Dear Roxy 171,

Friday night, I received a welcome text message from my other half asking if I would like frequent your establishment and see two bands that have impressed me tremendously in the last year. I believe the promoter was Asleep at the Wheel, who, might I add was incredibly welcoming and extremely passionate about the night he was hosting.

We ventured downstairs and there on stage was Black International. Lead singer, Stewart Allan was adorned in a Joy Division tee and accompanying him on drums was Craig Peebles in, hang on! No! Yes! His own band’s tee! That little detail in itself assured me that the forthcoming evening was going to be extremely enjoyable.

I have not seen Black International live in some time and I managed to keep rapturous expectancy to a minimum till they had begun playing. From the initial strike of the snare, Peeble’s drumming and Allan’s musicianship made the little lager bubbles in my tummy pulsate with sheer delight. At this point I want to state how ridiculously entertaining Peeble’s drumming face in. It would be a travesty if I had not mentioned this at any point in this letter.

In terms of performance, I can quite confidently say this is the best I have ever seen Black International. They were so self-assured that if a wet t-shirt contest had been on next to them, they would have drenched themselves in their own saliva and still been the highlight. Musically, the combination of stanch, syncopated drums and Allan’s fervorous playing neigh vocal performance was bloody additive. Sometimes rawness makes a final product more appealing and Black International have hit a stride that will hopefully take them to the next level.

The next artist I had the pleasure of witnessing (for the umpteenth time this year) was Hector Bizerk. Yes, I hear you hollering: ‘HECTOR, HECTOR, HECTOR BIZERK’. Sorry, I couldn’t help it; I could almost feel my arm trying to finger point in the air!

Louie and Audrey have come on an incredible journey this year. Having been recommended to me by Radio 1 team member Lee-Ann Howieson, I will always be indebted.

This is a duo that will blow people’s minds, whether it be as a couple or as a group. Tonight the sardine crowd see just two. Some people use the term ‘stripped down’, but there is no way you could apply that term to this pairing. They have enough power in them to start the next illegal party in Kelvingrove Park.

Audrey as a drummer is on the money. It will always be mentioned that she is a female drummer and that is something we have to accept. But, we also have to accept that she has cemented herself on the Scottish music stage as someone who should be respected. As for Louie, words fail me. I have the utmost respect for rappers. It still floors me when I see them delivering their stories, experiences and poems in a manner that I find frankly awe-inspiring.

Hector deliver hit after hit and manage to whip their audience into an overwhelming frenzy. All that remains to  be said, is that Hector Bizerk are definitely one of the most musically inventive hip hop outfits that Scotland has seen. I am just glad they pack it with the most supreme punch that your ears will hear.

I would like to send a huge thanks to your venue and Asleep at the Wheel for providing me with a thoroughly brilliant night in a lovely wee venue.

Here is to many more!

Yours,

Halina Rifai