Herbert Powell, Antique Pony & Black Cop, Referendum Result Day Gig

As far as feelings of total devastation go, the morning of  Friday 19th September provided me with, perhaps, the most intense ones I've ever felt. The 'No' vote was something that made me, and a lot of my friends, in particular the friends I was planning to see that night, angsty, teary, and generally bummed out.

But you can always rely on music to improve your mood, specifically, weird but strangely melodic post-rock drone-esque music with spooky lyrics about being trapped in a fake Burger King. And after getting caught in the madness in George Square with my boyfriend (another story entirely), a gig featuring Antique Pony, Herbert Powell, and Black Cop, seemed like the perfect way to lift our spirits.

This was the first time I had ever seen Antique Pony, but my expectations were high considering the amount my friends had talked them up before. Having heard them referred to as "the best live band in Glasgow" on more than one occasion I knew the night would not be quickly forgotten. I wasn't wrong. Antique Pony are unique and definitely different to most bands on the Scottish scene at the moment, something that is dominated largely by teenage boys with NME haircuts, leather jackets, and forgettable, predictable guitar riffs - To summarise, Arctic Monkeys wannabees. Antique Pony are none of these things and easily in the top five of the best live bands I've ever seen. Their songs are harsh yet genuinely melodic, something you can easily sing along with but the stabby guitar sounds give them life, harkening back to Captain Beefheart maybe, but with sharper, more distinctive, weirder ideas. The best song of their captivating set is, for me, "Languages of Hong Kong", a track taken off their most recent album "pony". The rhythmic drums have an almost traditional Asian yet pop-esque feel, and instantly force the crowd into life. The majority of people are dancing, which is an interesting thing to see during an experimental band's set. The guitar in this song is brilliant too, reminding me of old video game soundtracks. The rest of the set is equally brilliant, though one of my main memories is the muffled voice of lead man Derek singing the catchy "father, son, and the holy ghost" hook towards the end of the song. Derek's energy is infectious, and as he throws himself around the performing area, the crowd feel increasingly involved, moving more. I'd go as far as to say Derek is the best front man in Glasgow. You can tell how close he is to the music and in turn, this makes you more invested in what you're listening to. A highlight of the night is the end of the set, as they play "Happy Families", and the front man of Herbert Powell  grabs the microphone and begins singing it himself.

I've seen Herbert Powell before, as I'm in a band myself with their drummer, and I'm good friends with a few of the members. I promise I'm not being biased when I say I think they are one of the finest new bands Glasgow, and maybe even Scotland, has to offer.

I took an Australian friend of mine to see Herbert Powell back in July, and although she is a regular gig attendee, she said they were the best live music she's ever seen in Scotland, beating 90s shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine. This gives you some idea of the sheer talent every member of Herbert Powell possesses. Their lead, Kieran Thomas, is a unique vocalist as well as an impressive bass player. He is a memorable and intimidating front man. It's easy to find yourself shying away from the band as he directs his sharp glare into the crowd while playing.

Their music sounds like a new, re-booted, more melodic Slint. The band opens with "Birth Mask", Thomas growling his way through while Kay Logan and Billy Gaughan (both incredibly talented musicians) provide the guitar lead structure, and Taylor Stewart attacks the drums, screaming during the intro to the song. The crowd grows as their set continues and rightfully so, as these original, obscure, difficult to define songs deserve as much attention as they can possibly get. The band are the best I've ever seen them, playing with more energy and passion than ever before (perhaps something to do with their decision to give the proceeds of the night to local Maryhill food bank following the 'No' vote. This raised over £200). People are silent and watch intently as they play, giving their full attention to the kind of totally captivating music you so rarely stumble upon for less than £10. Some people are even open mouthed. Friends of the band are smiling, proud, and well aware that these people have the potential to change the face of Scottish music.

Unfortunately I end up missing Black Cop due to a badly organised plan to get home, but I hear from friends on twitter that they are also fantastic. I'm totally gutted that I ended up leaving early but after checking my twitter feed and seeing the venue got partially set on fire after my departure, I'm more concerned for everyone's safety rather than beating myself up about not catching a (very good) band's set. Thankfully everybody was safe, and the evening was a total success.

Without a doubt, this gig was the best live new music I've probably ever seen, and I know now that I will never miss an opportunity to see either of the bands live again. I cannot reccommend Antique Pony or Herbert Powell enough. If you live near Glasgow (or even if you don't, I'm from Fife and I've seen them multiple times, that's no excuse), or ever visit Glasgow, get yourself to one of these band's gigs. A complete sonic wonder. Let them freak you and your ears out. You won't regret it.

10/10

Photos by Megan Daly- 
twitter: twitter.com/demonskeleton
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mortalbodyphotographs

Follow members of Herbert Powell on twtitter- 
Kay: https://twitter.com/kayhlogan
Kieran:https://twitter.com/kieranthethomas
Billy: https://twitter.com/eggsbenedict666
Taylor: https://twitter.com/cooljinzo
Like them on facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/herbertpowellband?fref=ts

Antique Pony-
Bandcamp: https://antiquepony.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antiquepony?fref=ts

Black Cop-
Bandcamp: https://black-cop.bandcamp.com/

Fife College Fresher’s Fair Arrives in Kirkcaldy

 

The St Brycedale campus of Fife College held its Fresher’s fair today. The fair, organised by the Fife College Student’s Association, is claimed to be “bigger and better than ever before”. Hundreds of new students turned out to see over 30 stalls from various local and national organisations.

The Students Association even booked a face painter and a balloon modeller in order to create a friendly, accessible event. While talking to a new student who was only in the second week of her hair and beauty course, she told me: “College is much better than school, and things like this prove that. This is a fun event with a great atmosphere. I can’t imagine anything like this happening back at my high school.”

Businesses such as Santander, CEX, and Wetherspoons had tables piled high with voucher booklets, special offer coupons, and welcome packs to assist students in their new low budget lifestyles, and even public transport company Stagecoach was providing goody bags filled with bubble blowers and chocolate bars in its promotion of the “Unirider”, a bus pass designed exclusively for students in need of discounted travel. International bank Santander was offering youngsters a 16-25 railcard if they signed up to their student account, however, most people were distracted by the interactive stalls beside them, ran by Safe Drive Stay Alive and the NHS.

One of the most popular attractions at the fair was without a doubt the NHS’s sexual health table, which featured a game in which two students had to sport “beer goggles” (a pair of glasses which gave the effect of the blurred vision experienced when drunk) while putting a condom on a plastic replica of a penis. Although this allowed for laughs between friends, it also gave an important message regarding the necessity of safe sex. The nurse running the stall told the crowds: “Young people under 25 account for over half of all newly diagnosed STDs. You are in the most at risk category for sexual health problems”. The other interactive stall ran by Safe Drive Stay Alive, an organisation promoting safe driving among young people, had a computer simulator allowing students to test out their driving skills under the influence of tiredness, drugs, and alcohol. Speaking to a group of boys who had tried out the game, they said: “This is a lot of fun but at the same time reminds us the seriousness of safe driving”.

Of course, with only a week to go until the upcoming independence referendum, both the Yes and No campaigns had a stall. The 16/17 year old vote has been considered very important throughout the debate, so each campaign was trying to catch the attention of the youngsters at the fair. However, as the stalls competed with tables handing out free cakes and sweets, it seemed politics was not the biggest concern of the day.

Spirit of Independence Hits Kirkcaldy

The Yes campaign was out in force today in Kirkcaldy as renovated 1950s fire engine, the “Spirit Of Independence” rolled into the town centre to mark the two week countdown to the referendum. The vehicle, once a “Green Goddess” fire engine designed to tackle fires in exceptional circumstances, is now painted blue and white to encapsulate the spirit of Scotland, and is being driven around the country throughout August and September by Dundee businessman Chris Law.

Chris, who this year brought the engine back into service and replaced its firefighting equipment with literature on the Yes Campaign, plans to reach up to 2,900,000 people on his tour around the most densely populated cities of Scotland. Standing beside the engine on bustling Kirkcaldy high street, he announced to spectators: “I am not a politician, I am a person, and this is a movement for people”. Although a member of the SNP, Chris insisted that he was not campaigning for them. The literature stored on the Spirit Of Independence came from 18 different sources, that even included a Nigerian print, titled “Nigeria For Yes”. The engine and various other attractions on the street (including a 10 foot dummy in a jimmy wig) attracted large crowds to its position outside the Yes shop – and not everyone was so supportive of the cause.

An older gentleman approached the engine to announce that the SNP’s White Paper was “nothing more than a wish list”. Although Chris calmly made efforts to provide information to disprove him, the man swore and walked away without any flyers.
“You get people like that at least once a day,” said Chris to the members of the public that had gathered, “but I do this because I want to build a better society.”

Another local person arrived to speak to Chris and the various Yes Campaigners on patrol. Kirkcaldy resident and sufferer of Brittle Bone Disease, Alistair Bruce, had come along to show support and further spread the town’s Yes fever. He spoke about Westminster’s “broken system” and it’s failure to support him and his disability in his younger years. His passion for the Yes cause was infectious and as he spoke, a larger crowd appeared around him. Before leaving he told them: “I think we’re going to win, and I think we’re going to win by more than people think.”

On the high street, there were zero No campaigners out spreading awareness for their cause. I asked a local woman if she knew where the “No” hub for Kirkcaldy was located. She told me that she passed it every day on her way to work, but “because nobody was ever there”, she “assumed it had closed down”. When I went to the shop, there was only one customer –a local Yes voter.

It seems that the spirit of independence is still burning brightly in Kirkcaldy, and is likely to continue in the countdown to the big day.