Lisa Stansfield

St David's Hall – 1/11/2019

It's been thirty years since Lisa Stansfield's solo debut album Affection was released and a recording that proved a career-defining moment in her life. The Affection album proved a world-wide hit and spawned a couple of hit singles with All Around The World hitting the top spot in several countries and becoming her signature, go to song. So, how best to celebrate than at a packed St David's Hall to witness the album played in its entirety.

Though she may be small in stature, Stansfield still possesses a big, big voice, and whether it be dance music or ballads, her voice still has a quality that is almost unrivalled amongst her peers.

Opening with the title track Affection, it set the stall out for a quite upbeat and danceable evening with songs sourced directly from this soulful classic, still very much held in high regard today as it was on it's release.

There is no denying her Northern roots, her warming, unmistakable Rochdale burr so noticeable as she introduces another song from a fast-paced 90 minute set, the last of her UK tour with the support of her quite stunning band akin to the unveiling of a classic.

It didn't take Stansfield long to get backsides off seats with This Is The Right Time leading to a surge to the front of the stage and a rather distracting period of selfies taken by fans enjoying their opportunity to get up close to their idol.

Dotted in for good measure were a songs that featured prominently in her career, hits The Real Thing and the much earlier People Hold On which helped bring the evening's proceedings to a quite stunning and delightful climax.

Soft Machine

The Earl Haig Club, Cardiff - 30/10/2019

Once upon a time, music was a serious business. As an example, I remember carefully positioning

the microphone of my second hand tape recorder in front of a radio, new tape from Charlie Marks’

Wyndham Arcade emporium loaded and ready, and pressing “go” on a 45-minute concert of some of

the broadcast works of French composer Olivier Messiaen

It was the age of adventurous, mind expanding “underground”, “progressive” music. This was

serious stuff and anyone caught smiling was stiffly rebuked and sent to listen to Motown. Nothing

was more serious in this era of the po-faced, pop-picker’s pilgrimage than Soft Machine, who

swapped time signatures like bubble gum cards and linked riffs with random notes as if they were

from the same planet.

I was a student at their feet and if Canterbury kingpin Mike Ratledge, part of the great Wyatt-

Hopper-Ratledge line-up, was influenced by Messiaen, then I was ready for enlightenment. He was,

of course, unlistenable and so, in those pre-video days, I unfurrowed my brow, wiped the tape and

recorded instead a sound only version of the Marx Brothers’ anarchic opus, Animal Crackers. Well,

art is art, isn’t it?

Fifty years on, Magnificent Mike’s name was raised on several occasions by host and guitar supremo

John Etheridge, part of the latest reprise of the Softs as they gigged Cardiff’s Earl Haig Club.

Nowadays, only most recent recruit (just thirteen years!) multi-instrumentalist Theo Travis, a musical

baby still young enough to wear designer trainers, dons shades on stage ala Ratledge. His trainers

are in fact filling the sizeable boots of Karl Jenkins, Elton Dean as well as Ratledge and he does it with

energy, enthusiasm and a great deal of expertise.

The others seem very comfortable in the bright lights. There’s nothing eamest in Etheridge’s

comically rambling chats with the audience. A coughing, cackling Mickey Flanagan-esque figure, he

guides us though two hours of tunes to savour.

The music? Well, what do you think? After all, these guys were experimenting, innovating and

pushing the boundaries of rock, jazz and classical with consummate technical ability fifty years ago.

Yes, they may be a little mellower as the Sanatagen replaces the Purple Haze but musically the

stimulants were all still there.

Etheredge’s reliable rhythms, soaring solos and short staccato bursts were clear and compelling;

Bassist Roy Babbington, a four string legend, and the fantastic John Marshall, drumming across times

and tones with tightness, drove the set list of standards to a contented conclusion that saw us Silver

Sagalouts set sail for home humming a complicated riff or two. I’m sure if he could have been there,

Olivier would have tapped a toe as well, before he left to catch his mode of limited transposition.

See them if you can for a night of delights

Keep Cardiff Live sat down with Soft Machine guitarist John Etheridge shortly after their packed gig at The Earl Haig Club in Cardiff.

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Judith Owen

Acapella Studio - 20/10/2019

It was a very successful return to Wales for Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen with a quite stunning evening at the intimate Acapela Studios where she displayed a mastery of both voice and instrument and who, along with the excellent Pedro Segundo on percussion, received a standing ovation from those who braved the chilly October evening.

Being the daughter of Opera singer Handel Owen, music courses through her veins and it was no surprise that she would follow in the family business of singing and entertaining but through slightly different musical genres.

Her mix of jazz and blues influenced songs and cover versions have brought her many fans and the latest tour redisCOVERed, featured an eclectic batch of tunes given in many ways a more natural airing and in doing so giving the songs a new meaning and interesting direction.

Not that it's been all plain sailing for Owen, the death of her mother at a young age and the melancholy that stemmed from that can be reflected in her writing and song choices. Who would have thought that a song like Summer Nights from the musical Grease could become such a soulful lament of lost love. Owen's interpretation is magical and sent a shiver down the spine, the same could be said of her cover of Mungo Jerry's In The Summertime, that becomes a sultry, soulful mix that gently soothes and relaxes.

Now mainly a resident of New Orleans where she lives with her husband Harry Shearer, Her music is clearly influenced by the vibe that the City creates and it's most evident in her version of Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music.

In between songs Owen delighted with her views on the state of the planet and her adopted country America but mixed with humour that included a neat put down on a few noisy late comers, all done with her tongue firmly in her cheek.

Owen said it was probably the last time she was to tour with this set of songs and she hoped a return to the Acapela would follow in the future, something we will eagerly await, following such a special evening.

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