Scotland Gig Highlights – October 2013

As October begins and Halloween beckons, you've got two choices – stay at home for the whole month carving pumpkins and readying your costume sewn from the skins of your vanquished foes, or get out there into the land of the living and see some incredible bands. And what an awesome selection we have to share with you this month, kicking off with Daniel Lopatin, aka Oneohtrix Point Never, who plays Glasgow's CCA on 1 Oct. We interviewed Lopatin last month, and he explained how his new album R Plus 7 offers an alternative to all this overly-maudlin electronica currently so in vogue – in any case, it's by far his most accessible (and even danceable) work to date. Seek him out.

Hot on Lopatin's heels is the diminutive but gravel-voiced King Krule, touring his debut album 6 Feet Beneath The Moon. His contributions were one of the many highlights of the recent Mount Kimbie album, but for a true taste of the blues-riffing, complex electro-soul of his solo work, you need to check him out at Broadcast, Glasgow, on 4 Oct. Also playing that night over at the CCA are local lads Casual Sex – with their unusual mix of indie, punk, pop and electronics, these guys are veteran party-starters, so it'll be a tough call choosing which gig to go for.

Over in Edinburgh on 5 Oct at the Citrus Club, there's a very special one-off event – Cry of the Cave People sees bands Isaac Brutal and the Trailer Trash Express, Norman Lamont and Fiona J Thom, Artisan, and Hookers for Jesus exploring the back catalogue of Nick Cave and reinterpreting it in various weird and wonderful ways, alongside some spoken word takes on his ouevre from hosts Andrew C. Ferguson and Andrew J. Wilson of Writers' Bloc, and Ali Maloney, aka Harlequinade, one of the brains behind the popular Anatomy events at Summerhall. Cave's back catalogue is monolithic in size and incredibly storied – it will be interesting to see how this motley crew of local heroes reimagines it. Cave himself plays the Usher Hall on 1 Nov, but it's sold out, so if you missed the chance to get in on that action, this is a great alternative.

On 8 Oct, No Age come to town, playing Glasgow's Stereo. The LA-based, Sub Pop-signed duo have been on the go since 2005, trading in shredded punk riffs and textured noise backed with lithe, angular drumming. It's a stripped-down sound that has evolved to near perfection on latest album An Object – catch the full force of this two-man hurricane or regret a missed opportunity.

12 Oct sees psychedelic indie-electro veterans MGMT playing the O2 ABC in Glasgow, and although their latest self-titled album has had some lukewarm reviews, they are always an entertaining proposition in the live arena. Alternatively, trust The Skinny to sort you out for the evening as we host our own night as part of the Pleasance Sessions, with Rick Redbeard, Young Fathers affiliate LAW, the mellifluous Honeyblood and Siobhan Wilson all joining us for a shindig at The Pleasance in Edinburgh. You can win tickets for this very special gig, see our competitions page (p.62) for details.

On 14 Oct, those who prefer their hip-hop with a dose of wryly-observed comedy would do well to check out Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip at Edinburgh's Sneaky Pete's. Although widely known as something of a novelty rapper, Scroobius is a lyricist of fearsome talent, as evidenced by his dalliance with Sage Francis' Strange Famous label. 

RUNGS are an intriguing proposition – formed by members of Take A Worm For A Walk Week, Project Venhell and Lapsus Linguae – we described their charmingly-named debut EP I Don't Wanna Hug, I Just Wanna Cum! as "a quartet of perverted mini-nightmares, complete with barbed guitar riffs and manic, nonsensical patter." Probably the strangest thing you'll see this month, and all the better for it – catch them at the 13th Note in Glasgow on 16 Oct. 

Travis Stewart aka Machinedrum brings his latest, Ninja Tune-released album Vapor City, the follow-up to 2011's visceral Room(s) on Planet Mu, to Sneaky Pete's on 17 Oct – with a long pedigree as a live electronic performer, the man behind Sepalcure trades in a staggeringly diverse spectrum that takes in techno, bass music and noise. So basically, expect the unexpected. In Glasgow on the same night, These New Puritans take to the Òran Mór – we spoke to the band this month about latest album Field Of Reeds (p.12), which saw them exploring quieter, more nuanced realms, attracting praise from none other than Sir Elton for their sublime songwriting.

Russian Circles are Chicago's finest instrumental metal band, trading in muscular, mercurial post-rock on new album Memorial, with some help from guest singer Chelsea Wolfe. They are sure to fill the cavernous warehouse space of SWG3 with their expansive, star-travelling riffage on 26 Oct, so make sure you get your ticket in advance.

On 28 Oct, witness the majesty of Warpaint – this psychedelic all-female four-piece warrant comparisons with everyone to Siouxsie and the Banshees to the Cocteau Twins, bringing in influences from post-punk, dance and psych-rock with jaw-dropping vocal harmonies and challenging, complex lyrics. They play the O2 ABC – expect fireworks.

DO NOT MISS: EASTERN PROMISE @ PLATFORM, 4 & 5 OCT

Multi-discipline arts centre Platform is one of Glasgow's most exciting venues. Situated in the magnificent Bridge building, it plays host to gallery shows, installations, dance workshops and even touring productions from Scottish Opera. Once a year, they go all-out with not one but two special gigs showcasing some of the best music Scotland has to offer, and this year's Eastern Promise looks like no exception to that rule of quality. Heading up the bill on Friday is early Fence lynchpin and influential musical traveller James Yorkston, with support from folk rockers Trembling Bells with Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band, Alasdair Roberts, James Blackshaw and Jozef Van Wissem.  

The following night, the headliners are Kurt Cobain's favourite Scottish band, The Vaselines, rightfully looked up to by all and sundry as one of the templates for Scotland's thriving indie rock community. In support, Phantom Band frontman Rick Redbeard does his solo thing, live-looping troubadour and firm Skinny favourite Adam Stafford showcases songs from Imaginary Walls Collapse, and experimental synth-pop troupe Grumbling Fur add some electronic texture, alongside experimental pop chanteuse and rising star of the Glasgow scene Ela Orleans. It's a hell of a bill, and for £15, you can experience both nights.