Showing posts with label Mogwai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mogwai. Show all posts

Friday 31 December 2021

Scottish Music 2021

  

Proclaimers

The BBC's St Andrews day Program, featured many of Scotland's best loved artists from the 80s – Proclaimers, Texas, Simple Minds, Del Amitri, Deacon Blue, Travis, Wet Wet Wet, with these bands still touring today. 

Scotland certainly punched above its size for bands from the 80s and 90s! 

 

However many pf the Scots artists of today were not included – what about Chvrches, Lewis Capaldi, KT Tunstall, Mogwai, Biffy Clyro, although Calvin Harris and Emeli Sande were included.

 

There is a uniqueness to Scottish music, which mixes traditional folk melody and the heart of ballads, with contemporary influences, instruments and beats and rhythms – often in unexpected and unusual combinations.


Del Amitri
KT Tunstall
Blue Rose Code
Julie Fowlis

Also a big mention for all the incredible folk artists who perform, at Celtic Connections music festival in Glasgow each January - with Ceilidh bands, Gaelic singers, orchestral musicians, bluegrass and soul, traditional folk, pipers, Celtic ballads, Irish influences, unusual instruments – which all provides a wonderful melting pot to bring different influences together for the 18 days of the festival.

 

Another major platform for music in Scotland is the Edinburgh International festival each August, which also brings diverse cultures and innovation together – from classical music to cutting edge rock. Scotland has much to be proud of! Here are some of my images from my years attending some of the many diverse and wonderful gigs here in Scotland


Capercaillie

Emeli Sande

Mogwai

Siobhan Wilson
Karine Polwart
Nicola Benedetti

Blue Rose Code

Monday 3 February 2014

RM Hubbert Concert Hall Celtic Connections 2014


Guitarist and singer songwriter RM Hubbert supported Glasgow band Mogwai at the Glasgow concert hall. I had read that Hubbert's 2013 album had won the SAY (Scottish Album of the Year Award) 2013, so I came with some expectations to this concert. Even so, some artists take you off guard and as I have followed music over many years it can be all too easy to become jaded hearing samey songs.
Hubbert appeared genuine and unassuming musician, whose music was all about his guitar.
He played mostly instrumental tunes. For his second song he played his own very good interpretation of I Once Loved a Lass, a favourite folk song of mine. His next tune had moody beating drums guitar and a husky voice. He showed a clear understanding that music is firstly about what moves us and secondly about techniques and using those skilled to best ability.
He played his tunes with unexpected subtleties, strong strumming, dancing fingers, slow pauses, hesitant steps guitar strings plucking and questioning notes. He also managed to hold the packed concert hall attention throughout with both his informal chat and well crafted tunes.
On one particularly emotional tune, entitle For Joe, he spoke first about his parents death and that he felt able to speak to an audience - and I guess he gets to speak through his music too. This tune had talking guitar and expressed the many complex feelings of grief and loss – from  missing you to happy memories and returned to missing you feelings.


 

The singer Aiden Moffat joined Hubbert on stage of Car Song which was another highlight.    
I was truly impress and even bought the CD - this doesn't happen a lot! 
Hubbert is a member Scottish post rock band El Hombre Trajeado, and also a member of the Glaswegian DIY music scene since 1991.

Mogwai and RM Hubbert Concert Hall Celtic Connections 2014

 

Mogwai were the main event at this concert hall night. The band have recently released their studio album Rave Tapes to excellent reviews and with the album making the top ten UK.  I had heard of Scottish indie rockers or post rock band Mogwai but had never managed to see them live. 
It made a change to see a standing packed concert hall full of a younger crowd. Mogwai played a wall of blistering power driven guitar and synthesizer rock (or post rock).  The band played a few songs with vocals but mostly instrumental tracks.
Their music was heavily atmospheric with driving beats, long walls of sound alleyways, thunderous bass and strong dynamics - sometimes dark moody skies, forgotten places. They also took the tempo up for clearer skies too!.

It appeared that the band were lead by guitarist Stuart Braithwaite who played his guitar with a deep strength. They played energetic percussion and steady beats. They performed a slower song with only guitar, slow paced drums and hypnotic voice. For their encore set they added an electric violin.  

Their sound reminded me of futuristic films such as the iconic Blade Runner. They also sounded somewhat like Icelandic band Sigor Ros who I saw live here a few years back. I went to look up what 'post rock' is and sure enough Sigor Ros are also post rock!   
This was the loudest gig I've ever been to at the concert hall!  I am certainly not sure the Celtic connections of their music except they are one of the biggest Scottish bands - so far removed from an acoustic singer songwriter or those fiddle reels!  I was also proud too of the evening, both of the high quality and diversity of music we have coming out of Scotland these days.   

RM Hubbert was the support for Mogwai - he was so good I am posting a separate review for him.  
Photos and Review Pauline Keightley - http://pkimage.co.uk/

Wednesday 29 January 2014

Guitarist RM Hubbert




Sometimes the support artists are as interesting as the main artist at a gig. Such was the case for last night’s concert when guitarist and singer RM Hubbert took to the concert hall stage in support of Glasgow band Mogwai, Celtic Connections 2014,  (full review to follow)

Friday 6 September 2013

Celtic Connections 2014 concerts announced!



Celtic Connections 2014 concerts announced today!  - Del Amitri, The Hydro/ MOGWAI, concert hall / Celtic Connections International Burns Concert, The Hydro. 
I am looking forward to NEW HYdro venue here a LOT...it is teired and spaceage looking and much better than the SECC. The new venue opens with Rod Stewart 30th Sept.  http://www.celticconnections.com/
(also love this photo come painted image!) 

I look forward to it! Some CELTIC PHOTOS.

Eddi Reader, Rab Noakes, Dougie McLean
Martha Rafferty and Rab Noakes at concert for Gerry Rafferty

Friday 25 May 2012

*Great Scottish Bands


For such a small country Scotland has had an amazing number of very creative artists and scientists. People in countries like Japan think a lot of our indie music.  Here are some great Scottish bands in no particular order. These bands are still out there touring the world.

Biffy Clyro -  http://www.biffyclyro.com/

Primal Scream  - http://www.primalscream.net/

Belle and Sebastian   -   http://www.belleandsebastian.com/

Simple Minds - http://www.simpleminds.com/

Travis - http://www.travisonline.com/

Deacon Blue - http://www.deaconblue.com/

Del Amitri - http://www.delamitri.com/

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - http://sahbofficial.co.uk/

Runrig - http://www.runrig.co.uk/

King Creosote - http://www.kingcreosote.com/

Frightened Rabbit -  http://frightenedrabbit.com/

Franz Ferdinand - http://www.franzferdinand.com/

Battlefield band - http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk/

Mogwai  - http://www.mogwai.co.uk/