Ibibio Sound Machine

Clwb Ifor Bach – 15/10/2019

Led by the charismatic and energetic singer Eno Williams, Ibibio Sound Machine's infectious mix of African influenced funk/disco captivated a packed Clwb Ifor Bach with a quite breathless set that never failed to let up leaving their audience desperate for more, despite dancing their feet off.

It was quite an achievement getting all the band on the smallish stage to start with and quite how they managed to perform without clattering into another band member or piece of kit was enthralling to watch as singer Eno danced throughout the bands snappy and high tempo set.

Since their first album release in 2014 and the release of this years Doko Mien, the band have built up a considerable following finally getting the acclaim that their music and musicianship so rightly deserves. With a brass section that would be the envy of any group and a punchy, funky rhythm section to boot, it proved a perfect blend of sounds topped with some clever synth/keyboards that gave some of the songs a very retro dance feel.

They opened with Sweet Like Sugar with it's distinctive Wah Wah/Fuzz guitar from the wonderfully attired Kari Bannerman, who with Eno were the main focal point of the evening. Not that they put their fellow band mates in the shade, who themselves shone brightly with each stepping up with equally important contributions with some seriously funky bass and driving percussion.

Song followed song in quick succession giving people little chance to catch their breath with the whole floor bouncing in unison and few seriously wondering if it continued, then the whole room, band and all, would end up on the floor below.

Stand out tracks in a quick brilliant set were hard to choose yet the soulful and more subdued I Know That You Are Thinking Of Me and the very Stax-sounding Power Of 3 were certainly the pick from an excellent bunch, whilst the last song Basquiat perfectly summed up what this band is all about, a melting pot of sounds and rhythms that couldn't fail to get the feet tapping, at the very least.

Howard Jones & China Crisis

St David's Hall, Cardiff - 26/06/2019

Two stalwarts of the Eighties hit the boards at St David's Hall with both acts proving that there's still plenty of life left and music to share from two of era's most popular performers.

First up were China Crisis, still writing great tunes today with their last offering being 2015's Autumn in the Neighbourhood, showing that they for one and not satisfied to just rest on their laurels.

Always a fun band to see and quite regular visitors to the area, their wit and good humour is always infectious giving good natured stick to late comers in a 40 minute set.

Opening with the excellent “Black Man Ray” followed swiftly by “Arizona Sky” and the lovely “Christian” all songs of real quality and greeted with hearty response from an enthusiastic audience, bringing their sadly short set to conclusion with “Wishful Thinking.”

Headlining the evening was the almost local boy Howard Jones, who spent much of his early youth growing up in Rhiwbina, Cardiff .

One of the brightest stars of the synth-pop Eighties, Jones scored a top five hit with his first release “New Song” following it up with a string of hits throughout the decade topped by appearance at Live Aid and Jones recalls to his audience being in a dressing room rehearsing under the gaze of rock giants David Bowie and The Who's Pete Townshend.

With a punchy, powerful band in tow, his songs took on a harder edge and whilst often criticised in the past for his cute and rather twee pop tunes he certainly set the controls to maximum and proved he could rock with the best of them.

Songs like “Like to Get to Know You Well” and “New Song” sounded fresh whilst Jones swapped effortlessly from full band to solo performer with old songs given new life with powerful and imaginative versions, helped by what was a quite stunning light show.

It was a quite delightful evening of nostalgia with some updated classics and a sprinkling of new tunes in both sets that had the crowd singing all their way home.

Tony Woolway

Wilko Johnson Band & Glenn Tilbrook

Tramshed, Cardiff - 26/04/2019

Not often you get the opportunity to see three British rock and pop legends at one gig, yet at the great venue that is the Tramshed, it was a evening to savour.

First up was Glenn Tilbrook, one half of the song writing duo that have made Squeeze such a fan favourite band since the late Seventies.

When not touring as Squeeze Tilbrook and partner Chris Difford can often be found out on the road playing more intimate gigs and providing great value playing selections from Squeeze and their many solo efforts.

Whilst Squeeze songs undoubtedly went down a storm, with choruses sung in unison with the packed crowd, it was his choice of covers that were both interesting and delightful with Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” and Bacharach and David’s “Always Something There To Remind Me” met with an equally great response, and certainly whetted the appetite for the headline act to follow.

Further legends followed in the shape of Wilko Johnson and bassist Norman Watt-Roy, both legendary musicians, Wilko renowned for is time with seminal British RnB band Dr Feelgood and Watt-Roy for his bass work with Ian Dury and the Blockheads and many others including the Clash.

Both musicians belied their years and put to shame younger musicians as Wilko strutted the stage with guitar held menacingly like a musical machine gun spitting out chords whilst Watt-Roy bounced enthusiastically playing funky runs to accompany drummer Dylan Howe’s powerhouse thumping.

It was frenetic stuff with song quickly following song,always after a brief “what’s next” enquiry at the drum stand.

It was a blistering performance that featured old Feelgood’s favourite “Back In The Night” and a riveting version of Chuck Berry’s “Bye Bye Johnny” bringing the evening to a suitable climax and time for everyone to catch their breath, until the next time.

Wilko Johnson

Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets

St David's Hall, Cardiff - 29/04/2019

What started as a small project to play pre-1973 Pink Floyd songs at a few select venues was the idea of drummer Nick Mason to get out on the road and perform songs that not only seldom feature in the sets of former band mates Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters, but comprised solely of songs that are unlikely to have been performed in decades and harp back to the band's psychedelic period.

The success of those gigs and demand to see the band led to the current tour and many more happy punters, young and mostly old, can now get to hear songs that at the time of creation, were extremely ground breaking and led to a whole new musical genre.

Around him Mason's put together a quite stunning band that features Pink Floyd touring stalwart Guy Pratt on bass, Spandau Ballet's guitarist Gary Kemp, keyboardist Dom Beken and also on guitar Lee Harris, all of whom get to feature prominently in a quite scintillating evening.

Opening with a sonic tour de force that is “Interstellar Overdrive” from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, released in 1967, both guitarists came to the fore with driving guitar riffs and thundering drums, which was followed by Astronomy Domine, with its descending vocal and layering of phased sounds-capes.

It was a breathtaking start with Kemp masterly holding down his guitar duties and accepting the majority of the lead vocals, aided and abetted by Pratt, both complimenting each other and a perfect match-up.

Four songs in and the tempo was taken down with a stunning version of “Fearless” from the Meddle album that slowly weaved its way to a crescendo of noise and the football anthem “You'll Never Walk Alone” blasting from the speakers.

It was proving to be a memorable evening for everyone and the band threw in a song that even the Floyd of old had never played live and only till recently been released “Vegetable Man,” a quirky piece of Sixties psychedelia.

The raunchiest song of the evening “The Nile Song” featured a lovely local touch with Kemp borrowing and playing a guitar formerly owned by Man guitarist Micky Jones, one of Kemp's guitar heroes, loaned by his son George, and Kemp didn't disappoint with some sterling fretwork.

It was pure nostalgia and a joy to hear. Songs like “See Emily Play” “Bike” and “One of These Days” with its prominent driving bass were a real joy on the ears and such a wonderful back catalogue we can only hope they return again soon with another set of songs from such a impressionable era in music.

Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets

Art Garfunkel

St David's Hall, Cardiff – 12/04/2019

It was another sell-out crowd that welcomed a rare legend to the stage at St David's Hall.

Singer Art Garfunkel has a resume that puts in the shade many of his contemporaries and with long-time partner Paul Simon, created a body of work much of which have become anthems to their generation.

Starting with their first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. which heralded their first major hit and classic "The Sounds of Silence" in 1964, it was a career that hit many highs, and a few occasional lows.

Many break-ups and reunions with Simon plus a very productive solo career that included films have lead Garfunkel to where he is today, appreciative of his former partner and thankful for a life spent doing what he loves best, singing songs with a voice that hardly wavers and could charm birds from the trees.

Occasionally, you can detect the odd strain in the voice as the 77-year-old reaches those memorable high spots, but for a man who lost his voice due to vocal cord paresis, which took four years to conquer, it's a minor miracle that he can still produce these moments that send shivers down your spine.

With just two musicians for support it was a joy to hear slightly broken down versions of some of the Simon and Garfunkel classics, most notably “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Long-time side-man, guitarist Tab Laven, who first played with Garfunkel in 2003 features heavily and there a appeared genuine affection between the performers in a show that featured excepts from Garfunkel's writings, with insights in to his relationships with his father and Simon, plus life in general.

With a set list containing many of the high spots in his career, it was obviously the Simon and Garfunkel hits that registered the best response, song's like “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her”, “Homeward Bound”, “Sound of Silence”, “Kathy's Song”, and his favourite song from their time together “Scarborough Fair” all beautifully performed.

But it was some of the covers that really grabbed attention. Songs like Randy Newman's “Real Emotional Girl” and two quite stunning Everly Brothers songs, “Devoted to You” and “Let It Be Me“, both sung in tandem with his son James, who possesses an equally impressive voice.

Garfunkel was very impressed with the St David's Hall venue and the quality of it's acoustics so hopefully another return will be high his touring agenda.

Art Garfunkel

Glen Tilbrook

Acapela Studios, Cardiff - 29/03/2019

When The Beatles created the pop band template for many to follow, one of the bands who seemed to slip effortlessly into their eventually discarded shoes were Squeeze.
Not that it was all plain sailing for the band who themselves suffered for their art with the strain and stresses of pop stardom taking its toll on band members, Squeeze have managed to put aside their demons with a genuine love of their music and more importantly each other.
Band founder members Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford still tour and record as a band, and both together and apart continue to produce music of such a rare quality.
Whilst as a band they are a joy to behold it's the small solo tours that the real personalities come to the fore and at a packed Acapela Studio it was the turn of Mr Tilbrook.
Playing classics from their impressive back catalogue interspersed with a few covers most notably local legend Dave Edmunds no 1 hit "I Hear You Knocking" and a wistful Bacharach and David's "Always Something There To Remind Me" Tilbrook dazzled with some stunning, frenetic, fretwork displays showing what a talented musician he is as well as insightful songwriter.
Acapela Studios offer fans a chance to get up close and personal with performers and the personable Tilbrook was certainly one to benefit from the cosy setting delighting fans with his friendly banter.
Obviously, it was is Squeeze era-songs that attracted the greater response with fan participation a feature on songs like "Take Me I'm Yours" and "Tempted" with a stunning "Goodbye Girl" and "Another Nail In My Heart" bringing the evening to a delightful end.
Thankfully fans don't have to wait long for a return with a Squeeze gig planned for later in the year with a visit to the Acapela by soulmate Difford just around the corner.
Squeeze are spoiling us, long may it continue.

Glen Tilbrook

Deacon Blue

St David's Hall, Cardiff – 22/11/2018

The resurgence of interest in Deacon Blue is quite staggering of late.
Of course, celebrating their 30th anniversary will bring out fans, and
former fans in droves, yet the fact that they are still making new and
refreshing music, with the 2016 Believers album receiving great
critical acclaim and no doubt attracting new fans, certainly played a
massive part in igniting a whole new, totally unexpected career boost
rather than just resting on their laurels.

As always singer Ricky Ross takes the limelight being front and
centre, bursting with energy that belies the fact he's the recent
recipient of a bus pass, such was his prowling and cajoling through
nearly 2 hours of fast paced Celtic rock.

Opening their set with the driving “I Was Right You Was Wrong” it
proved a slow build that suddenly burst into life following the first
instantly recognisable bars of “Raintown” a masterpiece of epic
proportions with a reaction that set the tone for the rest of the
evening.

Not that it was all power and pace. Deacon Blue's quiet moments are
always wistful and full of nostalgia and longing, most evident in a
moving “When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)” which including a
refrain into the Chi-lites classic “Have You Seen Her”

The pace couldn't continue and fortunately there was a brief moment to
catch your breath with a touching moment when Ross, with bandmate and
wife Lorraine McIntosh celebrated their son Seamus's 18th birthday
with a song and birthday cake leaving a very embarrassed, yet no doubt
proud son.

Back to business, in a varied set, their big hitters obviously
received the biggest response from a very vocal crowd with “Real Gone
Kid” “Loaded” and “Chocolate Girl” getting the Beatlemania treatment,
whilst a singalong “Dignity” provided a fittng encore before ending
the evening with a band rendition of Willie Nelson's “Always On My
Mind” and beaming smiles for all those who attended.

Deacon Blue

Madeleine Peyroux

St David's Hall, Cardiff – 21/11/2018

American jazz/blues singer Madeleine Peyroux is one of a rare bred
when it comes to seeing her perform.

Her delivery is effortlessly natural and with her influences many
varied, so much so, that it's fascinating watching Peyroux easily swap
musical genres with such a quality. Whether it be jazz, blues,
country, each song comes stamped in Peyroux's inimitable style.

Promoting her current album Anthem, inspired by and featuring the
Leonard Cohen song of the same name and considered by many as her
greatest work yet, a bold statement when considering her previous
success, it's hard to dispute the claims with the recording being both
personal and political in content, that grips you from the very first
hearing.

What was a joy it was then watching much of the album performed live
with Peyroux supported by such an excellent band, most notably John
Herington, Steely Dan's guitarist of choice, in such fine form with
some subtle yet inspiring guitar work.

The concert was one of the quietest I've heard for many years. It was
nice to for once listen to and experience something pure without a
bass guitar booming or the snapping sound of a snare drum. Each
instrument expertly played, heard and enjoyed.

From the new album the evening opener 'Down On Me' and the
McCartney-like 'On My Own' bounced along as did the Latin inspired
'Honey Party' with her audience contributing in the choruses, but my
stand out song and performance was her version of “All My Heroes”
beautifully sad and melancholic with Peyroux plucking her ukulele and
some soulful piano by Andy Ezrin.

Of the rest, a wonderful version of Hank Williams “I'll Never Get Out
OF This World Alive” got feet tapping as did the jaunty “On A Sunday
Afternoon” whilst “Brand New Deal” sounded right out of the Donald
Fagan songbook and quite stunning.

She's not one of Cardiff's regular visitors but from the response
received there'll be no shortage of fans looking for another repeat
performance from one of the Jazz world's finest.

American jazz/blues singer Madeleine Peyroux is one of a rare bred
when it comes to seeing her perform.

Her delivery is effortlessly natural and with her influences many
varied, so much so, that it's fascinating watching Peyroux easily swap
musical genres with such a quality. Whether it be jazz, blues,
country, each song comes stamped in Peyroux's inimitable style.

Promoting her current album Anthem, inspired by and featuring the
Leonard Cohen song of the same name and considered by many as her
greatest work yet, a bold statement when considering her previous
success, it's hard to dispute the claims with the recording being both
personal and political in content, that grips you from the very first
hearing.

What was a joy it was then watching much of the album performed live
with Peyroux supported by such an excellent band, most notably John
Herington, Steely Dan's guitarist of choice, in such fine form with
some subtle yet inspiring guitar work.

The concert was one of the quietest I've heard for many years. It was
nice to for once listen to and experience something pure without a
bass guitar booming or the snapping sound of a snare drum. Each
instrument expertly played, heard and enjoyed.

From the new album the evening opener 'Down On Me' and the
McCartney-like 'On My Own' bounced along as did the Latin inspired
'Honey Party' with her audience contributing in the choruses, but my
stand out song and performance was her version of “All My Heroes”
beautifully sad and melancholic with Peyroux plucking her ukulele and
some soulful piano by Andy Ezrin.

Of the rest, a wonderful version of Hank Williams “I'll Never Get Out
OF This World Alive” got feet tapping as did the jaunty “On A Sunday
Afternoon” whilst “Brand New Deal” sounded right out of the Donald
Fagan songbook and quite stunning.

She's not one of Cardiff's regular visitors but from the response
received there'll be no shortage of fans looking for another repeat
performance from one of the Jazz world's finest.

Madeleine Peyroux