The MMP January 2011 01
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Greetings fellow citizens,
6-7 Gruff Rhys
You hold in your hands the 17th edition of the Miniature Music Press. Immerse yourself in its papery confines. We think you’ll notice that the dear old ‘Diff shows no signs of slowing its relentless production of offbeat music, exotic grooves and masterful musicians. Read on to discover what legend Gruff Rhys has in store for your ears in 2011. Discover the charms of H. Hawkline, meet Mogwai and get to know hippety hoppers Astroid Boys. What a startling array of talent! Cardiff has yet to produce a rival to the great love walrus, Barry White, though. Perhaps Valentine’s day will be the catalyst for such an arrival. Big boots to fill, mind.
8 Mogwai
In any case have a huge bear hug from the MMP for this be the month of love! So with the back of winter nearly broken, we look forward. Soon green shoots of hope will emerge. Animals will poke their heads out of snug little holes and guitarists everywhere will be able to feel their fingers again. Before you know it, you’ll only be wearing two jumpers. Enjoy! From Wales with love,
10 H Hawkline
The MMP xxx
4-5 Music News 14 Live Reviews 15 Ruffstylz 15 Kaptin 16-17 CD Reviews
12 Astroid Boys Editors: Aimée-Jade Hayes; Rowan Liggett; Simon Read. Staff Writers: Jonathan Day; Sion Trefor Cover Design: Rich Chitty
Contributors: Bill Bellamy; Pippa Bennett; Emma Gould; Beckie Jordan; Kaptin; Jake May; Matt Pasternakiewicz; James Payne; Ruffstylz; J.M. Strange. Staff Photographer: Paul Roberts www.paulrobertsimages.com
Printed by: Sharper Print
18-29 Previews & Listings 30 J. M. Strange Demos/CDs To: The Miniature Music Press Ltd. Kings Road Art Studios,183a Kings Road,Cardiff,CF11 9DF General: info@themmp.tv Advertising: ads@themmp.tv Listings: listings@themmp.tv
www.themmp.tv twitter.com/themmp
The MMP January 2011 03
Music News
Taking The Piste Having hosted DJ sets from luminaries such as Simian Mobile Disco, Shy FX and Deadmau5, C-Y-N-T has well and truly cemented its position at the forefront of the UK club scene. Not content with packing out Clwb Ifor Bach every Thursday night the midweek rave juggernaut has been invited to host its very own stage at Austria’s Snowbombing festival in April. Participating in a bill that brags live sets from The Prodigy, Pendulum and Fatboy Slim this is without doubt quite an achievement. Well done, you crazy kids! www.c-y-n-t.com
Revoker Announce UK tour! And It Has A Welsh date!
Ever since those loveable scamps from Rhymney Valley signed to the rock behemoth that is Roadrunner, the road to rock royalty has been as fast as a greased-up pig. Having toured with Soulfly, as well as opening for Rob Zombie’s first UK tour in 12 years, they are now set to co-headline a tour of the UK with US trad-metal revivalists Holy Grail. With a Cardiff date penned for the 17th March, the day before their set at Hammerfest, this may be the last visit to Wales for a while, as they pursue their journey from Roadrunner n00bs to Welsh rock icons.
Gruff Rhys Cover Competition And The Winner Is .... The MMP heartily congratulates Mr Rich Chitty on designing the winning cover design for February’s magazine. It was a difficult decision but in the end we were unanimous in our choice. Well done, sir!
www.bubblewrapcollective.co.uk 04 The MMP January 2011
Cardiff Versus the Recession Monster With the news that £500m is being cut from Wales’ Westminster grant plus figures revealing 123,000 jobless folk kicking their heels you could be forgiven for feeling nervous. Despite rises in the cost of food, heating and petrol the question on many of our lips is, ‘How does this affect out ability to get drunk and listen to music?’ The MMP did some digging and discovered that the majority of our leading music venues are bending over backwards to maintain the financial health of the gig going public. Catrin James, programmer for Clwb Ifor Bach, said ‘We’ve made no decisions to up our entrance and drinks prices due to the overall rise in living costs. We continue to provide entertainment that doesn’t break the bank.’ Al Power, co-director of Ten Feet Tall and Buffalo added, ‘All our door admissions will stay as they are and all or drinks offers will stay the same. Let’s push onto 2011!’ Meanwhile Alan Jones, owner of Roath’s flagship venue The Globe, said, ’We’re dedicated to providing a top quality service at a reasonable price.’ So there you are. At least the financial apocalypse will have a decent soundtrack...
Be Creative, Get Commissioned Despite the economic meltdown it’s nice to know some money is being ear marked for things other than unnecessary submarines and moat cleaning. Beyond Borders is a grants programme designed to stimulate collaboration between, and co-commissioning by, organisations programming and promoting new music in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England. Funding is available for composers, songwriters and producers who are judged to be truly innovative. Although music is the focus applicants proposing cross-artform projects are also welcome. Applications must be received by 28th February 2011, 5pm. For more details visit: ......................................................... www.prsformusicfoundation.com
What We’ve Been
Listening To THE FLAMINGOS
I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU Summing up the best of a bygone musical age while making you look toward with tears in your eyes. Recorded in 1959 the impact of this incredible slice of doo wop remains undiminished. myspace.com/terryjohnsonsflamingos
Aimee’s Pick
THE BLACK KEYS
HOT DIGGIDY DOG! What do you get if you mix a nuclear engineer, some lava hot chilli sauce, a bunch of celebrities, live music and a film crew? The answer is a web based tv show unlike any other. Welcome to the bizarre world of HotDiggidyDog TV. It’s the brainchild of Barry based entrepreneur Simon Llewellyn. He spent eleven years fixing nuclear submarines and dreaming up plans for the ultimate chilli sauce. Now he’s utilising the interweb to combine cooking advice with music, chat and famous faces. Goldie Lookin Chain made an appearance as has Twin Town star Brian Hibbard alongside music from local bands. Several major tv networks are reported to be keeping tabs and The MMP suggests you do the same. That’s a ‘can do’ attitude if ever we saw one... ........................................................................ www.youtube.com/user/HotDiggidyDogUK
TOO AFRAID TO LOVE YOU If Valentine’s day is making you edgy seek out this Ohio based duo. Bearing influences from their collaboration with Wu Tang Clan this track will make you feel much better. Probably. myspace.com/theblackkeys
Rowan’s Pick
HARMONIA WATUSSI
Mesmerising beats cushioned in the warm depths of analog synth loveliness. Anyone who tells you Krautrock isn’t worth your time of day, don’t listen, they’re liars and thieves... myspace.com/harmoniamusic
Simon’s Pick
DRAW ME UP A CONTRACT! Draw Me Stories Sign To Glasstone Here at the MMP we’re always delighted to learn that one of our beloved local bands is forging ahead, passing important milestones and generally keeping busy. Alt-rock trio Draw Me Stories made us smile recently with news that they’ve signed a deal with Bath based record label Glasstone Records. The label is home to a fine array of talent and will surely prove to be a fantastic platform to launch the bands next album, due out in the summer. Go on, boys! ............................................. www.glasstonerecords.com
VILLAGERS
BECOMING A JACKAL Though Mercury-nominated, this track can barely receive enough attention - part reverbed 60s pop; and part Solsbury Hill era Peter Gabriel, this is a distinctive emergent talent we have here. myspace.com/wearevillagers
Sion’s Pick
DAFT PUNK DEREZZED
No vehicle was more perfect to announce Daft Punk’s return than their soundtracking duties on Tron: Legacy. Sounds like two robots beating digital hell out of one another in glorious eye popping 3D. myspace.com/daftpunk
Johnny’s Pick
The MMP January 2011 05
Gruff Rhys If Wales is home to any truly credible, international superstars then the list is few. At the top of it, however, is one Gruff Rhys. Admired seemingly by all and sundry not only for nigh on twenty years of astonishing output, but also for a spirit of experimentation and a ceaselessly resourceful imagination, Rhys has earned something of an iconoclastic status to us this side of the border. Following on from controversial collaboration with Brazilian Tony Da Gatorra last year, new LP Hotel Shampoo and its lead single Shark Ridden Waters has hinted at a return to pop albeit one with characteristic shimmies and darts thrown in. So, when the MMP were invited for a chat with the man himself, we immediately sharpened our pencils, set phasers to stun and left the office quicksmart... Interview By: Rowan Liggett | Words: Simon Read 06 The MMP January 2011
HOW IN THE NAME OF SEROTONIN ARE YOU? I’m very happy, yeah!
SO TELL US ABOUT THE GENESIS OF HOTEL SHAMPOO...WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? The songs - they’re all about universal themes, you know, but they’re also fragments of memories from the past 15 years...and it’s all been quite hectic! But I live an extremely normal life when I’m in Cardiff so I find it quite exciting and amazing that I have the opportunity to go away on tour and travel. And so I keep souvenirs and I had to collect them all into boxes a few years ago around the time I was writing these songs. The songs existed independently but the idea of building a hotel out of shampoo gave this bunch of songs a context. So when I was trying to think of song titles and themes I could make up imaginary shower gels and a song could be about a femme fatale character but the title could be about soap.
YOU WORKED WITH ANDY VOTEL, AS WELL AS GORWEL OWEN, ON THE RECORD - HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IMPACTED ON THE SOUND? I worked with Andy on two songs and most of the album I recorded with Gorwel who I’ve done all of my solo records with. I had a few records I wanted to sample and I decided to give Andy a ring because I love the records he puts out under the name Anagram Jam, all built of samples. And so I took some records up to Manchester and we sampled a few of them. It’s got a song called Christopher Columbus and that uses the analogy that a relationship is like a colonisation of the South, you know (laughs). We got on some maritime theme and ended up making Shark Ridden Waters at the same time. Kind of writing it on the spot - we went for a more sharks versus yachts theme for that one. So that one came up accidentally.
WE LOVE THAT TRACK AND THE VIDEO WHERE DID YOU SHOOT THAT?
That was filmed in the South of France, outside Nice. I wanted to do a pastiche of Jean Luc Godard’s films. There’s a film called Pierrot Le Fou particularly. But I wanted to do it on bikes because I don’t want to glamorise cars. After making an album about the DeLorean, everyone thinks I’m
into cars! But the director borrowed a couple from this guy and decided it would be a good idea to have them in the video. It was a really strange exchange!
YOUR TOUR BEGINS ON VALENTINE’S DAY - IS THAT COINCIDENCE? It’s a coincidence. The Welsh patron saint of love, Dwynwen, her day is the 25th January. So I celebrate that over Valentine’s Day. It’s a complete coincidence.
YOU’RE NOT PLAYING CARDIFF AT ALL - HOW COULD YOU?! I’ve played in Cardiff loads last year. I played it exclusively with Tony Da Gatorra. But I’ll be bringing Hotel Shampoo home later in the year.
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE REACTION TO THE TONY DA GATORRA COLLABORATION? I loved everything about that record and it’s not a pop record, so I’ve got no problem if people are freaked out by it. I completely understand. In the context of most of the records I’ve made, it’s extremely different. I make records to explore and make sounds and to try to refine what I’m doing as a songwriter and a musician. It’s an indication doing different kinds of music and working with different people, so that the ultimate goal is to make an extremely refined, complete album.
ARE YOU PLANNING TO FOLLOW UP SEPERADO WITH ANY MORE FILM WORK?
Yeah. Seperado is part of a trilogy. It’ll be a bit like Star Wars, there’ll be a couple of prequels after that I imagine. At least six films. It’s gonna be a franchise. It’s gonna rewrite world history, the next film, basically. It’s gonna be another investigative concept tour that will, yeah, rewrite the history of the world.
YOU STILL BASE YOURSELF LARGELY IN CARDIFF. HOW DO YOU THINK THE PLACE IS GETTING ON MUSICALLY? It feels a really exciting time. I think one difference at the moment is that there’s a few record labels establishing themselves. In the time I’ve lived here there’s always been great bands but there’s not been so many record labels, you know. You’ve got things like Shape Records and Turnstile and
Som Bom, there’s many more as well. There seems to be more of a foundation for bands here. It sometimes appears to be in a state of flux, venues appear and then disappear. It’s a shame they knocked down the Capital Theatre where The Beatles played. That would have been a perfect size for Cardiff. I think that’s the shopping centre by Sainsbury’s on Queen Street now.
ANY PARTICULAR BANDS YOU’RE KEEPING YOUR EYE ON? I’ve been playing gigs in the past year with Islet and H. Hawkline, Cate Le Bon and Sweet Baboo. And I could name many more. But it seems quite obvious to me that there’s lots of bands and individuals around who are trying to push the music and are being really ambitious. It’s a vibrant time.
IS 2011 ALL ABOUT YOUR SOLO MATERIAL OR ARE THE FURRIES GOING TO BE MAKING ANY APPEARANCES? On our first album we made a pact that we’d be together for all time. So that’s an unbreakable pact. We’re just working out ideas for our 10th album. We’re all busy doing lots of different stuff. Guto’s (Pryce) been playing in Spectrum with Sonic Boom. Cian (Ciaran) and Dafydd (Ieuan) are doing a lot of soundtrack work and got their own labels as well. And Bunf (Huw Bunford) has been recording incredible songs. He’s been working on an album for quite a long time. The songs I’ve heard sound incredible, truly incredible! His voice sounds amazing.
ANY OTHER FLIGHTS OF FANCY COMING UP IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE? SECRET PROJECTS? A WELSH ROAD MOVIE? Well, you could do the A470. That’s a 5 hour journey. You could make it a real-time film, I suppose. There’s always lots of cops on the A470, you could do quite a good crime, road movie.
EXACTLY! THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. HOPE YOU HAVE A STONKIN’ 2011!
Thanks. And thanks so much for asking me! I always pick up your magazine when I’m in town. Happy New Year! gruffrhys.com myspace.com/gruffrhys24hrs The MMP January 2011 07
Mogwai nyone who remains in the music game for more than 15 years is either remarkably persistent, deftly versatile or sonically gifted. With Mogwai you have a band who are showered in all three of these characteristics. The Scottish post-rockers have been around since 1995 throwing out their equally tender and brutal sounds to an ever-broadening mass of the general public with ever-broadening critical acclaim. With the imminent release of seventh LP Hardcore Will Never Die, But You WIll as well as a date at the Great Hall in Cardiff University, the MMP thought it time to talk to the band’s Barry Burns, bid him slainte mhath and find out how their reverb is shimmering...
HOW IN THE NAME OF GRIEG ARE YOU? Not bad, aye. Been very busy (personally) with the opening of a wee bar in Berlin but I just managed to squeeze all the work in between finishing the Mogwai record and going on tour again. Touring is going to feel like a holiday after that.
HOW HAVE THINGS MOVED ON FOR YOU WITH NEW LP HARDCORE WILL NEVER DIE, BUT YOU WILL? I was quite worried that it was too much of a departure but now I am really pleased with the outcome and I’m sure it is more 08 The MMP January 2011
of a development than a mid-life crisis. I can’t say for sure if it’s my favourite Mogwai record as that takes a year or two to live with but I have listened to it a lot and not pressed fast forward much. Actually, we don’t have fast forward these days, we have “immediately skip”.
WHAT TRICKS DO YOU HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVE FOR THE TOUR?
We have the new songs for a start but also some new visuals which, after seeing Fever Ray this year, had to be done. That was quite a show and anything to detract from 5 motionless, but happy, dudes on a stage is a good thing.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CARDIFF DATE?
I’d love to say yes but looking forward to a particular gig is not something I am thinking about right now. Right now I am thinking will the new gear that we ordered be delivered in time for the rehearsals, will we be able to pull off these songs live, which bunk will I try to aim for on the tour bus, did I remember to bring my charger for my beard trimmer. You know, the important stuff. You don’t tend to look ahead too much, you’d get nervous.
HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE DEVELOPED AS A BAND OVER THE YEARS?
Perhaps we’re better musicians,
but perhaps not. I certainly play the piano far less competently than I did when I joined the band but I am very good at playing those 3 chords now. I also think we have become quite good at the robotics of touring and not going utterly mental every single night. We are all very good at self-denial too, though.
YOU’VE EMBRACED THE VISUAL WITH SOUNDTRACK WORK - ARE YOU PLANNING TO FOLLOW THIS UP?
We’d love to. We are possibly going to expand on the Zidane thing this year but nothing is set in stone so this may be a useless answer. It’s nice to be asked to do things like this and I wish more people would ask.
WHAT OTHER PLANS AND IDEAS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS?
Well, like I say maybe a Zidane related thing or two but really we’re just revelling in the novelty of putting our own records out and publishing the songs too. It’s gone very DIY for Mogwai and these things should keep us busy. There is a load of touring and travel to be done and I am mentally preparing myself for it now. Om. Interview & Words: Simon M. Read Photo: Steve Gullick
The MMP January 2011 09
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Instrumental and experimental folk sounds, weird and wonderful noises and driving krautrock, all wrapped up in cosmic acoustic guitar flutterings.
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Musically varied in both influence and sound, the LP is equally as broad in feel and emotion - quickly jumping from spooky and troubling flickers of guitar to catchy, strutting bass-lines.
There is little excuse for needing a reminder of just how good the Cardiff music scene is, but a trip back to Plymouth for a few weeks really does serve as a swift clip around the ear for any underappreciation of this city’s goings on. Unlike Plymouth, my home city that feels completely devoid of arts and culture other than the type rammed down your neck by the mainstream and capitalist face of the music industry; Cardiff is rich with the sharing, community-like opposite. Think of Spiller’s or the promoters making a loss on a festival yet coming back year after year - or musicians continually lending themselves to other people’s songs, live shows and albums with minimal personal reward or praise. 010 The MMP January 2011
In this regard, H. Hawkline, or Huw Evans, is an example to us all. Long knowing the virtues of sharing and selflessness, he’s mucked in with the likes of Sweet Baboo, Cate Le Bon, Means Heinz, Gorky’s Richard James, Islet and, more recently, Gruff Rhys - joining him on his UK tour as support, as well as occasionally on stage. But December 2010 finally brought his own debut release – with H. Hawkline LP A Cup Of Salt, on Shape Records. Mirroring the range of Evans’ collaborations, A Cup Of Salt is a multi-layered, twisting compound of (sometimes) instrumental and experimental folk sounds, weird and wonderful noises and driving krautrock, all wrapped up in cosmic acoustic guitar flutterings.
As one might expect from a man in as many bands as Evans, he has developed his ability to turn his hand to seemingly anything demonstrated in the sometimes raucous and drunken but endlessly entertaining H. Hawkline live shows. Some sets embracing the darker, kooky solo acoustic elements while others see him joined by others to chart more surf-pop strains. Of course his work with Le Bon et al does not go entirely unnoticed, but one hopes that under H. Hawkline, Evans will get some of the recognition he deserves as an individual. And even if H. Hawkline isn’t the long lived and resounding success that many like the MMP expect it to be, you still get the sense that Huw will be around doing more of the same for some time yet. myspace.com/hhawkline
FREE DOWNLOAD SEE PG 17
<<<<<<<<< WIN GIG TICKETS !!! >>>>>>>> Following last month’s prize giveaway for Mogwai, Ocean Colour Scene, Hospitality and more, the spirit of benevolence continues unabated. This time we are in the behest of GRAB Promotions (myspace.com/grabpromotions ) who have given us tickets to some of the hottest shows coming to town.
MY RUIN @ MILLENNIUM MUSIC HALL, 3RD MARCH
The Los Angeles hard-rock troupe bring their concrete, Southern sound back to Cardiff for what’s set to be one hell of a ripping show. You can expect the same tight riffs, impassioned vocals and all of the high jinx raucousness of an exploding black star. Simply answer…Drop us a line at comps@themmp.tv with the answer to the question...
Who is lead vocalist with My Ruin?
High Contrast is the pseudonym of whuch Cardiff drum ‘n’ bass DJ?
RODDY WOOMBLE @ CLWB IFOR BACH, 29TH MARCH
The Idlewild frontman is gaining as much renown for his startling solo material these days as he is the fine work as part of the band. Following up the über success of My Secret Is My Silence and Before The Ruin with Kris Drever and John McCusker, Woomble is set to showcase some of his newly penned tunes alongside the snorting stuff he’s done so far. Answer the question…
What is the name of Idlewild’s most recent LP? What’s the name of OCS’ lead vocalist?
SKINDRED @ SOLUS, 3RD MAY
The ragga punk fiends are heading on the road once more to promote their forthcoming LP Union Black, out in April. Frontman Benji Webbe has promised this to be the darkest and heaviest record to date so you can expect Solus to be rammed full of flailing limbs and moshing heads – boyaka! To enter, answer the question…
What was Benji Webbe’s previous band called?
To enter the fray, send us the answer to whichever one you want to go to at comps@themmp.tv with the band name as the subject header. It’s as easy and smooth as the flight of cupid’s arrow…
The hilarious cult show is back with even more death defying stunts set to a live rock’n’roll soundtrack
“Barnum would be proud” TIME OUT
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Astroid Boys The evenings are dark and the conservatives are in government, these days are seemingly a self perpetuating feedback loop of depression, so when we put on the radio or go to a gig one may be forgiven for not wanting to wallow in feeble self-pitying pathos, there ain’t no remedy quite like a night amongst friends, right? In these trying times what you need is a good dose of positivity and, let me tell you, these boys have it in buckets, it’s UK Garage without the pretention, it’s the grimy side of dubstep with greater flamboyance, it’s motor mouthed hip-hop without the hang-ups, MMP presents to you the pied pipers of party: Astroid Boys.
shout from rooftops of incontestable good-times, there is no posturing, no posing, its not too serious, just seriously good fun. Then the slick production from the men behind the mouths; DJ Comfort, Dell and Teehee, with skills unfathomable to the common man create a tapestry in which half-step wobble coexists alongside off-beat chillout, it should come as no surprise that legions of disciples are willing to follow the band to the ends of the earth and on their quest the boys blitzed ecstatic crowds at Bestival, blew away Plastician at Clwb and played tour support to Newport heroes GLC. It’s a wonder their roots are firmly grounded.
Formed in 2009, the collective read more like a super-group than a regular band, MC’s Traxx and Benji revel in hosting intelligent pop-cultural musings and
The winter months have seen the launch of their inaugural Space Jam EP along with a music video for Welcome To The Zoo, a techno flavored slice of spacious
012 The MMP January 2011
dubstep that holds true to the quintessential Britishness of mid-90’s London underground. Though, perhaps the best example of the groups veritable talents can be found in a 15 minute freestyle excerpt from the Troopa & Cluedo radio show (available on Soundcloud) with Benji and Traxx in blistering form. Equally Traxx’s spontaneous collaboration with Barry Island’s enigmatic Beatbox Major (available on youtube) is hugely impressive. Make sure you catch these boys on their rise, no doubt they’ll look sharp in custom designed Droneboy threads, and submit yourself to the positivity. Words: Matt Pasternakiewicz myspace.com/traxxcardiff
FREE DOWNLOAD SEE PG 17
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GUESTS PLUS SPECIAL SUNDAY 17TH APRIL BOX OFFICE: 02920 230130 THE GLEE CLUB
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Live Reviews
The VoodooGroove NYE Extravaganza
Phil Wall’s Jazz Cardinals
The Voodoo Groove shindig at The Globe this year comprised the city’s top party acts alongside the modern art of near-naked ladies from What The Butler Saw. As mentally edifying as the latter was, it was the music that formed the pumping ventricles of 2010’s close.
It’s a bitterly cold January evening on St Mary’s Street and the MMP is grateful for the warm confines of Café Jazz. Ah, Jazz. Never has excessive drinking better suited a musical art form. The more you drink the more sense it makes. There’s a lot of it around, not all of it pleasant either. Free form jazz sounds like French alley cats running through a satanic keyboard factory. Blindfolded. There’s your modern jazz that strains every sinew to be different without appearing to try. 80s jazz should, as a rule, be sealed in concrete and dumped in the North Sea. What Phil Wall’s Jazz Cardinals serve up is a masterclass in 1920’s, ‘I say darling, fancy some gin?’ style jazz. And it’s not long before the sweet, old sounds of days gone by fills the room. Bix Beiderbecke, New Orleans Owls and echoes of Joe ‘King’ Oliver are prevalent.
The Globe, 31st December
N.E.o.N. offered up a set so full of horn and bombast you could hang your cravat from it. Led by wide-eyed soulstress Jessie Boo and the muscular rhythms of Tumi Williams, each took their turn to helm the funk-dub-ska train rolling behind them. The Witches Drum then threw a blisterball of psych-swamprock echoing The Doors and The 13th Floor Elevators. Lead singer Fry, donned in glitter, marigolds and wellingtons, displayed all the paraphernalia a psychedelic frontman should - their early demos are thrillingly coming to life. As the evening drunkenly slalomed, Cardiff’s twitch-jolt adventurers The Method experienced a ‘moment’. Front man Richie Hayes dared the audience to join them onstage and before you could say ‘1-2-3-4’ they were completely swamped. Dancers and band members became indistinguishable amidst the joyful madness. They blew the roof off the place. The midnight bells were seen in by Johnny Cage & The Voodoo Groove and their sleazy rock-balloons of fury - covers such as C.W. Stoneking’s Love Me Or Die dotted alongside their own inspired efforts. As 2011 dawned the MMP was aware of minor sound issues but more palpably enthralled in the fountain of good feeling. When Dead Residents jumped up with a crescendo of pristine live hip-hop, it was genuinely becoming too generous. They paraded the magnificent Boogaloo just before the collective memory dissipated. If 2011 is as good as this, we are in for a gutbuster. SMR myspace.com/johnnycagethevoodoogroove myspace.com/methodofficial myspace.com/thewitchesdrum myspace.com/thenewexhibitionofnoise
014 The MMP January 2011
Cafe Jazz, 11th January
Leading the line on clarinet Phil Wall displays admirable style and a fine sense of timing in everything he does. To his left Norman Thatcher squeezes tender joy out of a cornet while behind him Sam Sims strokes his suitably vintage guitar with aplomb. On tenor guitar Sarah Thatcher adds another vital layer while Steve Davis merrily plays bass on tuba, of all things. You just can’t fault them. They are firmly in control, consistently allowing each other room to express themselves. The gathered crowd may be small but the appreciation they display is touching. Heads nod and feet tap as the lovingly recreated sound of long lost dance halls tumbles from the stage. Back in the day this was music for wrong ‘uns. Hell, it was practically rap music. In a modern context it may appear twee but at its core beats a mischievous heart and generations of jazz appreciation. Before the show there was much talk of Cardiff’s golden days. A piano in every bar, a bar on every corner and an influx of every style. All that’s left of the roaring twenties are dim shadows cast on the walls. That’s not to say that there is much danger of its spirit dying out, though. Not with players of this calibre and audiences so obviously enthralled by its charms. RJL Photograph By: Paul Dunleavy
Kaptin’s Column
So here we are, with a healthy step into 2011. For those who have actually managed to maintain the ‘health’ part of that and remain faithful to their New Years resolutions I salute you. I lasted until my first experience of Backrooms and then the back door of the wagon came flying open and I went tumbling into a hazy oblivion with a grin slapped on my face (which I myself was separated from at the time). Yes the rumours are true, the monthly Bank Vault rave is exactly what the city’s been needing to keep up and if you’ve been lucky enough to get a ticket over the past year, you’ll probably want me to shut up right now so you can keep it all for yourselves. Far as I know the next one on February 5th has been sold out for a good while but fear not there’s plenty of other excuses to break any NY resolutions still standing that weekend. Starting on the Thursday (as all good weekends do) with Obey ( The Basement), who have Doc Daneeka, one of Wales’ most important Dance music exponents of the moment. On Friday 4th One Mission return with Twisted Individual (CAI), a rare chance to brok out to some Drum N Bass in Park Place. Well okay not strictly true as there’s the SU who continue their dedication to putting on incredible line ups with Hospitality on Saturday 5th. Big names abound but the bottom of the line up’s where the bulk of my excitement’s sitting, with names like Reso and Koan Sound. Reso I believe will be back in the city under a different guise on March 6th as part of Jamie Woon’s band (CAI). I’m telling you this now as tickets have already started flying out fast for that one (Google him, you’ll see why). If you’re still standing at the end of this epic weekend, then go fill what’s left of your braincells with a bit of forward thinking art at The Sleep Walk Collective’s first show in Milgi on Sunday 6th. Also on the artistic tip is another venue I praised last month for bringing a different slant to the city, the Boiler House in Llandaff North who have a Grafitti exhibition starting on February 18th from 7til 11pm. This will spill into the next day with beer, bands and DJs on the Saturday, whilst the inbetween bit on Friday night is filled fantastically at Cardiff Arts with Homeboy Sandman, one of the best rappers I’ve heard in a long time! As I’ve gone into Hip-hop (which I could continue on but don’t want to encroach on my learned amigos column next door) why not mention some Reggae too. Look out for Love & Harmony Sounds (The Neville / The Rockin Chair), the One Drop Reggae special (CAI) and Shanti Bass have a Dub / UK Steppa event on Feb 11th (Koko Gorilaz). Running out of room but also look out for some more Digital DJ Workshops from Catapult (next one Feb 3rd) and also look out for a new label, Brooklyn Radio show and night from myself and the Astroid Boys called Brain Juice. Launch Party Feb 25th (CAI) with 2 Rooms of top tuneage plus Bristolian MC, Buggsy as a special guest.
Cardiff Rising Alright alright alright, calm down at the back... I went to the Roxe Jam fundraiser show and it gave me a little boost. It was great to see under-celebrated emcees getting their chance to re-establish themselves. Caskade, who was known before for being part of Direct & Caskade and also released an EP with producer Carpe Diem, was there to show he’s clearly moved up a level lyrically and repped with his trademark passion. Then Louis Boston stepped up to represent his brand of hip-hop. He’s clearly focused on making hip-hop music, with the emphasis on the word music. It’s such an easy-to-get-with-but-stillhip-hop sound that he should be being scouted by big labels, if they do actually want to inject some talent into their wasteland of crap. Good artist, deserves more attention. And then Smithy Blade’s Flow Of Thought crew came up and convinced everyone they’re totally into their bars. The whole set was full of well-crafted lyrics and a bit of gully energy. They’re on it and I’m feeling it. Also, look for the Game Over Cardiff Version on youtube. I think it’s a version of a Tinchy Stryder tune but I don’t know ‘cause I don’t listen to him. All these emcees I’m talking about are on it and I’m saying go through everyone and make a name for yourself, there’s space for everyone. I also had a a chance to be at one of Me One’s studio sessions recently. Me One’s a seasoned artist with a lot of time in the music industry, who’s done more than maybe any artist from Cardiff apart from High Contrast and the major label time he’s done has got him in arm’s length of the contacts that could put him onto a global stage at any point. I love the way he mixes up his half-sung half-rapped style over an intelligent blend of his hip-hop and reggae knowledge, it’s unique and you should watch out for his name. Also, on my Zeitgeist Movement tip, I have to say Zeitgeist: Moving Forward is out now on youtube for free. Every man, woman and child on Earth needs to see it.
bigLOVE, Kaptin
Peeeeeeeeeeeeeace, be big bad and heavy.
.... Twitter: @kaptinisdead / www.chromekids.com Photo by: Paul Roberts
.... www.myspace.com/ruffstylz .... www.twitter.com/ruffstylz Photo by: Dan Green The MMP January 2011 015
Releases ASTROID BOYS Space Jam To listen to Astroid Boys’ Space Jam is to be warped back to a time where taxes and meter bills aren’t so much neglected as intangible, where video games + drugs = day jobs, and chocolate is always half price. In short these seven tracks represent audacious, bountiful youth in all its vivacious glory. UK garage meets wobble flavoured Introduction To Us opens as a statement of intent akin to The Streets’ Turn The Page fused with Caspa and Rusko’s Bread Get Bun, whilst Wallaway makes heavy use of Das EFX influential nonsensical lyrical flow. The dilemma posed with Space Jam is that despite undoubted technical proficiency, it can sometimes tread a worn path with all hats tipped in the same direction. In order to stand out from the rabble Astroid Boys could do worse than branch out into deeper territory both lyrically and musically. However, in the meantime, Space Jam is a solid debut, offering plenty to excite the Cardiff dubstep scene. MP myspace.com/traxxcardiff
HOSPITALITY Drum & Bass 2011 Since 1996 Hospital Records has been at the very pinnacle of cutting edge British drum ‘n’ bass, home to a royal family of electronic dance. After 2010’s successful download only compilation, Hospitality Drum & Bass 2011 is a continuation of the label’s good work, upholding their reputation as the stalwart for progressive variations between 160-190 bpm. Danny Byrd feat. Netsky’s face-pulling opener Tonight wastes no time, diving straight in with heavily vocodered male vocals and trance-led euphoria setting the tone until Nu:Tone’s exceptional glitch coup de maitre Bleeper. Hereon in, we are treated to the strain of bass driven jazzist delirium that one has come to expect from these compilations with occasional curveballs such as Original Sin + Taxman’s jungle flavoured Penamana acting as a punctuated display of perfectly calculated experimentation. Immaculately mixed and intelligently compiled Hospitality Drum & Bass 2011 is a worthy addition to the Hospital legacy, these anthems have and continue to soundtrack your nights, but… of course, you knew this already. MP
AMONG BROTHERS Homes EP Having already won influential friends through their early demos, Among Brothers have pushed on and gotten Charlie Francis to produce this debut EP. It’s paid off, as it’s one lush sounding affair bearing reasonable comparison to the likes of Efterklang and Sigur Ros at an instrumental level. Montgolfier’s collective shouting, staccato keyboards and advanced level percussion bleed into sweeping strings before the whole thing ends rather too soon. My Head Is A Vessel follows with pensive piano softly bursting through layers of instrumentation and inobtrusive samples to accompany some clever lyricism. A similar path is chosen by Sam, Isaiah And The Wolf - it’s literate, intelligent stuff and worthy of the attention given by Bethan Elfyn. But by the time Bare Teeth has finished, the MMP became over-saturated with introspection. It was all getting a bit heavy. A 7-minute closer, though incredibly well crafted and structured, may have been one straw of sadness too many. Nevertheless, this is a commanding and impressive release. SMR myspace.com/amongbrothers
VVOLVES Wolves EP This Wolves EP marks the first release of VVOLVES on Peski Records, but comprises some of the tracks that have made them strong indie-electro contenders in this old capital. The familiar Birds In Berlin kicks the affair off with some shuddered synth lines and urgent vocal delivery. It’s like having a spirited jog through Lichtenberg’s construction sites with the gestapo on your tail. But it’s damn catchy and stands out a mile. Sailing From Youth follows with less pomp and spectacle but builds credibly as the emotion-rich lyricism bleeds into the harsh metallic instrumentation. The use of vocoder on Wolves is questionable, especially given the vocals on previous tracks were so successful in bridging the chasm between industry and heart. Still, it’s a driven and pressing track, that put aside. Finally, the tight Vogue closes the EP with shouted spelling and a glass of electro-party juice. Though not perfect, this is intelligent and intensely well performed stuff. SMR myspace.com/vvolves
TRWBADOR It Snowed A Lot This Year By far, one of the most striking outfits to emerge from 2010, Trwbador deliver every ounce of beautiful idiosyncrasy suggested in their earlier recordings. Here, there’s a kind of microcosm of Reich-esque minimalist structures combined with sensitively conceived pop material, sparse, piercing drum machine loops and aptly gritty synth leads. Owain Gwilym’s jazzy, relaxed guitar voicings complement Angharad Van Rijswijk’s wonderfully unaffected vocal delivery throughout. Mesmerising cross rhythms brush against bitty clips and glitchy blips, as if gleaned from a broken chorus of dialup modems. Tracks like Shapes (La La La) and the avant-pop excellence of Off-Beat betray solid songcraft, while the standout Hit The Bricks and Hiraeth Mân deliver waves of crystalline wit and warmth. With influences as diverse as they are cogently interwoven and a rare, penetrating artistic forthrightness, Trwbador are ideally placed to scatter their lovely strain of folktronica in 2011. ST myspace.com/trwbador
DAN PHELPS Reflections Dan Phelps releases an album of relaxed, slow to mid-tempo piano compositions, heavily anchored in pastoral imagery and sentiment. With influence garnered from the likes of Erik Satie and more recently, perhaps more aptly, Ludovico Einaudi, Reflections is like experiencing a sort of Pop-Songs Without Words. Despite a backhanded ‘yo momma’ to the wonderful Felix Mendelssohn (I’m really very sorry Felix…), this need not necessarily be a bad thing. There are some very convincing moments, particularly in the harmonic depth of the middle sections in Fall, as well as the pentatonic rushes in Starlit Waters. I would question Dan’s presence as the performer of his pieces on the album, as a re-shading from another pianist’s interpretation often enhances. Otherwise, apart from a few cumbersome moments in production and editing, Reflections provides a very pleasant listening experience, if, at times, a little too pleasant for my twisted, embittered earlobes! ST phelpsmusic.com
016 The MMP January 2011
Singles BRIAN HUMPHREYS BLACKTRIX Just Like Jack Kerouac / Morning Rain
No Drama
BEFORE THE ESCAPE
Brian Humphreys is a heart on sleeve kind of guy. This double A side features the musings of a man longing for a road much longer than the one he finds himself currently walking. Just Like Kerouac is unashamedly Americana style folk but wins points for its non pretentious approach to the time honoured tradition of one man and his guitar style ramblings. Morning Rain treads similar ground. It weaves a mini tale of self analysis and the ever present battle against self doubt and regret. It may be lyrically clumsy at times but remains an honest account from a man not afraid to do the simple things well. RJL myspace.com/brianhumphreysmusic
Another day, another triumph for Associated Minds. Blaktrix’s No Drama has all the top level production you’d expect from South Wales’ / the world’s premier hip-hop stable but is also blessed by some profoundly top notch rhymes and delivery. Indeed, the vocal oozes such warmth you’d be forgiven for ordering an accidental Pimms. Especially when it’s combined with steady, stop-start beats and keyboard lines sent direct from the centre of the sun. Ralph Ripshit’s stellar contribution over a verse or two adds another dimension to what was already a phenomenal chunk of chilled hip-hop gold. It’s all strength to strength in these here parts. SMR myspace.com/blaktrix
The Welsh alternative rock scene seems in chipper health with a new band trying their hand every single day. The big question is how stands out from another. This double A side, sadly, does not offer any clear resolutions. Lies Of Storytellers comes with lots of pounding gusto, some memorable solos and passionate vocals. But then, lots of bands ploughing this furrow make these features their calling card. Signs’ piano intro offers a moment of intrigue but then spirals into more of the same, even hitting a riff comparable to Europe’s Final Countdown. You can’t judge a band on two tracks but singles should stand out and this one unfortunately doesn’t really. SMR myspace.com/beforetheescape
THE WITCHES DRUM
SHELLEY
MY PET MONSTER
The three songs on this demo seem to have been created with the soul purpose of soundtracking either the hazy, red-eyed night times of a long haired bohemian sort, peering out through thick plumes of green smoke, hand groping out for that ever elusive multi-pack of wotsits or the literal stoning to death of said bohemian sort by neighbours fed up with smell. These are tracks that waver violently back and forth between echoy, spaced out psychedelic noodlings and head bludgeoning riff/drum combos, each fit to propel a Viking war boat towards Valhalla itself, often several times within the course of 4 minutes. Exciting stuff indeed. More please. JD myspace.com/thewitchesdrum
Cardiff alt-rock 4 piece Shelley don’t lack confidence. That’s not to say they don’t still need some work. Opening track, Twilight Sings, is an odd blend of punk sensibilites and introspective lyrics that veers wildly stylistically. In Case Of Rapture begins with The Cure style bass and drums before the vocals kick in and start summoning up images of a Morrissey/Chrissie Hynde love-child. Possibly one let lose in a 1980s recording studio and holding the keys to the mini bar. At times it feels rushed and you sense they haven’t found there feet just yet, but you sense there’s plenty more to come from this determined young group. RJL myspace.com/shelleyband
My Pet Monster here take their first steps into the Cardiff scene displaying vast confidence in their gait. Their sound owes a lot to the distorted-guitars and buried emotionality of My Bloody Valentine, but beneath this crusty layer of fuzz lies some really rather joyous pop. This is most clear in Whatdafugbug which sounds like a more contented The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, a trick which is mirrored in Danial Wall and, indeed, throughout. Their output is relatively foetal at this stage but it already promises plenty of hooks, fitting production and carefully polished populism. Genuinely, very interesting stuff. SMR myspace.com/mypetmonsternoise
Download Society The Internet seems very popular these days doesn’t it? It turned out to have more uses than an obedient, giant robot. It’s cleverer than most of us ever, ever imagined. Having said that J. M. Strange foresaw pizza sales would sky rocket and salacious sites would consume almost everything not snack related. In reality it’s all about the music. This month you can sample the wonderful works of H. Hawkline, the street based joy of Astroid Boys and the foot stomping King Louis Collective. Tuck in boys and girls, it’s all free!
Winter on The Moon
Demos
www.themmp.tv
This Month’s Free Tracks:
1. H Hawkline - Terror Tree 2. Astroid Boys - RAWDEE 3. King Louis Collective - Sunny Days
The MMP January 2011 017
CLUB Listings
MONDAYS 10 Feet Tall - Late Night Live, 8pm, £TBC * Two-floors of
entertainment, with chart hits and the latest favourites at the bar, with Live music upstairs
Bar Icon - You’re The DJ, 12am-12pm, FREE * Go nuts on the free jukebox available all day
Buffalo - Buffalo Live, 8pm, Upstairs: Prices vary. Downstairs: FREE * All the latest new
music from Jen Long and guest DJs
Cardiff University Student Union - Fun Factory - 9pm, £4 - FREE * The regular crunch of
live music and DJs up in Solus
The Crockerton, 9pm, FREE
* Various DJs playing the latest hits and club anthems all through the night Exit Club - Monday Madness, 10pm, FREE * All the latest chart hits and favourites from DJ Andy
Glam - Jagerfest, 10pm, £4 / £3 * Night solely built for getting wasted, you’ll never guess who’s sponsoring this night
King’s Cross - Quiz Night, 8pm, FREE * Get your thinking
caps on with the weekly quiz and happy hour from 5-8
Live Lounge - 11pm, FREE *
As soon as the live music ends, chill out to the wide array of guest DJs that play every night
Mocka Lounge - Hangover Cure, 9pm, FREE * Nurse your
hangover tonight with this chilled out night
Owain Glyndwr - Salsa Classes, 8pm, FREE * Weekly
salsa classes for those who wish to brush up on their dancing
Tiger Tiger - Private Karaoke, 6pm, £2.50 * Start the evening in good fashion with Tiger Tiger’s private karaoke booths
TUESDAYS 10 Feet Tall - Insider Sound, 10pm, £4 / £3 * Old funk
meets modern hip-hop-mash-ups and dancefloor fillers, oh hell yeah
Buffalo - Buffalo Sessions, 8pm, Upstairs: Prices vary. Downstairs: FREE * Showcase
of the best promoters, DJs and bands along with visuals, giveaways and drink offers
Cardiff University Student Union - FAIL!, 10pm, £4-£3 * Somewhat ironically named
clubnight that goes from Electro to Dubstep
Clwb Ifor Bach - Just Dance - 10pm, £3 * Weekly mix of
pop, rock, R&B, and everything in between
The Crockerton - 9pm, FREE * Various DJs playing the latest
hits and club anthems all through the night Flares - 10pm, FREE * DJ Jay plays a variety of cheese, party anthems and big hits
Glam - Propaganda, 10pm, £4 / £3 * Nationwide indie night
intent on world domination
King’s Cross - Karaoke With Rachel, 9pm, FREE * Free
£TBC * Electro, trance, dubstep and drum & bass, all wth an alternative edge
Mocka Lounge - Relax and Unwind, 9pm, FREE * Midweek tunes to loosen up to
Reflex - 8pm, FREE * A Tues-
day batch of 80s tunes to cover all your nostalgic needs
Tiger Tiger - Private Karaoke, 6pm, £2.50 * Start the evening in active fashion with Tiger Tiger’s private karaoke booths
Tony’s Kitchen Bar & Gallery - Open Decks, 8pm, FREE *
Weekly open decks session welcoming those wanting to weave a wobbly wicker walkway to DJ fame
1st February Glam - Sidney Samson, 9pm,
£5 * The Dutch producing powerhouse brings all his best tunes, including his location-friendly single “Riverside”
8th February Undertone - Silent Disco Charity Night, 10pm, £4 * The Si-
lent Disco format goes benevolent in the name of Barnados
22nd February Millennium Music Hall Underground Rebel Bingo Club, Details TBC * A new spin on Bingo that’s so deviant and hardcore it’s location has been a closely guarded secret - until now
WEDNESDAYS
Metros - Metropolis, 9pm,
Rococo - I Love Wednesday, 9pm, FREE * DJ’s Raheem,
Sinky, Monique, Scarface and Paz set out to make sure you love Wednesdays as much as the club does
Tiger Tiger - Private Karaoke, 6pm, £2.50 * Start the evening in good fashion with Tiger Tiger’s private karaoke booths
Undertone - SugarDrop, 9pm, £6 / £5 * Midweek dose of floor-fillers, featuring live performances, guest DJs and specialist cocktails and promotions galore
WOW Bar - Rewind, 8pm, FREE * The best from the 80’s and 90’s spun by DJ Krys
23rd February 10 Feet Tall - Sugar Drop Presents Bass Clef, 9pm, £5 / £4 * London’s Bass Clef drops in armed with a trombone, effects, theremin and percussion - mad but delightfully skankin’ stuff
THURSDAYS 10 Feet Tall - On The Rocks, 10pm, FREE * Weekly night that’s all about the classic rock and indie anthems
Traffic-light party, with a retro soundtrack to get you in the mood
Bar Yupi - Discount Night, 8pm, FREE * Night of music and heavily discounted drinks
Walkabout – Bounce, 9pm, £5 / £4 * Monster of a student night, try not to lose your mates amongst the sea of students
3rd February Undertone - Obey! feat. Doc Daneeka, 10pm, £4 after 11.30, £3 b4 * Swansea-born
Doc Daneeka is currently regarded as one to watch for his heavy, funky sound
10th February 10 Feet Tall - On The Rocks Nation Radio Takeover, 10pm, FREE * Nation Radio take on the On The Rocks DJs as well as bring live acts including My Ceramic Rabbit to the affair
Buffalo - Signature Fashion
vs. Dubstep, 11pm, £3 * What goes better together than fashion and dubstep - not much! Undertone - Traffic, 10pm, £TBC * Whomping beats as
well as the paraphernalia of fancy dress, face painting, crafts and all manner of other distractions
10 Feet Tall - Boom Boom Boutique, 10pm, FREE *
Clwb Ifor Bach - C-Y-N-T, 10.30pm, £4 * The undisputed
aftershow features New Riot on the decks against the regular On The Rocks DJs
tackling a whole range of different styles
Bass-blowing night littered with cocktail deals
Bar Icon - Midweek Mayhem, 6pm, FREE * Fuel your Wednesday with Bar Icon’s dirt cheap drinks offers
Buffalo - Blender, 8pm, Upstairs: Prices vary. Downstairs: FREE * A unique cross-breeding of pop culture and fashion
Cardiff University Student Union - The Lash - 10pm, £3.50 - £3 * Weekly club night
that changes its theme more than Madonna reinvents herself
Clwb Ifor Bach - Listen Up! 9pm, £3 * All avenues of indie, electro and cheese are covered across three floors
The Crockerton, 9pm, FREE * Various DJs playing the latest
hits and club anthems all through the night
Exit Club - Club & Dance, 10pm, FREE * The best club
& dance music, featuring guest remixes
beats, VJs, breaks, this night seemingly has it all
Welsh kingpin of mid-week raves, featuring guest DJ’s from all over the UK every week
Cougar Lounge - Twisted Thursdays- 9pm, £TBC * Old
school Hip Hop and club classics galore
Exit Club - Classix Chart, 10pm, FREE * Chart hits and
exclusive remixes from DJ Andy
Flares - Cocktail Night, 10pm, FREE * 70s music all night long in by far the most creatively named club in Cardiff
Kings Cross - Therapeutic Thursdays, 5pm, FREE *
Weekly cabaret from your host Fanny Dazzle
Lava Lounge - Ladies Night, 8pm, FREE * Leave your balls at the door, it’s Ladies Night
As soon as the live music ends, chill out to the wide array of guest DJs that play every night
for a night littered with drinks promotions
scour the pavements on the way and find enough discarded cash to get drunk
BASS CLEF
Signature continue to push forward in the electronic dance field by bringing down SBTRKT’s deep house, funky techno, broken beat & UK funky amalgam. Alongside that Bass Clef pops by during his visit to the city to ply us with some more of his mad set - should be proper good, this one
Buffalo 24th February
FREE b4 10 * Enough mo-town and disco to adjust the funkometer to 11
Lava Lounge - Sub Social, 9pm, FREE * Weekly night dedicated Cometh the end of Live Lounge’s live music cometh a parade of guest DJs to while away the hours
SBTRKT
Mocka Lounge - 9pm, FREE *
DJs Styles and Bmore play their selection of chilled House and R&B
to all the various uni societies
ClubOfTheMonth
FRIDAYS
Glam - Uptight, 10pm, £3 *
Weekly night of R&B and hip hop
Buffalo - Signature Presents SBTRKT / Bass Clef, 9:30pm, £TBC * See Clubs of the Month
Mbargo - Fat Penguin - 9pm,
Flares - Put On Your Party Pants, 9pm, FREE * The definitive Wednesday night party session in Flare’s
10 Feet Tall - On The Rocks: Bass’d In Skadiff Takeover , 10pm, FREE * This Reel Big Fish
Live Lounge - 11pm, FREE *
FREE * Cheap drinks, no flightless birds of the aquatic nature in sight
Metros - Cheapskates, 9pm, £6 * Drinks so cheap you can
018 The MMP January 2011
night with all the encouragement one needs to drink
WOW Bar - Connextions, 8pm, FREE * Amber Dextrous’ camp
24th February
amidst the live music explosion
Post live music shindig with the Live Lounge guest DJs
Revolution - Shotgun Rules, 9pm, £3 * A midweek student
Varsity (Roath) - Karaoke
Night, 8pm, FREE * Weekly karaoke fixture to expel those singing demons
Buffalo - Sugardrop, 8pm, Upstairs: Prices vary. Downstairs: FREE * New live music, jump-up
Live Lounge - 11pm, FREE *
Live Lounge - 11pm, FREE *
friendly, they put it in the name Reflex - 8pm, FREE * Another night of 80s-fuelled mania in Reflex
10 Feet Tall - Zouklambada!, 8pm, £6 * Weekly dance class
karaoke sessions with your host Rachel
Live Lounge - Salsa Classes, 7pm, FREE * Dance classes
Mocka Lounge - Cocktail Heaven, 9pm, FREE * So cocktail
Rococo - Pink, 10pm, £TBC * DJ Warren takes to the decks The Royal Oak - Karaoke, 8pm, FREE * Open platform
for you to be embarassed or congratulated, just make sure to keep in tune
Tiger Tiger - Private Karaoke, 6pm, £2.50 * Start the evening in good fashion with Tiger Tiger’s private karaoke booths
10 Feet Tall - Hustle, 6pm,
411 - Ace of Spades Friday, 9pm, FREE before midnight * Exquisitely classy new night to start the weekends in style
A Shot in the Dark - Good Vibrations £TBC * All manner
of gorgeous funk-soul tunes constructed there before your eyes by live DJs
Bar Icon - Weekend Warmup., 6pm, FREE * Chart, pop and dance music, with drink offers aplenty
The MMP November 2010 01
fairport
CONVENTION
wednesday 2 march, 7.30pm
They’re back in Cardiff for one night only - celebrating 40 years - don’t miss it!
CLUB Listings Buffalo - Bumper, 8pm, Upstairs: Prices vary, Downstairs: FREE * Weekly party anthems and electro beats from one of the swishier clubs in our fair capital
Cardiff Students Union Boombox - 10pm, £1.50 * The whole pop spectrum is covered, from wonky to synth (and everything in between of course)
Cougar Lounge - 10pm, £TBC * All the best Urban floor-fillers
from C.T. and Hilly
Club X - 10pm, FREE before 10, £10 After * Mix of funky house, electro and pop, an x-cellent night out (pun intended)
Clwb Ifor Bach - ?? - 10.30pm, £4.50 - £3.50 * One of the finest ways to shake your Friday quiff around like a decadent Teddy Boy
Exit Club - Dance Zone, 10pm, FREE * All your favourite club
and dance tunes from DJ AL Flares - 9pm, FREE * Kickstart your weekend with Dr INC The Flora - 8pm, FREE * DJ sets until 1am
The Great Western - 9pm, FREE * In-house DJs playing
a mix of party classics through the night
Kings Cross - Cwm Camping, 5pm, FREE * Party tunes with DJ J-A-Y and happy hour from 5-8pm
Lava Lounge - Fever Friday, 8pm, FREE * Resident DJs play a wide variety of retro and pop classics
Live Lounge- 11pm, FREE * As soon as the live music ends, chill out to the wide array of guest DJs that play every night
Mbargo- Get Funked. 9pm. FREE. * Get Funked, or Funk off Metros - 9pm, £4 * The best
place to fuel your need for rock, punk and ska Milgi’s - 9pm, FREE * World and dance music from an array of guest DJs
4th February Cafe Jazz - Disco, 9pm, £TBC * One-off disco where you can either celebrate or drown your sorrows following the rugby
Cardiff Arts Institute - One Missions Presents Twisted Individual, 10pm, £4 / £3 * The
One Mission massive bring drum ‘n’ bass master Twisted Individual to celebrate the 9th birthday of Drum ‘n’ Bass Worldwide radio station
Minskys - Fanny Dazzle, 9pm, £3 * With all that January
depression over for another year, Fanny Dazzle kicks off February’s events at Minskys
11th February 10 Feet Tall - Hustle Funk / Soul Valentine Special, 6pm, FREE b4 11, £4 / £3 after * The Hustle crew bring a special funk / soul evening of bountiful romance
Buffalo - The Bumper ‘Love Will Tear Us A Party’ Special, 8pm, £5 / £4 * An
especially loved up version of party anthems, afro soul, boogie, dubstep and, well, everything apparently
Cardiff Arts Institute - Future Fridays Present C.R.S.T. , £4 after 11pm, £2 b4 * The
‘future garage’ pacemakers bring their awesome blend of house, funk, dubstep and 2Step
Gwdihw - Round the Houses feat. Colonel Red, 8pm, £2 * Valentine’s special with Sarah
Sweeney shaking out all the finest soul, funk, jazz and house as well as an acoustic set from the stellar Colonel Red
Koko Gorilaz - Kibir La Amlak soundsystem, 8pm, £TBC *
Shanti Bass present a night that promises a range from Jungle to Reggae, from Dub to Dubstep, and everything in between
Millennium Music Hall/Code - Deal Or No Deal, 10pm, £3 * R&B and dance hits, from this
Minskys - Dr Bev Ballcrusher, 9pm, £3 * Dr Bev takes over
Mocka Lounge - 9pm, FREE *
Undertone - Ghosts, 10pm, £TBC * The Ghosts team are
surprisingly non-Edmonds themed night
Live Jazz performances with DJ’s throughout the night Reflex - 7pm. FREE. * Nonstop 80’s classics throughout the weekend Revolution - 9pm, £3 * Revolution ushers in your weekend with oodles of offers and guest DJs Rococo - 10pm, £TBC * DJ Soul Sessions plays the best Dubstep, Electro and Funky House Salt - 8pm, FREE * Funky house and all the latest chart hits from 8pm onwards Sodabar - 10pm, FREE * DJ Raheem brings his weekly residence.to the elegant surrounds of Sodabar
Tiger Tiger - Private Karaoke, 6pm, £2.50 * Start the evening in good fashion with Tiger Tiger’s private karaoke booths
Varsity (City Centre) - 9pm, FREE * DJ Gigabyte plays his weekly residency
Varsity (Roath) - 8pm. FREE. * Live DJ sets every week from a
variety of guest DJs
WOW Bar - The Wow Showgirls. 8pm. FREE. * DJ Kitty and
MC Marcia presents a their weekly House sets
Bar Yupi - Socialize, 9pm, £TBC * Mix of club classics and oldschool anthems until 3am
Walkabout - 5pm, FREE * Get
the Friday feeling with live music and a 4-hour long happy hour
020 The MMP January 2011
Minsky’s weekend schedule
back with quality house and techno at the tips of their nimble fingers
18th February Cardiff Arts Institute - Higher Learning Present Homeboy Sandman, £4 after 11pm, £2 b4 * See Clubs of the Month
ClubOfTheMonth
HOMEBOY SANDMAN
Double-check your shoelaces are tied as tonight brings the touchdown of hip-hop underground New Yorker Homeboy Sandman who has specialist acclaim coming out of most orifices. These include best hip-hop act as awarded by New York Press. Our city’s own Gritty D supports. Bo!
Cardiff Arts 18th February Gwdihw - La Noche Espanola feat. Flamenco Torito, 7:30pm, £3 * DJ Toclifrench plays some floor-filling favourites before and after the awesome Flamenco Torito play their Spanish-infused traditional tunes
Minskys - Pixie Perez & Tina Sparkle, 9pm, £3 * The two
resident performers team up for tonight’s show
Undertone - Reboot, 10pm, £TBC * Hard techno night bring-
ing especially fast and hard beats
25th February Cardiff Arts Institute - Brain Juice Launch Party, £4 after 11pm, £2 b4 * Lively monthly
night coinciding with the launch of the new label, hosted by Astroid Boys’ Traxx and Benji and with DJ Comfort, Rollo, Kaptin and Orange Elvis spinning the discs
Minskys - Fanny Dazzle, 9pm, £3 * Ludicrous names and showtunes galore
Undertone - Sleep When You’re Dead, 10pm, £TBC *
Pritchard and friends lead a party of fire, booze, gimps and bassdriven insanity
SATURDAYS 10 Feet Tall - Me And You Club, 8pm, FREE b4 10 * Mike
TV guides you through your weekend with a feelgood assortment of indie and pop
411 - So Funked, 9pm, FREE before midnight * Mix of smooth grooves and hip hop
A Shot in The Dark - Live DJs, 8pm, FREE * Funk and soul cuts all over the weekend
Bar Icon - The BIG nite-out, 6pm, FREE * Mix of offers and music to get you ready for Saturday night
Buffalo - Beatbox Ballroom, 8pm, Upstairs: Prices vary. Downstairs: FREE * Weekly
dose of soul and hip hop
Cafe Jazz - 9pm, £TBC *
Resident DJs play a selection of the finest jazz
Cardiff Student’s Union ComePlay - 10pm, £4.50 - £4 * The Union’s busiest night by
far, fuelling all your pop and chart tendencies
Cougar Lounge - 9pm, £TBC *
* Mid-week Rave Juggernaut expands its repertoire with their weekly slot at Koko’s Lava Lounge - 8pm, FREE *
Commercial hits and retro classics for you to make the most of your weekend to.
Live Lounge - 11pm, FREE *
As soon as the live music ends, chill out to the wide array of guest DJs that play every night
Mbargo - 9pm. FREE. *
Party until 4am with dancefloor anthems all night
Metros - 9pm, £4 * Weekly fix
of alternative goodness, ranging from Indie to nu metal (and everything between) Milgi’s - 9pm, FREE * World and dance music from an array of guest DJs
Mocka Lounge - 9pm, FREE *
DJ Styles and Sinky force you into party-mode
Owain Glyndwr - 9pm, FREE *
DJ Yas plays all the party classics until 1am Reflex - 7pm. FREE. * Nonstop 80’s classics throughout the weekend
Revolution - 9pm, £3 before 11pm, £5 after * Two floors
of music ranging from Electro to House to kick off your Saturday night Rococo - 10pm, £TBC * DJ Soul Sessions plays the best Dubstep, Electro and Funky House Salt - 8pm, FREE * A mix of cheesy pop and chart hits from 8pm onwards down in this massive bar down in Cardiff Bay sounds lovely
Sodabar - 10pm, FREE *
Weekly set from resident DJ, DJ Jay Vivet
Tiger Tiger - Private Karaoke, 6pm, £2.50 * Start the evening in good fashion with Tiger Tiger’s private karaoke booths
Tiger Tiger - 10pm, £TBC *
House anthems and Dance classics from the lovely people at KISS 101
Varsity (City Centre) - 9pm, FREE * Weekly DJ set from DJ Extreme
Varsity (Roath) - 9pm. FREE. * DJ Dan plays his weekly residency
DJ’s C.T. and Hilly play their best Anthems and Club classics
WOW Bar - Ice. 8pm. FREE. *
10, £5 After * All-rounded mix of chart, pop, dance and funky house
£TBC * Night of electro and funky house until 3am
Club X - 10pm, FREE before
Clwb Ifor Bach - Vinyl Vendettas / Dirty Pop / Mr Potter’s Proper Disco, 10pm, £5 * Three Floors of indie, soul, Motown, pop, and everything in between
The Crockerton - 9pm, FREE * Various DJs playing the latest
hits and club anthems all through the night
Dempseys - Twisted By Design, 9pm - 2am. £TBC *
Dempsey’s hosts one of Cardiff’s longest running altenative nights
Exit Club - Sonic Saturdays, 10pm, FREE * Chart hits and
Dance classics from a selection of guest DJs Flares - 9pm, FREE * Resident DJs take you back to simpler times The Flora - 8pm, FREE * Live bands followed by DJ sets until 1am Glam - Vanity, 9pm, £5 * Two floors of R&B, dancefloor anthems and funky house
The Great Western- 9pm, FREE * In-house DJs playing
a mix of party classics through the night
King’s Cross - KXS, 5pm, FREE * DJ Lee Briant incites the party across Mill Lane
Koko Gorilaz - 9pm, FREE
A mix of chart hits from resident DJs Krys and N18El T
Bar Yupi - Funked Out, 9pm, Walkabout - 9pm, £TBC *
Thursday night atmosphere, but on a Saturday, and busier (if that’s possible)
5th February A Shot in the Dark - Tangana, 9pm, FREE * Shot in the Dark
serves up a slice of Spanish party culture, with guest DJ’s and other frivolities all present tonight
Cardiff University Great Hall, - Hospitality, 9pm, £16 * See
Clubs of the Month
ClubOfTheMonth
HOSPITALITY 2011
A fantastic night of the hottest UK drum ‘n’ bass acts, all emergent from the Hospital Reccords stable. Expect the likes of High Contrast, Danny Byrd and London Elektricity to blow your night away with their suitably banging beats - hell yeah
CU Great Hall 5th February Gwdihw - Juju Nations, 8pm, £3 * See Clubs of the Month
The MMP November 2010 03
CLUB Listings ClubOfTheMonth
JUJU NATIONS
Juju Nations returns still brandishing funk like it was a weeble that wouldn’t fall down. And it’s a mighty thing. Merging afrobeat and reggae from all over Africa and the Carribbean, it’s a totally tropical flamethrower of a night
Gwdihw 5th February Koko Gorilaz - Processed Music Night, 9pm, £TBC *
Gwdihw - Funkadelic feat. N.e.o.n, 7pm, £3 * Amidst
the ceaselessly funky floor-fillers being thrown by resident DJs Toclifrench and Indy Blu you will also catch another set from Cardiff’s genre-baiting N.E.o.N.
Minskys - Dr Bev Ballcrusher, 9pm, £3 * Dr Bev Ball crusher
has company tonight, with one other performer to be confirmed
Undertone - Femme Fatale, 10pm, £TBC * Clubnight aimed at the ladies with a diverse range of music on offer
19th February
Multi-room night featuring electro, techno and dubstep
Gwdihw - Candela, 8pm, £2 *
raised hell at their New Year’s Eve bash, Bionic returns to bring Cardiff the best hardstyle and trance across two dancefloors.
Minskys - Pixie Perez & Tina Sparkle, 9pm, £3 * Another
Millennium Music Hall Bionic, 9pm, £13.50 * Having
Minskys - Jolene Dover &
Pixie Perez, 9pm, £3 * Doublebarrelled drag assault from the Minsky residents Undertone - Release feat. Madame Twisted, 10pm, £4 *
Madame Twisted and Dan Waite are among those bringing the tech house, electro, trance and hard dance to Undertone’s vaults
12th February 10 Feet Tall - Me And You Club - ‘Love Is The Drug’ Party, 8pm, FREE b4 10 * Mike TV
guides you through your weekend with a feelgood mix of indie, rock ‘n’ roll and alternative tunes
Buffalo - The Beatbox Ballroom Valentine Ball, 8pm, £TBC * Classic romantic films
play while people dance and grope to new/old school breaks
022 The MMP January 2011
The resident Candela DJs as well as some special guests push forth their manic nights on the unsuspecting public once more chance to catch the duo
Undertone - Cool House, 10pm, £TBC * 9 years of experi-
ence benefits Cool House with a reputation for friendly crowds and incredible acts - voted 2nd best UK clubnight by Pete Tong listeners
26th February Gwdihw - Mise en Bouche feat. Flevens / The Word Virus Essay, £3 * Toclifrench and Dave
Norton with their deck-splitting showstoppers, and the Tru Thoughts label in Brighton is basshot property Flevens ably supported by The Word Virus Essay
Millenium Music Hall - C-YN-T, 11pm, £15 * The Rave
leviathan is back in full effect as they take over the larger capacity Millennium Music Hall
Minskys - Jolene Dover & Tina Sparkle, 9pm, £3 *
Jolene Dover returns to close out the month
Undertone - Delete Presents Move D, 10pm, £8 * The
pioneering Move D shows off his impressive otherworldly trance
SUNDAYS 10 Feet Tall - 10 Feet Tall Sunday Social, 8pm, FREE *
Alternative party mash-ups from DJs Greg Ramshackle and Steve French
Bar Icon - Sunday Nite Chillout, 6pm, FREE * Open-juke-
box night for you to wind down the weekend to
Buffalo - House Party, 8pm, Upstairs: Prices vary, Downstairs: FREE * Guest DJs and promoters every week to give a variety of the latest new music
The Crockerton - 9pm, FREE * Various DJs playing the latest
hits and club anthems all through the night
the VIP treatment, with resident DJ Chris Evans Reflex - 8pm, FREE. * End the weekend with more retro goodness Revolution - 9pm, FREE * A mix of live music and Latin beats played throughout the night
Sodabar -Sunday Industry
Night, 10pm, £2 / FREE * A night dedicated to those who have been working Friday and Saturday night Tiger Tiger - Private Karaoke, 6pm, £2.50 * Start the evening in good fashion with Tiger Tiger’s private karaoke booths
WOW Bar - The Cuckoo Club. 6pm. FREE. * Special Guests
and Cabaret performances set to spend what’s left of your weekend party spirit Bar Yupi - 9pm, FREE * DJ Jamie H plays a selection of chart, funky house and electro
13th February
Exit Club - Sunday Sanctuary - 10pm, FREE * Resident DJs
10 Feet Tall - The Sunday Social Lover’s Ball, 8pm, FREE. * Alternative party mash-ups
King’s Cross - Rachel’s Songs Of Praise, 9pm, FREE * Enjoy
Cardiff Arts Institute - C-Y-N-T Present NME Aftershow Party, 10pm, £TBC * Magnetic Man,
play the best chart and dance, old and new an all-night happy hour, with Karaoke for those who haven’t shamed themselves enough for the weekend
Lava Lounge - 8pm, FREE *
from DJs Greg Ramshackle and Steve French
Crystal Castles, Vaccines and Everything Everything at the university is immediately followed by this aftershow just down the road
The hard working barstaff of Cardiff are given their chance to shine on this Industry night
27th February
As soon as the live music ends, chill out to the wide array of guest DJs that play every night
10 Feet Tall - The Go! Team Aftershow Party, 10pm, FREE * Following The Go! Team’s
Live Lounge - 11pm, FREE *
Mocka Lounge - 9pm, FREE * The Barstaff of Cardiff get given
undoubtedly stellar gig at MMH, 10FT offers the aftershow with some very special guest DJs
The MMP November 2010 05
The MMP January 2011 023
LIVE Listings
Tuesday 1st Devil Sold His Soul @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £9.50 / £7.50 * Recently signed to Century Media, the middle ground is thrown away as delicate melody is spliced with spine-crushing heaviness
Charity Showcase @ Koko Gorilaz, 8pm, £TBC * Collection of local bands joining forces for the sake of a good cause
Nyth feat. The Keys @Gwdihŵ, 8pm, £3 * The amazing guitar driven eclecticism from one of the country's finest.
Norman Thatcher’s New Orleans Band @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £4 *
Top-notch swing music as part of The Preservation Jazz Society’s Tuesday night lineup
Capital City Jazz Orchestra @ Dempsey’s, 9pm, £5 / £4 * The
mighty big band come back for their fifth year of being involved in the Jazz At Dempsey’s nights, bravo!
Smokin’ Aces @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Rock covers from Smokin’ Aces in big O’Neills
Open Mic Night @ O’Neills (Trinity Street), 9pm, FREE * O’Neills present
their long-running open mic night on Trinity Street
Wednesday 2nd RWCMD Students @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Classical performance from the students of the Royal Welsh College
RWCMD Chamber Orchestra @ St Andrew and St Teilo’s Church, Woodville Road, 1pm, £TBC *
Postgrad student conductors lead the orchestra into an exploration of Wagner
7.30pm, £15 * Solo-jaunt from the legendary singer/songwriter and former Zombies frontman
Poker Face Blues @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE * Weekly poker night with jazz and blues to accompany the misery / joy of losing / winning
Jim Jam Open Mic @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * The vast experience of Sir Jim of Jam ensures smooth progress in the Claude
Jazz Revhŵ feat Inc.A / Schrodinger’s Cat @ Gwdihŵ, 8pm, £3 * The ever-excellent Gwdihŵ
gives birth to these ever-excellent jazz nights on a monthly basis - this time we have the gypsy-drum ‘n’ bassfunk-jazz of Inc.A and the up tempo originals of Schrodinger’s Cat
Owain Glyndwr Open Mic @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE * Excellently run open mic hosted by Ben & Stuart Harrison
Battle Of The Bands @ Vulcan Lounge, 8pm, FREE * Vulcan Lounge
plays host for a brawl of all against all, as tonight’s bands slug it out for the chance to win a grand prize
READ International Present READing Festival @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 8pm, £3 * Locally sourced bands and DJs as well as fancy dress and games - music comes from King Louis Collective, , Mel (‘n’ the) Ting Points and Papa Legal
Charlotte Keefe Quintet @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £6 / £5 * Jazz quintet comprised of some of the the RWCMD’s most exciting students
The Undecided @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Full live band performance from the indecisive covers bands
Friday 4th
Twin Atlantic @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £8.50 / £6.50 * After a
Live Music Friday @ Owain Glyndwr, 5pm, FREE * Live music
The Tom Fun Orchestra / Carmen Townsend @ Buffalo, 7.30pm, FREE * Special touring showcase of
Baroque Splendour @ Llandaff Cathedral, 7.30pm, FREE (donations to Llandaff Cathedral organ appeal) * RWCMD Symphonic Brass and the
spectacularly busy 2010, the Glasgow four-piece head out on their own as headliners
talent from Cape Breton Island off the coast of Nova Scotia - headliners are an 8-piece cluster-rock ensemble, sounds mighty
throughout the evening to settle into the weekend vibe
girl choristers of the cathedral take on secular works from the Baroque era
The Rolling Clones @ The Globe, 7.30pm, £10.50 * Tribute Friday
Folk Against Fascism @ Gwdihŵ, 8pm, £2 * Thumbs up for indie-folk-world
pays homage to the Rolling Stones for the evening
Open Heart Mic @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE * Open
the glorious return of MMP Liggett’s acoustic sessions in Tony’s Kitchen Gallery, but also some very fine food indeed if before 10pm
locals doing a great show (Butetown Somali group Iskawaran! and Dueling Biscuits), thumbs down for the nasty fascists
mic on Whitchurch Road with free food for performers
Rowan Liggett’s Open Mic @ North Star, 8pm, FREE * Live performance
free-for-all presented by the MMP’s very own man of the people Rowan Liggett
Alex Douglas @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £4 / £3 * Enigmatic improvised piano mastery that borrows heavily from contemporary gospel music
Tony Morley @ The Royal Oak, 8.30pm, FREE * Morley returns, for another set of acoustic covers
Tom Lewis @ O’Neills (Trinity Street), 9pm, FREE * With a voice
the size of several galaxies, Lewis helms this acoustic session
No Sweat @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 9pm, FREE * Weekly stonker of a live acoustic showcase where the beanbags are as much the star as the acts
Colum Regan @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * The Irish tunesmith carves out another fine set in big O’Neills
Round Trip @ Dempsey’s, 9pm, £5 / £4 * Some of London’s finest young
The Return Of The R & R Sessions @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, £3 * The entry includes not only
Vertigo Launch Party @ Gwdihŵ, 8pm, £4 / £3 * See Gigs of the Month.
GigOfTheMonth
THEE VICARS
Gwdihw is truly gathering momentum both as a respected music venue and a lovely place to hang out. The launch of new night Vertigo is going to be loud and fun. Thee Vicars are riding a wave of glowing plaudits and Houdini Dax make sweet mojo coffee everytime someone lets ‘em. Ace! Gwdihw
4th February
improvisers, led by Richard Turner on trumpet
Under The Driftwood Tree @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * Feel-good acoustic set from
Thursday 3rd
49 Giraffes @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * Friday night light
Live Music Now! @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE *
Classical opera on the Glanfa Stage
Hollow Tone / Alternative Expres-
sion @ Buffalo, 7pm, £3 * Melodic hard rock from the Swansea valleys - Alternative Expression and Blackwaters support Colin Bluntstone @ The Globe,
024 The MMP January 2011
the city’s fine folk-pop-hip-hoppers
entertainment, or an animal rights complaint waiting to happen? Only one way to find out
The Tony Breen Band & Guests @ Blue Dragon Hotel, 9pm, FREE * Country, blues, jazz all blended
together by the Tony Breen band
Smokin’ Aces @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * The monster
giggers that are Smokin’ Aces come
forth once more to play big O’Neills
Jack The Biscuit @ The Royal Oak, 9pm, FREE * Classy blues-rock in The Oak
Zephyr @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * Residency for the rock of Zephyr in little O’Neills
Saturday 5th Chinese New Year Event @ Cardiff
Library, 11am, FREE * A special event to celebrate Chinese New Year with live music and much merriment and pomp
Pontenewydd Male Choir @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Choral works from the male voice choir
Jef Leppard @ The Globe, 7pm, £10.50 * Def Leppard tribute from
one of the least creative tribute names around
BBC National Orchestra of Wales @ St David’s Hall, 7pm, £25 / £10 * Evening performance that has
Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra as highlights
plores the best of Viennese Ballroom
Acoustic Open Mic Night @ Buffalo Lounge (Woodville Road), 7pm, FREE * Liggett takes his wiry frame and effervescent spirit to Buffalo Lounge
Gramercy Riffs @ 10 Feet Tall, 7.30pm, £4 / £3 * Gramercy Riffs take their blend of rock ‘n’ roll, soul and country to 10FT, Ben Steer supports
Sunday Acoustic Night @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE * Pleasant acoustic evening with Jollie Holly hosting
Tony Morley’s Open Mic Night @ The Claude, 8.30pm, FREE *
Morley grooms the young Morleys of tomorrow
S & M @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * The fetish-mocking duo continue their Sunday residency in big O’Neills
Monday 7th British Sea Power @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £15 / £13.50 * Intimate
warm up show for the ever-popular cult rockers in light of their new album out soon
Salvation @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * At a loose-end Saturday night?
Contagious @ Pen & Wig, 7.30pm, FREE * Open mic night every Monday
Rachel K Collier @ Vulcan Lounge, 8pm, FREE * The delicate-voiced
C.W. Stoneking / Brownbird Rudy Relic @ The Globe, 7.30pm, £10 *
Polar Bears @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * The animal theme continues
GigOfTheMonth
Let the North Star save you with tonight’s live cheeky covers
singer brings her full band along
this weekend as The Claude host Polar Bears (the band, not the popular arctic animal)
Casey Jay @ Pen & Wig, 8.30pm, FREE * Sweet and soulful vocals from this indie-club-electro diva
In Full Swing @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 9pm, £5 * CAI’s live lindy-hop
futuristic breakdance crew pull all those electro-swing levers to keep you dancing til dawn, more or less
2 Tickets 2 The Gun Show @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE *
The rock-pop covers of 2T2TGS helm Saturday nights up in little O’Neills
Rap Happenings Present...@ Cougar Lounge, 9pm, £TBC * Live music
from Maxwell D with Pay As You Go and The Lock too before it builds into a club night with DJ Big Crumb
in the Pen & Wig
See Gigs of the Month
C.W. STONEKING Stoneking’s Jungle Blues LP last year perfectly captured the sound of 1930s blues America in spite of much of the subject matter being about Africa and his being from Melbourne. Remarkable in its temporal and geographical dislocation, as well as for just being a beautiful record, this is an undoubted gig of the month
The Globe
The Satellite @ The Royal Oak, 9pm, FREE * Rock and pop covers up
7th February
in the Oak
The Beavers @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Fresh from attempting
to block the River Taff, it’s The Beavers
Sunday 6th Chinese New Year Community Celebration @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 10am, FREE * All-day event with Chi-
nese music, folk art, opera and dancing as well as displays and parades to celebrate Chinese New Year
Thoby Davis @ The North Star, 2pm, FREE * The loop pedal master begins the year as he means to continue
Acoustic Jam Session @ The Royal Oak, 3pm, FREE * Afternoon acoustic Sunday jam on Broadway
Junip @ Millennium Music Hall, 7pm, £10 *See Gigs of the Month
GigOfTheMonth
JUNIP
The soft-vocals of Jose Gonzalez remain as affecting as they were for his Heartbeats breakthrough, this new band project promises similar levels of low-key beauty but build on his solo work with interesting results - well worth a look Millennium Music Hall 6th February
The Johann Strauss Gala @ St David’s Hall, 7pm, £28.50 / £14.50 *
David Juritz directs the orchestra from his violin, as tonight’s performance ex-
The Lovely Eggs + Support @ Undertone, 8pm, £5 / £4 * Enthralling, if initially unnerving, alternative pop with Velvet Underground and Moldy Peaches flavours
Ukulele Nights Cabaret @ Gwdihŵ, 8pm, FREE * A special Stupid Cupid Valentine’s theme featuring the region’s finest uke performers aping it up all in the name of love..and lust... and sex...
Kickback Open Mic @ The Old
Library, 8pm, FREE * Another topnotch contender to the Monday-Night Open-Mic throne Welsh Traditional Folk Session @ The Beverley Hotel, 8.30pm, FREE * First of two sessions at the Beverley that showcase the traditional music of our nation
Poet’s Corner Open Mic @ Poet’s Corner, 9pm, FREE * Huwie Price
takes charge of affairs in this Roath based open mic
Open Mic @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * O’Neills hosts this wellrun and well-attended open mic
Tuesday 8th Lunchtime Concert - Thomas Trotter @ St David’s Hall, 1pm, £6.50 / £4.50 * The accom-
plished Trotter plays Bach’s Toccato and the Fugue, Locklair’s Rubrics and Saint-Saen’s Fantasie
Jonny @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £12 / £10 * See Gigs of the
Month
Nile @ Millennium Music Hall,
7pm, £15 * The death metal leviathans invoke a musical rampage in what will be their first visit to Wales in almost 8 years World Bicycle Relief Fundraiser feat. Three Pairs Of Shoes @ 10 Feet Tall, 7.30pm, £2 * Three Pairs
Of Shoes and the Eruption Button DJs fight together for the relief of bicycles
The MMP November 2010 01
LIVE Listings everywhere, entry donates to charity
Band Showcase @ Koko Gorilaz,
Lone Shark @ The Royal Oak, 9pm, FREE * 60s and recent covers
Poker Face Blues @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE *
The Tony Breen Band & Guests @ Blue Dragon Hotel, 9pm, FREE * Country, blues, jazz all blended
Vulcan Lounge’s musical coup d’etat
Ron King & His Meridian Band @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £4 * Weekly throwback
8pm, £TBC * Band showcase featuring rock/funk band Judge Tuxedo
Smokin’ Aces @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Tuesday resi-
Weekly poker night with jazz and blues to accompany the misery / joy of losing / winning
together by the Tony Breen band
of Sir Jim of Jam ensures smooth progress in the Claude
from Cardiff’s musical chameleons this time featuring the funky hip-hop dub charms of N.E.o.N.
to the 1920s with the Preservation Jazz Society
dency for this ever-present act
Open Mic Night @ O’Neills (Trinity Street), 9pm, FREE * This city centre
open mic always tends to attract a crowd
GigOfTheMonth
JONNY
Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub showcases his new material cowritten with Euros Childs - with two like-minded pop gurus combining forces, one of which being a God damn Welsh legend, we are more excited than a Dulux dog on heat
Clwb Ifor Bach
8th February
Wednesday 9th RWCMD Students @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * The fine students from RWCMD
perform classical works in the MIllennium Centre
RWCMD Brass Band @ St Andrew’s and St Teilo’s Church, Woodville Road, 1pm, £TBC * Peter Graham’s Cats Tales pays tribute to Leonard Bernstein, Henry Mancini, Sonny Rollins and Elmer Bernstein
Bless ‘Em All @ St David’s Hall, 2pm, £10 * Stan Stennett delivers
another nostalgia-driven afternoon of music and dance
Rowan Liggett’s Open Mic @ The North Star, 7pm, FREE * Live open
mic night hosted by the waif-like Liggett
Ian Parker @ The Globe, 7pm, £15 * Solo acoustic performance from the
Hollies’ keyboard player
Samoans / The MeMeMes @ Buffalo, 7.30pm, £3 * The prog-rockers
headline alongside The MeMeMes and Survivalists
Open Heart Mic @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE * New regular open mic every Wednesday on Whitchurch Road’s lovely art gallery space
Jazz Attic @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £2 * Long-running opportunity for local musicians to sit in with the house trio
Tony Morley @ The Royal Oak, 8.30pm, FREE * Citizen Morley, on
the run from the CCTV network, takes refuge in the network playing his trademark covers
Tom Lewis @ O’Neills (Trinity Street), 9pm, FREE * Weekly acoustic
session in little O’Neills
No Sweat @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 9pm, FREE * Beanbags, live acoustic music and a whole room of cosy ambience
Colum Regan @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Genetically engineered with a guitar on his body, it’s Colum Regan
Thursday 10th Sherbourne School Wind Band @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Classical works from this
Jim Jam Open Mic @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * The vast experience
in the Oak
N.E.O.N @ Cougar Lounge, 9pm, FREE * Friday night live music
Owain Glyndwr Open Mic @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE * Excellently run open mic
Zephyr @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * Zephyr guide us into
Osian Roberts @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £8 / £6 * A rare UK appear-
Goose @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Got it
hosted by Ben & Stuart Harrison
ance, promising a mix of originals and hand-picked standards
The Blades @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Not to be mistaken for
Sheffield United, unless of course O’Neills have something truly interesting in store
Friday 11th Strictly Golden Oldies’ Tea Dance @ St David’s Hall, 1.30pm, £5 * The monthly tea dance returns by popular demand, promising dancing, live music (and free tea and Welsh cake)
Live Music Friday @ Owain Glyndwr, 5pm, FREE * Live music
throughout the evening to settle into the weekend vibe
Hyper Mused @ The Globe, 7pm, £10.50 * A tribute to Muse, and the
closest you will get to seeing Muse live in an environment that isn’t an arena or a packed-out stadium
John Holt & Maxi Priest @ St David’s Hall, 7pm, £42 / £29.50 *
Two of reggae’s most successful living artists combine forces
Vulcan Lounge 1st Birthday @ Vulcan Lounge, 7pm, FREE * Under the Driftwood Tree help Vulcan Lounge celebrate what will be the 1st of many birthdays to come
OK @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £3 * Local pop band celebrates the release of their new single Lego in style
Ocean Colour Scene @ Cardiff University Great Hall, 7pm, £22.50 *
the weekend with their rock show in little O’Neills
first time, it’s Goose! And their cover bonanza
Saturday 12th in the library
James Apollo / Joshua Caole @ Buffalo, 7pm, £5 / £4 * See Gigs of the Month
GigOfTheMonth
JAMES APOLLO The MOJO and Uncut acclaimed Apollo tours his downbeat Americana charms with toe-curlingly satisfying results. Support comes from Cardiff’s own bluesy troubadour Joshua Caole and the crazily popbluestastic Houdini Dax
Buffalo
12th February
GigOfTheMonth
LITTLE COMETS One of the most widely touring acts of the moment, Little Comets are giving new LP In Search Of Elusive Little Comets the massive push it deserves. Cardiff Arts and the No Sweat team give them the stage for the night, let’s all go say howdy doo!
Cardiff Arts Institute
11th February
The Word Virus Essay @The North
Star, 8pm, FREE * Friday night slot from the rhythmic juggernauts, support tbc
Price takes charge of this Gwdihŵ based open mic night - test your metal and prove yourselves, citizens!
Tiger Please @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £9 / £7 * Having headlined over Funeral For A Friend last time they were here, Tiger Please set out with co-headliners The Crave
Hold Your Horse Is / Mojo Fury @
Undertone, 7.30pm, £4 * The excellent McLusky-informed 3-piece take their raucous show to the Undertone basement Simply Big Band @ St David’s Hall,
8pm, £29 / £25 * Rescheduled performance that aims to bring back the vibe of the 1920’s Big Band
Buffalo Aftershow Party @ Buffalo, 8pm, FREE * The NME show at the
Union is followed by some very special guests here, more details TBC
Sunday Acoustic Night @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE *
Pleasant acoustic evening with Jollie Holly hosting
Roosvelt @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * Rock and pop covers in
Acoustic Open Mic Night @ Buffalo Lounge (Woodville Road), 9pm, FREE * MMP’s Liggett stands
North Star on Saturday night
The Journeymen @ Vulcan Lounge, 8pm, FREE * These musical nomads
No Sweat Presents Little Comets @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 7.30pm, £5 adv * See Gigs of the Month
Gwdihŵ, 7pm, £Donation * Huwie
John Cooper Clarke @ The Globe,
7.30pm, £15 * Rescheduled show from one of England’s most important poets
Scrubs gets the spotlight they deserve Rhos Botwnnog, surprisingly, playing experimental Welsh language country, folk and rock
The NME Awards Tour will be swaggering into town boasting a mouth watering line up of fresh faced talent. Crystal Castles, Magnetic Man, Everything Everything and The Vaccines will be igniting the air around them like modern day musical warlocks. Tickets are available now. Cardiff Uni Great Hall
Tony Morley’s Open Mic Night @ The Claude, 8.30pm, FREE * Citizen Morley is
The Mingers @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * Get a few beers in you
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog @ Buffalo, 7pm, £5 * 3-piece from
NME AWARD TOUR 2011
13th February
Alan Coles @ Cardiff Library, 1pm, FREE * Alt-country singer-songwriter
Survivors of the 90s Britpop hype play their classic album Moseley Shoals in its entirety
The Blanks @ Millennium Music Hall, 7pm, £14.50 * Ted’s band from
GigOfTheMonth
for this one, it could get ugly
find their way to Vulcan Lounge for the night
Elvis & Buddy @ St David’s Hall,
8pm, £20 / £16 * Critically acclaimed tribute star Michael King and star of “Buddy: The Musical” Marc Robinson are accompanied by backing band Red Alert for a night that pays homage to the two greats themselves
The Method @ Pen & Wig, 8.30pm, FREE * The Saturday night Pen & Wig sessions host live maverick garagefunk-soul maestros The Method
back to give the young padwans some fine lessons
like a sundrenched mandarin before your eyes
Sunday Jazz: Chapter Four @ Chapter, 9pm, FREE * Melodic acoustic jazz in the main Caffi Bar
S & M @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * The acoustic duo take flight to the big city centre boozer
Monday 14th Pangea @ The Globe, 7pm, £TBC * Band showcase pre-
sented by the University of Glamorgan and Coleg Glan Hafren
Contagious @ Pen & Wig, 7.30pm, FREE * Open mic night every Monday in the Pen & Wig
Polar Bears @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * First Beavers, then
Oxjam Valentine’s Day Fundraiser @ Buffalo, 7.30pm, £TBC * A night of live hip-
Harry’s Gym @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 9pm, £4 after 11pm, £2 b4 *
9xDead Album Launch @ Undertone, 8pm, £3 * The unforgiv-
2 Tickets 2 The Gun Show @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * Popular covers in little
Library, 8pm, FREE * Another topnotch contender to the Monday-Night Open-Mic throne
Goose, now Polar Bears - the animal themed covers bands are out in force this month
This Norwegian 4-piece are talented beyond belief, playing ‘prog-pop’ for the masses with some soaring vocals, CAI DJs follow O’Neills
Sunday 13th Cardiff Coffee Concert @ Cardiff National Museum, 11.30am, £10 / £8 * Lunchtime performance of
hop, dub, reggae and DJs
ing dark-rock of 9xDead is particularly celebratory tonight as they launch their album, Crux and Preacher support
Kickback Open Mic @ The Old
Andy Westwood @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * Evening of romancefilled frivolity and flamenco
Welsh Traditional Folk Session @ The Cayo Arms, 8.30pm, FREE * Timeless and lovely folk sessions over in Pontcanna
school wind group
Smokin’ Aces @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * Another string in the bow of
works by Stravinsky and Rachmaninov
Open Mic @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Big O’Neills hosts this
Strong head the annual tour of what to look out for in 2011
Open Jam w/ Nick Walker @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, £3 *
acoustic artist, a duo if you take into account his friend, Mr. Lou Pedal
Poet’s Corner Open Mic @ Poet’s Corner, 9pm, FREE * Ever-
shindig in The Royal Oak
Tuesday 15th
Kerrang! Relentless Tour 2011 @ Cardiff University Great Hall, 7pm, £16 * Good Charlotte and Four Year Holy Coves / Shelley @ Buffalo, 7.30pm, £4 / £3 * Psych,
shoegaze and rock akin to The Warlocks here, hot hootenanny!
Battle Of The Bands @ Vulcan Lounge, 8pm, FREE * Round 2 of the
02 The MMP November 2010
Cardiff’s best challenger to the Tony Morley musical monopoly
Nick Walker hosts this open invite for musos to come in for free and join in the fun, free food before 10pm
Jack The Biscuit @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £4 * Friday night showcase hosted by Blues Dragon
Thoby Davis @ The North Star, 2pm, FREE * Rather spectacular solo Acoustic Jam Session @ The Royal Oak, 3pm,FREE * Weekly Sunday NME Awards Tour 2011 @ Cardiff University Great Hall, 7pm, £TBC * See Gigs of the Month. Hootenanny Open Mic @
reliable open mic in the city centre
growing open mic with folk-blues-pop wonder Huwie Price compering
Cardiff University Music Department @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium
The MMP January 2011 025
LIVE Listings Centre, 1pm, FREE * The University’s Music Department provides its talent for a lunchtime set of classical works RWCMD Lunchtime Concert @ St David’s Hall, 1pm, £6.50 / £4.50 * The RWCMD
Symphony Orchestra performs Holst’s masterpiece The Planets
Japanese Voyeurs @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £8 / £6 * Female fronted rock with
strange sludgy undertones in the vein of Crowbar and Godflesh
The Duke Spirit @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £10 / £8 * Having played the NME Awards 2011 show, The Duke Spirit head out on a few headline dates
City Of Ashes / Painting Bus Stops @ Buffalo, 7.30pm, £5 adv * East
GigOfTheMonth
METAL HAMMER’S RAZOR TOUR
Sylosis headlines a 4-band assault of the latest offerings from the UK metal scene, attendance is non-negotiable if you love metal in any way or form - a bona fide razorsharp thrill ride
Clwb Ifor Bach
17th February
be in
The Tony Breen Band & Guests @ Blue Dragon Hotel, 9pm, FREE * Country, blues, jazz all blended
together by the Tony Breen band
Jim Jam @ The Royal Oak, 9pm, FREE * Jim Jam takes one and all through his rugged set of covers
Free Beer @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Do not be fooled, there’s
out show
Acoustic Jam Session @ The Royal Oak, 3pm, FREE * The Splott boozer hosts a Sunday acoustic session
Sunday Acoustic Night @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE * Pleasant acoustic evening with Jollie Holly hosting
Gwdihŵ Sundown Market @ Gwdihŵ, 8pm, FREE * A load of local
Zephyr @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * Weekly residency of rock up in
craft stalls, some properly lush food and a splendid batch of live music throughout - lovely stuff
Panic Stations @ Café Jazz, 10pm, £4 * Blues Dragons present
The Claude, 8.30pm, FREE * Morley returns once more as coach to the next generation of acousticians
no such thing as a free beer
the smaller of our O’Neills pair
another fine night of jazz and blues-rock
Tony Morley’s Open Mic Night @
S & M @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Sunday residency for the acoustic duo
Sussex band with shades of Funeral For A Friend and Lost Prophets
Eruption Button @ Gwdihŵ, 8pm, £TBC * Lovely music from Asha
folk music from the award-winning starlet
Poker Face Blues @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE * Weekly poker night
lennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Opera recital in the Millennium Centre foyer
Monday 21st
Society hosts another night of topnotch swing and jazz
Owain Glyndwr Open Mic @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE * Excellently
Huwie Price entertains the library dwellers
Blonde Louis @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £5 * Overtly sugary pop with
Roots Unearthed - Emily Smith @ St David’s Hall, 8pm, £13 / £12 * Traditional Scottish New Orleans Hula @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £4 * The Preservation Jazz Smokin’ Aces @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * If the Aces
earned air miles for gigs, they could fly to South Africa in no time
Open Mic Night @ O’Neills (Trinity
Street), 9pm, FREE * Trinity Street based open mic every Tuesday
Wednesday 16th RWCMD Students @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Another performance from the
students of the RWCMD
Operatic Arias II @ Weston Gallery, RWCMD, 1pm, £TBC * Students from the MA Opera course work through the operatic repertoire
Afternoon Concert with Jac van Steen @ Millennium Centre, 2pm, £10 / £7 * Jac Van Steen conducts the
K and Zervas & Pepper as well as some comedy from Jimmy Berrigan
with jazz and blues to accompany the misery / joy of losing / winning run open mic hosted by Ben & Stuart Harrison
Stephanie Rodriguez @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £6 / £4 * An evening of clas-
Steppin’ Out - Great American Songbook @ Chapter, 6.30pm, £5 * Dan Curtis and Laura
present another night of bands from around the area
sic vocal jazz, with support from Julian Martin’s trio
Tony’s Kitchen Gallery
Tony Morley @ The Royal Oak, 8.30pm, FREE * Morley’s motivation for gigging show no sign of waning
Lee Jones Trio @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £5 / £4 * Much-hyped
nu-jazz from the winner of Jazz FM’s “Best New Instrumentalist” award
S.P.A.C.E. @ Undertone, 9pm, £TBC * New experimental night put on by At Your Own Risk and Zoo Pop with live acts, late DJs and cheap drinks - who’s your daddy?!
Tom Lewis @ O’Neills (Trinity Street), 9pm, FREE * Another resi-
dency slot for the distinguished vocals of Tom Lewis
No Sweat @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 9pm, FREE * Acoustic showcase every Wednesday in Cardiff Arts Institute
Colum Regan @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Acousticism personified as Regan takes to the stage to showcase his dexterous talents
Thursday 17th Metal Hammer’s Razor Tour @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £11 / £9 * See
Gigs of the Month
Jim Jam Open Mic @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * The vast experience of Sir Jim of Jam ensures smooth progress in the Claude
Battle Of The Bands @ Vulcan Lounge, 8pm, FREE * The battle
amongst the various bands of Cardiff wages on
026 The MMP January 2011
Coyne explore the great American songbook in lecture and musical form
Midway Still @ Buffalo, 7pm, £5 / £4 * Back from the 90s,
Open Mic Night @ Shot In The
Philharmonia Orchestra @ St David’s Hall, 7.30pm, £32 / £10 *
your ipod and don’t give away your music tastes, there’s an audio scam afoot
Dark, 9pm, FREE * The swanky City Road establishment opens its ears to the aspiring musicians of Roath
Friday 18th
hosted by the human equivalent of a rare red squirrel
Open Heart Mic @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE * Weekly open mic in
from the talented performers of the WNO
Audio Scam @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Keep your hands on
Barnado’s Young Supporters Concert @ St David’s Hall, 6.30pm, £10 / £6 * Evening fundraiser in the name
Gay For Johnny Depp @ Clwb Ifor
Huwie Price @ Cardiff Library, 1pm, FREE * The enthusiastic folk-pop of
Band Night @ Koko Gorilaz, 8pm, £TBC * Brown Bear Promotions
Live Music Friday @ Owain Glyndwr, 5pm, FREE * Live music
Bach, 7pm, £9 / £7 * Delightfully absurd and explosive, Gay For Johnny Depp headline a show featuring equally temperamental The Computers, as well as local noise-mongers Exit International
Opera Mint @ Glanfa Stage, Mil-
Welsh National Opera @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 6pm, FREE * More opera in the evening
BBC Nation Orchestra through a series of classical works
Rowan Liggett’s Open Mic @ The North Star, 7pm, FREE * Weekly Wednesday open mic
Saturday 19th
throughout the evening to settle into the weekend vibe
of Barnados, featuring contributions from local schools
Three Trapped Tigers + Support @ Buffalo, 7pm, £3 * Electronic
death-improv sounds like one hell of a genre - Aphex Twin and Battles are touchstones
Mogwai @ Cardiff University Great Hall, 7pm, £20 * See Gigs of
the Month
GigOfTheMonth
MOGWAI
Post-rock icons promote new album Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will and promise to give you the full-on light show and visuals, bruising instrumentation and washed out textures. Should be freakily marvellous! The Great Hall
18th February
Rumney Folk Club @ St Augustine’s Church Hall, Rumney, 7.30pm, £3 * This most unique of folk clubs hosts
another month of high impact folk in its lovely Mediaeval hall
North Star @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * All we need now is the North Star Pub to put on a band called Claude
The Return Of The R & R Sessions @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, £3 * The entry includes not only the glorious return of MMP Liggett’s acoustic sessions in Tony’s Kitchen Gallery, but also some very fine food indeed if before 10pm
The Dodgers @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * Friday night live music from one of Cardiff’s nicer pubs to
Acoustic Open Mic Night @ Buffalo Lounge (Woodville Road), 9.30pm, FREE * Open mic on Wood-
ville Road’s lounge
guitars. This is the kind of stuff that teenagers consume in huge doses
My Chemical Romance @ Cardiff International Arena, 7pm, £26.50 *
The poster-boys of maladjusted teens everywhere return to Cardiff to spread their infectious rock once more
Roll Deep @ Millennium Music Hall, 7pm, £12.50 * Wiley and his
band of merry men bring their grime hit-machine to Cardiff
Shakin’ Stevens @ St David’s Hall, 7pm, £22.50 * The show may have
Midway Still bring back their powerful punk-pop
been rescheduled, but apparently the shaking still hasn’t subsided
See Gigs of the Month
Young Rebel Set @ The Globe, 7.30pm, £6.50 * Having whipped up
GigOfTheMonth
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Christoph Von Dohnanyi conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra through a selection of Beethoven’s work. This concert is particularly notable for the presence of Kit Armstrong on piano who made his concerto debut ten years ago aged seven. Overture to Egmont and the Pastoral Symphony are to be performed St David’s Hall
19th February
Under The Driftwood Tree @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * Second
performance this month for Cardiff’s acoustic darlings
Leighton Jones @ Vulcan Lounge, 8pm, FREE * Saturday night tunes
a storm at 2010’s Swn Festival, they return to wow us once more
Contagious @ Pen & Wig, 7.30pm, FREE * Open mic night every Monday in the Pen & Wig
Tom Hingley / John Mouse @ 10
Feet Tall, 7.30pm, £7 / £6 * The Inspiral Carpets man plays his solo stuff with John Mouse, Chris Hicks and Jon Fazal as support Paige @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7.30pm, £6 / £5 * Pop-punk of the most familiar kind
Jets To Zurich / Solutions @ Buffalo, 8pm, £3 * The local alternative rockers bring Solutions as support
Kickback Open Mic @ The Old Library, 8pm, FREE * Another top-
notch contender to the Monday-Night Open-Mic throne
Welsh Traditional Folk Session @ The Beverley Hotel, 8.30pm, FREE * Second serving of
traditional folk at The Beverley Hotel
Poet’s Corner Open Mic @ Poet’s Corner, 9pm, FREE * Fast-growing
open mic on City Road with Huwie Price doing the gregarious hosting
Open Mic @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Take centre stage for the
from the “soulo” artist
night, covers of James Blunt and Oasis not welcome
Perhaps these guys could help you
Tuesday 22nd
fun up at Pen & Wig
Haydn’s Chamber Music @ Weston Gallery, RWCMD, 1pm, £5 / £4 *
The Navigators @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * Lost on a Saturday night? Hodgeheg @ Pen & Wig, 8.30pm, FREE * Up-tempo jazzy blues The Attic Band @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Saturday night live covers at O’Neills
One Drop Reggae Special @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 9pm, £4 after 11pm, £2 b4 * By popular
demand, the CAI peeps are putting on a dancehall, rootsy tinged affair with live guests as well as Kaptin, Jaffa and Dregz tipping out their record boxes
The Journeymen @ The Royal Oak, 9pm, FREE * Diverse range of covers on show here from The Journeymen
2 Tickets 2 The Gun Show @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * Rock-pop covers in Trin-
ity Street’s O’Neills
Sunday 20th The Hillman Quartet @ The North
Star, 2pm, FREE * The classical quartet take to North Star for a chilled
The Gould Trio take their exquisite piano skills as the first in a series of weekly concerts celebrating Haydn
Cardiff University Music Department @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Another recital
from the Cardiff University Music Department
Boyzone @ Cardiff International Arena, 6pm, £35 * The Irish pop
superstars return to the touring circuit for the first time since the tragic passing of Stephen Gately
Efterklang @ The Globe, 7.30pm, £10 * See Gigs of the Month Captain Fantastic And His Three Funky Beans @ Buffalo, 8pm, £3 *
Local 4-piece rockers with a penchant for the jam, The Sky Designed support
The Wessex New Orleans Band @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £4 * Another New Orleans band to grace Café Jazz as part of their Tuesday night lineup
The MMP November 2010 03
Open 7 days a week Restaurant: Indian, Mexican and Pub Grub
Venue Available : Promoters Wanted! 2am / 3am Bar on Weekends Tel: 02920 341767 www.kokogorilaz.co.uk
Great Drink Offers!
FREE Function Room Hire Bands/Promoters/Parties Sun-Thu :: 200+ Capacity! NEW PA Installed!
Rooftop Shisha Lounge
Come and relax in our new rooftop Shisha Lounge // Open Daily: 5pm - Late
1 Feb 2011 | Charity Bands
From 8pm
3 Feb 2011 | Brown Bear Comedy
From 8pm
5 Feb 2011 | Processed Music Night
9pm - 3am
10 Feb 2011 | Band Night w/Judge Tuxedo
From 8pm
11 Feb 2011 | Shanti Bass presents Kibir Al Amlak 8pm - 2am 17 Feb 2011 | Brown Bear Band Night
From 8pm
24 Feb 2011 | Brown Bear Comedy Night
From 8pm
LIVE Listings
GigOfTheMonth
EFTERKLANG
These excellent Danish electropop beauties are signed to 4AD and have quite rightly garnered acclaim from Drowned In Sound, MOJO, Uncut, Word and many other critics. Much more interesting than almost all their peers The Globe
22nd February
Smokin’ Aces @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * More covers in big O’Neills from the Aces
Open Mic Night @ O’Neills (Trinity Street), 9pm, FREE * Well estab-
lished open mic, smack bang in the centre of town
Wednesday 23rd RWCMD Students @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE *
More talented RWCMD students take to the Glanfa Stage
Saxophone In Song @ Weston Gallery, RWCMD, 1pm, £TBC * An ensemble of saxophones
all singing together in works designed for multiple saxes
Boyzone @ Cardiff International Arena, 6pm, £35 * As the 22nd February
Rowan Liggett’s Open Mic @ The North Star, 7pm, FREE * A Wednes-
he’s coming to Cardiff to sell out St David’s Hall
The Venture @ Cardiff Library, 1pm, FREE * Alternative pop in the
some highly praised artists on board Little Arrow and Evening Chorus offer depth of brilliance
Ba Ba Boom Presents Winter Watusi @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 2pm, £TBC * The Ba Ba Boom crew bring an
Laish / Tristram @ Undertone, 7.30pm, £5 / £4 * Folk night with
SWN Presents Darkstar @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 8pm, £6 adv *
lush Cardiff Library building
all-dayer revival of last summer’s local festival with live bands and DJs running amok like barbarian banshees
Synthesized songwriting from these hot properties cutting a different cloth to their dubstep peers
Welsh National Opera @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 6pm, FREE * WNO take to the Glanfa Stage
of Sir Jim of Jam ensures smooth progress in the Claude
Doll And The Kicks @ Buffalo, 7pm, £7 / £6 * It’s indie-rock with a vague
run open mic hosted by Ben & Stuart Harrison
Captain Accident & The Disasters @ The Globe, 7.30pm, £4 * Trenchfoot Records
Jim Jam Open Mic @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * The vast experience
Owain Glyndwr Open Mic @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE * Excellently Poker Face Blues @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE * Weekly poker night with jazz and blues to accompany the misery / joy of losing / winning
Trichotomy @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £7 / £5 * Contemporary music enemble from down under
Vegas @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Rock and pop covers from the rarely seen ensemble
Friday 25th Alison McGillivray @ Weston Gallery, RWCMD, 1pm, £6 / £5 * Baroque cello celebrating 17th
century formal and folk music from London, Germany and Scotland
Live Music Friday @ Owain Glyndwr, 5pm, FREE * Live music
throughout the evening to settle into the weekend vibe
for an evening performance
hue of disco all performed with some genuine attitude
present a bill of excellently named bands such as Tyrannosaurus Alan and Tree House Fire as well as Captain Accident headlining
collaboration between My Name Is Ian and Francesca’s Word Salad - expect oddball duets and good-humoured banter
House Party @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, £3 * Free food before 10pm and a whole plethora of musicians plying their trade in an utterly informal fashion
Pipe Dreams @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * Saturday night live
music and not a remark to their name in sight
The Saturdays @ Cardiff International Arena, 6pm, £24 * A success-
Word Virus Essay @ Vulcan Lounge, 8pm, FREE * Word Virus Essay and
rock-poppers joined by Fjords’ angular indie and acoustic local Ffred Jones
Welsh National Opera @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 6pm, FREE * The WNO take their powerful
venture across the recession-stricken live music wasteland that is the UK to grace you
their support Red Shark Sound System show what can be done with some drum n’ bass creativity and some relatively dull instruments
vocal presence to the Glanfa Stage
Earth Monkey @ Pen & Wig, 8.30pm, FREE * The popular 5-piece
lately talented son of Richard and Linda Thompson takes his singer-songwriter work to the Bay’s Glee Club
tribute act we can only assume plays nothing off of Chinese Democracy
Goose @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Watch out, Goose are on the
Chris Torrance and musician Chris Vine perform from their latest recording together in Chapter
post-pop-rock act headline with Long Distance Calling backing them
2 Tickets 2 The Gun Show @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * 2 Tickets take you to the
Teddy Thompson / David Ford @ The Glee Club, 7.30pm, £14 / £13 * The immacuHeat Poets @ Chapter, 8pm, £6 * Guardian-praised poet
Open Heart Mic @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, FREE * Whitchurch Road based open mic every Wednesday
Jazz Attic @ Café Jazz, 8.30pm, £2 * Arrive early and get the chance to play with the house band in what is a utopia for budding jazz musicians in Cardiff
Tony Morley @ The Royal Oak, 8.30pm, FREE * Acoustic showman
and pioneer of the “Morley” style of playing comes to The Royal Oak
No Sweat @ Cardiff Arts Institute, 9pm, FREE * Weekly Wednesday acoustic sessions with the cream of local talent
Colum Regan @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * The Irish Cardiffian plays another set of acoustic covers in big O’Neills
Tom Lewis @ O’Neills (Trinity Street), 9pm, FREE * Tom Lewis plays
a repertoire of covers in this weekly session
Guns 2 Roses @ The Globe, 7pm, £10.50 * Guns and Roses
Maybeshewill / Long Distance Calling @ Buffalo, 7pm, £6 / £5 * DIY instrumental This River @ The Claude, 8pm, FREE * Friday night pub-rock
Salvation @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * Friday night session from these classy covers boys
The Tony Breen Band & Guests @ Blue Dragon Hotel, 9pm, FREE * Country, blues, jazz all blended
together by the Tony Breen band
The Big What? Band @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE *
Large soul ensemble that puts a different spin on popular songs
Houdini Dax @ Cougar Lounge, 9pm, FREE * See Monkey Do Mon-
Boyzone @ Cardiff International Arena, 6pm, £35 * As 22nd February Rachel’s Last Dance @ The Promised Land, 7pm, £TBC * Heartfelt and lovesick folk
Zephyr @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * Friday night brings another
Reel Big Fish @ Cardiff University
Solus, 7pm, £14.50 * Bring a towel, ska-punk shows are without doubt the sweatiest shows known to man, and this will be no exception
key’s little 60s pop darlings play their last show before the release of their new album session from rockers Zephyr up on Trinity St
The King Louie Band @ Café Jazz, 10pm, £4 * Top-quality blues from
the charming folks at Blues Dragon
The Beat @ The Globe, 7pm,
Saturday 26th
James Blunt @ St David’s Hall, 7pm, £29.50 * Love him or hate him,
Cantabile Singers of Pembrokeshire @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Choral works from
£13.50 * British Ska mainstays, famous for hits such as Mirror in the Bathroom
04 2010 028The TheMMP MMPNovember January 2011
this Pembrokeshire group
Jason Derulo @ Cardiff International Arena, 6.30pm, £24 * Acclaimed songwriter and R&B Magden Audio / Say When @ Buffalo, 7.30pm, £5 / £4 * Alternative Pangea @ The Globe, 7.30pm, £4 / £3 * The Globe
closes the month with the local band showcase
Weekend Guitar Trio @ 10 Feet Tall, 7.30pm, £4 * Estonian jazz,
electro ic, world music with shades of modern classical
Eux Autres / Standard Fare @ Undertone, 7.30pm, £5 / £4 * See Gigs of the Month
GigOfTheMonth
EUX AUTRES
The brother / sister duo Nicholas and Heather form Eux Autres who conjure up shades of Olivia Tremor Control and a more ramshackle Super Furry Animals. Danceable but clever Undertone
28th February
rock fair in little O’Neills
Library, 8pm, FREE * Another topnotch contender to the Monday-Night Open-Mic throne
with the experienced Nick Walker at the forefront - players come in for free and its free food for all before 10pm Where Art Thou from this Portlandbased bluegrass 2-step duo on their European Tour
Monday 28th
Contagious @ Pen & Wig, 7.30pm, FREE * Open mic night every Monday
Mid Powys Youth Choir @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 1pm, FREE * Young voices take on
The Water Tower Bucket Boys @ Gwdihŵ, 8pm, £3 * All the sounds of O Brother
this accomplished acoustic pair
loose again - Colum Regan’s cover band return
Sunday 27th
Thursday 24th
from Alex Kirkup
take their versatile covers set to Pen & Wig
stylings
Open Jam @ Tony’s Kitchen Bar And Gallery, 8pm, £3 * Open jam
MMP’s Liggett and his ever-popular open mic
S & M @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Long-running residency for
pop-rock akin to Biffy Clyro and Kids In Glass Houses, Painting Bus Stops and Colours Of One offer further support
7pm, £14.50 * The New York indierock band bring their ever-spontaneous live show to The Globe
ful pop band that wasn’t the produce of a reality show!? Surely not!
training completed for Morley
Acoustic Open Mic Night @ Buffalo Lounge (Woodville Road), 9pm, FREE * Buffalo Lounge host
My Name Is Salad @ Thé Pot, 7.30pm, £5 / £4 * A freshly named
The Journeymen @ The North Star, 8pm, FREE * The travelling band
JKLMNO / Fjords @ Buffalo, 7.30pm, £4 * Wrexham based indie-
acoustic evening with Jollie Holly hosting
Tony Morley’s Open Mic Night @ The Claude, 8.30pm, FREE *Another month of
star struts his stuff in our fair capital
Happy Mondays and Black Grape frontman tries out some of his solo material. Support from The Twang
day open mic with Liggett, the terrier of tunes, compering
performance that revolves around the theme “Paintings and Pictures”
Sunday Acoustic Night @ Owain Glyndwr, 8pm, FREE * Pleasant
Shaun Ryder @ Millennium Music Hall, 7.30pm, £16.50 * The former
Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra @ St David’s Hall, 6pm, £18 / £5 * Season closing
Les Savy Fav @ The Globe,
of indie-pop-rock to Clwb
choral works on the Glanfa
Thoby Davis @ The North Star, 2pm, FREE * This man can do no
wrong this month, as The North Star invite him back once more to close February out
Acoustic Jam Session @ The Royal Oak, 3pm, FREE * The Royal Oak welcomes all to this weekly acoustic jam
in the Pen & Wig
Kickback Open Mic @ The Old
Welsh Traditional Folk Session @ The Cayo Arms, 8.30pm, FREE *
Timeless and lovely folk sessions over in Pontcanna
Poet’s Corner Open Mic @ Poet’s
Corner, 9pm, FREE * Fast-growing open mic on City Road with Huwie Price doing the gregarious hosting Open Mic @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Weekly open mic in big O’Neills
Zephyr @ O’Neills (Trinity St), 9pm, FREE * Zephyr guide us into
the weekend with their rock show in little O’Neills
Salvation Brass @ Glanfa Stage, Millennium Centre, 3pm, FREE * The classy sound of the
Goose @ O’Neills (St Marys), 9pm, FREE * Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Got it
The Go! Team @ Millennium Music Hall, 7pm, £15 * See Gigs of
Event Not Listed?
brass band on the Glanfa Stage the Month
GigOfTheMonth
THE GO! TEAM The eclectic indie-garage-noise monkeys promote their latest LP having already won the world over with their previous efforts and phenomenal live shows - should be top notch Millennium Music Hall
27th February
Francesqa @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 7pm, £9 / £7 * Francesqa take their brand
first time, it’s Goose! And their cover bonanza
Email us: listings@themmp.tv Or Submit Online: www.themmp.tv It’s FREE! Deadline is the 15th of each month.
Y R A U R
FEB
MIDDAY AFTERNOON / EVENING
NIGHT
1st
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Robert Cross // 7pm Salsa Classes
10pm Goose
2nd
Tony Morley
4:30pm Tony Morley Duo // 7pm Robert Cross Duo
10pm Face Value
3rd
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Tony Morley // 7pm Honey Fungus
10pm S & M
4th
Tony Morley
4:30pm Little Giants Trio // 6:30pm Crimes Against Folk // Wales v. England
10pm Minnie’s Chuff
5th
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Smokin‘ Aces Duo // 7pm Bespoke
10pm Graffiti
6th
Tony Morley
3pm Open Mic // 7pm Colum Regan
10pm Tribute Sunday - TBC
7th
Smokin’ Aces
4:30pm Trefor & Jones // 7pm Honey Fungus
10pm Honey Fungus Band
8th
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Robert Cross // 7pm Salsa Classes
10pm Face Value
9th
Tony Morley
4:30pm Tony Morley Duo // 7pm Robert Cross Duo
10pm Supersaurus
10th
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Tony Morley // 7pm Little Giants Trio
10pm Electric Mayhem
11th
Tony Morley
4:30pm Little Giants Trio // 7pm Honey Fungus
10pm The Blades
12th
Crimes Against Folk
Scotland v. Wales followed by 49 Giraffes // Goose
10pm The Big What?! Band
13th
Tony Morley
3pm Open Mic // 7pm Colum Regan
10pm Tribute Sunday - TBC
14th
Smokin’ Aces
4:30pm Trefor & Jones // 7pm Honey Fungus
10pm Honey Fungus Band
15th
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Robert Cross // 7pm Salsa Classes
10pm Goose
16th
Tony Morley
4:30pm Tony Morley Duo // 8pm Robert Cross Duo
10pm Face Value
17th
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Tony Morley // 7pm Smokin’ Aces
10pm Super Natural
18th
Tony Morley
4:30pm Little Giants Trio // 7pm Tony Morley
10pm Polar Bears
19th
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Smokin’ Aces Duo // 7pm Robert Cross Duo
10pm Kenny Driscoll Band
20th
Tony Morley
3pm Open Mic // 7pm Colum Regan
10pm Tribute Sunday - TBC
21st
Smokin’ Aces
4:30pm Trefor & Jones // 7pm Honey Fungus
10pm Honey Fungus Band
22nd
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Robert Cross // 7pm Salsa Classes
10pm Face Value
23rd
Tony Morley
4:30pm Tony Morley Duo // 7pm Robert Cross Duo
10pm Smokin’ Aces
24th
Trefor & Jones
4:30pm Tony Morley // 7pm Bespoke
10pm The Underdogs
25th
Tony Morley
4:30pm Little Giants Trio // 7pm Colum Regan
10pm S & M
26th
Trefor & Jones
Italy v. Wales // The Scam // 2 Tickets 2 The Gun Show
10pm SixOneSeven
27th
Tony Morley
3pm Open Mic // 7pm Colum Regan
10pm Tribute Sunday - Blonde
28th
Smokin’ Aces
4:30pm Trefor & Jones // 7pm Honey Fungus
10pm Honey Fungus Band
See our full advert - insideThe front MMP cover January 2011 029
J.M. Strange : A Day In The Life 7:00PM - The sounds of Christina Aguilera’s classic “Candy Man” blaring from the general direction of my alarm informs me it’s time to wake up and begin yet another day as a fast talking, city slickin’ entrepreneurial captain of industry and all round son of a gun. 7:01PM - Ignore Mrs Aguilera’s over enthusiastic bellowing and return to the warm bosom of sleep….that is after all where me and Robert Downey Jr have all our wild adventures together and, hey, if I don’t head back now how am I going to get him out of that Vietnamese opium den? 9:00 PM - “Look out Robert! It’s a trap set up by Omni-Corp! They already have the code!” 11:00PM - With Valence on a ship sinking to the bottom of the Mariana trench, me and ‘bob Jr enjoy a well earned high five and I return to reality. 11:15PM - Breakfast! My favourite meal of 030 The MMP January 2011
the day. I loot around through old man Hudson’s bins wearing my racoon costume so as to blend in and not alert the blind man’s attention. Sucka. 11:30PM - Several banana peels and an empty box of tea bags later, I’m almost ready for the day ahead! 11:45 PM - DMT! 7:00 AM - Wake up screaming in an unfamiliar place, greeted by the sight of a Chinese family cowering in the corner of a small room, investigate body, not bleeding (good sign) naked apart from a shirt bearing the slogan “I went to Disney Land and all I got was raped!!” with an image of a bizarre, red-headed, plastic-faced, non-gender specific prop comedian carrot top grinning the grin of the damned (very bad sign) 7:30 AM - Finally got out of house….that family would just not stop crying...
7:35 AM - DMT!!! 1:00 PM - Lunch time! My favourite meal of the day! 1:15 PM - Twenty cigarettes later and I’m ready for work…I’ve even found a pair of shoes to wear…ones that aren’t made of moist card! 1:30 PM - Arrive at MMP Offices 1:35 PM - Security escort me away from MMP offices 1:45 PM - Smear faeces over the side wall of MMP offices! Fuck you guys! I don’t need your approval! You’re not my father! 2:15 PM - Wander around central Cardiff yelling helpful advice at passers by! Mouth doesn’t seem to be working properly between brain and mouth, my spiritual and cultural advice is translated into a series of indiscriminate yelps and screams!
2:30 PM - Have long discussion with like minded individual about our ideas and theories on the world….individual is seemingly made of old blankets and matted hair. Smells like Paul Newman brand salad dressing! Yummy! 3:00 PM - A black out! Yipeeee! 5:00 PM - I’m back home? Strange….check body….there’s blood (which is bad)….but it’s not mine (which is good)….choose to ignore blood 6:00 PM DMT! 7:00 PM - Mrs Aguilera’s overzealous singing tones tell me a new day has begun…now if only I could get all this skin off my arms…maybe I’ll be able to get something done! THE VIEWS OF J.M. STRANGE DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE MMP.
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