I’m now, inexplicably, in my mid late 40s old. I’m married with 2 kids and we live in Fife, Scotland.

My big passions (apart from the family) are music and football. Although much less of the latter these days.

29 Responses »

  1. Steve O'Connor says:
    February 20, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Thought this might be of interest

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7247335.stm

    Reply
  2. bibomedia says:
    March 4, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    :)

    Reply
  3. Joseph Blood says:
    November 11, 2009 at 9:48 pm

    Hi, my name is Joseph and I play in a Vancouver BC band called Bend Sinister. I am just spreading the word to online music blogs/sites/people about our new website where we are giving away 10 of our tracks for free. I figure lots of blogs and folks like to post about free tracks, so if you have a minute, check out the site (where you can hear the songs streaming b4 you download) and if you like them, perhaps you can spread the word or download them for yourself. Thanks for your time

    http://www.bendsinisterband.com

    Joseph Blood
    jjblood@hotmail.com
    604-838-5388

    Reply
  4. jim mcguinn says:
    November 10, 2010 at 4:07 am

    I used to have a record label in Philadelphia called Manic Pop Thrill. Before that, I used the moniker for a radio show in college on WEFT, Champaign. Now I too am in my mid-40s and I get to program a radio station in Minneapolis called The Current. Just saying hi – found you while looking for info on the new Edwyn Collins record.

    Reply
  5. Pumajaw says:
    March 23, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Hi

    We are Pumajaw from Perth. Our music is quite dark and cinematic but we keep a pop sensibility. Our new single is going to be physically released on the 25th April to coincide with our show at King

    Tuts but is available as a free download now at http://www.pumajaw.co.uk/flashfiles/news.html

    We are also playing on the 12th June at The Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival in Doune and 14th June at Tunnels 1 in Aberdeen

    Thanks

    John + Pinkie

    ‘Wills is a highly accomplished player and his use of loops and samples creates a wall of sound that a full-blown band might struggle to craft. Sometimes growling, other times hauntingly angelic, Maclure’s voice is always utterly engaging and the way she handles the concertina would make the knees of grown men tremble.’ David Prater The Herald ****

    ‘Pumajaw links Loop’s hypnotics with trance-like beats, held together by Maclure’s disarmingly seductive voice.’ Uncut****

    ‘The bewitching Pumajaw are one of the Scottish music scene’s most exotic animals,’ Fiona Shepherd The Scotsman ****

    Reply
  6. manicpopthrills says:
    March 25, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Sounds kinda interesting, Pumajaw from Perth. Will try and check it out ahead of the single release.

    Reply
  7. Nick says:
    May 1, 2011 at 12:45 am

    Hi Guys

    Thought you might like to come along and see me and my band (The Reward) play live on Saturday May 14th in Stereo.

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Reward-Tickets-Glasgow-Saturday-May-14th-Stereo-/290558852412?pt=UK_Tickets_Tickets_LE&hash=item43a6a83d3c
    Cheers
    Nick

    http://www.thereward.co.uk

    Stop Press:

    The Reward Reunite!

    Glasgow band, The Reward have just announced their first gig in almost three years.

    The original line up featuring Nick Quail, Paul Carlin, Ryan Reed and Kev McCaig will perform on Saturday the 14th of May in Stereo, Glasgow.

    Ryan Reed, the bass player, is flying in from his home in Norway especially to perform at the gig.

    If you did not have a chance to catch the Reward live first time round this may well be your one and only chance to see the original line up live on stage for some time, since Ryan Reed, the bass player, will return to Norway almost immediately after performing the gig!

    Tickets can be purchased from the following:-

    Buy tickets here

    Please note the band will be on stage at seven pm sharp. (Ryan has a plane to catch!)

    Stereo

    22-28 Renfield Lane, Glasgow, G2 5A

    Reply
  8. johnny says:
    June 16, 2011 at 6:52 am

    Thrum: Elettrorama ****
    PRA Records, only available online

    MONICA Queen’s formidable voice is familiar all across indieland thanks to her vocal turn on Belle & Sebastian’s much loved Lazy Line Painter Jane single but her own band Thrum have been dormant since the mid-90s. In the interim she has maintained her reputation as Glasgow’s guest vocalist of choice and released a couple of mellow, introspective albums with her partner John Smillie under her own name.

    But now the pair have reactivated Thrum and prepare to let rip again. Hearing Queen’s mighty voice unfettered and Smillie’s equally blistering Neil Young-esque guitar solos once more feels like reconnecting with an old friend. Elettrorama is not all conducted at full tilt but the joyous, lusty power pop production of Johnny What’s The Use and the brooding, stormy likes of Precious and Banish The Devil provide the big, demonstrative highlights. FIONA SHEPHERD

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monica-Queen-and-thrum/106718342699896

    Reply
  9. Nicholas Barr says:
    July 6, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Good day to all good scotsmen…

    Just wanted to give you and your readers a proverbial heads up about the debut release of a new record label from the Minneapolis MN (USA) area – it’s a modern interpretation of Gustav Holst “The Planets.” You can check out the official video trailer here:
    http://www.vimeo.com/usr/theplanets
    And listen to the opening track here:
    http://www.vimeo.com/usr/mars

    Thank you for listening,
    The July 4th

    Reply
  10. Ryan says:
    July 14, 2011 at 8:15 am

    I am writing on behalf of the band, The Atolls. The Atolls are from Glendora, CA and have recently released an EP which is available for free download at http://theatolls.bandcamp.com/, as well as for compact disc purchase which comes with a double-sided poster & lyrics sheet. The Atolls also have several shows coming up (July 16, July 28, August 4, more to be announced). Be sure to listen to the songs, “Older Nazi Boyfriends” and “Something I’m Not Supposed to Do.” Write about them if you would like to. Thank you for your time.

    http://www.the-atolls.com/
    http://theatolls.bandcamp.com/
    http://soundcloud.com/theatolls
    https://www.facebook.com/theatolls

    Reply
  11. Glitter Freeze says:
    December 8, 2011 at 2:34 am

    Hi MPT,

    I’m reaching out to all the music blogs that I enjoy, with quality material, and an equal opportunity ethos for the up and coming bands. Glitter Freeze is a synthrock trio from Brooklyn, New York with 80′s new wave / post-punk influences.

    Would you be interested in reviewing our song “Broken Dreams”? Listen here: http://glitterfreezemusic.com/brokendreams.mp3

    To hear more and learn more about us, visit our official website: http://www.glitterfreezemusic.com

    Thank you so much & keep posting the good music,

    - Heather Elle

    Reply
  12. manicpopthrills says:
    December 13, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    Will give it a listen Glitter Freeze …

    Reply
  13. Jan Burnett says:
    February 26, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    blatant plug for my project! The Grand Gestures. check the soundcloud link… http://soundcloud.com/thegrandgestures and http://thegrandgestures.com/ jxx

    Reply
  14. manicpopthrills says:
    February 28, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Hi Jan, probably not the most prominent place to do a blatant plug! I’ll give it a listen and some more prominence in a few days.

    Reply
  15. Sonic Hearts Foundation says:
    April 6, 2012 at 11:18 am

    Hi MPT, Loving the blog mate especially the piece on Vladimir, Great band, great sound great guys, we’ve played with them once through in Dundee,

    Anyway I just wanted to introduce you to our band “Sonic Hearts Foundation”

    “Sonic Hearts Foundation are a four piece band who eschew the customary indie rock for something with a much darker texture” (Bluesbunny). Formed in 2010 in sunny Glasgow, Sonic Hearts Foundation are not your usual band, solely concerned with creating their own identity with a unique brand of effects drenched guitar noise”

    We recently supported the brilliant Duke Spirit at King Tuts and off the back of this we will be releasing our debut single “The Storm” on the 30th of April.

    To launch the single we will be creating a unique sound installation event with a strong visual element. Straying away from the usual venues we have decided to hold the event at The Glasgow Art Club in their main gallery. This will take place on 28th of April.

    Would you be Interested in reviewing the single? and perhaps doing a preview of the sound installation?

    We would also like to invite you to the sound installation event

    here are some links to our online profiles
    http://soundcloud.com/sonicheartsfoundation

    http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/sonic-hearts-foundation/100863599970181

    Any correspondance would be greatfully recieved,

    Brian Crawford,

    Sonic Hearts Foundation

    Reply
  16. manicpopthrills says:
    April 8, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    Hi Brian will give it a listen this week hopefully.

    Reply
  17. Sonic Hearts Foundation says:
    April 11, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    Cheers for that. Much appreciated.

    If you fancy doing a review on our upcoming single we could email you all the relevent stuff mp3s, artwork ect or if you prefer we could post you a copy of the C.D.

    just let us know.

    Cheers again,

    Brian

    Reply
  18. Alex Moran says:
    May 3, 2012 at 9:52 am

    Hi MPT,

    I am getting in touch in regards to my Edinburgh based band, The Seven Deadly Sins. We are self releasing our debut 4 track EP ‘Misery Lake’ on Tuesday 5th June and I was wanting to enquire as to whether you’d be able to review this release.

    The 4 tracks can be heard via this link http://soundcloud.com/thedeadlyteasers

    The running order for the EP is:
    1. An Accident Waiting To Happen (Awoo Woo Woo)
    2. Yesterday
    3. Misery Lake
    4. I Hate The Smell of a Rat

    In the weeks leading up to release our 4th official music video ‘Yesterday’ will be released and a 50 second animation teaser will be released for ‘I Hate The Smell of a Rat’ to promo the release.

    The physical CD’s are currently being made and will be with me a week before the 1st June release show. Please let me know if you’d like me to send you a copy in the post.

    Before then if you would like me to attach the mastered MP3′s via email or send the mastered Wave Files via a Yousendit link please let me know.

    Any promo, reviews or interviews you are able to provide us would be greatly appreciated and if you’d be able to forward an email to me once the article/link is live so we can promo the coverage via our websites that would also be excellent.

    Kind regards,

    Alex Moran
    http://thesevendeadlysinsofficial.com/
    http://www.youtube.com/user/thedeadlys (You can view our previous 3 music video’s here the latest was shot in Manhattan, NYC)

    Reply
  19. Sonic Hearts Foundation says:
    May 13, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Hi again MPT,

    This is a link to our video for the new single we released last week. we filmed, edited and produced the video ourselves as we also did with the single it’s self.

    We’d love for you to give us a wee write up on it and maybe even the single it’s self. I could email you all the relevant links if you do fancy it.

    Anyway heres the link to our video as i said before:

    cheers,
    Brian

    Reply
  20. Thud says:
    May 17, 2012 at 8:47 am

    Old Ellery Bop track now up on youtube (torn apart) with album of new (old) material and single later in the year, I’ll send copy when ready.

    Reply
  21. Jack says:
    June 21, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    Debut single from teenage Glaswegian indie pop/rock act Waiting For Go check it out!

    http://soundcloud.com/waitingforgo/let-you-go

    Reply
  22. owenmcaulay says:
    July 17, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    Hello,
    I have a new album ‘time’ and have put the first trach ‘not for me’ at:

    http://soundcloud.com/owen-mcaulay/01-not-for-me-1/s-GxQHM

    If you would like to hear the album I would be happy to send you a copy,

    Thanks,

    Owen McAulay

    Reply
  23. endofneil says:
    September 19, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    Hi

    I’m End of Neil!

    This year I’ve supported Withered Hand, Conquering Animal Sounds, The Vaselines, and played at Doune The Rabbit Hole festival.

    On the 28th September this year I am releasing my debut EP, ‘September’, and I want you to have a special preview listen.

    REVIEW ME PLEASE!!!!

    Enjoy!

    http://soundcloud.com/endofneil/sets/september/s-CYG9O

    Reply
  24. Farewell Singapore says:
    January 12, 2013 at 9:49 pm

    Hey
    I know its been out a while, but we’re hoping that the EP can still be reviewed even though it’s a bit late – there were some complications when it just came out that had to be sorted..
    We’re now giving the EP and our other releases away for free, so we’re just trying to let people hear the good news.

    http://farewellsingapore.bandcamp.com/album/the-ugly-and-fantastic-ep

    Any help is really appreciated.
    Cheers!
    Farewell Singapore

    Reply
  25. Innes Nolan says:
    January 31, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    My name’s Innes, I’m a member of the Dunblane based band FRANK. We’re releasing an EP in late February and were wondering if you’d check it out. We’re trying to spread the word about the band etc and hype up the EP so a mention on your blog would be brilliant.

    I’ve put a link to a press release with more info about the release (launch show etc) and our bio. http://www.fileswap.com/dl/ew5lMbzAiY/

    I’ll also paste a link to our soundcloud so you can (obviously) listen to us. You can download the tracks too!

    Hope to hear from you soon.

    Innes soundcloud.com/frankbandstirling

    Reply
  26. Strange Boats says:
    February 20, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    New EP available for listen..
    https://soundcloud.com/strangeboats/sets/strange-boats-nice-to-be-alone/s-5Jbls

    Reply
  27. Terry Fife says:
    February 24, 2013 at 7:54 pm

    Hey Mike, if you wouldn’t mind updating the link to Fits & Starts on your blogroll I would be most appreciative. It’s been on the shelf for awhile, but is now back and with a new home, https://fitsandstarts.sqsp.com

    Thanks so much!

    Reply
  28. manicpopthrills says:
    February 28, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    Sorted, Terry!

    Reply

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