Gigs. Aren’t they great? Not always, granted, but for me they can be absolutely electric and fizzing with atmosphere. The anticipation of that first kick of the drum, the strum of the guitar, the bass reverberating off the walls and then the band click into gear before giving their all for YOU! It’s why we love live music. As always Into Music have been keeping a keen eye on the best gigs coming up, so read on…

Concert: His Lordship
Venues: Edinburgh, The Caves, Glasgow, Stereo 
Dates:  2 & 4 April 2023

If you like your music feral, raw and energetic, His Lordship are the band for you. Mixing old school rock and roll, punk attitude and tunes to die for, these dates are sure to be off the scale. So, if you’ve no plans for either night, get yourself along. 

The band are centred around guitarist/vocalist James Walbourne (The Pretenders, The Pogues, The Rails) and drummer (Kristoffer Sonne (The Pretenders) and their live set should see a few originals, as well as a few choice covers. Also, with the band having recently been in the studio recording their debut album, there’s a better than even chance the band will debut some of these tracks on the tour.

The dates are part of a wider U.K. tour and follow on from their recent appearance at SXSW in the USA. Trust me on this, it’s gonna be hot, it’s gonna be sweaty, it’s gonna be cranked up to the max, and it’s gonna delve in to the heart and soul of Iggy, Lux and Jerry Lee. 

For more details on the tour and all things His Lordship, head over to their website here. 

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Concert: Vlure
Venue: Glasgow, McChuills 
Date:  7 April 2023

Back at the first weekend in January I was fortunate enough to see Glasgow band Vlure play an early evening set at the Rockaway Beach Festival in Bognor Regis. To date, it was the single most energetic show I’ve seen this year, the band at the absolute top of their game.

The band are playing McChuills on 7 April and anyone who has been to a gig there will know the type of atmosphere the room creates, it’s special. Add in the out-and-out showmanship and no holds barred show the band are likely to put on and you’ll be in for a treat. 

It’s little surprise that Vlure are considered one of the hottest tickets in town, what with being nominated for the BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year and coming off a well received show at SXSW in Austin, USA. Songs like Euphoria, Shattered Faith and new single This Fantasy are sure to feature from the synth led, dance/punk five piece. 

For more, head over to the Vlure Bandcamp page here. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-g8neNbSMM

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Concert: Geese
Venue: Glasgow, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut
Date:  10 September 2023

Following on from their critically acclaimed debut album, 2021’s Projector, the Brooklyn-based New Yorkers return with a new album, 3D Country, on 23 June. Ahead of that, they’ve released a new single of the same name (3D Country) which gives a taste of the eleven-track album to come, both preceding a U.K. tour in September including a stop at Glasgow’s King Tuts on the 10th. 

The new single sees singer, Cameron Winter, produce a deep vocal while the backing vocals are more harmonious, mixing things up well while, musically, the five-piece band are joined at the hip, dipping in and out of psychedelia, Americana, gospel and rock. It is no surprise that comparisons have been made to fellow NYC rockers The Strokes. But don’t be fooled. There is more than enough originality here for Geese to stand out. And they do.  

Talking about the track, Winter said,

“The lyrics are this story I had about a cowboy who does psychedelics in the wild west and fries his brain forever. I was imagining at first he’s this stoic, masculine character like out of a Cormac McCarthy novel, but then he unravels and sees his past lives in Ancient Rome, the Great Wall of China. Ultimately he finds himself in the end and it turns celebratory. I liked the idea of contrasting this straight-laced individual with that super mind-bending interdimensional experience.“

For more on both the new album and the U.K. tour, head over to the Geese website here. 

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Concert: Lyra
Venue: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree & Glasgow Saint Luke’s
Dates:  15 & 16 April 2023

Unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand, you’ll be aware of the somewhat meteoric rise of Irish singer-songwriter Lyra in recent months. Touring as support to Westlife in 2022 certainly didn’t do the Cork songstress any harm in raising her profile. 

Since then, Lyra has collaborated with renowned DJ, John Gibbons, in releasing a dancetastic take on Stevie Nicks Edge of Seventeen and the more understated 29 Box which really provides a platform for Lyra’s vocal range to shine. 

Fast forward to the here and now and Lyra has a new single out called YOU. In some ways, the vocal style and music reminds me of Self Esteem and that is certainly no bad thing. Uplifting and filled with hooks and a stellar vocal, this will further cement Lyra’s growing reputation.

Lyra said of the track,

“I wrote this one about the spark that creates a fire inside of you. We all know that exciting feeling of finding new love so I wanted to bring that excitement onto the dance floor.“

For more on Lyra and her upcoming U.K. tour, visit the website here. 

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Concert: Shambolics
Venue: Glasgow, The Garage
Dates:  15 April 2023

Having just released a new four track EP, headed up by lead single Take It Or Leave, it’s no surprise critics are saying the Fife band are hitting lyrical and musical peaks they’ve not scaled before. Earlier single Living In Shadows is included too. Orchestral waves, guitar loops and sweeping drums are overlayed by harmonious vocal. A real earworm. 

The songs groove, pulling the best from the better indie guitar bands of the 90s while the band provide their own Scottish stamp on proceedings. A great combination. The band have another EP in the can, entitled U Serious Boi!?! (due to be released 14 April) which was produced by Chris Marshall at Glasgow’s 7 West Studios. 

The band, now based in Glasgow have supported the likes of Richard Ashcroft, Embrace and The View and are heading out on a U.K. tour in April and May which should see them augment their burgeoning reputation 

For more on Shambolics including new music and tour, visit their website here. 

John Welsh
@welshjb

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