QUAD90, Marco Rossi, Billy Reeves, Scorpio Leisure, BMX Bandits, Wojtek The Bear, Glasgow Uni Debating Chamber
I went solo to Glasgow for this all-dayer expecting to bump into some familiar faces, which I did, and there were a few acts I was going especially to see; favourite of favourites BMX Bandits obviously, plus Scorpio Leisure and Quad90 as well. I really like the few tracks I've heard from both these new bands and heard very promising things about them, but if I’d know just how good the whole thing was going to be I’d have dragged a coachload from my Edinburgh gig pals and gone to the Friday night show too. Hats off to Ian Smith (founder of Last Night From Glasgow) for organising the event and I hope he enjoyed it as much as I and the rest of the crowd did, although nearly every time I saw him through the day he looked like he was doing a million things at once, still in organiser mode rather than audience. That's dedication.
I got there later than planned but happy to find out I hadn’t missed Quad90, who were just about to go on and to open the afternoon session. They've only had a few songs out, with more to come soon hopefully and I can’t recommend enough what they’ve done so far – they're excellent. Bands like Thee Oh Sees and Adam Ant use double drummers to great effect but can’t think of anyone who uses dual vocals as well as Amelia and Naomi, fronting this band of seasoned musicians, do. Their voices float across the melodies, and as well as great tunes (funky, up-beat, jangly pop at times, with stand-out guitars chopping through every so often), this band also have a great stage presence. Even though the venue was shut off from the mid-afternoon sunshine outside, there were more sunglasses worn to great effect on stage than on a St Tropez beach and all of the band looking very cool and comfortable up there. Not a long set, but I could’ve listened to the same songs over and over all day. I don’t think they have any new shows lined up in the next few months but as soon as they do, do yourself a favour and get a ticket quickly because no matter where they play next I expect they'll sell out. Well worth seeing .
Marco Rossi was up next with a short set of songs and plenty stories in between. I hadn’t heard of him before this but since the show I’ve listened to his new album Since Returning From The Moon a few times and glad I have, as it’s a grower and there are some really good tracks on there. His engaging style and chat in-between songs shows how personal and important his music is to him. I did have a bit of a flashback as he explained the background to one of his tracks, Kensington Gore (the fake blood used in Hammer horror films was called). It’s also the name of the hotel in London where the Rolling Stones launched their Beggars Banquet album in a what turned into a legendary rock n roll party after the press left. A couple of years ago on a trip to London with Mrs Gig-Antics we got last minute tickets to see The Beach Boys at the Albert Hall. We ended up in the bar of the Kensington Gore afterwards, feeling more than a little bit rock n roll myself after a short but memorable conversation with main man Mike Love at the interval of their gig. Not only did he compliment my shirt asking where I got it “Very cool, man! Nice” but as we were sitting just to the side of the stage he gave a wave and thumbs up, pointing to my shirt while singing Kokomo Bay. Life complete!
Next up, after quite a bit of technical tinkering (sound, laptop, equipment, and repeat) was Billy Reeves, once of Nineties Indie stars theaudience, now looking as different from his heyday image as you could get! Nonetheless he delivered a great set of new and old tunes with plenty of great chat before each song. It took a few songs for the sound to settle – multi-tasking during the first song Billy indicated to the sound engineer pointing to Gavin Laird on guitar, and then pointing down, only for Gavin straightaway waving to the same sound engineer, pointing to his own guitar and then pointing to turn it back up! Some fine tunes, full of joy and melancholic, mixed to deliver a set of catchy numbers that I’ve been back to listen to quite a few times since. His music is as upbeat as his outlook which, despite his near-death experience crash, subsequent coma and ongoing recovery since, he is incredibly positive. Lots shared on his songs’ varied origins (Staines Library, tory mp’s long lunches, trying not to sound like Father Ted’s Eurovision entry "My Lovely Horse", ducking and diving round Camden during it’s Nineties heyday and working with Sophie Ellis Bextor). While getting a copy of his latest album Steve signed, I got a good chat with him about all things music, touring (or lack of opportunity to) and his beloved Brentford FC. Check out his music and keep an eye for any pop-up shows if and when he does play live again. Up the Bees!
Rounding off the afternoon session fell to Scorpio Leisure, who’s sultry sound is more suited to a 3am slot rather than their 3pm and it was a great show to finish things off. A few similarities to Quad90 in that they’re relatively new as an outfit, a mix of younger members and older experienced musicians (ex-Fire Engines, Gin Goblins and Brian Jonestown I was told) and definitely another band to look out for in the future for gigs and new material. Their sound is dark, smoky - and to take from the title of one of their recent singles - has a sleazy feeling to it. There’s a good mix of rock and almost goth in there (made all the better by lead singer Hettie Noir’s hypnotic slinking around stage) and trips into a bit of reggae and western soundtrack at times. With a frontwoman whose strong attention-grabbing style with great stage presence and a band who comfortably know their way around a top-quality set of songs it won’t be long before Scorpio Leisure start to take off with bigger things.
In the few hours between the sessions, I went for a wander and on checking to see if any of my Glasgow pals had picked up on my ‘"in Glasgow with a few hours free to catch up’" shout out on socials, I met up with an old workmate West-End Jen. Not only getting a good blether with her, I was also introduced to a bunch of her pals and had a very enjoyable time swapping stories about gigs, bands and shared connections, as there were quite a few of the crowd similarly as goth/punk/indie-minded as me (ok, more so than me). By the time I left I was thinking there must have been dozens of times we’ll have watched the same bands, been at the same gigs and paths unknowingly crossed. Even without any live music to soundtrack chatting with these guys (which seemed odd given all we spoke about was music!), this break in gig proceedings was as enjoyable as any of the LNFG sets.
Back at the Uni Debating Chamber I got in to find the legends that are the BMX Bandits heading to stage early - my highlight of the day from my band of bands 2023. Their set was a mix of new and old and a couple of tracks they haven’t played at recent shows. A fair few songs from their new album Dreamers On the Run - which is a fantastic piece of work, check it out and a good share of classics too. Having heard them at different times throughout last year (summer, autumn and winter) and hearing how the songs have developed, listening to this set they’ve lifted their live show to another level. There’s always joy and an easiness in how they play, and this time round it was even more so, almost a sense of freewheeling through these songs - relaxed but pacey and beaming with enjoyment. Great to begin with anyway, but even better and I’m crossing everything in hope that there might be a more extensive set of dates announced this year to go with the new album release, than the few already out there. In addition to his always welcome in between song interludes, there was a very touching piece read by Duglas about his parents which was just beautiful. Also great to chat with the band again after the show and looking forward to seeing them playing in May. I’ve always been a fan of the Bandits, but this past year of seeing and hearing them across the country has been a revelation. Of the 30-odd band members from throughout the years, the current line up alongside Duglas (Andrew, Amanda and Liam), have really taken the sound to new heights. Again, beautiful stuff.
With my headliners done, there was still Wojtek The Bear to round things off and they went down well. Made up of quite a collection of musicians and a broad set up, with some brass to go alongside the expected guitar/bass/drum standards, there’s a soulful gentleness to their music surrounded in swirling harmonies. While I don’t know a lot about them or heard much of their music, I'm also looking forward to seeing them again in May. To be honest, by the time Wojtek came on stage I was busy chatting a lot at the back-end of the venue to old and new pals, discovering that Keven Bacon’s six-degrees of separation has nothing on my new gig acquaintances , John and Angela, who it turns out have a few mutual, non-music related connections with me in the ML postcode area. Small world!
So, a solo trip for this one but not so solitary in the end with catch ups with old pals and new; music fans, bands and workmates. Assuming there will be another LNFG Weekender in 2025 I will be there, but this time with a crowd of pals who I know will enjoy this as much as I did.
LNFG are an incredibly hard-working label - do what you can to support them continue to put out fantastic music. Buy their records, buy their merch, go to their gigs and join Club LNFG to show even more support, you won’t regret it.
@scorpio_leisure
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