On This Day 30/06/2010 Ash

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On this day, 29 June 2010, Northern Irish rock band Ash played Cardiff’s Barfly on their A-Z tour.

Ash officially formed in 1992, reportedly having taken the name from the first word they liked in the dictionary. Prior to this, Wheeler and Hamilton were in an Iron Maiden cover band called Vietnam, which had formed in 1989.

The A–Z Series is a series of singles released by Northern Irish rock band Ash. Consisting of 26 singles, each represented by a letter of the alphabet, the singles were first released on a fortnightly basis from 12 October 2009 until 27 September 2010 on 7-inch vinyl and by download.

Along with the 26 primary singles the series also includes 21 B-sides, 13 remixes, 7 acoustic tracks and 2 live tracks which were sporadically released in various formats. The series was later released in various other formats, including two compilation CDs Volume 1 (singles A–M) released on 19 April 2010 and Volume 2 (singles N–Z) released on 11 October 2010, a compilation of all 26 tracks on three vinyl LPs was released on 6 November 2012 through Noyes Records and finally a compact cassette featuring 15 of the band's favourite tracks from the series was released for Cassette Store Day, titled Letters from Alphabet City.

The series spawned 6 radio singles; "Return of White Rabbit", "True Love 1980", "Space Shot", "War with Me", "Binary", and "Carnal Love"

Setlist

Lose Control

A Life Less Ordinary

Dionysian Urge

Goldfinger

Petrol

Shining Light

Joy Kicks Darkness

Orpheus

The Dead Disciples

Oh Yeah

Kung Fu

Arcadia

Girl From Mars

Return of White Rabbit

Encore:

Angel Interceptor

Encore 2:

Twilight of the Innocents

Encore 3:

Burn Baby Burn

On This Day 30/06/2010 Ash

On this day, 30 June 2010 Northern Irish rock band Ash played Cardiff’s Barfly.

Formed in Downpatrick, County Down in 1992 by vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray. As a three-piece, they released mini-album Trailer in 1994 and full-length album 1977 in 1996. This 1996 release was named by NME as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Wales Online Music Review: Ash, The Barfly, Cardiff

IMAGINE if you will Speed 3, the latest instalment of the Hollywood blockbuster franchise – this time starring a Northern Irish rock ’n’ roll band which has to keep playing at breakneck pace otherwise a bomb under the Cardiff Barfly stage will explode if the momentum slackens.

For all we know this gig was a trial outing for such a movie given that every ferociously delivered song in a pulsating 17 track set refused to rattle along at anything less than head-spinning, eye-popping, ear-bleeding ferocity.

There was no let up from the off, Ash straining at the leash with the crunch and thump of opener Lose Control – a pretty apt call to arms for the unhinged off-the-scale performance Ash delivered and their fans soaked up with joyful abandon.

The incendiary wallop of A Life Less Ordinary sees frontman Tim Wheeler bouncing around with the same perma-grinned giddiness as when they first started out in Belfast in 1992. Goldfinger rolls back the years as does 1994’s Petrol – a scuzzed-up dragster of a tune that roars like the devil's racetrack.

As the crowd swells and pogos furiously with heads in danger of butting the Barfly’s low slung ceiling, we’re all revelling in a rare chance to see one of the UK’s finest live bands - essentially playing in our living room.

There’s no taking the foot off the accelerator pedal of ridiculously huge songs and romp-along choruses. Shining Light crashes into Joy Kicks Darkness, while the energy surge of Orpheus leaves us gasping.

Then when you think the riotous assembly couldn’t be elevated to greater levels of mayhem Wheeler spits out the whiplash vocals as Kung Fu races along like a runaway express train.

The song, which first introduced us to these indie rock survivors all those years ago, still courses with the same manic energy and vitality as it always did.

Then when you think the riotous assembly couldn’t be elevated to greater levels of mayhem Wheeler spits out the whiplash vocals as Kung Fu races along like a runaway express train.

The song, which first introduced us to these indie rock survivors all those years ago, still courses with the same manic energy and vitality as it always did.

Deafening cheers go up as Ash return for a three song encore – Angel Interceptor, Twilight Of The Innocents and as Tim quips: “Thanks, this is one of the hottest gigs we’ve ever played” they throw themselves into the more than fitting set closer Burn Baby Burn.

After a volcanic show it's only fitting that Ash leave us all in a lava!

by David Owens

Setlist

Lose Control

A Life Less Ordinary

Dionysian Urge

Goldfinger

Petrol

Shining Light

Joy Kicks Darkness

Orpheus

The Dead Disciples

Oh Yeah

Kung Fu

Play Video

Arcadia

Girl From Mars

Return of White Rabbit

Encore:

Angel Interceptor

Encore 2:

Twilight of the Innocents

Encore 3:

Burn Baby Burn

On This Day 13/06/2002 Biffy Clyro

On this day, 13 June 2002, Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro played Cardiff’s Barfly on their Vertigo of Bliss Tour.

Formed in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, composed of Simon Neil (guitar, lead vocals), James Johnston (bass, vocals), and Ben Johnston (drums, vocals).

Currently signed to 14th Floor Records, they have released nine studio albums, six of which (Puzzle, Only Revolutions, Opposites, Ellipsis, A Celebration of Endings and The Myth of the Happily Ever After) reached the top five in the UK Albums Chart, with their sixth studio album, Opposites claiming their first UK No. 1 album.

The first incarnation of what would eventually become Biffy Clyro was formed in 1995, when fifteen-year-old Ayr-based guitarist Simon Neil started playing his songs with friend Kilmarnock-born Ben Johnston. Ben's twin brother, James Johnston was soon brought in, and the three spent the next two years rehearsing, writing and covering songs.

On 31 January 1995, they played their first gig under the name "Skrewfish" as the support for a band called Pink Kross at the Key Youth Centre in East Kilbride, now known as Universal Connections East Kilbride. In 1997, the trio moved to Glasgow, where Neil went to the University of Glasgow, and the Johnston twins went to Stow College, studying Electronics with Music and Audio Engineering, respectively.

After playing gigs around Glasgow and receiving positive and enthusiastic reactions from audiences, the band were spotted by Dee Bahl, who soon became their manager. Bahl offered them a chance to release an independent single on Aereogramme's Babi Yaga record label: "Iname" was released on 28 June 1999, with Northsound Radio's Jim Gellatly (later of Beat 106 & Xfm Scotland) giving the band their first radio play.

This first release led to the band being chosen by Stow College's Electric Honey record label to release a record: thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow was released on Nerosa on 13 June 2000, receiving airplay from BBC Radio Scotland DJ Vic Galloway.[16] A few days prior to the release of thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow, the band were spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park 2000 by a Beggars Banquet representative, and were signed to the independent Beggar's Banquet soon thereafter.

On This Day 31/08/2004 Alexisonfire

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On this day, 31 August 2004, Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisisonfire played Cardiff’s Barfly,

They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls in mid-knife-fight" (a reference to their song "A Dagger Through the Heart of St. Angeles", also the inspiration for their debut album cover art).

When the band emerged in late 2001, it was enough to impress critics as well as earning their self-titled debut album a platinum certification in Canada.

The band has released three subsequent successful studio albums since then: Watch Out! in 2004, Crisis in 2006, and Old Crows/Young Cardinals in 2009, each achieving platinum certification in their native country. Plus three special edition live albums from Manchester Academy, Birmingham Academy, and Brixton Academy.

Their accolades include a 2005 Juno Award for New Group of the Year.

In August 2011, vocalist George Pettit posted a message to fans on the band's official website stating that, following the departure of two members, that they would issue several special releases and complete a farewell tour before parting ways.

On March 9, 2015, following the previously shared post on social media the band appear to have confirmed themselves for several reunion shows, including Heavy MONTRÉAL, Reading and Leeds festivals, Sonic Boom, X-Fest, Riot Fest Toronto and the band's only American date, Riot Fest Chicago.

On September 19, 2015, during the band's last date of the tour at the Riot Fest in Toronto, Ontario, MacNeil announced on stage that the band was officially back.

On This Day 22/02/2003 Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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On this day, 22 February 2003, American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs played Cardiff’s Barfly club.

Formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O (born Karen Lee Orzolek), guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase.

In 2003, the band released their debut album, Fever to Tell, which received several strong critical reviews and sold more than 750,000 copies worldwide. The album's third single, "Maps", received significant airplay on alternative radio.

SETLIST

Machine

Kiss Kiss

Miles Away

Maps

Shake It

Bang

Art Star

No No No

Rich

Mystery Girl

Our Time

Tick

On this day 02/09/2007 Plain White T's

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On this day, 2 September 2007, American rock bandPlain White T’s played Cardiff’s Barfly.

From Lombard, Illinois, formed in 1997 by high school friends Tom Higgenson, Dave Tirio, and Ken Fletcher, and joined a short time later by Steve Mast. The group had a mostly underground following in Chicago basements, clubs, and bars in its early years.

The band had a number-one hit song with "Hey There Delilah", which achieved platinum status in 2007 and earned two Grammy nominations. Its songs "1234" and "Rhythm of Love" were certified platinum in 2009 and 2011.

The 2005 release, All That We Needed, was the first studio album from the reformed line-up, and featured the single "Hey There Delilah". In 2006 the band signed to Hollywood Records and recorded Every Second Counts, featuring a new version of "Hey There Delilah" with a string section.

Every Second Counts was released in September 2006. That same year, "Hey There Delilah" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks.[18] The song was written for the track star Delilah DiCrescenzo, whom Higgenson had met in 2002. The song received two Grammy nominations, and Every Second Counts was certified gold. In early 2006, the band teamed up with Motion City Soundtrack for a winter/spring tour.

On this day 31/08/2004 Alexisonfire

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 31 August 2004, Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisisonfire played Cardiff’s Barfly,

They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls in mid-knife-fight" (a reference to their song "A Dagger Through the Heart of St. Angeles", also the inspiration for their debut album cover art).

When the band emerged in late 2001, it was enough to impress critics as well as earning their self-titled debut album a platinum certification in Canada.

The band has released three subsequent successful studio albums since then: Watch Out! in 2004, Crisis in 2006, and Old Crows/Young Cardinals in 2009, each achieving platinum certification in their native country. Plus three special edition live albums from Manchester Academy, Birmingham Academy, and Brixton Academy.

Their accolades include a 2005 Juno Award for New Group of the Year.

In August 2011, vocalist George Pettit posted a message to fans on the band's official website stating that, following the departure of two members, that they would issue several special releases and complete a farewell tour before parting ways.

On March 9, 2015, following the previously shared post on social media the band appear to have confirmed themselves for several reunion shows, including Heavy MONTRÉAL, Reading and Leeds festivals, Sonic Boom, X-Fest, Riot Fest Toronto and the band's only American date, Riot Fest Chicago.

On September 19, 2015, during the band's last date of the tour at the Riot Fest in Toronto, Ontario, MacNeil announced on stage that the band was officially back.

On this day 17/08/2002 The Darkness

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On this day, 17 August 2002, British rock band The Darkness played Cardiff’s Barfly.

The band had just released their debut recording the EP “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” but had not yet issued their debut album '“Permission To Land” released the following year.

"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" was originally issued as a 3-track EP in August 2002; however, as only a small number of copies were printed, it was ineligible to chart. The EP also included early versions of "Love on the Rocks With No Ice" and "Love Is Only a Feeling". When released as a single in September 2003, it was beaten to number one by The Black Eyed Peas' "Where Is the Love?".

The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Love", "Growing on Me", "Get Your Hands off My Woman", and "Love Is Only a Feeling", the album was certified quadruple platinum in the United Kingdom, with sales of over 1.3 million.

In 2004 the band won three Brit Awards: Best British Group, Best British Rock Act, and Best British Album.

The success of this album led to heavy touring for the band, including European portions of Metallica's Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003.

They then went on to headline the Carling Festival in 2004. The band won three BRIT Awards in 2004 in response to the album, Best Group, Best Rock Group and Best Album.

They also won two Kerrang! awards in 2004 for Best Live Act and Best British Band. The third single from the album, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love", was a substantial hit in the UK as was their tilt at the Christmas 2003 number 1, "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)", which only just fell short, both singles reaching number 2 in 2003.