---

---

---

The Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh

12/12/23

---

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

---

QMU, Glasgow
4th Dec, 2023

---

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

---

SWG3, Glasgow
2nd December, 2023

---

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

---

Broadcast, Glasgow
Saturday 18th November, 2023

---

Glasgow’s Broadcast was home to a Weekend concert by the New York Band ‘Lip Critic’ who are enjoying a larger than life tour this year that will take them to Europe, they give it all at every gig. After forming in 2018 and releasing a few E.P’s one of which they called ‘Kill Lip Critic’ (an ironic title that sets a scene) they’ve released their debut album in 2020 called ‘Lip Critic II’ they’ve shaved their heads and have embarked on a rampage of noise.

I absolutely loved the support bands’ 40 min efforts, they go under the title ‘Engine of Ruin’. So much that I’ll be going to their own gig early next year in the Hairdressers down Renfield Lane, all I can say about them now is that they are a duo who sound like a five piece. This eve’s music had words like ‘War Metal’ and ‘Bestial Black Metal’ bandying about and it was of a genre I hadn’t listened to in a while.

The Punk energy and Attitude rolling from the very hips of ‘Lip Critic’ seemed to be double jointed with the heavy techno like business of creative sounds of the two samplers, that did nothing to halt the vocal screaming and the gesticulation’s of the powerfully charged vocal master from New York. I’m not sure why but the room was less than half full as he paraded through us, crawling as a demon and simultaneously calling us to the weapons of joy, taunting and childlike with no less than two booming drums.

Yes two booming drums, each of whose expressions were comically in pain and ecstasy. It came across with throbbing beats that sent yearnings that to a larger crowd could have meant a very serious, out of control fun party to gobble up the goblins and fire up the weapons furnace (so to speak). But their tweaks are quite interesting, Black Metal (and what not) that grew during the 80’s and 90’s out of some very negative strains often lent lyrics about inner pain, bloodshed and offered anger at the system.

Their live events were far from a downer though, instead it boomed on the electric guitars and had the crowds in waves like an AC/DC concert. Now all these decades later it seems to have moved from that far plain to vocals that instead are created by this sampling of electric music. Lip Critic are what you get when you mix metal with techno, quite the fete, and you get the vivacious punk that were the sounds we heard last night.

So for the crowd it was like a new double whammy where you can pick and choose which you’d like to celebrate while remaining true to the original codes that back then worked so well. But either way it was loud piled on top of loud, with a kind of rap style influenced vocal technique and that more than aggressive attitude it also used to have.

So much happened in a gig that was no more than 50 min long, vocals and collaborations set to invite the room to a state of near implosion, and attacked a sheer need to explode with everything remaining remarkably somehow intact. It may come that this reworking of heavy metal past may be spreading again through a youth who are still willing to mosh nights away and just connect through what seems like rage but may actually just be a desire for union in a world of uncertainty they set on fire with music.

Daniel Donnelly

---

33 Oldham Street
Manchester
Nov 16, 2023

---

Well, I weren’t expecting that – fucking hell! A bit like a punch to the jaw that floors you without hurting ya, from out of nowhere like, & yer just completely buzzing anyway, last night in Manchester reminded me in its totality that, just as the Italians & Germans have their operas & the Russians explore the human existence soul & psyche with their novels, the English genius for guitar music is just so innate & native – we’re amazing at it.

So, to the touring Velvet Hands & two more bands, a reyt tasty three course meal of music in Manchester on a pre-Christmassy Thursday night. Despite their proper dodgy self-deprecating name, but fresh from winning a battle of bands in Wigan the previous night; MUNDANE ACT serv’d up a right nice dish of subtle baroquey cardigan rock, full of clever bits & the Kooks… & they were fuckin’ 17 n’all – Manchester has some wee gems on it’s hands there, like. That tune whose hook was ‘Living for the Weekend’ was smashing, still ringing round mi ‘ead as I type.

Next up were GREY MARE, a slight improvement on choice of name, tho’ I did feel like I was down the fucking dogs or summat! This gaggle of students from Manchester uni were brimming with class aboveness & an absorbing psychedelia full of promise – Joy Division on ketamine. If they ever manage to get to a farmhouse together for a bit they’d create a right a bangin’ album. Somewhere in North Wales lads, where one of the members is from – roundabout mushroom season.

A touching moment was when the band’s singer’s girlfriend’s mate went to the girlfriend, ‘this is your song,’ & the wee laddie had only gone & written an absolute belter of an uptempo paean to their amorous shenanigans. Honestly, three bands full of poets & poet-warriors with axes you can slap on the distortion… a proper night’s music, like I said.

Then came THE VELVET HANDS – the best named band of the night & the main course, of course, from which band of slick amigos every tune was like somebody whacking a massive gong & going on, ‘have a listen to this shit, it’s reyt fucking good.’ That’s every tune, that is, honestly. These Cornish lads had relocated to London, & are a result of a Celtic passion for music, combining with London’s cutting edge band scene. More electric guitars than pan pipes, like, they had a fantastic vibe & sound, especially the guitarist’s foppish Keith Richards swagger. I were loving that, like, nice to see.

I’m not saying owt denigrating about the other bands, but you could hear the maturity in work of the Velvet Hands. What I mean is from 17-year-olds, thro’ 20-year old students, to the mid-late 20s or so of the VH, I witness’d guitar music working itself out naturally thro’ its ever evolving exponents. But at each level there were masterclasses all round!

Ultimately, that was one of the very best structured nights I’ve witness’d for a long time – big shout out to the promoter like, clearly some kind of segue-ninja, & a big shout out should go to the venue, 33 Oldham Street, a place where if you stand outside the whole world will pass you eventually, where inside the beers were well priced & the music selection on both the playlist & in band room was top notch. I also notic’d that the crowd gather’d for the gig was very healthy in terms of both numbers & spirits – a great place to be & enjoy yourself, for sure. Onwards & upwards for everybody involv’d !

Words: Damo Bullen
Photography: Peter Rooney

---

Room 2, Glasgow
Wednesday 08th November, 2023

---

Glasgow’s Room 2 was packed for this November gig. It’s one of the coolest venues, with a great steaming atmosphere. We were there for the much anticipated His Lordship, a band of normally only two who play guitar and vocals and the other drums (beat), but we were treated to a bass for this rhythmical class act. It felt like two gigs after support act, the revered Louis McVey & Cracks in the Concrete, who collaborate for a super rock n’ roll.

This November tour around UK (a single special gig in Glasgow) kicked off with their super abundant energy, and an immediate playfulness stormed the room with a punk filled rock n’ roll.

Their engine of music is off the back of an Album called ‘Buzzkill’ released this year, and their roots have been replanted in an expertly happy return from that lock down thing.

The sound that filled the room has come from Rock royalty roots, these guys have played and written with the likes of the Pretenders, the Pogues, Chrissie Hynde, and they have set about making fresh music as His Lordship that has grown arms and legs.

This new project is all about re-finding those roots, they have recalled the reason they play music in the first place and this gig was a fired up return from bleak days like a new arrow ready to fire. The crowd lapped up their like for a band who were loud, jovial and played with an experienced energy with great themes and vivaciously fun sheer electric music.

Combining many things that went straight into the joy of a room enthralled. Hailing from everything from early blues, 50’s rock n’ roll and with a very clearly stated exploration of the here and now. Their interviews are as energetic and explosive as their succeeding renewal of a music that rocks with delectation, precision, passion and bursting with the ability to create a return and a propelling future.

Bursting in their cheap suits, with a completion of a music as pure as Robert Johnson, as lively as Jerry Lee Lewis and as fruitful as James Brown. In a venue that come’s alive more than anywhere in the City, the gig took everything to its absolute limit especially that of enjoying music. Using it to express an urge and urgency with a skill that blew the room into a cacophony, rock n’ roll magic on a quiet Wednesday evening in November.

Can’t wait for their next one, their 8 shows left on this tour are set to be something special, as they knock the roof off with meticulous energy, sincerity expressed to the point of absurdity of what can be done in music and how much we can revere the music on stage, if they come to a venue near you it’s worth going.

Daniel Donnelly

---

Voodoo Rooms
Edinburgh 5 / 11/ 2023

---

Rosie Sullivan is one of Scotland’s breakthrough artists of recent times. Formerly from the Isle of Lewis on the west coast, Rosie is now based in the capital city Edinburgh, where she has been working and collaborating on her musical journey. With a band of talented and merrie musicians by her side, Rosie has created a loyal and devoted fan-base stretching to all the corners of the UK.

With the beautifully written “So It Is” debut single now firmly under her belt, Rosie is embarking on a live tour to promote up and coming new EP, “In My Nature,” and brought her show to the iconic and magical Edinburgh venue, The Voodoo Rooms, for a fireworks display of her back catalogue and newly released material.

Growing up on the Isle of Lewis with her 5 dogs was a massive influence on her style of music, with beautifully layered lyrics to top it off, no doubt inspired by the tranquil and mind blowing scenery surrounding her. Rosie’s childhood must have been full of lyrical diaries and dreams of turning her words into little songs of warmth and love. Cosy nights by a log fire with acoustic guitar in hand must hold many a memory for Rosie and the people of the Isle of Lewis.

After many a year in Edinburgh it appears Rosie has found her well deserve recognition within the central belts music scene. Pulling in big crowds to her shows has been a long time coming and it was a joy to see a near full house for her Edinburgh gig. Having beautifully crafted and sculptured songs such as “Chapters,” “Fragments, “Expectations,” and the newest release on the block “Timeless”, Rosie has been able to turn a different corner by incorporating her soft silky smooth voice into thought provoking masterpieces.

Every song has her own sprinkling of traditional folk music that brings a meditative state of mind to her listeners. Music can encourage the human feelings that make us feel safe and at peace and Rosie does this in abundance. Projecting a voice that is heartwarming and honest with every word sung, Rosie obviously holds much love for her beloved homeland, Scotland.

Rosie evocates all that is Scottish; her connection to the hills, glens and shores of home are so evident in her lyrics. If music could turn the darkness into light, then Rosie is the one to do it. Life is for the living, dreams are for the dreamers, hope is for the hoping and love is for the loving are just a mere example of Rosies impeccable writing skills. Touching on a huge expanse of human feelings is definitely an area of lyrical exploration that Rosie has recognized well.

When a gig that is an hour long goes by in an instance you know it was well executed. Rosie is an amazing, true, unique and deeply honest singer songwriter in her own right and her voice says it all… a beautiful night in the company of the beautiful artist Rosie H Sullivan… at the Voodoo Rooms Edinburgh on Guy Fawkes Night. Perfect !!

Raymond Speedie

---

Mono, Glasgow
28th October, 2023

---

Mono restaurant & live music venue is in a very interesting and enjoyable position near Glasgow’s Tron gate, it takes its name from the simple fact that it is underneath a now unused railway bridge. It is loved for food, socialising and finding great live music. It was filled to the brim and can I say heaving for the evening’s performance of Philip Seth Campbell, a musician of extraordinary talents.

Beginning about 8.30 pm on came support Alice Faye who is a self titled titan of folk, classical and rhythmic music. The three sat there on acoustics and poured out like a fairytale soft and vivacious melodies like lullabies. She plucks from the world of music a very sophisticated trajectory with a great presence and leading quality.

Philip assumed onto the well positioned stage, a corner of the great room, with an energy that he has sustained for some decades. His whipping songs were in the shape of a simple 3 – piece band of bass, keyboard and himself on acoustic guitar and vocals. His powerful sound screamed in a much larger entourage as it growled into the room.

His life has been in total dedication to music and as a young man he found himself in London, with a voice that should destroy a human being, and perhaps it has. He had lots of fun talking to the crowd who were there with a special feeling including a hugely strongly bonded room shared between everyone. His musical travels have had him take on numerous projects and involvements with bands in his ever so flexible talents that have often been much sought after, he is something quite special.

In his adorably broad Glaswegian accent he headed the gig with a relatively new band who have released this year a new album titled ‘City Lights’ and have released for streaming a single from it called ‘Magical West’ he sells to the point of big success in sell out concerts such as was this evening at Mono.

Mono is part of an historic building with tourist attracting features not least the magically encircling skylight that billows the night straight into the room. They juggled old and new songs in a way that has actually affected this new album with long ago written songs put into fresh compositions.

Full energy of a stadium rock gig, impressively emanated from the group to a crowd lively and bubbling and made him stand put as a hero, with vocals to match as big as the night outside. He has lived an intensely interesting life with his charisma topped so far it was as if it were painful, dragging about reality and physically moving around with ninja speed. A remarkable musician from Glasgow pouring out some of the most lovely and distressing concerts, of adorable music, a fete of magical effort.

Daniel Donnelly

---

Interstellar Soundwaves from wherever the fuc£ they’re from, have just swooped in & out of Edinburgh & Glasgow

---

EDINBURGH

Voodoo Rooms
28 / 10 /2023

Hurtling through time and space, Zpor (Matthew Whitaker, vocals and guitar) and his intergalactic crew that we humans know as HENGE, landed their spectacular show on planet earth with incredible results. Whilst travelling the galaxy, Zpor encountered many an alien species but none any better than Goo (Pete Turner, Bass Guitar & Synth Bass), Grok (Roy Medhurst, synths), and Nom (Sam Draper, Drums), whom collectively created the phenomenon that became HENGE.

Exploring the universe together for many a year they felt the need to fill their down time with the one element that all living souls cant live without, music. So, in 2015 they gave birth to a new form of musical entertainment called “Cosmic Dross” and tonight live for one night only, the Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms were transformed into a mumble jumble of earthlings and other worldly unidentified species, all itching for a good time. Creating a very unique electronic rock sound in Manchester (their home planet) they ventured out into all the distant corners of the universe to deliver their message of hope, love and togetherness, this they have managed to do in great quantities. Like a time capsule with no boundaries, HENGE have broken all traditions by concocting a never before seen act that electrifies all humans that are lucky enough to be on this journey with them.

As planets go, Earth has it all and so did HENGE. Owning the stage like a lion protecting its kill, HENGE unleashed a torrent of mind warping songs that whipped the audience up into a storm of excitement, solar dancing and applause. Dress code is unquestionable with HENGE as is their music. Its a revelation in many ways. With HENGE’S first release, an EP entitled “Cosmic Dross” in 2017, it cemented their reputation as an alternative festival favourite which took them on a trek to Glastonbury, Boomtown, Bluedot , Doune The Rabbit Hole and Shambala. Conquering the music business is not HENGE’S intention. Its all about opening up peoples ideas to a solar system of endless music that embodies the spirit of what’s inside.

Having time travelled to many a concert and gig over the years, i can truly conclude that HENGE are a one off a kind act. They deliver more than just music. Messages are a clear indication throughout their show and are the threads that hold the music together. The individual sound is memorising, if you can imagine an Arcade game with all its bleeping and pinging noises being tossed around in a tumble dryer then Henge is for you. Like a breath of fresh air to the lungs, Henge is a breath of fresh air to the music circuit. Dynamic, edgy, intoxicating, captivating, intriguing, rocky, soulful but most of all, fun, lots of fun and that’s what makes HENGE. They are a fun band that brighten up every part and place in the Universe, as well as a few Black Holes here and there. Thanks for a memorable night and education on inter stellar politics.

Raymond Speedie

---

---

GLASGOW

Stereo
27 / 10 / 23

Glasgow Stereo Venue has its door down a lane close to Central Station, a cobbled lane fit for music and the arts. The basement room itself has very high ceilings and things always feel like a party on these nights. The band I was there to see are called simply Henge and they come dressed in all kinds of out there costumes, when I say out there I mean it.

They formed back in 2015 in the Manchester area, but their very positive vibes don’t reflect the major music that has come from there instead Henge are a mix of synth and rock, or even heavy metal. So as they took to stage it was like a visual invasion of masks and makeup. The 4 piece are on a UK tour this year as they continue to grow in fans, popularity and even legend.

This year has seen the release of their 3rd Album titled ‘Alpha Test 4’ which I’m happy to say has been a self released album showcasing their now well developing sound that to be fair is unlike any other. The sound is a collaboration of druidical referenced, magic making really blending musical style into a fine art of interesting technical fusions.

The songs are deep and rich with proceedings and in revelations he famously invites his crowd with the revealing line, ‘Attention Earth. This is Henge! We have travelled to earth from the far corners of the Galaxy to bring a new kind of music to your world’ this became the shows manifesto.

Doctor Who like masks of aliens and creatures hid the songs that were space like and adventurous. Coming down hard and clean together with a fun filled quirks and a steady rhythm very much footed in a heavy metal appearing rock gig, keeping and creating generous flows. Topping these mixed sounds were the vocals, about strangeness, cultural heritage and extremely well coloured topicality with this weird effect on the mic.

This well accomplished musicianship worked great and for at least half the room, who were obviously fans, it was like a moment on another planet. All of a self confessed new way of making music of charging simplicity and complexity into very pleasant structures and alien beats. Their 2023 tour will take them to 27 venues that by the looks of this one will have a steady support to portray this new sound and give fans a good night out.

These guys are clearly highly creative ticking the great boxes of inclusion, cultural adventure with no little enthusiasm, to bring joy to music in another way. As their popularity grows they may be first of a genre.

Daniel Donnelly

---

Photography by Raymond Speedie

---

I have been nestl’d in the Central Belt of Scotland for nigh on two decades now, during which passage of years & gigs & surfing a very fine festival scene, I have witnessd a great number of the favorite bands from my younger years, whom I never quite caught first time round. The Charlatans at the Glasgow O2 Academy, for example, & James at Electric Fields. But there was always that one band that eluded me – Shed Seven.

For boys from York, they didn’t do too badly at all, creating the perfect Britpop album in ‘A Maximum High’, whose singles dripp’d down from the shelves like almond honey into our pop-rocky & receptive ears. The massive sing-a-longs that escorted Shed Seven thro’ those particular numbers last night in the Glasgow Barrowlands is testament to the infectious quality of the albums beats & uber-hooks. At one moment ‘Going For Gold’ segued into & out of Elvis’s Suspicious Minds,’ which was a bit weird, like, but nobody seem’d to mind, while in one corner of the venue there was a posse clearly on ecstasy raving away like at the Hacienda early 1988, literally screaming out the lyrics. A funny watch when you’re queing up for the beers (£6 each).

Rick Witter, the lanky leprachaun of a front man, is a top singer, like, his lyrics & melodies are brilliant! Rick is actually the only surviving member of the original line-up, tho guitarist Paul Banks has been there since the early days. Shed Seven Mark 2023 has new band members Tim Wills (keyboards and guitar) and Rob Maxfield (drums), plus a youthful brass section, all recreating the old hits, & blasting out stuff from the new album, ‘A Matter of Time’, releas’d next January. I am very much looking forwards to it actually, what I did hear of it sounded eclectic & catchy & well, Shed Seveney, whatever that this. You have to certainly feel the band to know what that is, but they do have the ability to make you do that, & feel them with abundance. That’s their beauty, they speak the universal language, & everybody can’t help but appreaciate the beauty about themselves & life upon hearing Shed Seven in their performing pomp.

Their gig at the Barrowlands was sold-out, & full of serene buzziness, & seeing Rick Witter perform for the first time was a blast. He’s a bit of a comedian really, & full of warmth, including reading shout-outs to folk, during which segment the entire gaggle of Weegies sang happy birthday to Paul Bank’s son, Harrisson, on his 19th birthday, over the phone. Nice touch! Then Witter went, ‘that’s enough of that, let’s play some tunes,’ & they slickly moved straight into Dolphin. Now then, that was the first tune I ever heard of Shed Seven, way back in Carlisle 1995, when my band’s drummer play’d me the tune on CD. A Maximum High came out the next year, I’ve been a fan ever since, & my pilgrimage to my very own Witter-Mecca was well worth the wait. A Matter of Time, indeed!

Damian Bullen