The Metal Column - September, 2009
Scotland gives as good as it gets this month thanks to the valiant efforts of some exciting domestic talent and a relatively modest influx of big names.
Things kick off at Drummonds in Aberdeen (2 Sep) when Glaswegian trio Tempercalm bring their edgy alternative rock to town, followed by trips to The Raigmore in Inverness (3 Sep), Hustlers in Dundee (5 Sep) and the amusingly socialist-named Area Centre in the big lights of Stewarton (12 Sep). Not stopping there, the hard-gigging triumvirate visits Capitol in Glasgow (19 Sep) and finally Dirty Martini's in Kilmarnock (26 Sep). There's three fellas with an admirable work ethic.
Healthy Minds Collapse are another domestic talent dragging their amps the length of the country throughout September. They begin at Aberdeen's Tunnels (2 Sep), moving on to Madhatters in Inverness (4 Sep) and Skinandis in the musical Mecca of Thurso (5 Sep). A brief pause ensues before the emo-tinged outfit join kindred spirits Sucioperro at Lochgelly Town Hall (26 Sep) which, for the few remaining people still to make their pilgrimage to this social hub, resides in sunny Fife.
Back in the city, Glasgow's Captain's Rest hosts furious grind machine The Ergon Carousel (2 Sep). The band, featuring former members of the infamous Beecher and Narcosis, are a frightening prospect but they'll be hard-pushed to out-do the two-headed riff factory and buzz-magnet that is Holy Mountain, especially in terms of live performance, with the Glaswegian duo having accrued an intimidating reputation in only a few short months.
With the bar glasses having only just stopped rattling, Captain's Rest is again subjected to some righteous fury when Belfast's Standup Guy cross axes with native doom outfit Black Sun (9 Sep).
It's worth pointing out that vintage Brit punk heroes the UK Subs can be spotted at Hustlers in Dundee (11 Sep). Contemporary Dundonian three-piece Gong Fei make an appearance the following night at Drouthy's with Stirlingshire experimentalists The Radiation Line (12 Sep), then again at Kage's “Beartrap” night in the same city (25 Sep). Gong Fei's bullish but innovative rock shapes have been setting some gigs alight and make them ones to keep an eye out for.
The Halt Bar in Glasgow serves up a hearty meal of post-hardcore when United Fruit and Hey Vampires noise up the West End venue (12 Sep) followed by the cantankerous Hey Enemy at Captain's Rest (13 Sep).
Intimidating and brutal art-rock troupe Divorce join the equally caustic Ultimate Thrush for some noise abuse at The 13th Note (20 Sep) then kick out the jams with Rock Action's noisiest slab of filth, Part Chimp, at Stereo (25 Sep). Easily rivalling most of the usual screaming, tattooed hardcore boys, Divorce frontwoman Sinead Youth has an admirable knack of making most audiences take an anxious step backwards.
Mewnwhile, the gloriously named Decapitate Your Date are currently turning heads (boom boom) and play a home-town show at the aforementioned Hustlers in Dundee, joined by Seven Car Pile-Up (20 Sep).
Arca Felix are yet another kick-ass Scottish export making their presence felt across the UK this month, appearing at Sneaky Pete's in Edinburgh with English tour-partners and emotional hardcore champions Helsinki 7 (25 Sep). That show finds them joined by Edinburgh's thunderous, hip-shaking duo Your Loyal Subjects who's forthcoming record promises to be a belter. The Arca/Helsinki pairing can also be seen at The Captain's Rest (28 Sep).
Lastly, somehow still alive after years of substance abuse, The Wildhearts can be observed not acting their age at the Glasgow Garage (27 Sep). Special request: if Ginger pops a hip, don't laugh.