RED CRUST CRUSTMAS BASH, LEGENDS, EDINBURGH, DECEMBER 7 2024

RED CRUST PROMOTIONS' 400th gig, in which Big Duncan donates all proceeds to cancer research charity. 

Once again, memory card issues makes it impossible to record ANY audio for this show, so there are no videos. But there are LOTS of photographs.

I miss a couple of bands, one because of logistical issues and the other because I was invited over to another venue across the road for an album release show which would've been rude to turn down.

Line-up:

TEMPORAL PROPHET: Nu-metalcore, apparently. Whatever THAT is. Only their second ever gig tonight, it seems.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564229074633

JOROGUMO: Hefty death/sludge from Glasgow named, so I'm told, after a shape-shifting Japanese monster. And why not?

https://www.facebook.com/jorogumogla

REVANICA: Goth-tinged alt-metal from local youngsters. The only band of the night to have a raccoon hanging from a mic stand.

https://www.facebook.com/revanicaband

DAL RIATA: Melodic death-metal telling stories from Celtic history/mythology. Featuring the sparkliest dress of the night

https://www.facebook.com/@DalRiataScot

ANOMOS: Melodic death/thrash with Santa hats and Xmas sweaters.

https://www.facebook.com/anomosbandofficial

MONI JITCHELL: Glaswegian noise-rock duo. My personal highlight of the show. Minimal equipment, maximal ferocity. Unreal.

https://www.facebook.com/monijitchell

Exdestrier

HEAVENQUEEN: Dutch symphonic metal, out on tour with ANNA KIARA. Were meant to play their own separate show, but visa issues caused a delay and they were added to the Fest line-up instead.

https://www.facebook.com/heavenqueen

ANNA KIARA: Symphonic power metal from The Netherlands, another late addition to the line-up. Went down well. Definitely the most impressive cape of the night.

Harbingers Drum Crew                            

                                                                                          Side Quest:     CABARET VOLTAIRE

                                                                                          ROBOT DEATH MONKEY: The 'hardest band in Scotland', trimmed down to a 2-piece for tonight (Except when they are joined by Craig from TKTE - playing an SG for a change - for a brisk cover of a MOUNTAIN song). Turbo-stoner drum'n'bass.

                                                        https://www.facebook.com/RobotDeathMonkey

                                                                                          THE KRYSS TALMETH EXPERIENCE: Psychedelic stoner-blues power trio showcasing their brand new album 'When the wheels Fall Off'. Normal service is resumed with Craig back on his usual Les Paul.

                                            https://www.facebook.com/KryssTalmeth

RAISED BY OWLS: Tongue-in-cheek grindcore from, rather vaguely, the UK, with a fondness for cheesy celebrities. And Mr. Blobby. Back for another try after killing the electricity in half of Edinburgh last time. To be fair, I don't THINK it was their fault.

https://www.facebook.com/RaisedByOwls`

Well, there's never been a festival where ALL of the bands have been entirely my cup of tea, and this one is no exception, but it's been mostly a lot of fun. And it's for a good cause. Here's to the next 400 RED CRUST gigs.

UNMAKING, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, DECEMBER 6 2024

 Three new bands I know nothing about. This could go either way...

Line-up:

GNARL: Solo guitar doom/drone. Joined for the second half of his set by a chap - SCOTT LYALL, I believe - reading a creepy story about a jakey's curse. Not 'fun', exactly, but I like it. There's no video for this because of technical problems with my memory card. Bugger.

https://www.facebook.com/Gnarlband

Glow-wirM: Pulsing industrial techno. He twiddles his knobs in the dark behind a screen, upon which is projected a series of writhing abstract images - weird tentacly things, screaming mouths, that sort of ting. Unsettling but mesmerising. Making the usual video is next to impossible, so there's a montage of still images over the music instead. 

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/jiA-N2kaVig

UNMAKING: A new band which doesn't seem to exist on-line anywhere, so I know next to nothing about them. They don't seem to have released any music yet, either. But they play a ferocious kind of blackened thrash, hints of SLAYER. Singer spends most of the show writhing and contorting on the floor. Great stuff. Oh, and the drummer used to be in FRANZ FERDINAND. Yes, that FRANZ FERDINAND.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/l4myOSPw5dc

DAY SLEEPER, MASH HOUSE, EDINBURGH, NOVEMBER 30 2024

 Yet another show featuring too much smoke and hostile lighting. But not any kind of 'metal', this time.

Line-up:

ANNIE BOOTH: Local singer/songwriter, understated and melancholic. She has a heavy cold today, but still gives us a fine show, fragile, delicate and simply lovely. The only set of the night NOT to feature the skills of Edwin McLachlan, drummer of DAY SLEEPER, SCARRED LIP, YOUNG FATHERS, and SHUDDER(anybody remember them?) but probably best known for his work as vocalist in hip-hop trio BRITNEY.  She'll be back later.

VIDEO:https://youtu.be/cHDF6pThfgU    https://www.facebook.com/annieboothmusic

SCARRED LIP: Singer/guitarist Matthew reckons this is an amalgamation of everything he has done in the past, particularly A FIGHT YOU CAN'T WIN and HALF FORMED THINGS, and it's hard to disagree. Quality alt-rock with a hint of Americana. Features the drum skills of E McLachlan of DAY SLEEPER, etc (see above) and, most notably, singer of blackened bluegrass trio BRITNEY*. They bring ANNE BOOTH back to join them for one song, which is becoming something of a tradition(It was MAGPIE BLUE last time I saw them) 

I'll add a Facebook link below as usual, but there's not a lot happening there.

* Is this joke getting boring yet? 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/XDvAYgjPOis   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093419917600

DAY SLEEPER: A local band I have managed to avoid - unintentionally, by the way - until now. Seeing them now makes me regret that. More of that alt-rock stuff with, to my ears at least, definite flavours of the likes of WATERBOYS and BLUE NILE. But what the fuck do I know? I'm a post-metal guy. 

I've seen - and liked - singer LEO BARGERY doing his solo piano stuff, so it's nice to hear his rich'n'creamy voice with a full band. Which, incidentally, features the drum skills etc etc...but most notably of three man chamber orchestra BRITNEY**.

The show ends with a reappearance of the delightful ANNIE BOOTH with an acoustic song out in the middle of the crowd. Which is nice.

** OK, that's the last time. Even I'm bored now.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/Meel8nTXf40   https://www.facebook.com/daysleeperisaband