’71

Any listeners to Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo’s weekly film show, Wittertainment as it has affectionately become known, will be aware of a long running joke about films that aren’t actually about what they appear to be about. The classic example of this, at least in Mark Kermode’s opinion, is Jaws, which he proclaims is not about the shark, but actually about infidelity. The most recent addition to this ‘genre’ is ’71, a film set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, but which despite this, is really not about the Troubles themselves.

Continue reading “’71” →

24/10/2014 0

Feed the Rhino w/ Night Verses and Baby Godzilla at Ivory Blacks, 21/10/2014

Having dropped the best album of their career, Feed the Rhino made the decision to hold off on starting their UK tour. Instead, they waited a few months before rolling into Glasgow with their electrifying live show.

Continue reading “Feed the Rhino w/ Night Verses and Baby Godzilla at Ivory Blacks, 21/10/2014” →

22/10/2014 0

The Other Band

Side projects and supergroups are nothing new in the world of rock and roll. Whether it be Velvet Revolver or Them Crooked Vultures, we have seen a fair few of them over the years and it doesn’t seem like a trend that is likely to stop anytime soon. Yet, the sad fact is, a lot of these bands tend to be a bit crap. For every great release there is a lot of Rock Star Supernova and quite frankly we could all use a bit less of that. So what makes a good side project or a great super group? How do bands like Down, go from being on the sidelines, to being the main concern for many of their members.

Continue reading “The Other Band” →

20/10/2014 0

Slash – World on Fire

Introducing Slash feels a bit pointless. If you don’t know who the top hat wearing guitarist is, then you are probably on the wrong blog. He’s recently released his third solo album, at least his third solo album that just goes under the name, Slash, once again teaming up with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, to give us, World on Fire.

Continue reading “Slash – World on Fire” →

17/10/2014 0

Are we in for an exciting SPL season?

The Scottish Premier League has long been a bit of a joke, listen to any football podcast and you will hear constant jibes at the quality north of the border. Now, I have to be honest, this has never bothered me. The SPL is pish and if it wasn’t for my overriding affection for Aberdeen, I doubt I’d give a damn. I don’t watch Scottish football if Aberdeen aren’t involved and, until the last couple of years, their involvement actually tended to make me more miserable. However, this season is possibly shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent years, even without one half of the gruesome twosome being involved.

Continue reading “Are we in for an exciting SPL season?” →

16/10/2014 0

Gone Girl

The idea of the impossible to adapt book, seems to be dying. With films like Life of Pi seeing great success, Hollywood hasdiscovered that the books they are supposed to be unable to do anything with, are actually doing pretty damn well. The latest novel to get that treatment, is Gone Girl, written by Gillian Flynn, who has personally adapted it and directed by the brilliant, David Fincher.

Continue reading “Gone Girl” →

15/10/2014 1

Defining Punk in 2014.

This article is inspired by a whole series of events. One of which is the newest Lower Than Atlantis album, which is self titled and another of which is Terry Bezer’s defence of pop punk, which you can find here. It’s not a secret that the defintion of punk has changed. The old punks have grown up and anyone who has been to see a punk band that broke in the heyday, will be used to the sight of people who look like they spend their day with office jobs, slipping into the old outfit for a night out. My Dad tells a story of going for a fancy meal in America and afterwards going to see the New York Dolls, where he was surprised to find the exact same people that had been at the restaurant.. To say punk is dead is harsh, but to say punk has changed, seems to just be the truth.

Continue reading “Defining Punk in 2014.” →

14/10/2014 0

Bound for Failure?

So last night, Bound for Glory took place, the supposed jewel in TNA’s PPV calendar and very much their answer to Wrestlemania. Yet, this year, it didn’t feel special. In fact it barely registered on the Richter scale. Unlike my usual look at wrestling events, I am not planning on going through this one match by match, but instead by having a look at exactly where I think TNA went wrong with BFG, this year round.

Continue reading “Bound for Failure?” →

13/10/2014 0

How dark should a film go?

Anyone who is a fan of Outnumbered, will know that writers Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkins have recently released a movie, What We Did On Our Holiday, staring David Tennant, Rosamund Pike and Billy Connolly. Unsurprisingly, it will continue to use the same techniques, (ie. unscripted children interacting with scripted adults) that Outnumbered utilised so well. Yet, since its release it has received mixed reviews, with many choosing to focus on a particularly dark twist, which the movie makes coming into the final act, as a reason for it’s issues, as it contrasts with the tone of what has come before. However, is that actually an issue? Or was Hamilton and Jenkins decision, actually a brave one? (I should mention this will be spoiler free, in case anyone is worried.)

Continue reading “How dark should a film go?” →

09/10/2014 0

The Motherload and Heavy Metal

I’m slightly behind the times with this one. Mastodon recently released a video for the rather awesome “The Motherload”, one of the highlights of Once More Round the Sun, the album they released earlier this year. That alone is hardly worthy of a post, but the reaction to said video, which is a combination of traditional rock aesthetics and a collection of woman with rather large derrieres ‘twerking’ (as I believe the kids call it), is.

Continue reading “The Motherload and Heavy Metal” →

08/10/2014 0