Podcart Hit 100

Today sees a bit of a milestone for our pals over at Glasgow Podcart, as they hit their 100th episode of the podcast. For their 100th episode Halina roped in Vic Galloway to swap songs and have a chat. On the podcast are Hidden Orchestra, Salo, Wounded Knee, Craig_FS, Clean George IV, an exclusive new song from Julia & The Doogans, Young Fathers , PAWS, Django Django and Die Hard. You can listen to the podcast down below.
Episode 100: The Milestone by GlasgowPodcART

The podcasts have been in less regular supply this year with "weeks" becoming "episodes", no doubt the folk that like to complain about Podcart are no doubt happy about that, but when a new one comes along it is always worth a listen. The Glasgow Podcart team do plenty other than the podcast though, so pointing at them and mocking their move from a weekly schedule to a more leisurely one is rather missing the point a bit.

Podcart were a big help to me when I was getting things up and running around here, though these days they are less helpful, mostly choosing instead just to swear at me online when they have an opportunity, but I'll forgive them for that. Those interested in new music in and around Scotland should be checking in on the Glasgow Podcart website and Facebook for news, tips and gig info. Plus of course the kind of language you'd expect from an inebriated sailor.

Glasgow Podcart - Website - Facebook

Advent Calendar - Day Seven: Abagail Grey

Doubling up again today, carrying on the trend of something for free, something to buy, we have the new single from Abagail Grey.

New double A-side single Winter & Icicles came out at the start of this week, and I've got my timing all wrong, so missed plugging it in time for a launch gig in Edinburgh on Tuesday. There's a gig in Glasgow on Thursday at The Captains Rest though.



Winter & Icicles is available to buy from Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon.

Abagail Grey: Website - Bandcamp - Facebook

Advent Calendar - Day Seven: Now Wakes The Sea & Lovers Turn To Monsters

Repeats again today, but good ones, and ones which aren't currently available elsewhere right now. Plus, I'm doing you a two for one deal, so just be glad of the stuff eh?

Today's songs come from two different folk, for the simple reason that they are sharing the bill at a rather tasty looking bill in Glasgow on Wednesday. Lovers Turn To Monsters and Now Wakes the Sea will be playing at The 13th Note, along with theapplesofenergy and some bloke called Adam Stafford. Yeah, I've never heard of him either. It'll be good and it's cheap, so get along if you can.

When I posted the Now Wakes the Sea song last year it turned in to a mini essay about Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). I'll spare you it again, at least until the song makes another appearance, which I wouldn't rule out. There's an album coming from Now Wakes the Sea pretty soon, which I'll get back to once I've stopped obsessing over Christmas songs and end of year lists. Oh God so many lists.

Now Wakes the Sea - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Now Wakes the Sea - Silent Night

Lovers Turn To Monsters has new Christmas EP in the works, so we'll be checking back in on Kyle soon when that is finished. In the meantime here's a song taken from the EP he put out last year, a cover I requested when he asked for ideas. Fun trivia: if you are my pal on Facebook or follow me on Twitter the wee picture on my account was drawn by Kyle. He's a sickeningly talented chap.

Lovers Turn To Monsters - Stay Another Day

Now Wakes The Sea - Website - Soundcloud - Facebook
Lovers Turn To Monsters: Facebook - Bandcamp

Advent Calendar - Day Six: Julia and the Doogans

Another double dip into the calendar today, I'm really going to regret this when it hits the 18th and I only have rubbish left to post. But see, I told you there'd be another free thing along soon!

I've not had Julia and the Doogans on here in ages, which is clearly a massive oversight on my part, so here they are with a take on Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas that is sweeter than that crap chocolate you got out of you Thomas The Tank Engine calendar this morning.



And if you like to watch things, video!



Julia and the Doogans: Website - Bandcamp - Facebook

Advent Calendar - Day Six: Aidan John Moffat

Something you have to pay for today. Suck it up, it's only two quid and there's plenty of more free stuff to come.

Aidan Moffat has released a Christmas EP, containing amongst other things covers of Last Christmas and Santa Clause Is Coming To Town. It is every bit is ridiculous and amusing as you expect.
Stream Oh! What a Not So Silent Night Before Christmas below, and buy it from Bandcamp.



Aidan John Moffat: Website - Bandcamp

Advent Calendar - Day Five: Zoey Van Goey

Bonus song today? Go on then, why not.

My bandcrush on Zoey Van Goey is firmly out of the closet by now, and shows no sign of dropping off any time soon. They released a new single just a couple of weeks ago, which you can hear and find out a bit more about here.

In Scotland It Never Snowed But In Canada It Did isn't actually anything to do with Christmas, but since it has been snowing - what, you hadn't noticed? - I'm going to squeeze it in anyway. Hey, it's a bonus, and free, so don't complain.

Zoey Van Goey are playing a Christmas matinee show in Glasgow on Sunday December 18th, at Mono from 2-5pm. Entry is a suggested donation of £3, while kids get in free. Take the family then, I'll try not to scare your children.

Zoey Van Goey - In Scotland It Never Snowed But In Canada It Did by Chemikal Underground

Zoey Van Goey: Website - Facebook

Advent Calendar: Day Five - The Plimptons

Ooh, today's advent calendar post has a picture and everything! Swish.
We're spoiling you again today (well, we aren't, we didn't write, record and release this single. We're also just one person, but now I've started saying we and can't seem to stop. Anyway...) with a full single. THREE SONGS!
Good ones too.
AND a video.
Thank you, The Plimptons.

You can listen to the single below, and download it for FREE here. I'll now stop typing before I abuse capital letters any further.

The Plimptons- Christmas All Over This Town 3 Track Single by The Plimptons

And here's the video. No prizes for identifying the pub, but you can have some points for spotting one of my favourite places in Glasgow.



The Plimptons: Website - Bandcamp - Facebook

Advent Calendar: Day Four - The Darien Venture

Sunday brings the first Christmas cover song, and me quickly writing and scheduling posts to avoid missing a day while hungover, although when this goes online at midnight I'll probably be drunk and deaf, trying to find my way back to Paisley after seeing Mondegreen and St Deluxe.

Today The Darien Venture go at Band Aid, with pretty good results.

The Darien Venture - Feed The World

The Darien Venture: Facebook - Buy Indications EP

Advent Calendar: Day Three - The Last Battle

Three days in and already we have our first repeat song. Sorry. I have a reason though!
That reason is that by posting The Last Battle today I can elegantly work in a plug for the gig they are playing at tonight.
With PET having to pull out of the Beard of Truth Heavy Pop Xmas Party The Last Battle have stepped in to the breach. They'll be playing tonight (Saturday) at The Wee Red Bar, with The Spook School and Calypso Brown.

Also, The Last Battle came and did a gig for me earlier in the year when they launched The Springwell EP (buy it here!) and are therefor entitled to plugs at every possible opportunity. They are right good too, which helps.

Support at that launch gig was The Second Hand Marching Band, and you can catch them and The Last Battle in action together again in The 13th Note on December 22nd. They'll be joined by the excellent Withered Hand, who is likely to turn up in one of these advent posts at a time conveniently arranged to remind you about that gig. If you can plan ahead, tickets are available here.

The Last Battle - Once Upon a Boxing Day

The Last Battle: Website - Bandcamp - Facebook

How To Be A Ghost: An Illustrated Guide

I don't respond well to spooky behaviour

How To Be A Ghost: An Illustrated Guide is a new wee book by Campbell "Shambles" Miller and Neil Slorance. Written by the pair of them, and illustrated by Neil, it's a lovely little thing, and at an A6 size, wee and little are fitting descriptions.

The book tells the story of a man, well, a ghost I suppose, adjusting to his new found ghostliness, along with his advice on how to be a ghost from what he has learned. A playful tone to the writing, alongside Neil's clean, understated art keep things from getting either too sugrary sweet, or too morbid at the less cheery parts, adding up to something roughly describable as "adorable".
Neil and Campbell say the book is for big kids, but there's nothing in it to stop small ones reading either. Pick up a copy for all your Ghost, comic, or general good thing loving friends.

How To Be A Ghost: An Illustrated Guide is published by Pipe Down Productions, and available online here.
There's also a launch event for the book on Sunday December 4th, at the Life Craft premises upstairs in De Courcy's Arcade, from 6.30-9pm. You can pick up the book, enjoy some cakes and drinks, and smile/shout at the creators.

Advent Calendar: Day Two - Ambulances

Advent Calendar blah blah blah. Christmas themed song blah. You know the deal, now enjoy the intros getting worse with every passing day.

Today we've got something new from Ambulances. They've been quiet for a while, but promise a new album early in 2012, which is something to look forward to.

Here's their Christmas tune, a free download of The True Meaning of Christmas, featuring - in their words - the lovely young ladies of Denbeath Parish Church Choir.



Ambulances: Website - Bandcamp

Advent Calendar: Day One - A Band Called Quinn

It's December! That makes it Advent Calendar time.
For those that weren't here in previous years the deal is this, every day from now till December 24th you get a Christmas themed song here, like opening an advent calendar and getting a bit of chocolate. Like advent calendar chocolate you may or may not like the songs, but I'll try my best to pick out good stuff.
Starting us off for this year is not just a song, but a whole EP from A Band Called Quinn. They are awfully good to us, aren't they?

Fill yer boots - winter or otherwise - below.
ABCQ Christmas by abandcalledquinn

A Band Called Quinn play Glasgow's George Square as part of Hear Glasgow on December 15th, with Selective Service, Shambles Miller, Tragic O’Hara and Sonny Marvello.

A Band Called Quinn: Website - Bandcamp - Facebook