KALANDRA, CAVES, EDINBURGH, MAY 26 2025

My 3 gig weekend just turned into a 4 gig weekend. Last minute call-up for ethereal Norwegians in one of the nicest venues anywhere.

Line-up:

MAUD THE MOTH: Solo singer/pianist doing a dark kind of experimental, looped and layered neo-classical thing, and doing it very well indeed. Sadly, no pics of MAUD THE MOTH, because it was quite dark and I was very far away from the stage. Got a video, though, of a song from her recent new album, 'The Distaff'

Many thanks to Amaya for allowing me to be here tonight.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/2GqxRGeUv7M   https://www.facebook.com/maudthemoth

KALANDRA: Norwegians, sitting somewhere between 'rock' and 'pop' but always heavily folk-influenced, and really quite lovely. Kudos to the substitute drummer who stepped in at short notice, and did a fine job. 

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/hPOwxNXCYM0    https://www.facebook.com/Kalandramusic

ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM, HIVE, EDINBURGH, MAY 25 2025

 Former PURSON person, making the 70s cool again.

Line-up:

JIJ WAS NOT HERE: Solo acoustic lad, Sadly, he's suffering from a colossal hangover, and he's struggling. Forgotten lyrics, missed chords, awkward banter, he's not handling this well. Which is a shame, because on a good day he'd be witty, sharp and entertaining. Just not tonight. Couple of interesting covers, though, with BUZZCOCKS 'Ever Fallen In Love' and something from 'Sweden's most extreme death metal band' which turns out to be ABBA's 'Dancing Queen'

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573131179086

ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM; Bringing the 70s back to life. A charismatic front-person/singer/guitarist with a fantastically talented band. Elements of MOTT THE HOOPLE, RUSH, JETHRO TULL and JAMES BOND, freshened up and brought into the 21st Century. Looking back to go forward? Immense fun, even for someone who remembers the 70s but didn't like them much at the time.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/Vf7nnQuKQjI   https://www.facebook.com/RosalieCunninghamOfficial

WHORES, HIVE, EDINBURGH, MAY 24 2025

 Americans out on tour. I've never been in this venue before. Sound's decent, smells funny.

Line-up:

CODESPEAKER: Local post-metal favourites. You should know them by now.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/-rV5eigRohA   https://www.facebook.com/codespeakertheband

HELP: Post-punk/noise(in that order) trio from Portland, Oregon. Spiky, fast and angry. I reckon they brought that tyre with them all the way from America, just so they could jump on it. He threw that mic at me, y'know. Hit me on the hand. Don't THINK it was deliberate...

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/1LpWu4d5RIE    https://www.instagram.com/helpifuckingneedit/?hl=en

WHORES: Noise/post-punk(in THAT order) trio from Atlanta, Georgia. They've been around for a while, but they can still destroy an eardrum or two. PART CHIMP levels of volume. Surprised he only broke ONE string, to be honest.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/WkBHc0qv2L8   https://www.facebook.com/whrsband

HAMMER, LEGENDS, EDINBURGH, MAY 23 2025

First of three gigs this weekend.

I must admit, it was the support that drew me to this one. Nothing against local heavyweights HAMMER, they're great but I've seen them a number of times before. On the other hand, who could resist a band called FROGLORD?

Seems all of the bands on this line-up are Metal 2 the Masses winners. Well done, them.

Line-up:

KRAKEN WAKER: Sludgy stoners from Newcastle, Very beardy. Introducing fourth band member, OLLIE. He's very small.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/SC2kIStWjsY    https://www.facebook.com/krakenwakerband

SPACE PISTOL: Alt-metal/grunge, apparently, from Milton Keynes. Self-described as 'the gay Slipknot'. Not sure about that... Great fun, though, and the bass player has a pedal board the size of Belgium.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/Xoacf7wjFF0   https://www.facebook.com/spacepistol

FROGLORD: Amphibious royalty, second only to GOBLINSMOKER's Toad King. Possibly. Masks, robes, doom. And frogs.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/ZJ8ccryoyg0    https://www.facebook.com/Froglordband

HAMMER: Scotland's own turbo-metal bruisers. Fast and furious, and fond of trains.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/nq0nBcA-4cw   https://www.facebook.com/HammerScotland

ALAIN JOHANNES, CATHOUSE, GLASGOW, MAY 17 2025

I haven't been in the Cathouse since 2015, but here I am to see a pioneer of grunge back in Scotland, courtesy of those nice people at Red Crust.

Line-up:

VOLCANOVA: Icelandic turbo-stoners. A VERY sharp start means that they're playing to a nearly empty Cathouse at first. Doesn't seem to bother them too much.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/ZhfBxYurdro  https://www.facebook.com/volcanova

EARL OF HELL: Edinburgh rock'n'rollers doing a double shift tonight - on their own, playing their new album in full, and as ALAIN JOHANNES' backing band.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/MvXjhbvTHPI  https://www.facebook.com/earlofhell

ALAIN JOHANNES: The aforementioned pioneer of grunge. He has worked with Mark Lanegan, Queens of the Stone Age, Pearl Jam, Desert Sessions, amongst others, had his own band Eleven, and released solo stuff. And now he's here in Glasgow with Earl of Hell. Who don't do grunge.

Last time I saw him, he had a hat. He doesn't have a hat tonight.

VIDEO 1: https://youtu.be/PbBt4SewEM4

VIDEO 2:  https://youtu.be/23J_-f45Trk

https://www.facebook.com/alainjohannesmusic