Review - China Crisis - Acapela Studio - 05/11/2023

Acapela Studios is proving a good venue for China Crisis. Their regular visits guarantees a sell out, whilst those lucky few quick enough to secure tickets, do so certain in the knowledge that, in Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon, their evening is certain to be a joyful and musically rewarding experience.

Whilst they have a back catalogue to be die for, the band are far removed from the current retro 80’s gang plodding through a few hits to the delight of nostalgic dewy-eyed punters. The band sound fresh and in Daly, a front man who can charm the birds from the trees and quite the comedian, with his tales and reminiscing.

Certainly they play their hits (10 top 50 singles) but also much loved and seldom heard album tracks of which the choice is endless.

Aided and abetted by regular bandmates, keyboard player (Jack Hymers) and saxophonist (Eric Animan) they beautifully create powerful soundscapes that complement both Lundon’s fine guitar work and Daly’s subtle vocals.

Early songs about girlfriends, family and friends, their first dabble with songwriting was discussed as they explained the rapid change in their circumstances. One minute Kirby, the next criss-crossing America and the recording of “Arizona Sky” and the broadening of their horizons, both musically and culturally.

With so much chatter and sublime music the evening flew and with the night closing ever so near the curfew, Daly was shocked and keen to push on and squeeze in a few more numbers, one being the wonderful “Christian” to top off a quite stunning evening.

Tony Woolway

Review - Haircut 100 - Tramshed Cardiff

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Having imploded 40 years ago at the height of their popularity Haircut 100’s sad demise following numerous hit singles and a stunning debut album Pelican West was one as bizarre as it was sad.

The reasons have been discussed and is pretty well documented over time by all parties but must have rankled somewhat after Heyward’s resurgence as a solo artist a year later with some degree of success and critically acclaimed work.

It’s not that the rest of the band disappeared into the ether. Bassist Les Nemes had a stint with the ever youthful Rick Astley, guitarist Graham Jones had brief flirt with pop stardom with the massively underrated Boys Wonder whilst, most impressive of all, drummer Blair Cunningham hit the skins for some notable artists like Paul McCartney and The Pretenders, to name but two.

The catalyst for this reunion was the anniversary of Pelican West and its reissue last year leading to two celebratory gig’s early this year, the success of which led to this full blown tour, the first since 1982.

So it was no surprise to see a full and enthusiastic audience pack into the Tramshed to witness the band’s long overdue return to the Capital and maybe recall a little bit of their youth as their recently reformed heroes blasted out tune after tune with their brand of funk-infused pop.

Sadly missing Blair Cunningham due to illness an able deputy was found with Faithless drummer Andy Treacy providing the powerful back-beat to Heyward’s quirky tunes and hit followed hit with Pelican West songs a big feature in a punchy, fast-paced set.

Obviously Fantastic Day, Love Plus One and Favourite Shirt got the biggest cheers and still sound as fresh as the day they were recorded but surprisingly two new songs were included, both of which, but especially Songbird sounded fresh and new but given the full Haircut 100 band treatment.

With Heyward announcing that there are more songs in the pipeline and a new album around the corner, the band seem happy and reconciled and a real unit moving forward making light of their 40 years in the pop wilderness.

Letting rip to finish with 12 inch mash-up of Favourite Shirt, the band left to rapturous applause with the band looking somewhat touched by the mighty Cardiff welcome. And boys, it was very much deserved.

Tony Woolway

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Review - Barbara - Tramshed - 02/11/2023

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Every so often a group comes along that grabs your attention from the get go. Barbara are one of those bands. From your very first viewing, they hook you in with their finely crafted songs, lush harmonies and quirky tunes that dazzle and leave you with a smile on your face and feet furiously tapping.

Led by brothers Henry and John Tydeman, the band are achingly good with a punchy driving rhythm section and ringing, buzzing guitar, whilst all but their drummer provide faultless harmonies reminiscent of the American West Coast bands of the 60s and 70s.

I’m judging that their influences are many varied. There were certainly elements of Glam rock, especially in the way the guitar riffed giving their contemporary compositions an unexpected retro feel from the glitter age whilst lyrically there was a British-ness that brought visions of country estates and afternoon tea.

Frontman John Tydeman is the obvious focal point of the band, a charismatic cross between Spark’s Russell Mael and Oscar Wilde he looked like he had stepped out of Brideshead Revisted. Quickly endearing himself to the very receptive Cardiff audience they became putty in his hands as he dashed his way around the stage cajoling his audience with good natured banter.

It’s been many years since I’ve seen a band that gripped me instantly with so much talent and hope they quickly find the vast audience that their music so dearly deserves and like the majority of the crowd at Tramshed, hope for a speedy return.

Tony Woolway

Boo Hewerdine - Penarth Pier Pavilion 01/07/2023

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Described in his Wikipedia biog as "one of Britain's most consistently accomplished songwriters" this evening's gig is all the proof needed to fully endorse that description. Quite simply Boo Hewerdine is a British musical treasure.

Since his formative years as lead singer and creative force in the much acclaimed band The Bible, Hewerdine has consistently produced songs of such quality that he’s attracted quite a few high-profile stars, either keen to record his songs or write with the talented Boo.

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It’s highly likely that you may have heard a Boo song, but not have noticed. What he describes his “big hit” the Ivor Novello nominated “Patience of Angels” a hit for singer Eddi Reader features regularly on TV and Radio. Hewerdine’s version this evening was particularly moving with his audience singing in unison.

Playing another song, “Bell, Book and Candle” a tune originally recorded by The Bible, Hewerdine tells how the song as become the ‘go to song of death’ for many TV shows with a character leaving a programme never to return.

It was certainly proving a quite exceptional and intimate evening with the venue (and it’s wonderful acoustics) playing its part as Hewerdine sang the soulful “Graceland” whilst proving quite the raconteur, keeping his audience entertained between songs.

Ending the evening, Hewerdine stepped away from the mic to perform his song “Sunset” just as the sun went down on a beautiful evening.

Boo aside, there can’t be many better venues in South Wales as the Penarth Pier Pavilion for intimate gigs such as these and long may they continue in such a wonderful environment

By Tony Woolway

Review - Danny Baker - New Theatre Cardiff - 16/04/2023

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When a true legend of broadcasting Danny Baker starts talking, with that machine gun patter of his, the evening certainly flies by. 3 hours later the house lights are on and theatre staff are desperate to head home, But the great DB is only just starting and barely scratching the surface of a quite amazing career.

From his earliest beginnings living in on an East London council estate to jetting all over the world, meeting some of the greatest musical artistes of the time, whilst working for the World’s biggest selling musical weekly newspaper followed by an incredible transition to TV and radio broadcaster. His story is an hilarious one and equaly fascinating.

Baker’s life as been one of amazing ups and a fair few downs but his infectious good humour and love of life with few, if any regrets, finds a man both content with his life and extremely proud of his achievements.

The current tour is the third in a series of shows that focuses mostly on each of his three books, though very loosely, as Baker is prone to fly off in the opposite direction as he recalls something witty or interesting that he’d forgotten or the current situation prompted.

Starting with a brief (hardly!) refresh, pool cue in hand, Baker was a bundle of energy from the off, constantly on the move, and at times you felt you were at Centre court at Wimbledon watching as he ran up steps on some imaginary Fitbit.

Always prominent in his shows is his father affectionately known to all as Spud. A character that looms large in his life and an obvious influence on the young Danny, brought lovingly back to life in the excellent Cradle To The Grave TV series with comedian Peter Kay playing the larger than life patriarch Spud.

Much of the second half of the show centred on his TV career from Daz commercials to TGI Fridays, where he told the tale of how he sacked the Foo Fighters from one show after the group used their appearance to kick off during their performance. ranting and swearing and coming off stage smug in thinking that their performance would cause outrage, only to be told by Baker that their ‘live’ appearance wasn’t live but just a run through and the actual show wouldn’t be broadcast for another hour. The Foo Fighters were unceremoniously booted out without appearing.

Baker also recalls hilariously his time spent in Australia as a contestant on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, debunking the myth that they were dumped in some tropical forest but rather a TV set on the outskirts of Sydney surrounded by camera teams, production and catering crews. The disappointment of being the first out of the jungle was tempered by being left to slum it in an extremely plush hotel with everything paid for by the ITV ‘dollar’ with a handsome fee to boot.

Baker rushed through as best he could before the 11pm curfew but touchingly ended the evening with a quite emotional tribute to his wife Wendy as he described their early distant courtship, the despair of finding his soulmate unhappily married and eventually running off together with Baker and Wendy flying to the US where he was to interview Earth Wind and Fire. The rest is history and the happiest of endings.

Tony Woolway

China Crisis - Acapela 05/11/2021

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It’s been very nearly 40 years, yet for China Crisis, what’s a few years amongst good friends.

80’s bands and their music can be a little cheesy to the discerning listener and whilst many rave about that particular era, which without doubt saw some amazing talents, quite a few bands never seem to get the credit their music deserved and who still very much inspire. One such band is China Crisis.

Despite achieving some considerable hits and critically acclaimed albums, when compiling lists of the great and the good during those times, China Crisis rarely get acknowleged and it’s a frustration that, no doubt the band, as well as their die hard fans would love to correct.

But what China Crisis do, as opposed to their contemporaries is continue to produce the goods both writing and performing at times new material, as well as performing songs from a quite stunning back catalogue.

If I’m sounding very much like a fan, then I admit to being hooked from their earliest begins with the release of their debut album, Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain, which was released in December 1982 and the singles "African and White" and "Christian". All seeming so fresh and different at the time.

Fast forward 40 years and I’m still getting that buzz with each performance, and trust me, I’ve seen quite a few!

The China Crisis of today is certainly a different animal, and whether seeing them as a duo, quartet, or full-blown band, they never fail to produce an evening of sublime music and hysterical chatter, something to a newcomer, is totally unexpected.

Fronted by the genial Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly, it’s Daly in particular who lifts proceedings to another level with his good natured and whimsical account of the band’s career and recordings as well as hilarious name-dropping the good and not-so-good people they’ve met during their considerable career.

But, it’s the music we initially came for and the four-piece band were in quite excellent form as they played a selection of singles and album tracks in between Daly’s side-splitting anecdotes.

Songs from the band’s Walter Becker (Steely Dan) produced album Flaunt the Imperfection and the Langer/Winstanley What Price Paradise sounded as fresh as the day they were released with “Arizona Sky” in particular, with it’s catchy refrain still reverberating days/weeks later.

It would be unfair to not mention the contribution made by Jack Hymers (keyboards) and Eric Animan (sax) who completed the band and are indispensable to the China Crisis ‘sound’

Unfortunately/fortunately, with all the chat, the band lost sense of time leaving them rushing to beat the Acapela curfew yet still managed to squeeze in the wonderful “Christian”- before sheepishly ending yet another quite fabulous evening.

For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure then the band are out on tour next year celebrating their 40th Anniversary and with luck, coming to a town near you.

Tony Woolway

Images Copyright KCL©

Venues 4 - Sophia Gardens

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One of the larger venues in Cardiff was the Sophia Gardens Pavilion, with a seated capacity of 2,500.

Built in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, due to government restrictions on building materials during the post-war period, the framework of the building was adapted from a surplus aircraft hangar from RAF Stormy Down near Bridgend.

The building was host to many concerts, but during January 1982 the roof collapsed due to an estimated 4 ft (1.2 m) of snow,and the building was subsequently demolished. Just one month before the collapse, Cardiff Council had approved an extensive improvement programme, which would have cost approximately £100,000.

The pavilion was used for the boxing and wrestling competitions of the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

Many notable performers played at the pavilion, including Danny Kaye, Cliff Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Slade.

Venues 3 - Top Rank Cardiff Suite

Our Regular feature on music Venues continues with The Top Rank Cardiff Suite

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A regular venue for up and coming signed bands in the 60s and 70s would have been the Top Rank Suite in Queen Street.

Created under what was the old Gaumont Theatre, Top Rank's opening on November 22, 1963, was overshadowed by the assassination of US president John F Kennedy, but over the next four decades it thrived. With a capacity of 1,500, it was to feature some rock’s greatest bands with The Kinks, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Clash, The Jam, The Police, to name just a handful.

The Top Rank was also one the Capital’s premier ballrooms and held regular evenings as a discotheque whilst also featuring its own in-house band.

It closed as the The Top Rank in 1982 but continued as a night club and live venue under various names like Ritzy Astoria and Panama Joes.

Planning permission for its demolition was granted in late 2004 and by 2005 the old Top Rank was gone for good.