I reject your claim that I am "cheating" with this image by saying nyah nyah. Let's stick with the only mildly homoerotic "Aye Tunes Hearts Peenko" theme a bit more today. Much like yesterday I blamed Urusei Yatsura for this blog existing, today I blame Chemikal Underground for giving me the stupid idea to promote gigs. Chemikal Underground and beer. "How on Earth can you blame Chemikal Underground for you being a fool?" you ask? Well, I'll tell you. It was back in January of 2010, wandering down the road for [...]
I reject your claim that I am "cheating" with this image by saying nyah nyah. Let's stick with the only mildly homoerotic "Aye Tunes Hearts Peenko" theme a bit more today. Much like yesterday I blamed Urusei Yatsura for this blog existing, today I blame Chemikal Underground for giving me the stupid idea to promote gigs. Chemikal Underground and beer. "How on Earth can you blame Chemikal Underground for you being a fool?" you ask? Well, I'll tell you. It was back in January of 2010, wandering down the road for [...]
This week I have decided to plump for three Scottish artists that you can catch at today's Stag & Dagger Festival which is taking place across various venues in Glasgow. Showcasing a wealth of local talent alongside an array of touring acts, it looks like it could be a cracking day out. Personally I am not going as I'd already arranged to meet friends to watch the Champions League Final, but hey if you are going make sure you check out Miaoux Miaoux and Adam Stafford, they're both braw! The Phantom Band - Fujiyama (Moondog cover) [...]
Bloody hell, there's a lot been going on lately, since the last rambling news post there have been a shit load of announcements. Some of them good and some of them down right shite. I guess it's best to get the bad news out of the way first, as it's better to end on a high, right?! As I am sure of many of you will already be aware, the BBC have decided to call time on BBC Introducing in Scotland, Northern Ireland and [...]
Unlike my fellow blogger, The Pop Cop , I am stupidly excited about today. Not since about 1997 when I queued to get tickets to see Blur at the Barrowlands, has there been an event that I have been happy to haul myself out of bed at an ungodly hour to get down and in line. But this morning I will be leaving the house just after half seven to go an stand outside my favourite record store, Love Music to pick up some of the exclusive 'goodies' which are being released as part of this years [...]
It may be getting dark now, but this morning was one of those days where I began to question my decision to put the office in a North-facing room. Really, when it's this sunny I just want to be able to enjoy the sunshine. Mind you, I wouldn't be able to read my computer screen, but that strikes me as a very small price to pay. I am getting ready to go to Austin this week, leaving the house, the cats, the label and this weekend's Ides of Toad gig in the hands of young Ian. What, I [...]
Well after a weekend of total mayhem in Scotland's capital city, what the fuck are we in for this time around? Well there's a few things actually, although one of my personal choices is pretty much sold out, I do believe: that being Withered Hand & the Pictish Trail at the Caves on Thursday . If there are a few tickets left I suggest you turn up at the door pretty promptly in order to score one. Tuesday 28th Feb: The Cast of Cheers & Theme Park at the [...]
Oops, gone a bit longer between pots than I'd meant to. There's also an ominous looking submission pile that needs attention. While I attempt to do something about that, how would you like to hear some songs interspersed with me talking nonsense? Last week I got together with my pal Allan to record a wee podcast for Insularis Records , the results of which you can hear below. Insularis Podcast [...]
Oops, gone a bit longer between pots than I'd meant to. There's also an ominous looking submission pile that needs attention. While I attempt to do something about that, how would you like to hear some songs interspersed with me talking nonsense? Last week I got together with my pal Allan to record a wee podcast for Insularis Records , the results of which you can hear below. Insularis Podcast [...]
It's been a while since I last did a news round up, but as per usual I wait until my inbox is close to bursting until I finally get my finger out and cram everything into one 'handy' post. Seeing as every man and his dog seems to be out playing gigs at the moment, I just wanted to share with you some excititng things that are happening that you might want to check out... First off next Monday sees the releases of the second album from [...]
Here's the first installment of the Song, by Toad Festive Fifty for 2011 - a collection of the fifty songs I have been enjoying the most this year. The fifty themselves and the precise order can hardly be described as definitive of course, because you know how fluid things like 'favourite' songs can be, but roughly speaking this is the stuff I have been enjoying the most in 2011. Just as a note, in order to make it a broader representation of the bands I've liked the most, I have made it harder and harder for bands to [...]
What with all of the excitement of yesterdays BAMS post, I forgot I hadn't scheuled this post to go up. Better late than never eh?! This weeks chosen albums of the year come from Adam Stafford, A Band Called Quinn, St. Deluxe, Mondegreen, The Son(s), Bear Bones and Sparrow & The Workshop... Micachu & The Shapes - Chopped & Skrewed chosen by Adam Stafford Most of the albums that I've admired in 2011 have come [...]
logo designed by Bob Rafferty Three years ago I decided that it might be fun to run a poll amongst my fellow bloggers and folk who run music sites in Scotland, to try and find out what the definitive album of that year really was. In its inaugural year The Phantom Band pipped Animal Collective to claim top spot, then last year I did it all again with The National topping that list. This year I managed to rope in a whopping 47 folk to take part in choosing their [...]
It's the moment you've really not been waiting for, yes folks, it's time for me to share with you all my favourite albums of the past twelve months. I fully appreciate that what I say doesn't really matter all that much and nor should it, but hey indulge me a little. This is now the fourth year that I have found myself compiling these lists. Back in 2008 and 2009 I came up with a Top 50 for each year which just seems insane to me these days. This year I have stuck with a top ten, mainly because I [...]
Post-holiday blues, Xmas nights out, scary weather and a seriously-ill cat have all been determining factors in my inability to get the blog back to normal these past few days. And with the cat not yet completely out of the woods yet (that's three nights away in a vet's hospital with the costs ever-escalating), it might be that no sooner have I tried to get going again than I will come to a grinding halt. But to matters in hand. Saturday 19 [...]
Firstly, a big, big thank you to everyone who came out to see Withered Hand, Samantha Crain and Mike MacFarlane (who now goes by the name of Flash Jr.) last night. It was bloody amazing. I want to start a campaign to get more big bands to Henry's to play a wee sweatbox gig with the crowd standing mere inches away from them. Anyway, due to Thanksgiving dinner and parental visitation reasons, I didn't get the chance to record the podcast this weekend, so I shall do it this afternoon, once I have posted this. And [...]
This week you're all getting an extra treat, as I have not one but two cover versions to share with you all. The reason for this being that tonight I am getting to see both Butcher Boy and Adam Stafford playing in the Southside of Glasgow. Now for any of non- weegies out there, the reason I am particularly looking forward to this one is that aside from the Academy, very rarely do we get any good gigs south of the river in sunny Glasgow. In fact I can only really think of the odd gig at [...]
I remember the first time I saw the Twilight Sad. They played in Bannerman's in August 2007, with Popup and Dumb Instrument, and I remember bumping into at least half a dozen people from different bands, all excited to hear this new Scottish band who most of us happened to have heard about first from American blogs, oddly enough. It was similar last night actually, in the sense that having gone along with Ian, we ended up bumping into loads of local music people. Clearly something about the Twilight Sad excites music people. Before we get [...]
Sorry about the delay getting this post up, but today has been the day of bureaucracy. Magnificent, steaming bureaucracy. Anyhow, apart from the momentous occasion of my birthday, there's actually quite a bit going on in Edinburgh this week. If you're really quick, and really keen you can nip down to the Liquid Room tonight and catch Wild Beasts . Their latest album may be a little tepid, despite the frantic fluffing from Drowned in Sound, but Two Dancers was incredible and they are a cracking live band. Also, Yuck are [...]
This time one year ago exactly I was in full of panic mode. Why? Well, one year ago tonight was Aye Tunes Vs Peenko 3, and I'm always a nervous wreck before a gig I'm putting on. That one, planned as the last AVP gig until we came back for one in August of this year, was particularly nerve wracking as we were leaving the lovely but pokey confines of the venues for 1 & 2, The Captain's Rest and The 13th Note, for the much larger Classic Grand, the fear that no one would turn up was magnified by [...]
Aye Tunes
Aye Tunes
Peenko
Song, by Toad
THE VINYL VILLAIN
Zedd – Spectrum (Feat. Mathew Koma) : Must Hear Electro Song
BREAKING NEWS
Glowbug – Suit of Swords
Featured Artist: Maya Jane Coles
