On this day, 9 December 1972, progressive rock band Family played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre.
The band had just released their sixth studio album, Bandstand, featuring the singles "Burlesque" in late 1972, and "My Friend the Sun", which was released in early 1973.
Family's sound was distinguished by several factors. The vocals of Roger Chapman, described as a "bleating vibrato" and an "electric goat", were considered unique, although Chapman was trying to emulate the voices of R&B and soul singers Little Richard and Ray Charles, with some reviewers noting however that Chapman's voice could be grating and irritating occasionally.
John "Charlie" Whitney was an accomplished and innovative guitarist, and Family's often complex song arrangements were made possible through having multi-instrumentalists like Ric Grech, Jim King and Poli Palmer in the band and access to keyboards such as the Hammond organ, the new Mellotron, violin, flute and vibraphone.
The band's sound has been variously described as progressive rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock, folk rock, jazz fusion, not to mention "British art rock," and hard rock.
Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that the Jimi Hendrix Experience were afraid to follow them at festivals".
Family was an influence on Jethro Tull, with Ian Anderson noting that the band were particularly under-rated. Both in his vocal sound and style and his dramatic stage presentation, Chapman was also a strong early influence on Peter Gabriel.
Setlist:
Sat’d’yBarfly
Part Of The Load
Top Of The Hill
My Friend The Sun
Children
Holding The Compass
Burlesque
The Weaver’s Answer
Rockin’ Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu
Let’s Have A Party
