Review - Haircut 100 - Tramshed Cardiff

Copyright TC Photography

Having imploded 40 years ago at the height of their popularity Haircut 100’s sad demise following numerous hit singles and a stunning debut album Pelican West was one as bizarre as it was sad.

The reasons have been discussed and is pretty well documented over time by all parties but must have rankled somewhat after Heyward’s resurgence as a solo artist a year later with some degree of success and critically acclaimed work.

It’s not that the rest of the band disappeared into the ether. Bassist Les Nemes had a stint with the ever youthful Rick Astley, guitarist Graham Jones had brief flirt with pop stardom with the massively underrated Boys Wonder whilst, most impressive of all, drummer Blair Cunningham hit the skins for some notable artists like Paul McCartney and The Pretenders, to name but two.

The catalyst for this reunion was the anniversary of Pelican West and its reissue last year leading to two celebratory gig’s early this year, the success of which led to this full blown tour, the first since 1982.

So it was no surprise to see a full and enthusiastic audience pack into the Tramshed to witness the band’s long overdue return to the Capital and maybe recall a little bit of their youth as their recently reformed heroes blasted out tune after tune with their brand of funk-infused pop.

Sadly missing Blair Cunningham due to illness an able deputy was found with Faithless drummer Andy Treacy providing the powerful back-beat to Heyward’s quirky tunes and hit followed hit with Pelican West songs a big feature in a punchy, fast-paced set.

Obviously Fantastic Day, Love Plus One and Favourite Shirt got the biggest cheers and still sound as fresh as the day they were recorded but surprisingly two new songs were included, both of which, but especially Songbird sounded fresh and new but given the full Haircut 100 band treatment.

With Heyward announcing that there are more songs in the pipeline and a new album around the corner, the band seem happy and reconciled and a real unit moving forward making light of their 40 years in the pop wilderness.

Letting rip to finish with 12 inch mash-up of Favourite Shirt, the band left to rapturous applause with the band looking somewhat touched by the mighty Cardiff welcome. And boys, it was very much deserved.

Tony Woolway

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The Velvet Hands -The Moon Club – 2/11/2023

Photo Copyright Emily Powell-Chandler

Embarking on their second album tour ‘Sucker Punch’, The Velvet Hands play at The Moon Cardiff, displaying their skill, passion, and innovation within indie rock – a promising future for the genre.

Between the cosy underground feeling of The Moon and the punk themed merchandise on sale with handwritten prices, the atmosphere is that of anticipation to see the upcoming musicians in action. Before The Velvet Hands could take the stage, two Swansea based support bands warmed up the crowd.

Subterania opens the night, melodic vocals and classic rock inspired guitar solos effortlessly embellish their model indie rock setlist, encouraging their close fan base to sing along with their original songs. The attitude and swagger of the four-piece group are reminiscent of Britpop bands such as Oasis, with Dylan Cai (frontman) draping himself over the mic stand, while the band sports 2000s-inspired bucket hats, shaggy hair, and soft shells.

At times, their antics involve the lead guitarist and vocalist nursing lollypops mid song, appearing to be unbothered and happy while performing. A slight tonal change occurs when The Fiends take to the stage. The five-piece band could still be categorised as indie rock, however, the more sombre downcast lyrics combined with raspier vocals create a grunge feel with punk like shouts in the choruses. While different from the other act, their music still clearly resonates with the crowd, as fans scream along with the intense lyrics.

Despite The Moon not being at capacity, The Velvet Hands’ professionalism and enthusiasm shone through, as they took to the stage yelling “Hello Cardiff! How are you all doing?!” addressing the audience as if they were thousands.

The band’s indie rock music is tight and tidy, regularly switching between perfectly timed group shouts in the chorus, to only vocals and drums in the verse of ‘40 Up 40 Down’ all while bouncing in unison with instruments in hand, appearing as a seamless unit. While their music tends to fit into the indie rock genre, songs such as ‘Curtains Closed’ off their first album has a bluesy ballad element, slowing down their set and allowing audiences to focus on the relaxing melody.

While most of the vocals are performed by frontman Toby Mitchell, lead guitarist Dan Able and bass player Sam Hilder sing backing harmonies for many songs, Able even taking the lead on the single ‘Star’ to shake up their set. The Moons’ smaller stage allows for the band to use their entire environment for the show, with guitarists able to strut across the stage to perform solos or dance together.

During more aggressive punk songs, such as ‘Fallout’, Toby Mitchell is able to grip the ceiling and lean and sway, adding further drama to the music while Louis Mitchell attacks the drumkit. Keeping the energy high, the band’s penultimate song is their biggest hit ‘This Feeling’, punchy power chords hitting the crowd, followed by a singular cry of the title, the band keeping the silence sharp and the vocalists alternating who will shout the next line out creating a playful dynamic on stage.

Before their final song ‘Party’s Over’, Mitchell leads a practice sing along, preparing the crowd to join in for the last lines of their set - ‘I don’t wanna be your friend no more’ - challenging them to sing louder each time. Their set finishes and they thank Cardiff, promising to ‘be back!’. Despite the show being over, they do not stop, as they take time to personally sell and sign merchandise, chat and take photos with fans, proving themselves to be not only talented musicians but kind and appreciative of their fanbase. A promising band for the future of indie rock music.

Set List: 1. I Don’t Mind 2.40 Up 40 Down 3.Holiday in My Head 4. I wanna Be there 5.Star 6.Curtains

Closed 7.Fallout 8. Sucker Punch 9. Sick Of Living 10.Emotion 11. This Feeling 12.Party’s Over

Review - Barbara - Tramshed - 02/11/2023

All Photos Copyright TC Photography

Every so often a group comes along that grabs your attention from the get go. Barbara are one of those bands. From your very first viewing, they hook you in with their finely crafted songs, lush harmonies and quirky tunes that dazzle and leave you with a smile on your face and feet furiously tapping.

Led by brothers Henry and John Tydeman, the band are achingly good with a punchy driving rhythm section and ringing, buzzing guitar, whilst all but their drummer provide faultless harmonies reminiscent of the American West Coast bands of the 60s and 70s.

I’m judging that their influences are many varied. There were certainly elements of Glam rock, especially in the way the guitar riffed giving their contemporary compositions an unexpected retro feel from the glitter age whilst lyrically there was a British-ness that brought visions of country estates and afternoon tea.

Frontman John Tydeman is the obvious focal point of the band, a charismatic cross between Spark’s Russell Mael and Oscar Wilde he looked like he had stepped out of Brideshead Revisted. Quickly endearing himself to the very receptive Cardiff audience they became putty in his hands as he dashed his way around the stage cajoling his audience with good natured banter.

It’s been many years since I’ve seen a band that gripped me instantly with so much talent and hope they quickly find the vast audience that their music so dearly deserves and like the majority of the crowd at Tramshed, hope for a speedy return.

Tony Woolway

Preview - Barbara - Tramshed, Cardiff - 2 Nov 2023

Currently supporting Haircut 100 on their current UK tour, Barbara are creating waves with their glorious West Coast, 70’s pop rock sound that is a melting pot of truly eclectic influences that will intrigue you, making them certainly a name to watch as their music gets to the masses.

Hailing from Brighton, the band, namely brothers Henry and John Tydeman have a unique approach that goes far and above the obvious Glam rock, American Beach Boy harmonies that they no doubt admire and have inspired them.

But it’s not just melody that sets them apart from the pack. Lyrically they have the quintessential Britishness that creates a heady mix that can’t fail to impress any listener, and something they and their bandmates can seemingly effortlessly repeat in their live performances.

Having had the good fortune seeing the band previously I would advise anyone fortunate to have tickets for the evening to get to the gig early and see what Barbara have to offer. You will not be disappointed.

HENGE - Live at Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff: A Cosmic Escape 12/10/23

All Photographs Copyright Emily Powell-Chandler

“This strange, beautiful planet in a place called Cardiff – Am I pronouncing that right?” intergalactic explorer Zpor jokes with the cheering crowd, before inviting them to join his team on a cosmic journey, experienced through their music and energetic stage presence.

As you enter Clwb Ifor Bach, enthusiasm for HENGE is clear as day, as fans decked in glittery head boppers, alien beanies, and full chromatic outfits, crowd the front of the room. The back of the room is draped in acid trip tie-dye t-shirts and extraterrestrial accessories, tempting newcomers to join in, with the alien dress-up.

Before HENGE, can take the stage, their warmup act Dogshow prepares the audience for an evening full of absurdity. A neon synthesiser rig is wheeled to the centre of the crowd by the two-piece act, dressed as dogs in sunglasses and costume jewellery. Their hypnotic synthesised loop tracks contrast with upbeat rave anthems, successfully exciting the crowd for the evening to come.

HENGE’s set opens with drama, as fog obscures the stage allowing for a smooth entrance for the intergalactic crew. Zpor (Matthew Whitaker) on electric guitar and vocals, decked out in plasma ball hat and light-up staff; Goo (Peter Turner) on bass and synth bass in full alien prosthetics; Grok (Roy Medhurst) on synth, the only human of the group matching the band in otherworldly robes; and Nom (Sam Draper) on the drums also in full alien prosthetics.

They break into their first song ‘Alpha Test 4’, the title track of the album they are currently touring since its release earlier this year in May. HENGE’s setlist dabbles in a variety of musical genres, the band themselves describing their genre as ‘Cosmic Dross’. The song ‘Get A Wriggle On’, is a cross between fast-tempo rap music and bouncy synth hooks, creating an irresistible groove. While the song is upbeat, it simultaneously warns of Earth’s climate crisis - the alien crew citing their own extinct planets as evidence of the issue, the band showing full commitment to their alien alter egos.

While they maintain the extraterrestrial narrative in their music, their other songs tend to centre around science and novelty for the most part. A less cautionary song focuses on the woes of a robot in ‘Self Repair Protocol’. The song keeps the emphasis on synthesised melodies but adds special effects to the vocals mimicking a classic robot voice and creates a catchy dance track, strobe lights adding to the techno atmosphere. Tapping into prog rock in a noticeable genre change, the song ‘New Planet’ from their second album slows down their set, with the rock anthem encouraging the audience to sway along and marvel at the elaborate and commanding performance before them.

For the final part of their journey, before the crowd “return to earth”, HENGE unify the crowd by singing ‘Demilitarise’ from their first album ‘Attention Earth!’, once again their humane wishes shining through their alien personas.

As Zpor walks through the crowd, embracing fans, a message of peace and inclusivity is evident, as all chant the chorus acapella, ending the show as an inclusive and optimistic community.

Crosshairs Interview

With a recent name change from Catch 22 to Crosshairs and a new release Long Way Home, we thought it would be great to have our star interviewer Jack Laidlow visit them for a chinwag.

Check out Jack’s Interview by clicking on our audio player below.

The Crosshairs Interview with Jack Laidlow for KCL

Anonymous Iconoclasts - Send in the Suits - Album Review

In April 2018, I received a 14-track album by the south Wales collective, Anonymous Iconoclasts (Think Kiss without the glamour or platforms!) entitled ‘A.I’. It was so good that I dusted down my under-used laptop and wrote a detailed review.  This week marks my return to live radio after a bit of a break and what was waiting for me but a brand-new album from those shadow-lurking musos! If I thought the 14 track ‘A.I.’ was ambitious, the new offering, ‘Send in the Suits’ is a hefty 20 songs long!  ‘A.I.’ offered a glimpse of the horrors that technology has to offer and ‘SITS’ with an image of the House of Commons emblazoned on the front cover, keeps up the story. Sine their last release we’ve had  lockdown, of course and our ‘Anonymous’ friends have had a lot of time on their hands…

Musically the Icons are almost impossible to pigeonhole, as each song is a different style, or genre from its predecessor. ‘A Real Situation’ kicks us off, in full Talking Heads mode with the first lyrical use of the word ‘egress’, to my knowledge. The deadpan delivery of most tracks leads to a comparison with David Byrne and co, especially the choppy guitar work. ‘Let’s take a Trip’ has more of a country feel and includes a few jabs at some guy called ‘Elon’ and his space tourism adventures (who could they possibly mean?).

‘Just Because’ is a tremendous ‘list’ song, in which not so anonymous iconoclasts such as Marilyn and Jimmy Dean get name checked, amongst other 20th century cornerstones. ‘Don’t change my Dear’ continues, in the Americana style. ‘Keep on Moving’ has a beautiful, simplistic guitar run and more deadpan delivery, accompanied by shuffling drums and percussion. I first heard the next track, ‘Our new Norm’ back in the heady days of lockdown and it has several wryly witty observations on those curious months that we spent on Zoom, clapping hands, two meters apart. This version, produced by Danny Chang, has added a flute, to the demo that I first heard and is a genuine highlight, of the first half of this behemoth.

The upbeat ‘Green Tree House’ follows next. This had me thinking of early R.E.M. with a few McCartney style yeah’s thrown in and some Bob Dylan harmonica (kitchen sink, et al). ‘Chill in the Air’, ‘You took away My’ and ‘Baby Don’t Cry’ capture this band, in a snapshot, country ballad juxtaposed with quirky, indie pop. ‘Fall like a Fool’ is again typical; jaunty music with dark, sinister lyrics, featuring Beatles-esque stabbing strings.

Country twang returns with ‘Let it all Out’ and then the tempo livens up with ‘Learn to Live’ a ‘weird way of listening’, indeed!.  References to fingers in ears and the sometimes vocally strained delivery make the song intriguing, as well as weird! ‘Swings and Roundabouts’ has a latter day, Johnny Cash feel to it whilst ‘Come by and See me’ channels the ghost of Leonard Cohen via Roger Waters.

‘What d’you think about that?’ highlights the drummer’s impressive abilities whilst ‘Safe at Home’ takes us back to our shared COVID memories with some Donovan style finger picking for good measure. The (instrumental) title track, ‘Send in the Suits’ is a jazz shuffle, complete with scat vocalising, bizarrely features the phrase ‘more tea, vicar?’ during the intro! The whole shebang finishes with ‘This way Up’, a simple whistled melody, over a lo-fi, almost Bontempi organ-sounding keyboard riff.

Phew and that’s your lot, a complete smorgasbord of styles which like Zappa works most of the time with very few missteps.  SITS is available via Spotify but why not support the band? £7 for such a strong, 20 track album, is some bargain!

Please don’t leave it another five years, lads, or the next one will be a 100 track, box set! This is really great stuff but now it’s time for me to find the egress…   

Chris Philips BGFM Radio

The Ultimate Classic Rock Show - The New Theatre - 3/8/2023

There are plenty of good tribute bands performing classic songs of the last few decades, many perform at local clubs and venues we have all seen and appreciated.

Taking it to the next level, touring bands such as The Australian Pink Floyd and The Bootleg Beatles to name two.

What is needed from the perfectly competent local tribute to playing Theatres and large venues?

The answer can be seen tonight at The New Theatre, Cardiff. A stunning venue requires stunning performances.

Yes, The Ultimate Classic Rock Show performs the crowd-pleasing Classics, but boy do they do it well!

The attention to detail of each song musically, Sound and lighting, screen graphics and video is just perfect.

Two numbers also contained a very lively performance from children of Cardiff and Vale Music Education Choir, just brilliant!

From the opening Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” to many classic bands of the 60’s through to 80’s from Queen, Eric Clapton, Wings,Led Zeppelin,Deep Purple and many many more.

This really is a trip of musical nostalgia perfectly performed on all levels. It is not a Surprise tonight as well as many other dates are sold out.

In terms of a review all I can say is this is a thoroughly enjoyable night if you like your classic Rock bands with a touch of the AOR classics from Fleetwood Mac, Toto, and The Eagles for good measure.

Next year the band is playing at The Millenium Centre on 31/3 24, Just be sure to get a ticket now as this will sell out, and deservedly so. This IS the Ultimate Classic Rock Show.