles into a new vibe of artistic sophistication. Their presence has an astounding kind of mystery, that outgrows itself and forever becomes dynamite for its audience and shall I say followers.

Since their debut album 2015’s ‘The Party Manifesto’, a very iconic celebration, they frequently play in Glasgow’s music venues, having party’s suited to smaller scenes that they so vivaciously ignite, their festival appearances are a favourite for fans. They tear up their talents for lyrical idiosyncrasy that draws from a vast pool that is deep and wide. You can catch him singing about psychosis, sociality, terrors and dreads with the most joyous irony and creative pleasure.

There is a sense of originality to their sound and very deductive appearance strutting easily on stage and reaching to every chasm of the room, in a way that leads music forward effortlessly. Every time you see them they just get better, there’s more to take in and figure out, the crowd grows with them, the joy is simply opened up and has no end in sight. It’s like they’ve discovered the meaning of music and everybody knows and completely loves it. I can only hope that I have imparted a sense of the spectacle that was on show last night.

Daniel Donnelly