Scottish Gig Highlights – April 2015
A cursory look at the month ahead confirms one universal truth: punk's not dead, it’s just got multiple synths and a top-knot these days. Get the spring-time sunshine on your skin and some of this music in your ears, and your April will fly by.
On 1 Apr you’ve got Fyfe’s soulful lyricism on show down at Nice 'n' Sleazy. His kind-of-debut LP Control dropped just last month, and it’s a complex, versatile, shimmery record that’s well worth a listen (or ten). A luxuriously mellow start to a busy, busy month. The next night, 2 Apr (it’s a Tuesday) sees mouthy Aussie balladeer Courtney Barnett roll into town, where she’ll be playing Glasgow’s Art School. Fresh from storming showcases at SxSW, her sophomore album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit is bloody brilliant (as attested in our review last month). Don’t miss out on a chance to see her acerbic wit writ enjoyably large.
That same evening at Bloc, and the following day (3 Apr) at Edinburgh’s Sneaky’s, Brighton gang Demob Happy will be plying the crowds with their ramshackle homebrew of stoner-punk. Big hair, big vocals and even bigger distortion, they’ll provide a potent cure for any mid-week lethargy. If you want beer in your hair and grime on your trousers, this is the show for you. If that’s all a bit prickly and shiny indie rock is more your bag, then the much-hyped Circa Waves at Glasgow’s Garage on 9 April should be just the ticket. The perky Liverpudlians have had support by the bucketload for singles like Fossils – it’s got a festival-ready chorus and fidgety verses – and they’re firmly on track with one of the feel good hits for the summer.
Staying in the west coast, on the 14th you’ve got Drenge at The Classic Grand. The raucous sibling duo are riding the wave of their second LP Undertow, and first single We Can Do What We Want – an appropriate title for a band known for giving limited fucks – has shown that, although only slightly older and probably none the wiser, they've kept a firm hold of the energy that makes them such a brutal live force.
On 18 Apr – a particular highlight, if you ask us – Cardiff DIY royalty Joanna Gruesome (supported by the similarly awesome King of Cats) will be bratting out at Glasgow’s Stereo. Sugar sweet and super snotty in equal measure, they describe themselves as “dissonant wimp music” while Wikipedia argues for a classification as noise-pop. Whatever; this show will be wonderful. (Joanna Gruesome's tour has been rescheduled - they'll play Glasgow's Glad Cafe on 24 Sep).
The following night, it’s back to Sneaky Pete’s for BBC's Sound of 2015-endorsed electro-crooner, Låpsley. Although the Beeb's 100+ member committee-based critics' poll has a patchy track record for recommendations (Django Django – excellent; James Bay – definitely not), they’re spot on with Låpsley. Moody, goose bump-inducing minimalism.
Next up, be sure to check out Mancunian two-piece Shield Patterns at Edinburgh’s Assembly on Thursday 23 April. Expect atmospheric, abstract avant-pop that’s understatedly life-affirming. Then, after a few fairly chill shows, April’s going out with a bang. On the 26th in Glasgow and the 28th in Edinburgh, professional bizarro Nick Cave will hold court at the Royal Concert Hall and the Playhouse, respectively. The man himself is known for utterly nutty live shows and with his prolific back-catalogue, it’s sure to be packed full of treats.
But back in Glasgow on 28 April, there’s the mother of all clashes. The inimitable Purity Ring will be busy freaking out the Art School, promoting their eccentric new album Another Eternity. However, take a breath, because over at the ABC you’ve got Flying Lotus (supported by Shabazz Palaces, no less) which’ll be a visual, aural and heck, probably even sensual feast. Honestly, no, we don’t know which one you should choose. Good luck with that one.
Last but not least, in a final dramatic clash, Stornoway at the Art School goes head-to-head with Stealing Sheep at Broadcast on the night of 30 April. Whether you prefer your heartstrings tugged by multi-instrumental whimsical academic types or by spangled art-pop that still has all the ruggedness of a Welsh mountainside… that’s not for us to decide. And, with that final toughie, April’s done!
Do Not Miss: Outskirts Festival, Platform (Easterhouse), Sat 25 Apr
Festival season can’t come soon enough eh? Are you counting down the days ‘til Glastonbury? We’ve got the solution, in the small but very sweet form of the annual Outskirts fest; a day long ‘mini-festival’ crammed to the gills with all sorts of performances, installations and general artsy fun. Fancy a bit of a singalong? Wounded Knee’s got that covered. Some spoken word? Try Martin O’Connor. Been craving a specialist performance from Matthew Bourne (and gang) titled Kraftwerk’s Radio-Activity Revisited? It’s a niche one, that, but you can tick it off your list, too.
Other excitingly titled appearances include an installation called Lisa Keddie’s Post Office, an interdisciplinary performance called Little King (by Matt Regan) and an “interactive sound installation” named MJ McCarthy’s Turntable. A bountiful celebration of contemporary art, the only thing it’s lacking is a headline slot from Kanye West. Running from 3-10pm (ish), over at Platform (The Bridge) on Westerhouse Road, it’s even free for the under-16s. All in all, the perfect recipe for an abundantly creative Saturday afternoon.