On This Day 07/07/2007 The Victorian English Gentlemans Club

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On this day, 7 July 2007, four-piece experimental art rock band The Victorian English Gentlemans Club played Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach.

Based in Cardiff, the name of the band is correctly spelt without an apostrophe. On their website, the band acknowledges they are "aware that there should be" an apostrophe. The name originated from style of the artwork of singer Adam.

The band was formed when Taylor and Mason met at Art College in Cardiff in 2004. Joined by drummer Daman they made their recording debut in early 2006; with the limited-edition "The Tales of Hermit Mark" / "My Son Spell Backwards" released in the spring and double A-side "Amateur Man" / "Ban the Gin" following that summer, both on Fantastic Plastic Records.

Their self-titled debut album was released in Autumn 2006; first single "Impossible Sightings Over Shelton" debuted at number ten on the UK Indie Chart. While writing the next album, the band performed at SXSW festival in Austin, Texas in both 2007 and 2008, released a French language version of the previous single "La Mer" (as a split 7-inch with the Paris-based band, This is Pop), and did several support and headline tours in UK and Europe.

On This Day 10/07/2005 A Static Lullaby

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On this day, 10 July 2005, American post-hardcore band A Static Lullaby played Cardiff University on their Faso Latido tour.

The band signed a contract with Ferret Records in 2002. After this, the band went on to create their first album, ...And Don't Forget to Breathe in early 2003 and spent 18 months on the road supporting it, sharing stages with such acts as AFI, My Chemical Romance and Brand New.

During a 16-week tour with Strung Out, drummer Brett Dinovo left the band and was replaced by then guitar tech Ben Newsham. In late 2004 the band recorded a cover of "The Everlasting Gaze", originally by The Smashing Pumpkins, for the album The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins. After extensive touring, they signed to Columbia Records and recorded their second album, Faso Latido, which was released on April 5, 2005. It received mixed reviews and they were eventually dropped from Columbia.

In this time, bassist and vocalist Phil Pirrone was involved in a serious car crash, causing him to rethink his life and eventually leave the band. He formed his own record label, Longhair Illuminati, and formed the band Casket Salesmen with guitarist Nathan Lindeman. ASL went on a successful Taste Of Chaos in 2005.

Faso Latido was generally met with negative feedback. The band treats this album just like Weezer's Pinkerton and the members of the band openly admit they dislike this album.

When playing songs from the album live, they apologize to the fans for playing the song. However, many fans cite this album as the best from A Static Lullaby.

In November 2005, it was revealed that Sony BMG was distributing albums with Extended Copy Protection, a controversial feature that automatically installed rootkit software on any Microsoft Windows machine upon insertion of the disc. In addition to preventing the CDs contents from being copied, it was also revealed that the software reported the users' listening habits back to Sony BMG and also exposed the computer to malicious attacks that exploited insecure features of the rootkit software. Faso Latido was listed among the 52 CDs that were known to contain the software, which Sony discontinued the usage of on November 11, 2005.

On This Day 06/07/1983 Sad Cafe

On this day, 6 July 1983, Manchester rock band Sad Cafe played Cardiff St David’s Hall.

They are best known for the UK Top 40 singles "Every Day Hurts", "Strange Little Girl", "My Oh My" and "I'm in Love Again", the first of which was their biggest hit, reaching number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 1979.

The band initially dissolved in 1990, but briefly reformed in 1998, and again in 2000. The band played a 2000 concert as a tribute to former vocalist Paul Young, who had died on 15 July 2000.

Review - South Wales Echo

Band

Paul Young – lead vocals

Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Vic Emerson – keyboards

Dave Irving – drums

Lenni – saxophone

Des Tong – bass, backing vocals

Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar

On This Day 05/07/2010 Gabriella Cilmi

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On this day, 5 July 2010, Australian pop singer and songwriter Gabriella Cilmi played Cardiff International Arena. Also on the bill was Leona Lewis.

Her debut album, Lessons to Be Learned, was released in March 2008, becoming a moderate international success. Cilmi won six ARIA Music Awards, including Single of the Year and Best Female Artist, in 2008. Her second studio album, Ten, was released in March 2010.

The lead single, "On a Mission", appeared two weeks ahead of the album and marked Cilmi's foray into more 1980s inspired music. Ten is Cilmi's second and final album released under Island Records.

The album peaked in the top 40 in Australia and the UK. PopJustice placed Ten at number 4 on their "Top 33 albums of 2010" list. The album was not released in the United States.

According to Cilmi, Ten features "lots of uptempo funk and disco-inspired numbers designed to make people groove" as well as "some more sexy tracks". One song incorporates a type of yodel into it.[1] While producing the album, Cilmi worked with Greg Kurstin, The Invisible Men and Dallas Austin, as well as Xenomania on the song "Hearts Don't Lie" which she likens to a Bee Gees song. Cilmi has said "Love Me 'Cause You Want To" is the song she's most proud of due to the fact it was produced with her band.

On This Day 04/07/1969 Deep Purple

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On this day, 4 July 1969, rock legends Deep Purple played Cardiff’s Top Rank.

It was the final show of their "Mark I" lineup, with their "Mark II" lineup following after, debuting live at The Speakeasy Club in London on 10th July, six days later.
Founding members Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore felt that Rod Evans, with his tender, smooth voice would not be able to cope with their louder, more aggressive material. Evans had also expressed reservations about his place in the band and voiced his wish to permanently move to the US. Tensions were also high with bassist Nick Simper, whose playing style was considered, in Paice's words, "stuck in the late '50s and early '60s" by the other band members and unfit for the new musical direction they wanted to pursue.

Singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover of the band Episode Six, who had formed a songwriting duo, were invited to join Deep Purple and replace Evans and Simper.

Early in 1969, the band released the non-album single "Emmaretta", named after Emmaretta Marks, at that time a cast member of the musical Hair, whom Evans was trying to seduce. By March of that year, the band had completed recording for their third album, Deep Purple. The album included the track "April", which featured strings and woodwind, showcasing Lord's classical antecedents such as Bach and Rimsky-Korsakov. This would be the last recording by Deep Purple Mark I.

Deep Purple's North American record label, Tetragrammaton, delayed production of the Deep Purple album until after the band's 1969 American tour ended. This, as well as lackluster promotion by the nearly broke label, caused the album to sell poorly, finishing well out of the Billboard Top 100. Soon after Deep Purple was finally released in late June 1969, Tetragrammaton went out of business, leaving the band with no money and an uncertain future (Tetragrammaton's assets were eventually assumed by Warner Bros. Records, who would release Deep Purple's records in the US throughout the 1970s).

On This Day 03/07/2005 Amy Winehouse

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On this day, 3 July 2005, singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.

She was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, reggae and jazz.

A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers.

Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released on 20 October 2003. Produced mainly by Salaam Remi, many songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, Winehouse co-wrote every song.

The album received critical acclaim with compliments given to the "cool, critical gaze" in its lyrics.

Winehouse's voice was compared with those of Sarah Vaughan and Macy Gray, among others.

Adele has credited Winehouse's success in making her and fellow British singer Duffy's journey to the United States "a bit smoother."

Lady Gaga credited Winehouse with paving the way for her rise to the top of the charts, explaining that Winehouse made it easier for unconventional women to have mainstream pop success.

Raphael Saadiq, Anthony Hamilton and John Legend said "Amy Winehouse was produced by people who wanted to create a marketing coup. The positive side is that it reacquainted an audience with this music and played an introductory role for others. This reinvigorated the genre by overcoming the vintage aspect."

Other artists that have credited Winehouse as an influence and/or for paving the way for them include Bruno Mars, Tove Lo, Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Paloma Faith, Lana Del Rey, Sam Smith, Florence Welch and Billie Eilish.

On This Day 02/07/2006 - Whitesnake

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On this day, 2 July 2006, rock band Whitesnake played Cardiff International Arena on their Live…In the Still of Night tour. Support was provided by The Answer.

Formed in London in 1978. The group was originally put together as the backing band for singer David Coverdale, who had recently left Deep Purple. Though the band quickly developed into their own entity, Coverdale is the only constant member throughout their history.

Review - July 2nd 2006.   Cardiff, Wales

"Just got back from seeing Whitesnake in Cardiff with my 18 and 16 year old sons. The gig was full of highs and lows for me. With the opener Burn, what I looked forward to being a massive high ended up being a bit of a disappointment for two reasons: the guitar histrionics of Doug Aldrich, (he irritated me for most of the night to be honest but more on that later), and the other was David doing a Joe Pasquale impression!!! Having bought the DVD I feared this and my fears were realised. What I realised tonight is that it's time for DC to ease off on the screaming and start singing again. When he does he's still untouchable. As we walked out at the end my son said "My God, how charismatic is that singer!" and he was right, he's still the very best frontman you could ever find. All confidence and swagger while totally at ease with his audience, who were in the palm of his hand all night. His mike stand was like a cheer leaders baton and you end up being transfixed by his performance.

Of the material it was the lower key stuff that came over best tonight with Here I Go Again a particular highlight. A major negative as a few have commented was the solo spots. (Come on guys take the hint). Doug Aldrich just blasted off into the ether playing a zillion notes per second and ended up with nowhere to go. We all know you'r ea technically great guitarist Doug, but please slow down and say something. After that came Tommy Aldridge's blitz, he sure can bang a drum or two but I was left thinking the show stalled during these spots. I would much prefer to have heard Walkin In The Shadow of the Blues or Lovehunter instead.

David introduced a new song "Here's a new song for ya" and what promise it shows. (It isn't Lady Luck as someone mentioned in a previous review but is actually called 'Ready to Rock'. Cheesy title but a great song nevertheless.) All in all then a bit of a mixed back for me as an old diehard but I must admit the crowd went mental and the band seemed to thrive on it. It was summed up during a fantastic 'Soldier of Fortune' when after the first verse some guy screamed out "I love you David!!". It stopped David in his tracks for a second and all the crowd laughed. The song was everything he's been my hero for in all these years. A real high note of the right kind to finish. I live on with dreams of seeing DC stood centre stage flanked by Messrs Blackmore, Hughes, Lord and Paice. Unlikely I know but everyone has the right to dream don't they?." review : Kev Roberts

Setlist

Burn / Stormbringer

(Deep Purple cover)

Slide It In

Love Ain't No Stranger

Ready to Rock

Is This Love

Ready an' Willing

Blues for Mylene

Snake Dance

Crying in the Rain

(Tommy Alridge drum solo)

Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City

(Bobby “Blue” Bland cover)

Give Me All Your Love

Here I Go Again

Bad Boys

Still of the Night

Soldier of Fortune

(Deep Purple cov

On This Day 01/07/2003 Eliades Ochoa

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On this day, 1 July 2003, Cuban guitarist and singer Eliades Ochoa played Cardiff’s Coal Exchange.

Eliades Ochoa was born in Santiago de Cuba on June 22, 1946, in Songo la Maya, Santiago de Cuba. Eliades is considered one of the most renowned Cuban “soneros” of all time, a notable defender of traditional Cuban music, and the best guitarist of his generation. His distinctive cowboy hat and his penchant for wearing black have led some to call him “The Cuban Johnny Cash.”

From a very young age, he began to play the guitar with his parents of peasant origin as teachers and in a self-taught way. He alternated with itinerant troubadours from a very young age. In his walks through “guateques,” bars, and “zonas de tolerancia,” he began to learn the vast traditional repertoire of Cuban music, of which he is a teacher today. His musical style is due to his place of origin, the Cuban countryside, the anecdotes he listened to, the “guateques campesinos,” and a series of other elements that marked him and made him the artist he is today.

He began playing the guitar when he was six and in 1978 he was invited to join Cuarteto Patria, a group founded in 1939, as its leader. Although he looks like a guajiro, and he still wears his trademark cowboy hat, his roots are in the son, and he only agreed to take on the role of leader if he was allowed to introduce new elements to the repertoire. He plays the guitar, tres and also a variant of the guitar, with two additional strings. His involvement with the Buena Vista Social Club and the Wim Wenders film of the same name (1999), has led him to worldwide fame.