On This Day 13/06/1997 Seahorses

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On This Day 13 June 1997, alternative rock band Seahorses played Cardiff University. The band had just released their debut album Do It Yourself.

Guitarist John Squire formed the Seahorses in 1996 following his departure from the Stone Roses. He first recruited bassist Stuart Fletcher, who he saw by chance at the Fibbers venue in York where he was drinking with his guitar tech Martin Herbet. Fletcher was playing in local covers band, The Blueflies, as a last-minute replacement for the band's regular bass player who had pulled out of the gig.

Squire then auditioned two singers – Sean O'Brien, previously of Warrington band the Steamboat Band, and Chris Helme, who was spotted by a friend of Squire's guitar tech busking outside Woolworths in York. Following several auditions and the prompting of his manager, Squire eventually settled on Helme, despite being hesitant because he "closed his eyes when he sang and only folk singers do that".

While Helme was a songwriter too, Squire admitted early on that despite liking a couple of Helme's songs – including "Blinded by the Sun", which he re-arranged for the album – "Yeah, he can write the odd tune but I don't really like them and it might be a problem later on if he wants to record them with the band".

In the summer of 1996, Squire rented a cottage in Coniston, Cumbria to write and rehearse with Helme and Fletcher. Several drummers were auditioned before finally recruiting Andy Watts, who had previously gigged with Fletcher and also knew Helme.

Due to Squire's past work with the Stone Roses, the band were met with intense media interest and speculation before they had recorded or released anything. It had been rumoured that former bandmate Reni was set to join the band. It was then rumoured that a delay in recruiting a drummer was due to Squire's desire to get a drummer who, like Reni, could also sing backing vocals. However, in 2019 bassist Stuart Fletcher revealed that they had actually been working with a drummer called Mark McNeill who had to be dismissed from the band following several failed rehab visits as "he couldn’t remember anything we rehearsed".

The band name was also the subject of various conspiracy theories after the NME claimed that it was an anagram of He Hates Roses. Other alleged anagrams included The Rose Ashes and by dropping the definite article, She's A Rose. Squire responded "That's pure coincidence. I chose the name because at the time, I kept seeing them everywhere and because some people think they don't exist. They are unusual because it is the male of the species who gets pregnant." Squire then changed the band's name from The Seahorses to simply Seahorses, but this was short lived after it turned out that another band had been using the name for several years.

Tour Setlist

Blinded by the Sun

Suicide Drive

Round the Universe

The Boy in the Picture

1999

Moving On

Standing on Your Head

Happiness Is Eggshaped

Love Me and Leave Me

Love Is the Law

Encore:

Hello

I Want You to Know

On This Day 12/06/2008 Infadels

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On this day, 12 June 2008, London-based indie-electro Infadels played Cardiff’s Barfly. The band were just about to release their second album Universe in Reverse, following the earlier release of their single “Make Mistakes”.

Signed to the Wall of Sound record label. Infadels were founded in 2003 by Alex Bruford (drums), Matt Gooderson (guitar, programming) and Bnann Watts (vocals), who were joined shortly afterwards by Dead at Thirty founder Richie Vernon (live keys) and Wag Marshall-Page (Bass).

Their debut album, We Are Not the Infadels, was produced by Jagz Kooner and released in January 2006.[1] A second album, the Martin "Youth" Glover produced Universe In Reverse, was released in June 2008. Their third album, The Future of the Gravity Boy, was released digitally on 19 March, and physically on 9 June 2012.

The band's second album, Universe In Reverse, was released in June 2008 and written largely by Watts and Gooderson, and produced by Martin "Youth" Glover (Verve, Guns ’n’ Roses, Depeche Mode). "Play Blind", the first single from the second album, was given away for free as a limited-time download in February 2008.

Next single "Make Mistakes", was released in April, and "Free Things For Poor People" was released in June 2008, reaching No. 1 on the UK Indie Singles Charts and No. 52 on the UK Singles Chart. On Monday 19 August they were voted best band at the 2008 Lowlands festival by the Dutch public ahead of Editors and N.E.R.D.

On This Day 11/06/1993 Brian May

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On this day, 11 June 1993, rock guitar legend Brian May played Cardiff Ice Rink on his Back To Light tour.

Brian May Band were an English rock band formed by Queen guitarist Brian May for touring in promotion of his studio albums.

The rhythm section for the band were Cozy Powell and Neil Murray, who had previously worked together in Black Sabbath and Whitesnake. Spike Edney, who was the tour keyboardist for Queen between 1984 and 1986 took the keyboard spot.

The band was originally formed in October 1991 for May's performance at Guitar Legends guitar festival in Seville, Spain. The band soon went on a tour of the United States, Europe and Japan. The tour ended in December 1993, when May returned to the studio with fellow Queen bandmates Roger Taylor and John Deacon for Queen's final studio album, Made In Heaven.

Meanwhile, Cozy Powell and Neil Murray returned to work with Black Sabbath, and both later joined Peter Green's Band.

Line-up

Brian May (lead vocals, lead guitar)

Cozy Powell (drums and percussion)

Jamie Moses (guitar, backing vocals)

Neil Murray (bass)

Spike Edney (keyboards, backing vocals)

Catherine Porter (backing vocals)

Shelley Preston (backing vocals)

Setlist

The Dark

(Brian May song)

Back to the Light

(Brian May song)

Driven by You

(Brian May song)

Tie Your Mother Down

(Queen cover)

Love Token

(Brian May song)

Headlong

(Queen cover)

Love of My Life

(Queen cover)

'39

(Queen cover) (intro)

Let Your Heart Rule Your Head

(Brian May song)

Too Much Love Will Kill You

(Brian May song)

Since You Been Gone

(Russ Ballard cover)

Now I'm Here

(Queen cover)

Guitar Extravagance

Resurrection

(Brian May song)

Last Horizon

(Brian May song)

We Will Rock You

(Queen cover)

God

(John Lennon cover)

Play Video

Hammer to Fall

(Queen cover)

On This Day 10/06/1980 Toyah

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On this day, 10 June 1980, singer and actress Toyah played Cardiff’s Top Rank. She had just released her second album The Blue Meaning.

The album was recorded at the Parkgate Studios in Battle, East Sussex and mixed at the Marquee Studios in London. The album's title comes from blue being one of Toyah's favourite colours, which the singer finds deeply spiritual, with multiple cultural associations.

The album cover features a photo taken by Gered Mankowitz at night in front of a Gothic mansion Wykehurst Place, located in Bolney near Brighton. It pictures Toyah Willcox dressed in a maid outfit and wearing ballet shoes, tied to one of the entrance pillars. Other band members are pictured on the mansion's balconies

Between 1977 and 1983, Willcox fronted the eponymous band Toyah, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. At the 1982 Brit Awards, Willcox was nominated for British Breakthrough Act, and Best Female Solo Artist. She was nominated a further two times in this category in 1983, and in 1984. Her hit singles include "It's a Mystery", "Thunder in the Mountains" and "I Want to Be Free".

Relocating to London, Willcox lived in a place called "Mayhem", a converted British Rail warehouse serving as a studio.[citation needed] It was here the band Toyah recorded their first demos. For the lack of proper bed she slept for a while in a "second-hand" coffin, reportedly used by the French Red Cross to transport victims of fatal accidents.

Citing her role in Quadrophenia as a boost to her musical career, with growing audiences Toyah signed to Safari Records,[citation needed] releasing a debut single "Victims of the Riddle", which topped the UK Indie Chart. This was followed by the Sheep Farming in Barnet EP, produced by Steve James and Keith Hale. Initially released in Germany, in 1979 it was re-released as an LP, comprising the original six tracks, "Victims of the Riddle" A and B sides and three tracks that were previously unavailable on vinyl.

Her second album, The Blue Meaning, went to no. 40 in the UK Albums Chart in June 1980. By this time, she is reported as announcing she had severed all ties with punk aesthetics.

On This Day 09/06/1988 David Sylvian

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On this day, 9 June 1988, Japan frontman David Sylvian played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on his In Praise Of Shamans tour. His band Featured Robby Aceto, Richard Barbieri, Mark Isham, Steve Jansen, Ian Maidman, and David Torn.

Sylvian came to prominence in the late 1970s as frontman and principal songwriter of the band Japan. The band's androgynous look and increasingly electronic sound made them an important influence on the UK's early-1980s New Romantic scene.

Following their break-up, Sylvian embarked on a solo career with his debut album Brilliant Trees (1984). His solo work has been described by AllMusic as "far-ranging and esoteric", and has included collaborations with artists such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Robert Fripp, Holger Czukay, Jon Hassell, Bill Nelson and Fennesz.

Composition of new material in early 1987 was followed by recording sessions at Chateau Miraval in the south of France, and by May 1987 Secrets of the Beehive was completed, finally being released in October 1987.

Secrets of the Beehive made greater use of acoustic instruments and was musically oriented towards sombre, emotive ballads laced with string arrangements by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Brian Gascoigne. It reached number 37 in the UK charts and remained for two weeks.

The album was followed by his first live outing as a solo artist, in an 80-day world tour called "In Praise of Shamans", from March to June 1988. Alongside Sylvian were Jansen, Barbieri, guitars and keyboards from Robbie Aceto, brass and sax from Mark Isham, bass from Ian Maidman and lead guitar from David Torn. There were no songs from Sylvian's former band Japan in the setlist.

"Beehive was the summation of all the solo material that went before it", Sylvian said. "I knew when I had finished I wouldn't be returning to quite the same waters again. The period following on from...Beehive was the hardest of my life. A descent into hell."

On This Day 08/06/1989 Elvis Costello/Nick Lowe

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On this day, 8 June 1989, Singer/Songwriter legend Elvis Costello played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall with support provided by Nick Lowe. Costello had earlier in the released his 12th studio album Spike.

As his first album for a new label, Warner Bros, in his own words Costello had the budget of "a small independent movie", and having in mind the blueprint for five different albums, decided to make all of them.

He brought back his foil from King of America, T-Bone Burnett, to facilitate the sessions and produce the album. Studio time was booked in four different locations: Ocean Way in Hollywood; Southlake Studios in New Orleans; Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin; and AIR Studios in London. Four different groups of musicians were assembled in each location. Writing credits on the album are given to both Elvis Costello and Declan MacManus, Costello's birth name.

Review - South Wales Echo

The single "Veronica" peaked at No. 31 on the UK singles chart and at No. 19 in America, his best showing ever on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached No. 1 on the US Modern Rock chart. "This Town" was also released as a single but missed both of the main singles chart in both nations. An extended play single was also released for "Baby Plays Around", peaking at No. 65 in the UK.

The second track, "Let Him Dangle", is a protest song opposing capital punishment, recounting the 1953 conviction and execution of Derek Bentley.

Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe

The seventh track, "Tramp the Dirt Down", is a fiery lament, depicting Costello's anger at the Thatcher government and its effect on Britain's society. In the song, Costello expresses his desire to live long enough to see Margaret Thatcher die and vows, "I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down."

"I wish I'd written 'Tramp the Dirt Down'," said singer Natalie Merchant.[14] The song reached No. 79 on the iTunes chart following Thatcher's death in April 2013. In addition, he played this song at Glastonbury 2013 having previously performed it there on the Pyramid Stage in 1987.

On This Day 07/06/1987 Ben E King

On this day, 7 June 1987, soul legend Ben E King played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.

Benjamin Earl King (né Nelson; September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) rose to prominence as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B vocal group the Drifters, notably singing the lead vocals on three of their biggest hit singles "There Goes My Baby", "This Magic Moment", and "Save the Last Dance for Me" (their only U.S. No. 1 hit).

As a soloist, King is best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", which became a US Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later in 1986 (when it was used as the theme to the film of the same name), and a number one hit in the United Kingdom in 1987. The single was also placed on the RIAA's list of Songs of the Century.

His 1975 single "Supernatural Thing" became a top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, King was the original recording artist of songs such as "Spanish Harlem", "I (Who Have Nothing)", "So Much Love", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", "Groovin'", and "Till I Can't Take It Anymore" all of which have been covered by multiple artists to varying degrees of success.

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, as a member of the Drifters, and has been nominated as a solo artist. Along with the Drifter's "There Goes My Baby", King's songs "Stand by Me" and "Spanish Harlem" also appeared on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Additionally, he was inducted alongside the Drifters into Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012 with the Towering song award.

On This Day 06/06/2004 Blondie

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On this day, 6 June 2004, pop band Blondie played Cardiff International Arena. Support was provided by Rock DJ and Swiss Tony.

Formed in 1974 in New York City by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein.The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid-1970s.

The band's first two albums contained strong elements of punk and new wave, and although highly successful in the UK and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the US until the release of their critically acclaimed third album Parallel Lines in 1978. Over the next four years, the band released a string of hit singles, including "Dreaming", "One Way or Another", "Heart of Glass" (all 1979), "Call Me", "Atomic", "The Tide Is High", and "Rapture" (all 1980).

The band became noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles, incorporating elements of disco, pop, reggae, funk and early hip hop music.

Blondie disbanded after the release of their sixth studio album, The Hunter, in 1982. Harry continued to pursue a solo career with varied results after taking a few years off to care for partner Stein, who was diagnosed with pemphigus, a rare autoimmune disease of the skin.

The band re-formed in 1997, achieving renewed success and their sixth number one single in the UK with "Maria" in 1999, exactly 20 years after their first UK No. 1 single, "Heart of Glass".

The group toured and performed throughout the world during the following years, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Blondie has sold over 40 million records worldwide[8][9] and is still active. The band's eleventh studio album, Pollinator, was released on May 5, 2017.

Setlist

Atomic

Dreaming

Hanging on the Telephone

(The Nerves cover)

X Offender

Hello Joe

Good Boys

Maria

Rules for Living

End to End

Accidents Never Happen

(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear

The Tide Is High

(The Paragons cover)

Rifle Range

The Tingler

Angels on the Balcony

Picture This

Rapture

Undone

Rip Her to Shreds

One Way or Another

Encore:

Union City Blue

Call Me

Heart of Glass