Chris Difford – The Some Fantastic Place Tour – with Boo Hewerdine

Acapela Studio - 15/04/2018

Acclaimed by many as the 'other half' of one of pop's most enduring and loved duos with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford is noted for his kitchen-sink type lyrics that have been a feature of his band Squeeze's career that many have enjoyed since they hit the music scene back in the late 70s.

From fresh-faced lads to middle-aged spread their talent for wonderfully composed, catchy songs helped them become the public's go to band, a pick me up for the times and guaranteed to put smiles on the faces.

But behind the music, Difford dealt with some seriously bad times with addictions and stress, the fall out of being involved in a industry that doesn't look after their casualties too well.

Fortunately for Difford, the dark times documented in his book, Some Fantastic Place: My Life In and Out of Squeeze are in the past and he spares no punches when detailing his life, both the good and the bad times.

Whilst Squeeze the band continue to delight with regular tours, it's the intimate gigs like this one at the Acapela Studios that provides fans with a different insight into the songs and the stories behind them. Songs are broken down, dissected and given new life with the lyrics much more prominent in the acoustic mix.

With the equally talented Boo Hewerdine opening, and providing backing to Difford it was an evening to savour. Hewerdine's songs in his shortish set provided the perfect foil to Difford who followed and with his song American TV, a homage to the TV of his youth, it was one of the evening's stand out moments and would in most cases be hard to follow.

Yet Difford is a consummate professional and with a back catalogue to die for, what to leave out must have been a difficult yet the Squeeze songs he covered fitted effortlessly in with his solo material, another feature of the evening, with Battersea Boys and Sobriety showing Difford at his storytelling best.

As you would expect the Squeeze material produced a sing-a-long effect on the sold out crowd which included Take Me I'm Yours. Goodbye Girl, Tempted and Cool For Cats, to name but a few, interspersed with enthralling tales from his book.

I'd advise anyone with even the faintest of interest in Squeeze to next time. if near you, to get out and witness the genius of the man that is Chris Difford.

Retro Review: Tom Robinson Band

The Globe, Cardiff - 17/10/2017

1978 and a background of economic and political turmoil, a desperate time for teenagers looking for anything to express the anger and frustration, punk had fuelled the youthful angst of a generation. But although punk had started a movement with the exception perhaps of The Clash it lacked Articulate and musical songs to catch the imagination and political influence.

Then along came a band and an album to change that. Power in the Darkness The Tom Robinson Band brought a new intelligence and musicality blended with political comment and vision of a desolate future.

40 years on and the Tom Robinson Band appear at the Globe performing Power In The Darkness in its entirety to a vociferous crowd, not teenagers this time, but teenagers now in their 50’s and just as passionate about this album and it’s message as shown by the tremendous reception of Robinson and every song performed.
From the first chords of ‘Up Against The Wall’ to the brilliant passion of ‘Too Good To Be True’ and the title track every word spat out with passion.
It’s not the same line up but it’s the same message and same anger 40 years on, Robinson amazingly still keeping the venom in his vocals, still meaning every word, with guitarist Adam Phillips’s fierce and melodic sounds on his Les Paul proving fire to Robinson’s thunderous bass lines, and Andy Treacey playing the drums like a man possessed, Jim Simmons completes the driving and powerful sound on keyboards.
In between the frenetic, hard paced set, Robinson explains how the album had two sides as did all albums before the introduction of CDs and only lasted just over 40 minutes but the magic that was in those grooves still stands defiantly in tonight’s performance as it did in its original time.
Power in the Darkness was simply a great album of great songs reflecting a period of change and political movement. Robinson continued after the album performance with familiar favourites to fans ‘Martin’ and ‘Glad to be gay’ and of course the one everybody knows the his breakthrough hit 2-4-6-8 Motorway.

Tom sealed the mood of the night with ‘Don’t Take No For An Answer’ to finish Robinson standing with the band looking drained from a full on performance, a man in his sixties still giving every word and note true feeling.
As he commented 40 years on and what has really changed? Still politically the world in turmoil and socially people struggling, but his answer to his own question is ‘you still got to keep trying’ he is and the crowd are, the spirit of 78 , that lives on tonight.
I suggest digging out ‘Power In The Darkness’ and giving it a listen, it just might get those hairs on the neck standing.

Retro Review: Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons

The Globe, Cardiff - 22/11/2018

A packed venue on a cold autumn night indicates the popularity of Phil Campbell and the bastard sons making a return to home ground before venturing into Europe, with a Brand new critically acclaimed album.
Yes the Motörhead faithful are here but there are more than enough Bastard Sons t shirts on display here to show the band have a real following and on the performance it’s not at all surprising.

I must mention Leader of Down as well who were an excellent support band and really got the crowd going, well worth checking out their album Cascade into Chaos.

Phil steps onto the stage with sons Todd,Tyler and Dane and Neil Starr on vocals and it’s straight into Ringleader a Motörhead similar drive and power Style guitar anthem, there is also plenty of diversity in the set, the groovy riff of Freakshow, welcome to Hell Metallica style guitar chords and the catchy Riffed Big Mouth.

Dark days has a Southern Blues feel, and Step into the fire classic power chords and riffs with a modern flavour and killer solo.

There’s plenty of crowd participation encouraged by Starr who’s voice seems to have been inspired by classic rock and bodes well on the different styles performed by the band, Danes drumming is a power house that drives the set and compliments Tyler’s solid Bass and allows Todd and of course Phil to play the trademark Solos displayed in High Rule and Get on your Knees.

The classic Motörhead tunes are also here, Ace of Spades, Bomber, Just’cos you’ve got the power and Going to Brazil, and a fitting tribute of Silver Machine by Hawkwind to all Motörhead members not with us anymore all sounding excellent.
This is Rock music as it should be tightly performed and crowd pleasing but with the bands own originality stamped on it.
Phil Campbell and the Bastard sons are not just reliant on The popularity of Motörhead but have their own style complimented by a quality album and musicians, of course Phil is a legend and after over 30 years of being in Motörhead is the best man to be performing their songs, but the band really have much more to offer and deliver.

If you missed this sold out gig catch them next time you will not be disappointed.

Rock legend pays trip to Cardiff Castle

William Burges

Led Zep guitarist a fan of 19th century architect William Burges.

He's a rock legend and used to the glare and publicity that surrounds such iconic figure in Britain's rock history, yet it was rather more low-key visit that saw Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page slip almost unknown into town's Castle to support the launch of a new book on the Castle and its former owner the Marquesses of Bute.

Written by Matthew Williams, who Page shares a love of the Castle's architect William Burges, the former curator of the Castle, his book ' Cardiff Castle and the Marquesses of Bute' details the transformation of the Castle and the impact Burges's work had under the patronage of the Marquesses of Bute.

Jimmy Page’s town house

Cardiff Castle

Page, who lives in a Burges-designed town house in London wrote the foreword for the book and his love of Burges stems from the time he moved into his Holland Park home 47 years ago, which is described as one of the finest examples of the French Gothic revival.

During the visit Page was presented with print of the Castle.

Retro Review: Jack Bruce

23/03/2012 - St David’s Hall, Cardiff

MOST people will remember Jack Bruce as one third of the inspirational band Cream. Along with drummer Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton, they set about changing rock ‘n’ roll in a two-year span that saw them sell 35 million records, receive the first ever platinum album, and create a blues rock sound to inspire the likes of Led Zeppelin and many others. The simple fact is that Jack Bruce, using an overused phrase in music, truly qualifies as a legend.

Over a 50-year span in music, he has worked with a veritable who’s who of musicians too numerous to mention, fought and survived alcohol and drug problems, been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, created and performed on over 20 studio and live albums and played on many more projects with other artists, while developing a unique vocal and bass style to influence many. When Mr Bruce strolls on to a stage it’s a set for music, no gimmicks, just musicians and equipment. He takes a seat at the piano and starts the opening phrases to Morning Story from the Harmony Row album, his voice strong and dynamic as ever.

Delving into his solo material Jack moves to the bass he describes as “his other piano”, the sound created, was a virtual band on its own. We are treated to very different and improvised versions of some classic Bruce, the likes of You Burned The Tables On Me, Neighbour, Neighbour, from his Graham Bond days, Weird of Hermiston, Born Under A Bad Sign, and a very moving version of Child Song Bruce dedicated to his son.

Then came the moment many had waited for with some classic Cream songs, White Room and Sunshine Of Your Love, that encapsulated the spirit of improvisation from the band, all excellent musicians, and bolstered by the brass section that moved in a soulful, funky direction, adding to and complementing Jack’s singing and bass playing. While the sound mix was patchy at times, all was forgiven as the band appeared for Politician as the encore where a true innovator and free spirit humbly said thank you to the crowd.

Music says thank YOU Mr Bruce.

Jack Bruce in 1972. originally posted to Flickr as Jack Bruce 1001720034. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.