Live Music Highlights – January 2013

After the hedonistic madness of Hogmanay, we raise our bleary-eyed fizzogs and look towards the dawn of a new year, safe in the knowledge that the Mayans were (probably) wrong about that whole 'end of the world' thing, and that we really should think about a spell off the booze. Perhaps a fortnight. Maybe a month. Or a year. We reckon that resolution will break around 5 Jan or so – after that you'll be fighting fit and ready to party.

Which is just as well, really, as on 6 Jan, indie / electro troubadour Miaoux Miaoux comes to King Tut's in Glasgow, as part of their New Year's Revolution gigs, showcasing the best that Scotlland has to offer. MM's Light of the North made it into our top 50 of last year, and the boy's got an ear for a catchy pop melody and a house-influenced beat that will charm the pants off you, guaranteed. He is ably supported by Roman Nose and the rather fabulous Organs of Love.

By the time 11 Jan rolls round, it'll be like that period of abstinence never happened, as you plunge merrily into another New Year's Revolution gig at Tut's, this time featuring Chris Devotion and the Expectations, recently described by broadcaster Vic Galloway as "The Ramones, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen and The Replacements having a punch-up." Support comes from Poor Things, Black International and Dundonian Skinny favourites, tipped for big, big tings in 2013, Fat Goth. You'd be mental to miss it.

It's over to Nice 'N' Sleazy on 12 Jan, for a rousing live set of noisy, shout-along rap-and-drums-based racket. If you haven't seen Hector Bizerk before you're in for a shock (and a treat). Support is unconfirmed so far, but with rapper Louie turning up on tracks with Stanley Odd's Solareye, and his solo material with the likes of fellow Glasgow rap-cat Mackenzie, not to mention drummer Audrey's other job as drummer for indie-pop minstrels The Miss's, you could be in for some treats there too.

On 19 Jan, get yourself down to Edinburgh's Electric Circus for experimental rockers Vukovi, whose lead singer Janine Shilstone has a most impressive set of pipes, elevating their pop-punk noise to epic levels of awesome. Support comes from equally exuberant pop-punkers The Mirror Trap.

Washington Irving mix together jangly, Belle & Sebastian-esque indie-pop with earnest, lovelorn folk, and there's a definite narrative bent to their songs which marks them out in the Scottish scene. They play Glasgow's Oran Mor on 19 Jan, support comes courtesy of slow-burning pastoral songsmiths Olympic Swimmers.

2012 was an exciting year for Edinburgh's Young Fathers, as they signed to veteran experimental hip-hop label Anticon, and started work on a new album. Taking in a wide range of influences from folk to funk to Fela Kuti, to name just a few. Their restless, mercurial approach makes them pretty unique, and on 19 Jan, they will be launching their new release Tape One at Glasgow's Broadcast.

On 23 Jan, we wouldn't dare miss Reekie hip-hop combo Stanley Odd, who begin their 2013 with a special gig at the Old Fruitmarket, playing in collaboration with the delightfully eccentric Electric String Orchestra. Support comes from barnstormin' Edinburgh blues squad Mystery Juice.

24 Jan presents an unmissable chance to see Fence Records boss Johnny Lynch, aka The Pictish Trail, premiering tracks from his much-anticipated album Secret Soundz Vol. 2. Lynch's experimental approach to indie-folk takes in electronic sounds, field recordings and fractured, wistful lyrics, plus the man's stage chat is surely unrivalled. Support comes from fellow Fence-r Rozi Plain. They play the Glasgow Art Club.

Listen up: Exeter's The Computers trade in the kind of ballls-to-the-wall, visceral, hardcore-tinged blues-punk that would make most lily-livered of indie-folk kids spit out their organic lager and commence pogo-ing. They are your offical aalternative to the Fence bash, playing Bloc on 24 Jan.

Also on 24 Jan, a welcome head-to-head from epic post-rock guitar-abusers Carnivores alongside post-hardcore rockers United Fruit (surely poised to drop that second LP in the coming months) as they duke it out at King Tut's. Expect fireworks. Support comes from Clockwork Social.

On 26 Jan, Glasgow blogger Aye Tunes once again goes toe-to toe with blogger and great plunderer of bootlegs Peenko; the pair take over the 13th Note to showcase some of the best in up-and-coming homegrown indie rock from shimmering upstarts The Yawns, Plastic Animals, and King Post Kitsch. Yaldi!

---

DO NOT MISS: DINOSAUR JR., THE ARCHES, 30 JAN

The undisputed kings of slacker rock return. 2012 saw the release of the justly-acclaimed I Bet On Sky, marking their third LP since the return of Lou Barlow to the fold some seven years ago, singing and writing songs again with former nemesis J. Mascis. If anything, the band are stronger and more energised than ever. Known for their epically-loud, expansive, axe-fetishising live performances, and with Mascis' growling, pleading vocals still on world-beating, room-filling form, this is a rare opportunity to see them throw down at close quarters.