Words by Jan Humphrys & Rhia Davies
Just off St Mary’s St, the air inside The Underdog was thick with the smell of cider and anticipation as the opening band took the stage. Down here, a floor below street level, the crowd drifted away from the low-lit bar and gathered around the small stage, drinks in hand. For most music ventures, a company launch involves press releases, a flashy website, and immediate digital marketing strategies. DIODE doesn’t follow the same script though. Instead, on the 4th of October, Cardiff’s new production company opened its doors with a four-band showcase in one of the city’s most intimate venues. It’s bold, but it fits DIODE’s message perfectly: they want to cement themselves as a grassroots force within south Wales’ music scene, with a focus on giving the local bands the spotlight they deserve.
Right now, this type of ambition is important in Cardiff. Look around a space like the Underdog and you’ll see the Welsh music scene in miniature. The faces near the stage are friends of bandmates, other local bands who’ve turned up for support, and regulars who would rather gamble on an unknown act than spend a night in a pub with a popular playlist on. This is how grassroots music works in Wales, running on word of mouth. It’s always been a community affair, built in small rooms like this one and others across the city, from Porters to Tiny Rebel. DIODE is stepping into this world with a mission: to get fresh eyes on local talent.
Dream Motel got the night started in a way you’d expect for a night like this: with a bleeding heart. They’re a female-fronted dream-rock band with south Welsh and Bristolian roots. Frontwoman Imogen sings like she’s telling you a secret, her dreamy vocals drifting over shimmering, bittersweet guitars. Underneath it all, the drums did the quiet lifting, giving the dreamier moments a kick and the louder moments a vulnerable, softer edge. The band leads us through some of their latest releases, and to great effect.
Cardiff based alt-rock up-and-comers Largo had a commanding presence from the moment they hit the stage. DIODE’s commitment to their mission is immediately apparent through their inclusion of Largo. Their social media presence is sparse, and they have yet to release any music publicly on platforms like Bandcamp or Spotify. Their music is sticky, distorted, and dark, providing a stark contrast to the previous set. Their set began steadily, propelled by driving basslines and hypnotic guitar loops. It ended on the same note, leaving a crowd that’s desperate to know when they can hear more.
Waterpistol is a six-piece psychedelic rock and roll band from Cardiff, and they’re as playful sonically as their name suggests; sweet psychedelia with a 60s-via-90s retro sheen. Bright guitars and catchy melodies chained to steady beats provided the perfect backdrop for vocalists Harry and Rhea to sing along to songs of hazy memories and carefree feelings. A highlight from the set is Still A Little Bit Stoned, a woozy and dreamlike cut featuring vocal tradeoffs between a repetitive, infectious hook. Between songs, the crowd is beckoned closer to the stage and closer they come: Waterpistol’s magnetism is clear to see and easily felt.
By the time Basic State took the stage, The Underdog felt as if the night had been building up to this moment. It was the band’s first headline show in their hometown of Cardiff in two years. The set was made up of tracks that drag their feet against the floor with slow-moving intensity and higher energy songs with stabbing riffs. The room was doused in reverb and the excitement of an audience who’ve been waiting for this all night. Lead singer Harvey is the organiser of the event, and head of DIODE. In today’s music landscape, £100 tickets are the norm and popularity is determined by algorithms before people. Companies like DIODE are more important than ever, both for getting the voices of up and coming artists heard, and for refocusing our attention on real, live music—on community.
