I am a massive geek. I've been listening to this album for the last couple of days and all I can think of are old demos for the ZX Spectrum and Amiga - experimental programmes made by bedroom coders to test out the abilities of their humble machine, using soundtracked by a keyboard virtuoso behind a software sequencer. Listening some of Crystal Castles' new album its difficult to tell whether they've ripped off old chiptunes or whether by virtue of their choice of instruments they just seem that way.

Whatever. CC make 3 types of tunes: angry songs (Alice Practice, XXZXCUZX Me) with a lot of distortion and noise, moody death-disco songs (Crimewave remix, Vanished, Untrust Us) and songs that could of dropped out of the kind of 8-bit nostalgia (1991, Black Panther) I spoke of above.

The first two types are easily the best on the album. Alice Practice is not really a song; more of a digital epileptic fit. If that's just a bit of an illusion, really the song is highly organised but sounds like its collapsing all around you. It is ruddy clever, it is. Crimewave, Vanished and others are more subtle and minimalistic with a slower depressed pace. I imagine this is what people may have danced to in the 1920s, if they had left over Ataris. The video game noises still form the track but they're used to actually do something more than just a technology demo - they actually set a mood. A few songs here, like 1991, sound a bit too much like house-via-SID file, and I don't know what's new here at all.

I'm quite conflicted about Crystal Castles. Certain tracks on this album are always on repeat here and have been since I first got my hands on them. What the band proves are that the noises that I used to be subjected to while playing on my old ZX Spectrum can be used to make something approaching pop music. There's a fair bit of filler on here, tracks with no consequence and that sound nothing more gripping than mobile phone ringtones. But even with the band's shitty scenester attitude there's a lot of decent bleeping going on.

UPDATE: A while ago Pitchfork posted a mixtape of some of CC's "hits", which has a good number of the songs covered above. Enjoy.

Labels: saesneg

Partyline (USA) / Noisy Pig / Corey Orbison

PARTYLINE
Washington DC’s partyline are three girls with glasses featuring riot grrrl and pioneer and varsity league feminist ass-kicker, allison wolfe (bratmobile, cold cold hearts, dig yr grave, ladyfest etc). Their new album, 'zombie terrorists' (recorded with former q and not u front man chris richards and dc legend don zientara at inner ear studios) wrestles with the political absurdity and mass confusion of these times while offering up hopeful, bare-knuckled shout-alongs - meant to inspire both political and bum-shaking action! Unapologetic in their disdain for the current u.s. administration, christian conservatives, and all the cave dudes who STILL refuse to do the dishes, partyline are pure punk rock distilled to sugar-sharp tunes fizzing with an energy and excitement to tie your feet in knots!
www.myspace.com/partylinegirlswithglasses


NOISY PIG
Formally of Italian quirky-noise punks dada swing (cochon records), noisy pig is now based in Berlin where he combines weird pop, dance beats, punk drumming, toy sound, cheesy hip hop and catchy lyrics! His live show is a fun electro-arty-cut 'n' paste queer-dance-cabaret which has recently shared stages with hawnay troof, deerhoof, the blow, erase errata, scream club, dat politics, numbers and yacht.
www.myspace.com/noisypig

COREY ORBISON
The corey orbison combine jittery no-wave noise with cut-up tunes and a nervous energy inherited from the stripped-down disco-thèque, avant-garde placard-makers, riot grrrl pansy twists and the teen punk hardcore sweethearts of the 1980s. Impulsive, rhythmic/off-rhythmic and erratic, the three-piece group boasts members of headfall, lesbo pig and the awkward dancers.
www.myspace.com/coreyorbison

Sunday 6th April 2008

Live at THE JUNCTION
51 stokes croft, bristol bs1 3pq

Doors 8pm
£5 door/ £4 adv
18+

www.localkid.co.uk

(taken direct from their site)

Local kid is a diy punk feminist kid collective based in bristol.
we try and make things happen. Right now, we are busy organising and promoting tours and gigs and things. we are working on the record label side of things too...

One reason we are doing this (besides the pure kicks we get from the rock'n'roll action) is to help create pro-queer, pro-girl, pro-participitory spaces where they don't exsist - which is pretty much everywhere. P.s the music industry can kiss our shiny asses...

We are born of street corners and sore gums. Who we are...
Local Kid is a full time adventure for: Rosie and Michal
...but unquestioning time and support and candy come from: Natalie Bored, Lisa Cupcake, Irene Revell, Amy Lou, Run-Run, Kid Francois, Sam Jones, Melissa Warner, Nicole Schmicole, Baby G, Lollipop, Milla Vanilla, Lady, Villian and our friends in Bristol and around the country.

We are also associated and/or involved in:
b r i n g .y o u r s e l f . f e s t - A free festival of diy adventure
c a f e . k i n o - A vegan cafe in the cut-out-and-keep heart of bristol
h e r e - A shop and gallery in bristol stocking a wide variety of diy and independent art, zines, music, comics, books, clothes, and much more. Here also plays host the most amazing art exhibitions and shows by some of the most amazing people from around the world!
t h e. p e e b a b i e z - BMX gang!
d e a d l y . s p a r r o w s - Roller skate gang!
we were born of l a d y f e s t . b r i s t o l

VISIT THE LOCAL KID WEBSITE

The first part of this month's Hot Burrito double bill is back in it's spiritual home of Le Pub before a trip down the road to Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach for the 17th's Danny and the Champions of the World gig which I'll preview at a later date. It sees the quite wonderful Southern Tenant Folk Union grace our stage, a band so good live that The Redlands Palomino Company have admitted to being terrified to follow them onto the stage when they had them as support.

They were formed by Belfast born five-string banjo player Pat McGarvey and take their name from the ground breaking multi-racial union of sharecroppers and non-landowning tenant farmers founded in Arkansas in the 1930’s, the Southern Tenant Folk Union are an explosive London based folk and bluegrass outfit.

Writing and performing their own unique brand of Old-Time, Bluegrass, Gospel and Celtic Folk, Southern Tenant Folk Union appropriate the themes, ideas and metaphors from traditional folk songs and 20th century Americana music to document and reflect modern life through styles popularised by musicians such as The Carter Family, The Stanley Brothers and even Dillard & Clark.

Once up and running the Southern Tenant Folk Union released their debut album of original material in January 2007 to acclaim, positive reviews and national radio play. The rest of the year saw them playing festivals, arts centres and clubs around the UK and Ireland and they’ve now finished recording the follow-up ‘Revivals, Rituals & Union Songs’ which is be released on March 3rd 2008. A step forward for them with its strong confident tone, soulful sound and the darkly reflective yet heart-warming nature of the eleven brand new songs presented.

Support on Wednesday comes from Caerleon troubadour Stephen Light and the Black Sand Band. It's their second Hot Burrito appearence after wowing the audience with their well crafted songs, distinctive vocals and sheer number of instruments, including a sitar. Get there early.

Tickets are available from Diverse for £5 in advance, it'll be £6 on the door.

http://www.myspace.com/southerntenantfolkunion
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlight

I know that this site is trying to keep itself on the cutting edge of music but fuck it, Counting Crows have soundtracked large sections of my life. Their debut album, 1993’s August & Everything After was played to death over one of the best summers of my life and the follow up, Recovering The Satellites was the first album I bought when I started university. I’m sure there are thousands of people out there that can say the same, these people will have been waiting rather impatiently with me for this latest album.

Counting Crows have never been overly quick releasing albums, this is their fifth studio album in fifteen years (plus two live albums and a best of). Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings is a themed album; the first half, “Saturday Night” half, is ostensibly the rock side of the album, with the second, “Sunday Morning” half showcasing the more soft-spoken, acoustic side. Singer Adam Duritz says that "Saturday night is when you sin and Sunday is when you regret. Sinning is often done very loudly, angrily, bitterly, violently."

Opening track 1492 is a balls out rocker which begins with the self-parodying lyrics I'm a Russian Jew American, Impersonating African Jamaican, showing they're not as po-faced as some people think. This album more than any of their others seems to combine the best elements of the band, previously each album has been different, a reaction to the last one. Maybe the extended break has allowed them to reflect on their career up to this point and make the album they wanted without any expectations to meet. For quich reference, the first half is more like Satellites but it'd be too easy to say that the second half is going back to their August roots, it's more varied than that. Over all this is Counting Crows most complete album despite the split down the middle. If you get the chance though, see them live, that's always where the band are at their best.

http://www.myspace.com/countingcrows
countingcrows.com

Video for Joy favourites The Clay. All retro-y and parks football. Quality.

The format is : CD and download
It will be released on : 21st May 2008
The label is : Hushland Records
Press Release by paul@plugtwo.com

Red Tree is Rachel Taylor-Beales’ 2nd album and is the 2nd part of her colour trilogy that began with her debut album, Brilliant Blue. Recorded, produced by and featuring Martyn Joseph, Red Tree is a significant work for Taylor-Beales that blends her mix of folk, country and Americana in a bewitching, otherworldly fashion.

Rachel’s background is one of many homes and many places. Before she hit 12 she’d lived in 13 different houses and had relocated five times between Australia and the UK. Her parents, both artists, inspired her to pick up a guitar and she’d begun writing songs by the age of 14. After getting married and moving to Australia, Rachel and her husband sung and painted their way around the country as a performing arts company, enjoying it so much that they and the merry band of artists they’d picked up along the way decided never to get proper jobs.

Now based in Cardiff, Rachel has settled down and is well into a career as a solo artist. Red Tree is an album of great drama inspired by the music she heard as a child (Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell), her modern day fixations (Iron And Wine, Ani DiFranco) and by The Red Tree, an illustrated children’s book by Shaun Tan. Much like the book, the album reflects the fear and wonder of childhood. It’s haunting, sometimes eerie, vivid and often beautiful.

Much of Red Tree takes British folk as its starting point. But Taylor-Beales takes the genre in a new direction, adding in hypnotic, echoing vocals, subtle strings and country/blues tones so that something entirely new is created. Her voice ranges from strong and powerful to wispy and dreamy. Her storytelling recounts her observations with humour, elegance, anger and sweetness. Together, the impact of Rachel’s songs of great melody, the wistful ambience and her charming stories combine to create a startlingly affecting work.

Rachel Taylor-Beales plays live – Barfly, Cardiff (07/04), Folk Club, Bournemouth (27/04), The Point, Cardiff (14/05), 60 Million Postcards, Bournemouth (19/05), The Beehive, Swindon (21/05), Kelvedon Institute, Essex (13/06), Two Rivers Festival, Chepstow (04/07), Blissfields Festival, Winchester (06/07), Secret Garden Party, Huntingdon (27/07).

VISIT WEBSITE

Wow, searching for the Lionheart Brothers on myspace brings up the Norweigan Embassy's website. I suppose in a round about way this means they are endorsed by the Norwegian government. Which begs the question - should the Welsh Assembly travel the globe promoting Future of the Left to unsuspecting Scandinavians? I for one say that would be an excellent use of my hard earned tax monies.

Anyway, these northern types are gracing Cardiff's Clwb on Saturday night.
By their posters alone you could guess this lot are a tad on the psychedelic side. They've been compared to Mercury Rev despite not sounding an awful lot like them, and they remind a lot of 60s pop at its weirdest - Beach Boys and the Byrds ra ra ra. Their tunes have an expansive quality to them, sounding more substantial and grandiose than the sum of their parts. This is nothing new, and in a way is the essence of much alternative music, but the Brothers are marked out by their specific influences. Go see them before they play Hoxton and are swallowed by Nathan.

In support are Kontakte, krautrock-inspired people from The Big English Place At The End of the Metal Road who make soundscape cinematic noise, and Placid Casual types El Goodo who play with the kind of 60s noises that Lionheart also covet.

For you, my love, £6.

Labels: saesneg

Another month, another wonderful Joy mini-festival explosion in the centre of the Port. For March six stonking bands are on the bill at Meze Lounge this Thursday, with DJs playing through till 2am if you want to stick around for a pint.

In reverse order then: making a din on the main stage are Big Naturals (Don't google this band by name alone if you want to keep your job at the call centre or similar administrative establishment.) Best described as prog-thrash-thrash-thrash-quiet-destroy-prog, these people do the menacing drums/angry clanging riffs business pretty damn well. Think Circa Regna Tonat, if more miserable and nihilist and far more Bristolian.

Next door in the small room and just before will be singer-songwriters Ann Scott and Katell Keineg. The former has recently been nominated for all sorts of Irish accolades and has been noted as one of the most under-rated and generally top artists from 'er part of the world, while acclaimed folky Cardiff lady Keineg sings hopeful, life-affirming folk anthems. They're playing together in a cheerful, Gaelic duet. Bring your smiley faces.

Supporting Big Naturals in the main room are Newport improv nutters Bosch, who promise no permanent members and to have songs entirely different from the ones on myspace. They'll be introduced by more conventional blissful swirling shoegazers Cars In Walls from Bath, while Holocene and folkies Smokestacks will give the small room a good leather upper - confirming its status as the folk-ish space this time around.

All this big banger of a gig, with guest DJ Curtis Ian & The Joy Division, and its just four quid (£3 NUS).

Labels: saesneg

This is a little feature I'll post from time to time, local bands or bands that are playing/have played around here that we like, giving us a top 5 or 5 facts, anything really, so that you, the reader, can get to know them a little better. Then go to their myspace, purchase their records, become a superfan, spread the word and make them famous. Hopefully.
First up, Cardiff's Innercity Pirates, I'll let the NME describe them (hopefully they won't mind!):

"Speed Garage Indie... This band writes music thats equal parts spit and polish! songs to scream too, songs to dance too, songs to cry too they got em all and a disitinctive and instantly recognisable voice at the front!!!!" (NME.com)

They've gone with their top 5 Arnold Schwarznegger films:

5. Twins
4. Konan In New York
3. Total Recall
2. Kindergarden Cop
1. Pumping Iron

http://www.myspace.com/innercitypirates

This is Lupen Crook's second album, the first with the Murderbirds having prominent billing. I've seen him lumped into the 'nu folk' category a few times but this doesn't really give you the full story. Iscariot The Ladder starts with almost medieval acoustic guitar picking but soon develops, with electric guitars crashing in after the refrain of 'there's fire in the hall and all the kids are screaming'. It's hard to find a comparison, maybe a more folky Longpigs. The album continues in this vein, twisted lyrics, folky acoustics, looped effects, piano and sporadic walls of guitar noise.

The album's 10 tracks only last 28 minutes but covers a lot of musical ground in that time. Possibly not the easiest of listens, I wouldn't suggest putting it on in the background if you're trying to impress a date, but well worth the effort. It's not without it's pop moments though, Staghead And Monster has a certain trumpet led groove to it and Young Love could easily trouble the airwaves given a bit of exposure, easily more interesting than the current indie crop of The Cribs or Pigeon Detectives without losing any of the catchiness.

Don't let the blood splattered cover art put you off, this album is well worth investing in, if you like your music varied, (folk, punk, indie) or if you're a fan of Jonathan Richman, The Violent Femmes or indeed bands like Neutral Milk Hotel then give it a whirl. I'm trying my hardest to book them for Joy too so keep your eye out for a summer appearance in Newport.

If anything, Right Hand Left Hand should be applauded for technical ability. What sounds like a six piece post-rock noise outfit is actually a chap called Rhod and his friend Bernie. Rhod has a guitar and one of those loopy pedal things, which should be known as the band. I've only heard two other acts use these as the core of their "thing", and both were ambient so and sos with pretensions to being in a 20 piece orchestra. Both also followed a pattern whereby it seemed the music was tied down to what they thought would be possible on pedals - forcing the musician to always build slowly to a crescendo of messy noise. In this case the equipment adds to the stage presence rather than distracts from it, and seems to barely matter at all as it works so flawlessly if you were blind you'd think they were a full band.

Their music is broody and merky and has bag loads of potential. Its more metal than classical, menacing than ambient, energetic than shoegaze. Angry times call for angry loops.

When I previewed Errors I compared them ruthlessly to Mogwai. Live they look nothing like them, except for being Scottish and having a little facial hair. They are most definitely a dance band - there are some concrete tunes among their songs - but apart from their keyboards upfront they are pretty wedded to their guitars. They played a number of songs from the 2006 EP and their imminent album, and they all went down quiet well with the mental jumping/dancing crowd.

Again, I'll say it - what's impressive about Errors is that they can do this - generate such a atmosphere - with the style they choose. They do not sound like any of the previous crop of indie dance acts, like The Rapture or !!!, who borrowed from disco punk and Gang of Four, or The Klaxons, who layered house rhythms over otherwise conventional indie rock tunes. The guitars sound jangly and British - like the child of John Peel got up and wanted to party. And unlike the Klaxons its not like they've tried to crossover dance and indie like a car crash, hoping if two lorries collide then a new sparkly transit van will emerge. They've taken these stylings and made them into something which you can respectfully put on around other people and not shy away for the music's inward nature - something which were not previously an easy feat with the bands they've been influenced by.

WOOPS: There is no Paul in RHLH, but there's a Bernie. Apologies.

Labels: saesneg

Six By Seven emerged from Nottingham in 1997 with their first single 'European Me' and consisted of of Chris Olley on vocals and guitars, James Flower on keyboards, Sam Hempton on guitar and Chris Davis on drums. The band played drone-rock, post-rock, space-rock, kraut-rock, I don't know, it just rocked. Since then they've officially released 8 albums and had numerous personel changes. This is their 'best of' with songs picked by members of their website forum.

If you've never heard this band, buy this, honestly, it will make your life richer. Their first album, The Things We Make was 10 tracks of epic, heartfelt, emotive rock music, 'For You' and 'Candlelight' are included on this album. I guess Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine are reference points but Six By Seven were truly out there on their own.

The second album, The Closer You Get was a different beast, snarling, angry songs that at times veered towards and industrial and garage rock. They still wore their collective hearts on they sleeve and meant every word. Only 'New Year' gets an outing here (along with a 2 Lone Swordsman remix of 'Eat Junk Become Junk').

Albums and line up changes followed with the band keeping their fervent underground following but failing to break through into the mainstream. They never had chart storming tunes but when bands like Mogwai, Nine Inch Nails, Placebo and even Fuck Buttons can share common ground and get recognition beyond the underground it's a shame this brilliant band couldn't do the same.

They returned last year with their original line up and released the album 'If Symptoms Persist, Kill Your Doctor' which has it's lyrics inspired by an episode of a BBC TV programme called The Trap. They've played the odd gig (mostly in Nottingham) of late but there's no sign of a full tour to support this career spanning release. With a new Spiritualized album imminent and the rise of bands like Fuck Buttons and Crystal Castles maybe they were ahead of their time and now the world are ready for a Six By Seven assault.

http://www.myspace.com/sixbysevenmusic

http://www.sixbyseven.co.uk

Its very easy to compare bands to Mogwai. The Glaswegians had so much of an influence on anyone following indie in the late 1990s/early noughties that traces of them can be heard in many post-rock bands, like 65daysofstatic and Explosions In The Sky.

But Errors, from Glasgow and on the aforementioned band's label, do actually sound a bit like them. The band uses the kind of atmospheric melodic guitar asthetic that began to mark out the band on their later albums from Rock Action onwards once they began to move away from 10 minute long quiet/loud "songs". But Errors do enough different to make something new, which is informed by post-rock and not merely derivative.

So imagine someone took, I dunno, Rock Action, nicked the guitars from it, sped them up and then added a good dose of clicking and bleeping that renders said guitars rather danceable. Its much like how 65daysofstatic tried to move the genre on, but instead of going all out with the drumming, Errors' songs are more sedate, aiming to twist and turn the genre's familiar aesthetics into something resembling a dance tune. Their 2006 EP isn't called "How Clean Is Your Acid House?" for nothing. Its like the beards are trying to get their groove on.

On Thursday these chaps are playing with mathrock mentalists Right Hand Left Hand in Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach, courtesy of Dance Like This. £6 at Spillers and other establishments, such as the door.

Labels: saesneg

I was going to fire off a review of this album deriding its repetitiveness, the hype, the attention seeking name and lots of other things. I hated it initially, being reminded of a fairly monotonous live set at Clwb with a few highlights but no great shakes.

Then yesterday, the Grand Slam happened. Leaving the house to head down to Cardiff for a job, I headed out of the house with my iPod wired up as always, I put on Fuck Buttons and, I'll tell you the truth, I didn't switch it off all day.

You can't appreciate this band live, not properly. Their individual songs don't stand up to much scrutiny. There is a lot of repetition, samples which get reused throughout the album, some of the songs sound samey. But as music which lifts you out of your shell while you pass the day by on the bus, it works brilliantly. As an effect, as a representation of a mood, it's spot on. Like Burial described his creations as "music for the night bus", then Fuck Buttons are very much the, err, day bus accompaniment.

This stuff is too high pitched to be nice night time music, but watching things go past with Street Horrrsing on is like seeing them wrapped in luscious, distorted digital wallpaper. Nasty synth vibrations are moulded and cut into things that remotely sound like beats to give a basis to the tracks, while slight - almost so that you'd barely hear them - keyboard melodies play in the background and progress slowly so that the songs are not literally the same drone every second.

This isn't pretty music - its quite ugly. Usually avant garde stuff which is more suited to the background will be flowery or bombastic, with pretences to a more orchestral setting. Fuck Buttons don't do this, but on Okay, Let's Talk About Magic I'm reminded a bit of Trans Europe Express - and all the images that conjured up of fast trains racing across the continent. It's like that, its like it needs to get somewhere.

There are downsides. While the distorted vocals work, they are almost the same throughout the album. There are only really 6 songs, despite their length. But for a first album, this is quite special.

Video: Bright Tomorrow
T'internet: Fuck Buttons

Labels: saesneg

Here's a quick tour around what's happening the Capital this weekend...

Friday March 14

Gallhammer, Barfly

It isn't really my sort of thing, but whoever this female singer is she has a frightening deep voice. They've come all the way from Japan to bring doom metal to South Wales, so I suppose you should just go to make them a cup of tea and thank them - or mosh about.

Rarrr!

9bach, The Gentle Good - Clwb Ifor Bach

On the other end of the spectrum entirely is the folky Welsh-language band line-up at Clwb. 9bach combine what sounds like pretty harps with wispy folk vocals and bleeping noises. The Gentle Good, an acoustic chappy, supports and sings in English as well as Welsh. Both worth a look if you're into your folk.

Saturday March 15

It being Super Saturday, there will be more angry/happy red shirted types than anything else in Cardiff. Clwb have Wales vs France on a big screen for free downstairs, and there's Casiotone at UWIC, who I've gone on about enough already. If you don't fancy that...

Screaming Eagle, 10 Feet Tall

Welsh swaggering stoner-rock dudes invade Cardiff's newest Mediterranean restaurant/indie venue, with support from punk-ers Last Partisan.

Them is Me, Barfly

Punk-rock-Nirvana type stuff, really. One of the chaps used to be in Reef so I hear. Remember them?

Sunday March 16

Hijack Oscar, Barfly

Shouty blues northerners, who would sound better placed somewhere in the deep south than York. They sing about sins and the gospel, not a natural subject matter coming from York I imagine. Or maybe it's very doomful up there...

Paranoid Visions, 10 Feet Tall

Veteran Irish punk band, been going since 1981. Have toured with the Dammed, like Killing Joke and Gang of Four. They describe their influences as including "anything menacing". Hmm.

Labels: saesneg

If there ever was a musical equivalent of Peep Show, then Owen Ashworth's Casiotone for the Painfully Alone is it. Much like the trials of Mark and Jez, the last CftPA album Etiquette deals exclusively with the comedown of most people's mid-20s - scrambling for money, crappy flats, crappy relationships after uni made things look so easy - much like the aforementioned sitcom makes comedy out of male insecurity around the same age. Ashworth tells stories about the reality of being alone and by yourself for the first time in your life, and even seems close to writing an anti-anthem or two on the subject (see Young Shields and Cold White Christmas). It's a wake up call to anyone who thinks that This Life had any bearing on anything other than shallow fictional lawyers.

A generation or two ago someone might sung these kind of songs drunk behind a guitar, but CftPA makes extensive use of drum machines and keyboards - although Ashworth has made more use of other instruments in recent years. Angst isn't new, but it's good to be reminded that sometimes there are others who are going through the same thing.

CftPA, courtesy of Loose, is playing at UWIC Howard Gardens, Cardiff, on March 15.

Download: Young Shields

Labels: saesneg

The three bands on in Buffalo Bar on Thursday could probably all be described as shimmering - all embrace a kind of folky psychedelic-ness despite being informed initially by different genres. And all are dead cheery, like.

First off the bill is the more electronic, bleepy Eugene Francis Jnr from Cardiff. Mr Francis' wall of sound keyboard fiddling melodies should be enough to put the smile on any wind battered South Walian. It's the sort of music that you should hold off playing until July, ordinarily. Take sunglasses.

Next up are Bristolian's The Gala Band, who are more straightforward folky than any of the three. You'd expect to run into this lot on a hill in Glastonbury somewhere, probably. Lead singer Hannah Partington sounds like a traditional singer-songwriter. Some have compared them to Cat Power, but I don't think she's cried at a gig yet.

Lastly and, well, lastly on Thursday are Cymbient... Blatant surfers, their songs drum up images of waves snapping on the beach somewhere in West Wales. Presumably its too cold to go out on the waves at the moment, so while they stay away they make pleasant landscape-grabbing tunes.

Your night of cheery folk and folk-inspired pop is £4, sir, 8pm-3am.

Labels: saesneg

Black Cherub Promotions is the new night run by Deano.
After 10 years promoting the Breeding Ground at The Riverside Tavern, Deano decided it was time for a change.
He now puts on local acts and the occassional touring band at TJs in Newport.

CLICK TO VISIT THE MYSPACE

On March 7th DC stoner rockers Dead Meadow will be playing upstairs at Clwb Ifor Bach in promotion of their new album Old Growth - their first after a three year break. The record is said to be a sleepier version of the band than seen previously - with songs layered with lashings and lashings of reverb, Their live show is described by one website, however, as an "aural descent into hell" akin to psychedelic bands of the 60s. Interesting, either way.

Opening for Dead Meadow are Right Hand Left Hand - Cardiff based newbies who combine metal riffs with plenty of atmospherics - and perpetual-touring Oxford proggers Youthmovies, who have an album out on March 17.

Tickets £7 advance, from usual suspects.

Labels: saesneg

Oh my: a cafe bar, deli, restaurant and.... a live music venue? Well if 10 Feet Tall works maybe Le Pub should start selling bowls of olives with a toothpick.

I jest, but this new Cardiff venue - by the chaps who brought you the Buffalo and opens this month on 11a-12 Church Street - promises a full cafe bar experience by day and an eclectic choice of music at night, as well as a full blown restaurant. The food is based on North African and Mediterranean cuisine, and while you can get finger foods and quick eats downstairs the Mezz restaurant provides a full dining experience while specialist DJs play in the background. Like a visit to a swanky eatery with your iPod on, but less rude, we think.

Most readers of this blog, however, will be more interested in the noise aspect of 10 Feet Tall.

This is how the scedule is looking:

EVERY TUESDAY - Acoustic Night
Expect the best acoustic acts that Cardiff has to offer. Brought to you by the people behind Electric Cwtch and Buffalo’s late Sunday Live.
8pm – 11pm
£2

EVERY WEDNESDAY - ‘Cool Beans’
Three Floor Free For All -
Upstairs – Freaky Pop, Dance, Electro
Bar – Classic Soul, Funk & Disco
Downstairs – Twisted by Design. Voted 2nd best indie disco of all time by Radio 6!
Free Entry

EVERY FRIDAY - ‘Hot Source’
Classic Funk, Future Jazz, Roots, Motown, Disco & best new releases.
11pm – 4am
£4

EVERY SATURDAY - ‘Me and You Club’
“An Unruly Rock ‘n’ Roll Party”
Good Time Indie Rock ‘n’ Pop, New Music & Classic Alternative Tunes
11pm – 4am
£3

Labels: saesneg

An exciting and forward thinking Independent Alternative Live venue.

Based in Newport and open 7 nights a week, the venue is host to a diverse array of events, creative showcases, amazing drinks offers and high quality club nights.

The formula is constantly evolving as they aim to work with brilliant emerging artists from the fields of live music, producing, DJing, photography, film making, animation, fine art and graphics.

From big name International bands, to intimate acoustic sets with local talent, Meze Lounge is a platform for some of the world’s most exciting new and established musicians.

Winning various awards, including the V Awards Best Independent Club Night and Best Independent Alternative Live Venue, the Meze Lounge is home to thousands of members, all recognising the importance of a proper good, loud, sweaty night out.

Two rooms, cheap drinks, superb DJ’s and club nights, pool only 50p a game, Xbox 360…and yeah, sofas!

Meze Lounge Myspace

Our Upstairs Club offers a host of new and up and coming bands as well as those travelling from afar to play Buffalo’s intimate stage. Buffalo boasts live music seven nights a week and has taken on a hub-status for a thriving Cardiff music scene. The venue has built a reputation for nurturing new and undiscovered talent, as well as attracting some of the finest established acts from around the world.

Downstairs is a rather nice bar with some rather nice beers. There's also a great little beer garden for those long summer nights.

http://www.myspace.com/wearebuffalobar

The Cardiff Bay area has undergone a huge redevelopment in the last 10 years and is now the place for entertainment in Cardiff. At its heart, in the old merchants quarter of Mount Stuart Square, is The Point – a gothic style, stone built church erected around 1900, and formerly known as the church of St Stephen.

Mount Stuart Square takes its name from Lord Mountstuart - MP for Cardiff from the Napoleonic period - and was at one time the wealthiest part of Cardiff controlling the export trade of Coal from Cardiff docks. The Point is the focal building in this quiet corner of the Bay. The church was built in 1900 to replace a temporary iron framed church, and was opened as the chapel of St Mary's. Later, in 1912 the church became a separate parish church under the name of St Stephen.

St Stephen’s church was deconsecrated in 1992 and was used by various associations as a community centre and theatre group until 2001 when it was purchased by its present owners, who wanted to create Cardiff’s premier live music venue.

It was beautifully restored in 2003, having retained and enhanced many of the architectural features and all of its rare stained glass windows, and was furnished with a fully operational permanent stage, lighting fixtures, in-house PA and projection systems.

The Point Cardiff Bay has played host in the last 3 years to some of the UK’s best local and international bands including – The Stereophonics, From the Jam, Manic Street Preachers, Steve Winwood, The Twang, the Super Furry Animals, Glen Tilbrook, Cerys Matthews, The Storeys, Roy Ayers, Candi Staton, Silver Jews, Nerina Pallot, Sandi Thom, Funeral for a Friend, Athlete, The Darkness and Asia – as well as diverse offerings such as Lightning Bolt, Seth Lakeman, Four Tet, Devandra Banhart, Robin Trower and Eddie & the Hot Rods - and continues to provide Cardiff and South Wales with the best choice for live music and events.

http://www.thepointcardiffbay.com/index.php

The Chattery Restaurant is a family business run by the Clatworthys since 1977. While the day to day breakfasts, lunches, etc. is still the bread and butter of our trade (hee!) we also host live music. Local Swansea bands regularly appear as well as touring artists from the UK and America. The Chattery is a wonderfully intimate venue to see some great music, have some lovingly prepared food and indulge in a glass of beer or wine. We only book acts we want to see so you're guaranteed quality (if you agree with our taste).

The Chattery often hosts the same acts as Hot Burrito with Ox, Deadstring Brothers and Dolly Varden among the bands to have crossed over between the two.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/thechattery/

Monkey Cafe is in Swansea and home to the Made In Americana nights and much more.

More info to follow...

http://www.monkeycafe.co.uk/

Part of the nationwide chain of Barfly venues, Cardiff Barfly is situated at the end of Queen Street on the corner of the castle. There's something going on there most nights with live music and weekly club nights.

More info to follow...

http://www.myspace.com/cardiffbarfly

Clwb Ifor Bach (or 'Welsh Club' as many a non Welsh speaker refers to it) is opposite Cardiff Castle, down Womanby Street.

Clwb host gigs both upstairs and in a smaller downstairs room. There are also regular club nights including the infamous Popscene.

More info to follow...

http://www.myspace.com/clwbiforbach

TJs is situated on the other side of the river from town centre, in Clarence Place. Down the years it has hosted bands such as Hole, Mudhoney, Pop Will Eat Itself, Idlewild, Lost Prophets, and many many more.

More information to follow...

http://www.myspace.com/tjsnewport

Le Pub can be found in Newport at 1 Caxton Place and plays host to many gigs from promoters such as Gatheredinsong, Hot Burrito, The Dead Souls Collective and Riot Act! The venue is upstairs and there is also a bar downstairs which plays host to quiz nights on a Sunday and has a rather excellent jukebox.

More info to follow...

http://www.myspace.com/lepub