Ryan Drever

Interview: RM Hubbert in his own words

The revered Glasgow guitarist explains how music brought him therapy

3 Feb 2012

Solo work and how it began 'I decided when my dad got ill I needed something to take my mind off things. So I decided kind of arbitrarily to learn flamenco guitar. I’d never played acoustics but I thought, "that looks really fucking hard". I don’t…

Henry Rollins – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Fri 13 Jan

Prolific punk-rocker gets gut laughs on his three-hour rant

3 Feb 2012

Few people can make a decent living out of talking on stage for two hours. Henry Rollins, on the other hand, has it down to a fine art. An honorary punk rock graduate having earned his stripes fronting S.O.A. and Black Flag in the 80s, and later, his…

Explosions in The Sky - O2 Academy, Glasgow, Mon 23 Jan 2012

An elemental, foundation-shaking post-rock rollercoaster

3 Feb 2012

Explosions in The Sky’s music has always had very elemental feel to it. As the unforgiving Glasgow winter freezes the breath in every pair of lungs waiting to get into the Academy tonight, the Texan’s set, which could soundtrack the bleak, sparse cold…

Django Django - Django Django

Dense and often surprising debut spitting up bursts of bold, spaced-out texture

27 Jan 2012

(Because) Django Django’s debut has a lot of strings to its bow. It benefits from being the result of prolonged and measured tinkering by three Edinburgh art school grads over the space of a couple of years in a London bedroom. These efforts have…

Howler - America Give Up

The kind of easily-digestible festival fodder that could hit the spot live, but is dull on record

27 Jan 2012

(Rough Trade) You think we would all have learned by now that it is frankly unproductive to call anything the ‘new this’, the ‘next that’, or, god forbid, ‘the hottest thing you’ll hear all year’. Sadly, whether they’re aware of it or not, young US…

Thurston Moore - The Arches, Glasgow, Mon 28 Nov 2011

Captivating picture of solo artistic triumphs from Sonic Youth frontman

17 Jan 2012

You split from your wife of nearly thirty years, who not only is the mother of your child but is also responsible, along with you and some other talented friends, for creating one of the most important musical legacies in modern music – you’re gonna be…

RM Hubbert launches album Thirteen Lost & Found with friends

Aidan Moffat, Alex Kapranos and more to join in at Stereo show

6 Jan 2012

RM Hubbert’s debut album First & Last was more than just an instrumental record by a talented Glaswegian guitarist. Far from a commercial stepping-stone, the record was rather the result of Hubbert’s attempts to document a tumultuous three-year period…

Kid Canaveral’s Christmas Baubles II - Summerhall, Edinburgh, Sat 17 Dec 2011

Josie Long, eagleowl and more join in Kid Canaveral's annual shindig

6 Jan 2012

The combination of cheap tins and 12 hours of live entertainment could be an endurance test in the wrong hands, but the second annual Fence Records/Kid Canaveral Chirstmas Baubles all-dayer doesn’t exactly feel like a chore. A joyous turn by Fence…

Chris Devotion and The Expectations – Amalgamation and Capital

Worthwhile debut stumbles when it steps away from solid pop template

6 Jan 2012

(Armellodie) Amalgamation and Capital is the debut from Glasgow’s Chris Devotion and the Expectations. Kicking off with ‘A Modest Refusal’, a punchy salute to 50s/60s pop, complete with textbook dum, dum-dum, tshh’s and whoah-ohs, this is an album…

RM Hubbert – Thirteen Lost & Found

Beautiful collaborative effort from the percussive guitarist

5 Jan 2012

(Chemikal Underground) Last year’s solo debut, First and Last, saw Glaswegian guitarist RM Hubbert communicate all manner of emotions and stories through his own beautifully lush and percussive playing style. On this second album, Hubbert (who…

The Lemonheads - Oran Mor, Glasgow, Mon 5 Dec 2011

Chunks of a bulging, colourful back catalogue is consistently spot on

13 Dec 2011

Evan Dando of The Lemonheads has a somewhat mottled track record when it comes to live performances. Imbued with a drug-fuelled perma-haze since the 90s, many of his latter-day appearances have been cringeworthy, if not a little worrying. However…

Josh T Pearson - Oran Mor, Glasgow, Tue 22 Nov 2011

Utterly entertaining hour of songs and charm from Texan singer

9 Dec 2011

With little fanfare, Texan son Josh T Pearson drifts onstage. The crowd erupts. Calmly, he takes his time before addressing them. ‘Whadd’ya think, jacket on or jacket off?’ An immature chuckle ripples through the dense pockets of punters. ‘You ladies…

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, The Arches, Glasgow Fri 11 Nov 2011

16 Nov 2011

Pavement’s short-lived reunion last year was damn-near miraculous, but you couldn’t help but feel that the pleasure was all ours. So, when the announcement came shortly after that Stephen Malkmus and his other brothers (and sister) in arms, The Jicks…

Mike Watt & The Missingmen - Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Glasgow, Wed 12 Nov 2011

Warm response for intense showcase from Minutemen man

15 Nov 2011

It’s hard to write about Mike Watt. Not only is it hard to compress the man’s personality and philosophies into merely a few sentences but it would take several pages, chapters even, to fully document his work, collaborations and achievements. Yet…

Throwing Muses - Òran Mór, Glasgow, Mon 7 Nov 2011

Powerful performance from Kristin Hersh and co

15 Nov 2011

Considering the period in which Throwing Muses enjoyed the bulk of their popularity, it’s no surprise that tonight’s return to Glasgow sees largely middle-aged couples pour through the doors of the Òran Mór in their droves. Kristin Hersh isn’t…

Martin John Henry - The Other Half of Everything

Impressive and thoughtful debut from ex-De Rosa frontman

28 Oct 2011

(Gargleblast) The Other Half of Everything is the debut solo record from Martin John Henry, perhaps best known for fronting De Rosa – a much-loved, much-missed and highly influential band that once held their own in the Glasgow music community.

Singles of the month: Mummy Short Arms 'Change'

The Kills, Blood Orange, The Pierces, Wild Beasts and more

20 Oct 2011

As we prepare to stare winter right in the face, we find ourselves in the throes of record labels’ last real push for glory before the Christmas single sprint. The Kills lead a heavy charge from Domino but sadly, with ‘Baby Says’ (Domino) ●, they…

Mazes - Captain’s Rest, Glasgow, Thu 6 Oct 2011

The garage pop foursome take a while to warm up, but worth the wait

19 Oct 2011

Reduced from four to a trio tonight for undisclosed reasons, Mazes are welcomed with open arms, even if it takes them a little while to warm up. On first inspection, the band are a damn fine example of how to pen a charming pop song on the age-old…

The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx – The Garage, Glasgow, 26/08/11

19 Sep 2011

Call them what you will, but The Bronx are entertainers. You could laugh off the LA punks’ idea of a Mariachi band side-project as mere novelty but the fact that they not only play their newly adopted instruments with vigour and immense proficiency, the…

Single of the Month: King Creosote and Jon Hopkins’ ‘Honest Words’

Also reviewed: Katy B, Ghostpoet, Anna Calvi, Airship and Ed Sheeran

24 Aug 2011

As Mercury Price fever ensues, there’s a last-minute dash to make the most of this extra attention, however, the resulting singles are admittedly a bit hit and miss. The latter is unfortunately the case for Katy B’s scatty, 90s dance rip-off…

PJ Harvey set for 2011 UK tour

Dates include Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

24 Aug 2011

Since releasing her caustic debut, Dry, in 1992, PJ Harvey has been hailed as a powerfully emotive and dazzlingly uncompromising artist, equally capable of shaking your bones and getting stuck in your head. As ambitious as she is forward-thinking…

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine

ABC, Glasgow, Tue 9 Aug 2011

24 Aug 2011

Slinking onto the stage in a bloody lab coat, Jello Biafra is a gurning, over-acting spectacle from the get-go. As parts of the country continue to smoulder in the wake of widespread rioting, it doesn’t take the former Dead Kennedys frontman long to…

Sebadoh set for UK tour

London, Manchester and Edinburgh dates for alt-rock pioneers

16 Aug 2011

When Lou Barlow was kicked out of serial noisemongers Dinosaur Jr. in the late 80s he was hardly going to sit idly by as they milked the burgeoning alt-rock cash cow without him. No, instead, Barlow, along with friends Eric Gaffney and Jason…

Meursault / Over The Wall / Capitals / Miaoux Miaoux

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, Mon 25 Jul 2011

8 Aug 2011

It's always exciting to find a new band that gets you going, you know, one that really does it for you. To have four of them on one bill is another kettle of fish entirely, one we at The List welcome with open arms on this leg of the second annual…

Moonface - Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped

Canadian multi-tasker Spencer Krug delivers more psychedelic haziness

3 Aug 2011

(Jagjaguwar) Better to be busy than bored right? It certainly seems that’s the mantra of Spencer Krug, core member of Canadian collectives Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake and Frog Eyes. This time around, with Wolf Parade on hiatus, Krug has…

Born To Be Wide Showcase of Edinburgh music

Day-long appreciation of music made in Edinburgh

29 Jul 2011

As a salute to Edinburgh’s musical vibrancy, this second annual Born To Be Wide showcase wants to shine a spotlight on what the capital has to offer with a series of ten-minute taster sets, secret shows and instore performances throughout the…

King Tut’s Summer Nights series of gigs

Local heroes including Song of Return and Meursault line-up for Tut's fortnight-long season of gigs

21 Jul 2011

‘Britain’s Best Small Venue’ – as voted last month by the NME but perhaps better known to Glasgow music-loving punters as plain old ‘King Tut’s’ – continues its successful run of seasonal live programmes with this month’s second annual ‘Summer Nights…

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Originality and excitement lost in quest for antiquated sounds

13 Jul 2011

(True Panther Sounds) A hazy, low-rent or ‘vintage’ sound is often more of a deliberate stylistic approach these days than the result of necessity. It’s with this in mind that Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s self-titled debut sounds like it’s trying far…

Battles - The Arches, Glasgow, Tue 7 Jun 2011

No Tyondai, no old stuff, but Battles deliver powerful digital rock show

23 Jun 2011

It’s unfortunate with gigs as hotly-anticipated as tonight’s that nobody really cares about the support. Baltimore’s Thank You aren’t too far removed from their stage-mates this evening in terms of complex and angular rock, but still, they play to a…

GWAR, with Clutch - O2 ABC, Glasgow, Tue 14 Jun

23 Jun 2011

The differences between GWAR and Clutch might be as obvious as they are many, but there was no doubt that the bearded southern destroyers were capable of holding their own with this one. This hour-long set further cemented Clutch's status as a…

Tom Vek - Classic Grand, Glasgow, Tue 14 Jun 2011

Return of multi-instrumentalist a muted success

21 Jun 2011

After the critical acclaim and moderate commercial success of Tom Vek’s 2005 debut album, We Have Sound, it looked, on paper at least, like he was on to a winner. Instead, despite pursuing the potentially long and fruitful career ahead of him, he more…

Wu Lyf - Go Tell Fire To The Mountain

epic, cascading musical backdrops from the joyous and triumphant to rough and urgent

13 Jun 2011

(LYF recordings) WU LYF, aka World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation, further refine their self-sufficient musical approach with their self-released debut, Go Tell Fire To The Mountain. Recorded in a church in Manchester, each song plays out with an…

Interview - Dananananaykroyd set for UK tour

Hyperactive Glaswegian sextet hit road after release of There is a Way

24 May 2011

As hyperactive Glaswegian sextet Dananananaykroyd ready their second full-length effort – the Ross Robinson-produced There is a Way – for mass consumption this summer, the band seem keen to put a fairly quiet and frustrating 2010 behind them. ‘Last…

Exposure: Glasgow indie trio PAWS

14 Apr 2011

Over the past 12 months, Glasgow trio PAWS have gone from ambitious bedroom jams to supporting damn near every cult US indie export to grace our fair shores (Dum Dum Girls, Wavves, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti etc). Combining Dinosaur Jr-esque melodic…

The Babies, Paws and Schnapps - Stereo, Glasgow, Sat 19 Mar 2011

New York lo-fi indie kids provided with able support from local acts

24 Mar 2011

Imposing concrete pillars aside, Stereo continues to ‘cement’ (oh yes, we did) its position as one of Glasgow’s best basement venues, and a good place to seek musical refuge in the face of yet another cold Saturday night in the city. First up, local…

The Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon set for UK tour

The Wu-Tang Clan member comes to Scotland with new album

3 Mar 2011

Two years ago, when Wu-Tang Clan MC Raekwon announced the sequel to his acclaimed 1995 solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx …, you could’ve been forgiven for thinking it was merely some kind of clever ploy to stir up interest in a career that had…

The Son(s) - The Son(s)

Debut drenched in psychedelic influences and haunting, layered vocals

1 Mar 2011

(Olive Grove) It’s always nice to find something interesting, or better yet, a little odd amongst the deluge of new releases. Preferring to be vague in terms of their/his background and personnel and uncompromisingly elaborate when it comes to…

Why Conor Oberst's return to Bright Eyes is to be celebrated

Ryan Drever welcomes back a different and more left-field Bright Eyes

28 Jan 2011

Even if you’ve never warmed to the shaky timbre of Conor Oberst’s emotionally-wrought vocals, related to his often intensely personal lyrics or felt a kinship with the causes he so vehemently confronts and supports with his music, there is one thing you…

Fujiya & Miyagi - Ventriloquizzing

3 Jan 2011

(Full Time Hobby) Brighton’s Fujiya & Miyagi return here with their fourth album, Ventriloquizzing and, as one might guess from the title, this particular collection of songs is inspired by the idea of ventriloquism or more broadly, the idea of…

Thin Lizzy 2011 UK tour

2011 incanation counts The Almighty's Ricky Warwick and Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell among line-up

23 Dec 2010

1. The Boys Are Back In Town... Well, sort of. Since the tragic passing of frontman Phil Lynott in 1986, many different incarnations of the band have existed, purely as a live tribute of sorts. Now, armed with Dio/Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell…

The Walkmen set for Celtic Connections 2011

New York quintet's impassioned tales of dejection and desperation

23 Dec 2010

New York quintet The Walkmen conjure a sound that spans the pastoral to the outright raucous. Though they are not perhaps one of the most obvious additions to any Celtic Connections bill, their material has been known to incorporate more ‘traditional…

The Unwinding Hours

A spellbinding performance from the Scottish alt rockers...

20 Dec 2010

The Alasdair Gray-painted murals and warm, natural reverb of the Oran Mor's auditorium proves the perfect setting for this very special sunday night's entertainment. RM Hubbert opens proceedings with a set of mesmerising acoustic instrumentals…

The Unwinding Hours

Oran Mor, Glasgow, 17 Oct 2010

19 Nov 2010

The Alasdair Gray-painted murals and warm, natural reverb of the Oran Mor's auditorium proves the perfect setting for this very special Sunday night's entertainment. RM Hubbert opens proceedings with a set of mesmerising acoustic instrumentals…

South Africa's rap/rave Die Antwoord on UK tour promoting $o$ re-release

Blaring synths, pounding beats and South African accents

2 Nov 2010

When a video featuring South African rave/hip-hop crew, Die Antwoord surfaced late last year, a lot of head-scratching ensued. Is this for real? What’s up with their hair? And why is that guy shaking his penis? Whatever you thought of that video and…

Music Like a Vitamin - O2 ABC, Glasgow, Sat 2 Oct 2010

Rod Jones, Emma Pollock, Jenny Reeve and Karine Polwart

9 Oct 2010

For their Music Like A Vitamin event, Idlewild’s Rod Jones and The Delgados’ Emma Pollock have enlisted a Scottish musical dream team to create a fundraising album. Coinciding with the annual Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, The Fruit…

Fever Ray

O2 ABC, Glasgow, Mon 6 Sep.

16 Sep 2010

The night begins in hushed anticipation as a somewhat reserved crowd await the arrival of enigmatic Swedish artist, Fever Ray – aka The Knife’s Karin Dreijer-Andersson – making her debut Scottish live appearance. Punctuated by the hiss of smoke machines…

Joanna Newsom embarks on UK tour

Artist tours sprawling achievement of Have One On Me

7 Sep 2010

When she was first brought to the attention of UK audiences by that most reliable eccentric, Jools Holland, Joanna Newsom seemed like just another obligatory obscure artist plucked from the ceiling-high stacks of specialist music magazines no doubt…

Fever Ray set for first Scottish show

Dark, gothic electronica, with a creepy edge is what Fever Ray does best

20 Aug 2010

Picture a sunny, cloudless day in San Francisco; the streets are engulfed by thousands of brightly coloured bouncy balls, tanning down the road in a glimmering haze whilst accompanied by a sweetly picked guitar tune, sung almost like a lullaby. Ring any…

Mr Protector - Pétrole

13 Aug 2010

Recently featured on Predestination Records latest Premeditation compilation, French Trio Mr Protector bring us their debut album Pétrole. Spanning three languages — English and German alongside their native tongue – Pétrole is loud, abrasive and…

PVT - Church With No Magic

29 Jul 2010

(Warp) After threats of legal action from an American band of the same name, Australian trio Pivot eventually became simply ‘PVT’. Thankfully, however, their first release since the change, Church With No Magic, still demonstrates the kind of…