Author: Hannah Embleton-Smith

Music

Festival Preview: Pili Pala, Swansea

Now in its second year, Pili Pala festival is returning to SwanseaÔÇÖs Uplands from 16-17 May. The event will showcase the best of local music talent across four live venues. Regulars on the local circuits include Cardiff-based Houdini Dax with an onslaught of powerful, upbeat rock, while the alternative Tarsiers will be bringing psychedelic influences to the scene. Meanwhile, warm acoustic sets that falter in … Continue reading Festival Preview: Pili Pala, Swansea

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Music

Album Review: Paolo Nutini – ‘Caustic Love’

At the end of February, Paolo Nutini released a live version of ÔÇÿIron SkyÔÇÖ on YouTube, a song from his upcoming album. It followed the pre-release of single ÔÇÿScream (Funk My Life Up)ÔÇÖ. The video, filmed in Abbey Road, showed a new maturity in NutiniÔÇÖs sound. ┬áIt was melancholic and soulful, a critique on the constraints of society. The single was critically acclaimed; even Adele … Continue reading Album Review: Paolo Nutini – ‘Caustic Love’

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Music

Live Review: Deaf Havana, The Great Hall

ÔÇ£MikeÔÇÖs on daytime radio, and John played Reading + Leeds, and IÔÇÖm still playing the Purple Turtle on New YearÔÇÖs EveÔÇØ. So goes the lyric on Deaf HavanaÔÇÖs folk-tinged lament ÔÇÿThe Past Six YearsÔÇÖ, referencing friends in Lower Than Atlantis and Young Guns. Penned at a time when the band was struggling for direction and for their future, tonight sees them return to Cardiff having … Continue reading Live Review: Deaf Havana, The Great Hall

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Music

Live Review: Howl and Birth of Joy, The Moon Club, 27.03.14

Eerie blue stage lights illuminate the Moon Club.┬áThe floor is sticky with its carpet of spilled lager. An audience clad in black overcoats and leather boots lie in wait, eagerly anticipating the werewolves of CardiffÔÇÖs rock scene. Howl breathe new life into a genre that has become somewhat stagnant in South Wales.┬áThe problem is not a lack of heavy rock bands; the problem is the … Continue reading Live Review: Howl and Birth of Joy, The Moon Club, 27.03.14

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Music

Album Review: Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2

Drugs. Rape. Suicide. Murder. Homophobia. Misogyny. There didnÔÇÖt seem to be a taboo subject that Eminem wouldnÔÇÖt tackle releasing ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ back in 2000. Having since opted for an altogether less angry sound on following releases, from the jokiness of 2004ÔÇÖs Just Lose It to the reflectiveness of 2010ÔÇÖs Not Afraid, could it be that ÔÇÿthe most meanest emcee on this earthÔÇÖ has … Continue reading Album Review: Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2

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Music

Album Review: Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt

┬á9/10 With contemporaries Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana (if we count that Paul McCartney collaboration) making music again, Seattle rock icons Pearl Jam have quite some competition releasing Lightning Bolt that they didnÔÇÖt have releasing their previous album Backspacer four years ago. As the only one of these bands to have remained active since formation, the band rocketed to fame with one of the … Continue reading Album Review: Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt

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Music

Live Review: Devil Sold His Soul – The Moon Club

ÔÇÿWe play loud. We play heavy. We play hard. We play fast.ÔÇÖ claims Woking-based hardcore band Palm Reader. The crowd gathered at CardiffÔÇÖs intimate The Moon Club venue on Womanby Street this Tuesday 15 October were not left disappointed by a band that more than live up to these comments. Despite some technical difficulties (including guitar string breakages), the British five-piece got the evening off … Continue reading Live Review: Devil Sold His Soul – The Moon Club

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Music

Live Review: Kate Nash – The Globe

You’d think that so many females in one room would cause a problem but Kate Nash and her ‘girl gang’ were the complete opposite. Support acts The Tuts Band and Vulcano opened the show with a hint of what was to follow: an onslaught of punk-fuelled girl power reminiscent of the likes of Hole and Joan Jett. Even the pre-show playlist was packed full of … Continue reading Live Review: Kate Nash – The Globe

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Music

Interview: Kids In Glass Houses

ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt think thereÔÇÖs any crowd like a Welsh crowd.ÔÇØ With a successful fourth album out and a gig on home turf as part of their headline tour, Hannah Embleton-Smith spoke to CardiffÔÇÖs own Kids In Glass Houses guitarist, Iain Mahanty, ahead of the performance at Cardiff Student UnionÔÇÖs Solus.   This is your first headline tour in two years. How does it feel to … Continue reading Interview: Kids In Glass Houses

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Music

Interview: Oddarrang

If youÔÇÖre looking for something a bit different from CardiffÔÇÖs live music, Chapter Arts Centre is your first port of call. Recently, Finnish band Oddarrang played at the Canton venue to promote new album In Cinema. Met by seamless atmospheric instrumentals and ritualistic chanting, their performance was inimitable. Three songs in (though ÔÇÿmusical experiencesÔÇÖ might be a better term), it was revealed that the album … Continue reading Interview: Oddarrang

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Music

Festival Review: HUB 2013

HUB Festival: 23-26 August 2013, Cardiff With new drinking holes and achingly hip ÔÇÿflea marketÔÇÖ Cardiff Fashion Quarter opening, Womanby StreetÔÇÖs alternative image became official at the end of August with the first ever HUB festival taking over 8 venues in the area. HUB presented an impressive line-up of 150 acts over the weekend, with an opening and very exciting closing party at The Full … Continue reading Festival Review: HUB 2013

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Music

Interview: Joe Bonamassa – ‘Flawless is boring’

From living off packet noodles to filling the Royal Albert: we at Quench Music found out first-hand from Joe Bonamassa what it takes to become really really good at music. (WeÔÇÖd call him a legend, but heÔÇÖs having none that shady fame chat.)┬á Who were your influences originally? We hear youÔÇÖre pretty into the British music scene? British blues recorded around ÔÇÖ66-ÔÇÖ67 was just the … Continue reading Interview: Joe Bonamassa – ‘Flawless is boring’

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Music

FreshersÔÇÖ Music Scene: Joe Bonamassa

Joe Bonamassa:┬áCardiff Motorpoint Arena, 18 September 2013 With 25 years under his belt and worldwide renown as rock royalty, blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa will be setting the standard for CardiffÔÇÖs live circuit in September. Last year he worked with Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford on his thirteenth roots album Driving Towards The Daylight, and has performed live with the likes of blues god Eric Clapton at … Continue reading FreshersÔÇÖ Music Scene: Joe Bonamassa

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