Holding Absence Play Cardiff Tonight

Supporting Funeral For A Friend, Holding Absence Play Y Plas Tonight.

Here is a Retro Review of their previous Performance there back on 28/10/21.

Cardiff based post hardcore giants Holding Absence had a promising year in 2021; with the release of second studio album ‘The Greatest Mistake of My Life’ making its way to number 5 in the Kerrang! rock and metal best albums of the year. Earlier in 2021, Holding Absence were found performing at both the government trialled Download Festival and Reading and Leeds festival.

The tour was the direct follow on from the album release and was set to cover 8 shows within the United Kingdom.

Opening the tour at a hometown show in the capital of Wales with support from Australian pop punk band Yours Truly and Buckinghamshire rock band As Everything Unfolds. Kicking the night off with a bang was As Everything Unfolds who were definitely a highlight of the night for me. I had previously heard them but the concert definitely made me a fan. 2021 brought the release of debut studio album ‘Within Each Lies The Other’ they brought a mix of new and fan favourite; capturing the audience for their whole performance. I would recommend this band to fans of Dream State, VENUES and Holding Absence.

Continuing the night was a high energy performance from Yours Truly accompanied by the incredible vocals of frontwoman Mikaila Delago. Touring the release of their 2020 release ‘Self Care’ they are truly a force to be reckoned with. I would recommend this band to fans of Stand Atlantic, Between You and Me and Tonight Alive.

And then it was time for headline act Holding Absence, walking onto the first song of the night appropriately titled ‘Celebration Song’ with the haunting first line ‘I’m alive’ echoing around the room between fans. As the storm hits hard outside they lit up the room with fan favourites and brand new masterpieces crafted by the band.

Frontman Lucas Woodland never fails to impress the crowd with his powerful vocals, creating a plethora of emotions through his poetic lyricism on tracks such as ‘In Circles. The crowd singing back the words to every song showed to me how loved this band really is in the alternative music scene, this was witnessed the most during fan favourite tracks like ‘Afterlife’ and ‘Like A Shadow’. Later in the evening, Woodland brought on his sister to perform their duet in ‘Die Alone’ in which she displayed her amazing talent alongside his.

Closing the night Woodland warned the fans of an emotional goodbye as the iconic intro to ‘Wilt’ begins to linger around the room; by the end of the track, the crowd turned sombre and peaceful as the final lyric of the night ‘maybe I can be free to love you for an enternity’ plays out.

Holding Absence are set to perform with Welsh legends Funeral For a Friend beginning February 28th, before heading to the Valleys for a one off show at the Redhouse Cymru in Merthyr Tydfil and then taking to the States with a tour alongside DaySeeker.

Bethan Stewart

Burlesque....a hidden gem

Back in the day (kids ask your parents) the Top Rank Suite on Cardiff’s Queen Street held what was called Implosion evening. I’m sure there are more knowledgable people out there who remember these nights but in my fading memory, it featured up and coming bands plus a rather uninspiring disco in comparison.
Fortunately, for a rabid music fan, tickets to this regular evening came free via a school mate who’s mum worked at the Top Rank (also a good source for undersubscribed gigs at the Capitol Theatre ! ).
The reason I mention this evening was because of one band I saw there in the mid-seventies called Burlesque.
I’d never heard of them before so it was an absolute pleasure to witness one of the best live performances I’d ever seen, a performance that had me scouring the bargain bins at Spillers Records for their debut album Acupuncture.
Concerned that the album would hardly do justice to their live act, it was a delight to find the album was a ‘live’ recording, something never heard of for a new, upcoming band.
Described as ‘Art Rock’ there were elements of Roxy Music, a quirky intelligence of a 10cc, plus some quality musicianship.
Led by the dapper Ian Trimmer on vocals and saxophones and the crazy Billy Jenkins on guitar, it was an eclectic, jazz-fused riot of a gig which the album manages to portray beautifully.
The band were a odd-looking bunch. Trimmer very Ferry-like, Jenkins, a bundle of manic energy akin to a Wilko Johnson on steroids.
There was a Welsh connection to the band in the shape of keyboardist Steve Parr. Born in Cardiff and looking very much like a refugee from Steely Dan, a teenage Parr was the relief keyboard player for Shakin Stevens and the Sunsets before moving to London to join Burlesque and today, a respected producer, film composer and engineer.
Named as the band most likely to succeed in 1977 by Melody Maker, it was a kiss of death for the band that fizzled out after just two albums, the second named just Burlesque and sadly not a patch on the first, but a grower all the same.
Acupuncture kicks off with ‘Elsie Petunia’ a bouncy tune highlighted by some buzz saw guitar and a lovely gentle refrain that kick starts another frantic guitar burst.
Next up is the excellent ‘Lana Turner’ a swinging homage to the film star with a saucy sax intro that carries the song along with its dubious lyrical content.
‘Cold War Romance’ follows and is just what the title describes with ‘Hymie Blows It’ an apt description of the next song , a sax-driven instrumental again featuring Jenkins on fuzz guitar, all done at breakneck speed that leads faultlessly in to the album’s title track ‘Acupuncture’ a fitting end to side one.
Side two starts well with a rather shouty ‘Where Did You Get’ and ‘Drabola’ before reaching the stand out track of the second side ‘CND 63’ a slight tongue-in-cheek pastiche of beat poets and ban the bomb before ending with the hardly charming ‘Love it to Death’.
They may not be everyone’s cup of tea but worth searching out if looking for something a little different.
I’m sure you’ll not be disappointed.

Tony Woolway

Bowie...Five Years Stuck On My Eyes

The Mural is just around the corner from The Brixton Academy, It had become a shrine and was Packed with Visitors.

Simply could not let the day go by without a few personal thoughts about David Bowie Five years on from his passing.

Without finding the music of Bowie at a young age, like many, Probably things may have been very different for me.

In 2017 I attended The Brixton Accademy gig to Celebrate Bowies Music. The members of the final Bowie Band Line up Performed with many Guests who had Been Influenced by the man as an artist or Friend.

I have Included a couple of Photos from the event…Not great quality but all taken on my phone whilst the sold out venue Rocked and sang every word.

I was also very fortunate to see Holy Holy, With Woody Woodmansey from the original Spiders From Mars Band and Tony Visconti on Bass, Visconti had played Bass on Bowies Earlier work and of course produced him and became a close friend.

I have Included a few Photos of That Gig Too.

Why Mention these two gigs? Well they are just a part of my Bowie Journey from the age of ten till he passed away, many memories of his music inspiring and interweaving in my life.

Most Importantly he was the Icon for “it’s ok to be different”

A truely unique Artist.

We would Love to hear ‘Your” Bowie stories.

Please email us at Infocardifflive@gmail.com

The Bar Wallsat Brixton was coverered in Photos of Many greats that had played there. Bowies 97 Performance.

Taken at The Hard Rock Cafe Marble Arch.

All Photos © Keepcardifflive.

The Clash

Simonon’s Fender Precision Bass Shattered on Stage, Famously Photographed by Pennie Smith and used as The London Calling album cover Photo Copyright KCL©

The 15th of December was Paul Simonon’s 65th Birthday….41 years ago the album London Calling was released this week….40 years ago the album Sandanista! was released this week.

KCL get two view points on “The only Band that matters” The Clash.

The Old

March 18th 1977 The Clash released their first single White Riot, I for one and I suspect many others never looked at music the same again. as a 16 year old living in a time of great change and disillusionment,The Clash spoke to me as a Teenager venting anger,dissafection and oppression amongst other themes.

I was fortunate to see The Clash on The London Calling Tour at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

The Clash inspired me to pick up a Guitar and play, voice oppinion and be heard.

London Calling I still Believe to be a classic, the combination of styles were educating and a progression from the Punk Roots, not for some the change, but for me inovative and captavating.

Sandinista! a Triple album of Indulgence, Experimentation and Crossover… Massively Underated and heavily Critisised, has I believe stood the test of time and shown how some of their ideas were so ahead of the game.

They had their faults, but no one band spoke to me the way The Clash did…. The only Band that Mattered still do.

Photo Copyright KCL©

And the New

Here is a very interesting Piece written by Joe Strong, a student at USW Cardiff Atrium Journalism Course reflecting on The Clash.

He discovered The Clash like me as a Teenager

The Clash 40 years on 

By Joe Strong 

This week marks the 41st anniversary of one of the most important punk rock albums of all time, London calling, the third studio album by the Clash.

Joe Strummer (lead vocals and guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar) , Paul Simonon (bass guitar) and Topper Headon (drums), released London calling on the 14th December 1979. 

London calling, the record’s lead single, was a massive hit and other iconic songs on the record like Death or glory, the guns of Brixton, and brand-new Cadillac, helped the album sell five million copies worldwide. 

The iconic cover of the album is also what made London calling so special. The picture of Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar against the stage floor, is an image that became synonymous with the punk rock movement of the 70s and 80s. 

Around the same time a year after London calling, the group released Sandinista! The clash’s fourth album which turned 40 last Saturday.

Unlike London calling, this record received mixed reviews but was praised for its unique style. Sandinista! does not sound like your typical punk rock album, which in my opinion makes it a special record. 

Sandinista’s lead single, the magnificent Seven, is a funky hit, that is certainly underrated. Other hidden gems on the album include, the leader, something about England and Let’s go crazy. 

Persoanlly, for me, this year marks three years since I first discovered the Clash. 

I first listened to them when I was around seventeen. The song on the extended version of the album, Train in vain (stand by me), quickly became one of my favourite songs at the time, and it still is to this day. 

The London band’s cover of, I fought the law and Rock the Casbah, also quickly became favourites of mine. 

I was amazed to discover that, lead singer, Joe Strummer lived in Newport, which is only 10 minutes down the road from my hometown of Cwmbran. This just fascinated me and my love for the band is something that has stuck with me over the last three years. 

London Calling an Exhibition of all things Clash was held in London 2019 at The London Museum.

Here are some Photographs taken on My visit

TC

All Photos Copyright KCL©.

RETRO REVIEW: THE FOALS CARDIFF UNIVERSITY 28/09/2008

WITHOUT doubt one of the more inventive and original bands around at this present time, Foals have had a meteoric rise in both popularity and critical acclaim since their debut release Antidotes hit the stores like a breath of fresh air earlier this year.The five-piece Oxford band, fronted by singer and accident-waiting-to happen Yannis Philippakis, have a certain cool about them that makes other skinny-jeaned, indie wannabes look average in sound and performance, when compared to this charismatic bunch.I’ve always been a sucker for their type of punk-funk laced with electronic blips and spiky rhythms and with a tight bass and drum combo driving away in the background they easily set the feet tapping and the more energetic jumping along to their highly danceable groove punctuated with their quirky and interesting guitar interplay. While their recordings are to be admired, it’s live that the band really excels and they didn’t disappoint their  energetic Cardiff following with an exciting and oddly amusing performance.You can certainly detect some of their influences with early Talking Heads and XTC, the most notable especially in songs like Hummer and Balloons with both receiving a rapturous response bettered only by the superb Cassius causing bedlam among the audience.Musically the band were in top form with  both Philippakis and Jimmy Smith on guitar trading syncopated, choppy rhythms complemented by keyboardist Edwin Congreave’s electro-techno decoration while Jack Bevan (drums) and Walter Gervers (bass) provided the glue that kept the band together with a driving backbeat.  Easily one of the bands to see at the moment and if you missed them, here’s hoping for a quick return for  Foals.

Tony Woolway

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.