HER NAME IS CALLA, SNEAKY PETE'S, EDINBURGH, JUNE 20 2018

One of my favourite bands of any genre, ever, played Edinburgh. How, in any sane world, could I NOT go? They were reduced to a 3-piece by illness, but they managed to play a bruising, ferocious set anyway. The heaviest set I've seen them play.

Sneaky's was very dark and foggy that night and getting pictures was really hard. Which is why there are none of the two supports.Sorry about that.

Line-up:

LOUISE McCRAW: Ethereal singer/songwriter, one-time front-person of dream-pop combo SKJØR, most recently with a new project called GOODNIGHT LOUISA. And, yes, despite the video title, the name IS McCraw.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/P8xamhDCzRQ   https://www.facebook.com/goodnightlouisa

LAUREN RYCROFT: Top class singer/songwriter from Leeds, on tour with HNIC.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/I9KkLKuZVNk   https://www.facebook.com/laurenrycroftmusician

HER NAME IS CALLA: Never been able to assign a totally relevant genre to HNIC, so I'll stick with 'alternative rock'.They were more than that, but it'll do. They say they've played their last gig, but they've said that more than once, so...

                                      

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/VsqHEdZ4EFA   https://www.facebook.com/hernameiscalla

GEIST, LEITH DEPOT, EDINBURGH, JUNE 30 2018

Things change. Three bands here, two of which are no longer as they were. Not gone, just different. Also, the venue, as it is here, is no more. Not gone, just different. As I write this, I haven't been in the new Leith Depot. I wonder if it is as hot as the original...

Line-up:

CULTMASTER: Local sludgepunks, featuring Duncan from Red Crust, on bass for a change. Please note, Duncan is NOT a bass player. Still active, but with, I believe, slightly different personnel.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Pxn3O6wRjTg    https://www.facebook.com/Cultmasterband

GLARUS: Hardcore/post-metal crossover, if such a thing even makes sense. Still active, kind of, but in a different way and a different place. Now resident in Switzerland.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/36Y3c-Wdi-Q   https://www.facebook.com/glarusband

GEIST: Hefty hardcore from the North-East. Of England. Still going, and going hard.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ukyIbEWsPUA   https://www.facebook.com/ukgeist

BODIES ON EVEREST, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, JULY 28 2018

A whole evening of weird/uncomfortable/abrasive/bleepy/shouty noise from a collection of bands, several of which don't seem to exist any more. If, in fact, they ever did...

Line-up:

LUMP HAMMER: Newcastle doom/noise trio. Featuring a shouting man with a smelly bag on his head.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/-yP-YCLolMw   https://www.facebook.com/hammerslumps

BLACK SHUCK: Local improv electronic noise makers. Apparently don't exist anywhere on the internet. Other than here, obviously. Even the attached video doesn't include any moving pictures of the pair...

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/frZvbjjdj7s   

DOLOUR: Local doomsludge combo. Another one that's hard to find on t'internet. There IS a Bandcamp link, though.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/r4Gz-AzbBmA   https://dolour1.bandcamp.com/

BODIES ON EVEREST:Liverpool noise terrorists. Drum'n'bass'n'bass. Hypnotic and/or terrifying. Apparently no more, sadly. Video is very dark then very bright. 

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/Ey2Ia1C8ttY   https://www.facebook.com/bodiesoneverestband

HIGH FIGHTER, BANNERMAN'S, EDINBURGH, AUGUST 26 2018

After last weekend's feast of extreme metal, we head back to 2018 for some not-quite-as-extreme metal.We have some Germans on tour, a duo of duos and a bunch of appropriately named locals.

Line-up:

HAMMER: Straight-up heavy metal. Nothing fancy, just hairy men being loud. And nowt wrong with that.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/6czupqcQieU    https://www.facebook.com/HammerScotland

MY DIABLO: Duo 1 of 2, this one a Power Duo from that hotbed of metal, Didcot in Oxfordshire. Not exactly dead, but not very active right now. You might want to check out what half of them are doing now, The Grand Mal.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/ZwB0KZobToo   https://www.facebook.com/Mydiablorocks

TUSKAR: Duo 2 of 2. Sludgy stoner/doom from Milton Keynes, although I don't know why they would admit to that. Still very much active.

HIGH FIGHTER: Bluesy/sludgy Hamburg stoners, out on tour. Featuring one guitarist with a broken leg. That'll be why he's sitting down.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/3DjhSyTg4ks   https://www.facebook.com/HighFighter