Live Music Roundup for December
Bear witness to the last rites of Uncle John and Whitelock
| 12 Dec 2006
Edinburgh
Nineties Indie die-hards The Bluetones kick things off with a gig at The Liquid Room on 6 Dec. Expect breezy, accomplished pop, an up-for-it-crowd (their fanbase is notoriously rabid) and a smattering of classics, such as 'Bluetonic' and 'Autophillia'.
Quantic Soul Orchestra will unfold a seductive funk odyssey at the Bongo Club on 7 Dec. Cherry-picking the lushest elements of beat culture, this band has got the melody and the grooves. This will be a swinging good-time gig for sure.
On 12 Dec, hotly tipped upstarts Duels (pictured) will bewitch Cabaret Voltaire with their swooning, melodic rock and roll sounds. Dreamy synths, articulate, emotional vocals and devastating guitar lines add up to something a bit special.
If worthy troubadours and po-faced indie preachers aren't your bag, you'll want to check out the deranged antics of the Horrors, who play the South Vaults on 12 Dec. Schitzo riffs, bad hair and stream-of-conscious banter are the defining characteristics of this hugely entertaining band. See them.
Left-wing punk rock veganism is big business these days, so if you're down with that demographic then you'll probably want to express your individuality by going to see Propagandhi, who will play The Exchange on 16 Dec. Seriously though, they rock.
Edinburgh's own Ballboy wrap things up with a set at Cabaret Voltaire on 21 Dec. Literate, eccentric and hugely passionate, songs such as 'Sex is Boring' and 'You Can't Spend Your Whole Life Hanging Around With Arseholes' prove that Arab Strap don't have a monopoly on endearingly brutal poetry.
Glasgow
Michael Franti & Spearhead – this band is an unstoppable juggernaut of good vibes and great tunes. Expect a mind bending fusion of styles, full-on audience interaction and powerful, political lyrics. If you've seen them before you'll already have your ticket. Don't miss out. Arches, 3 Dec.
The ever dependable Placebo play SECC on 6 Dec. They get a kicking in some quarters, and their records aren't as essential as they once were, but this is still the same band that wrote classics like '36 Degrees'. Recent performances confirm that they're still a mesmerising live prospect, so check them out.
Black Wire and Neil's Children serve up a generous helping of angular, atmospheric guitar noise at the Barfly on 7 Dec. Infectious, direct and bloody good fun; this is a stellar double bill. Neil's Children in particular offer some delightfully intense goth-tinged punk thrills.
The wondrous Howling Bells swoop into the Cathouse on 8 Dec. Ambitious, majestic and damn near irresistible, they combine recklessly swaggering country-tinged vocal parts with evocative, chiming guitars to startling effect. This band is special and you should love them.
White Rose Movement play King Tut's on 12 Dec. Swirling synths, icy guitar riffs and pounding bass all add up to an intoxicating live proposition. They'll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Dark and dangerous.
Bear witness to the last rites of Uncle John and Whitelock, as Scotland's most criminally under-appreciated band call it a day after one last gig at King Tut's on 23 Dec. It's been a strange, scary ride, but whatever their reasons for packing it in, The Skinny salutes them. They were too good for scum like us.
Nineties Indie die-hards The Bluetones kick things off with a gig at The Liquid Room on 6 Dec. Expect breezy, accomplished pop, an up-for-it-crowd (their fanbase is notoriously rabid) and a smattering of classics, such as 'Bluetonic' and 'Autophillia'.
Quantic Soul Orchestra will unfold a seductive funk odyssey at the Bongo Club on 7 Dec. Cherry-picking the lushest elements of beat culture, this band has got the melody and the grooves. This will be a swinging good-time gig for sure.
On 12 Dec, hotly tipped upstarts Duels (pictured) will bewitch Cabaret Voltaire with their swooning, melodic rock and roll sounds. Dreamy synths, articulate, emotional vocals and devastating guitar lines add up to something a bit special.
If worthy troubadours and po-faced indie preachers aren't your bag, you'll want to check out the deranged antics of the Horrors, who play the South Vaults on 12 Dec. Schitzo riffs, bad hair and stream-of-conscious banter are the defining characteristics of this hugely entertaining band. See them.
Left-wing punk rock veganism is big business these days, so if you're down with that demographic then you'll probably want to express your individuality by going to see Propagandhi, who will play The Exchange on 16 Dec. Seriously though, they rock.
Edinburgh's own Ballboy wrap things up with a set at Cabaret Voltaire on 21 Dec. Literate, eccentric and hugely passionate, songs such as 'Sex is Boring' and 'You Can't Spend Your Whole Life Hanging Around With Arseholes' prove that Arab Strap don't have a monopoly on endearingly brutal poetry.
Glasgow
Michael Franti & Spearhead – this band is an unstoppable juggernaut of good vibes and great tunes. Expect a mind bending fusion of styles, full-on audience interaction and powerful, political lyrics. If you've seen them before you'll already have your ticket. Don't miss out. Arches, 3 Dec.
The ever dependable Placebo play SECC on 6 Dec. They get a kicking in some quarters, and their records aren't as essential as they once were, but this is still the same band that wrote classics like '36 Degrees'. Recent performances confirm that they're still a mesmerising live prospect, so check them out.
Black Wire and Neil's Children serve up a generous helping of angular, atmospheric guitar noise at the Barfly on 7 Dec. Infectious, direct and bloody good fun; this is a stellar double bill. Neil's Children in particular offer some delightfully intense goth-tinged punk thrills.
The wondrous Howling Bells swoop into the Cathouse on 8 Dec. Ambitious, majestic and damn near irresistible, they combine recklessly swaggering country-tinged vocal parts with evocative, chiming guitars to startling effect. This band is special and you should love them.
White Rose Movement play King Tut's on 12 Dec. Swirling synths, icy guitar riffs and pounding bass all add up to an intoxicating live proposition. They'll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Dark and dangerous.
Bear witness to the last rites of Uncle John and Whitelock, as Scotland's most criminally under-appreciated band call it a day after one last gig at King Tut's on 23 Dec. It's been a strange, scary ride, but whatever their reasons for packing it in, The Skinny salutes them. They were too good for scum like us.