On This Day 23/03/2010 This Is Hell

On this day, 23 March 2010, American hardcore punk band This Is Hell played Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach.

This Is Hell formed in June 2004 when Long Island musicians and members of The Backup Plan, Scraps and Heart Attacks, and Subterfuge got together after their previous bands broke up.

The name of the band was originally the title of an Elvis Costello song. The band quickly released a four-song self titled demo EP which was later pressed onto vinyl via Boston label Run for Cover Records and in Europe via Broken Glasses Records. Pressings of the EP sold out quickly and was very well received. The demo gained enough popularity to later be reissued. In support of this demo, the band played over 200 live shows in one year.

After the release of their demo and in between touring, the band started working on their next release, a self titled EP. It was released on May 16, 2005, on State of Mind Records. Later that year, the band caught the attention of hardcore punk record label Trustkill Records.

The band signed to Trustkill shortly after that, and began to work on their debut album Sundowning to be released on their new label. In May 2006 the album was released and received a very warm reception. Larger magazines including Alternative Press, Metal Hammer, and Rock Sound started featuring the small-time Long Island band, creating a rise in popularity. Their slow rise to fame was also due to their non-stop touring.

This Is Hell mutually split with their label, Trustkill Records, and signed with Rise Records. With new recruits Andrew Jones (bass) and Benny Mead (drums) they released an EP through Think Fast! Records in 2009 called Warbirds. The EP featured covers and new songs, some of which would later appear on their third studio album Weight of the World, which was released on June 8, 2010, through Rise Records.

October 11, 2011, saw the release of This Is Hell's fourth full-length studio album, Black Mass.

On This Day 13/03/2010 Katatonia

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On this day, 13 March 2010, Swedish heavy metal band Katatonia played Cardiff’s Barfly on their NewNight Over Europe Tour.

Formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström, the band started as a studio-only project for the duo, as an outlet for the band's love of death metal. Increasing popularity led them to add more band members for live performances, though outside of the band's founders, the lineup was a constantly changing, revolving door of musicians throughout the 1990s, notably including Mikael Åkerfeldt of the band Opeth for a period.

After two death/doom albums, Dance of December Souls (1993) and Brave Murder Day (1996), problems with Renkse's vocal cords coupled with new musical influences led the band away from the screamed vocals of death metal to a more traditional, melodic form of heavy metal music.

The band released two more albums, Discouraged Ones (1998) and Tonight's Decision (1999), before settling into a stable quintet lineup for all of the 2000s. The band released four more albums with said lineup: Last Fair Deal Gone Down (2001), Viva Emptiness (2003), The Great Cold Distance (2006) and Night Is the New Day (2009), with the band slowly moving away from their metal sound while adding more progressive rock sounds to their work over time.

While lineup changes started up again into the 2010s, Renkse and Nyström persisted, and the band continued on to release their ninth and tenth studio albums, Dead End Kings (2012) and The Fall of Hearts (2016).

Setlist

Forsaker

Consternation

Liberation

Day and Then the Shade

Onward Into Battle

Soil's Song

Wealth

Teargas

Saw You Drown

Idle Blood

My Twin

The Longest Year

Criminals

July

Evidence

Encore:

Dispossession

Ghost of the Sun

On This Day 08/03/2007 Joan Baez

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On this day, 8 March 2007, folk legend Joan Baez played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.

In February 2007, Proper Records reissued her 1995 live album Ring Them Bells, which featured duets with artists ranging from Dar Williams and Mimi Fariña to the Indigo Girls and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

The reissue features a 16-page booklet and six unreleased live tracks from the original recording sessions. In addition, Baez recorded a duet of "Jim Crow" with John Mellencamp which appears on his album Freedom's Road (2007). Also in February 2007, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The day after receiving the honor, she appeared at the Grammy Awards ceremony and introduced a performance by the Dixie Chicks.

Joan Baez, St David's Hall, Cardiff. Review - South Wales Argus

By Alan Molloy

MENTION Joan Baez to people of a certain age and they think, folk singer, activist, civil rights marcher and they may even remember in 1967 her views saw her prevented from performing at America's Constitution Hall by the ultra-right Daughters of the American Revolution.

This legendary singer who toured with Bob Dylan in the 70s has lost none of her magic and still speaks and sings for solutions to violence in the Middle East and Latin America.

Was St David's Hall, Cardiff, ready for this rebel and would her haunting songs travel well across the years?

The answer is Yes' they were ready for her as the encores and applause testified and Yes' the songs are just as powerful.

"I can't believe I'm still doing this and I can't believe that you are still there,'' said Joan and the audience certainly were as they cheered their way through this thoughtful repertoire.

Her effortless performance included Wildwood Flower from her first album, Joe Hill, With God on our Side, Diamonds and Rust, Lily and There but for Fortune.

Accompanied by guitarists Graham Maybe and Eric de la Pena, her songs were interspersed with anecdotes and comments on politics in Washington.

The audience went home having been transported back to a time when talent was recognised and one-hit wonders and tribute bands were in the distant future.

On This Day 10/02/2011 Good Charlotte

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On this day, 10 February 2011, American rock band Good Charlotte played Cardiff University on the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Tour.

Formed in 1995. Since 2005, the band's lineup has consisted of Joel Madden (lead vocals), Benji Madden (guitar, vocals), Paul Thomas (bass), Billy Martin (guitar, keyboards), and Dean Butterworth (drums, percussion).

The band released their self-titled debut album in 2000. In 2002, they released their second album, The Young and the Hopeless. Featuring the singles "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", "The Anthem" and "Girls & Boys", The Young and the Hopeless sold 3.5 million copies in the US and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA, for a total of almost 5 million copies sold worldwide.

The band followed up with The Chronicles of Life and Death in 2004; a darker album, both musically and lyrically. Backed by the singles "Predictable" and "I Just Wanna Live", The Chronicles of Life and Death continued the band's success, and the album was certified platinum by the RIAA, selling over one million copies in the US alone. In 2007, they released the dance-punk inspired album Good Morning Revival before going back to their pop-punk-roots with the album Cardiology in 2010.

After a four-year-long hiatus, the band announced its comeback on November 3, 2015. The band released Youth Authority 2016, and in 2018 they released their latest album, Generation Rx. In addition, they released two compilations: Greatest Remixes in 2008 and Greatest Hits in 2010.

Setlist

Introduction to Cardiology

The Anthem

Girls & Boys

My Bloody Valentine

Silver Screen Romance

Riot Girl

Like It's Her Birthday

Keep Your Hands Off My Girl

Predictable

Little Things

The Chronicles of Life and Death

The Young and the Hopeless

The River

Dance Floor Anthem

I Just Wanna Live

Sex on the Radio

Play Video

Counting the Days

Play Video

Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous

On This Day 24/01/2016 Jason Derulo

On this day, 24 January 2016, American singer Jason Derulo played Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on his Everything is 4 tour.

Since the start of his solo recording career in 2009, he has sold over 250 million singles worldwide and has achieved fourteen platinum singles in the US.

After contributing and writing songs for various artists, Derulo signed to recording label Beluga Heights, owned by record producer and industry veteran J. R. Rotem. After Beluga Heights became part of the Warner Music Group, Derulo became a recording artist and released his debut single "Whatcha Say" in May 2009. It sold over five million digital downloads, earned an RIAA certification of quintuple platinum, and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

He followed with the US top-ten singles "In My Head" and "Ridin' Solo", the former of which topped the UK Singles Chart, and his self-titled debut studio album Jason Derulo (2010). His second album, Future History (2011), yielded the UK number-one single "Don't Wanna Go Home" and top-ten hit "It Girl". His third international album, Tattoos (2013), was repackaged in the US as Talk Dirty (2014) and spawned the worldwide hit singles "Talk Dirty", "Trumpets", and "Wiggle".

Setlist

Trumpets

Wiggle

Get Ugly

Secret Love Song

(Little Mix cover)

Talk Dirty

Ridin' Solo

Whatcha Say

Bubblegum

Marry Me

Cheyenne

Don't Wanna Go Home

In My Head

Want to Want Me

On This Day 21/01/2010 Thrice

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On this day, 21 January 2010, American rock band Thrice played Cardiff University on their 2010 European Tour.

From Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and lead guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school.

Early in their career, the band was known for melodic hardcore punk music based in heavily distorted guitars, prominent lead guitar lines, and frequent changes in complex time signatures.

In 2009, it was announced that the band would serve as openers for Brand New for their Fall North American tour. Multiple shows were sold out, and the band notably performed a cover of The Beatles's "Helter Skelter". After this leg of the tour, Thrice began a tour with The Dear Hunter, but they had to play without guitarist Teppei Teranishi who left due to a family emergency.[

In 2009, while on the Vans Warped Tour in Houston, Texas, the band autographed a Gibson Guitar for the non-profit Music Saves Lives and assisted in their goal of raising the nation's blood supply.

Thrice posted a poll for fans to vote for which song from Beggars to use for a music video. "All the World is Mad", "The Weight", "Circles" and "In Exile" were the choices for the poll, with "In Exile" narrowly beating "The Weight" even after some voters hacked into the system to try to choose the winner. The live-themed, black and white music video premiered on MySpace Music on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009, their first live video since 2002's "Deadbolt."

Thrice's spring (2010) tour with Manchester Orchestra was cut short on April 23 when Kensrue had to leave because of an illness in the family.

Setlist

Of Dust and Nations

Silhouette

All the World Is Mad

The Weight

Come All You Weary

Helter Skelter

(The Beatles cover)

Hold Fast Hope

The Artist in the Ambulance

All That's Left

In Exile

A Song for Milly Michaelson

At the Last

The Melting Point of Wax

Deadbolt

The Earth Will Shake

Encore:

Stare at the Sun

Beggars

On This Day 14/01/2010 Warbringer

On this day, 14 January 2010, American thrash metal band Warbringer played Cardiff’s Barfly on their Infected Nations Tour.

Formed in 2004, Century Media Records signed Warbringer after seeing them at a local show in LA. Originally, a Century Media rep was at the show to see another LA thrash metal band but decided to sign Warbringer instead.

Early in 2009 the band went to Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California to record with Gary Holt (Exodus) as producer and Zack Ohren for mixing and mastering. The record was completed in 12 days and the band went on two more North American tours with Soilwork back to back with Kreator and Exodus. The tour lasted over 3½ months. During the last half of the tour, Nic Ritter broke his arm and John Gensmer of Epicurean filled in for the band.

In July Warbringer embarked on a headlining tour of Europe and as support for Onslaught and Testament in the UK. This was Ben Bennett's last tour and in August he was replaced by the band's original bass player, Andy Laux.[10] The band continued touring heavily in the US, opening for Obituary, Vader, and a show with Slipknot before the end of the year.

In 2010 Warbringer returned to a Europe/UK tour, co-heading with the U.K.'s Evile and the Israeli The Fading. Later, Warbringer and Evile returned to the States to support Overkill's Killfest 2010 tour.

On This Day 10/01/2011 Gruff Rhys

On this day, 10 January 2011, Welsh musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author Gruff Rhys played Cardiff’s Gwdihw Cafe Bar on his Hotel Shampoo tour supporting his soon to be released third album Hotel Shampoo.

The title of the record is a reference to Gruff’s habit of hoarding mini shampoo bottles and other complimentary hotel products whilst on tour, and the miniature hotel he built from them in advance of the record's announcement.

Released on 14 February 2011 through Onvi Records/Turnstile (in the UK) and Wichita (in the US) and peaked at number forty-two on the UK Albums Chart. The album includes the singles "Shark Ridden Waters", "Sensations In The Dark", "Honey All Over" and "Space Dust #2"; the latter of which is collaboration with Sarah Assbring and Miles Kane. The album won the 2011 Welsh Music Prize and the Album of the Year award at the Artrocker Awards 2011.

Rhys performs solo and with several bands, including Super Furry Animals, which obtained mainstream success in the 1990s. He formed the electro-pop outfit Neon Neon with Boom Bip. Their album Stainless Style was nominated for the 2008 Nationwide Mercury Prize. He won the 2011 Welsh Music Prize for his album Hotel Shampoo, which was