ItÔÇÖs safe to say that merely 12 months ago, most people would not have heard of Daniel Avery. A resident of the infamous Fabric club in London, he has been quietly grinding away, producing a handful of EP releases and remixes for larger artists. However, at the end of 2013, following the release of ÔÇÿDrone LogicÔÇÖ, his debut album, he has truly become the man … Continue reading Live Review: Daniel Avery, 10 Feet Tall, 23.01.14
Founded by original Attack Attack! vocalist Austin Carlile and bassist Jaxin Hall in 2009,┬á┬áCosta Mesa, CaliforniaÔÇÖs Of Mice┬á&┬áMen seemed set to make their biggest steps as a band yet, five years on from their formation, following the introduction of bassist and clean vocalist Aaron Pauley. Tipped to be amongst metalÔÇÖs ones to watch of 2014, the band have called their third album┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ, in reference … Continue reading Album Review: Of Mice & Men – ‘Restoring Force’
Soon-to-be the hottest duo in British Rock music, Mike & Ben from Royal Blood chat to Marc Mayo about 2014, the bandÔÇÖs setup, and their upcoming tour. A year since deciding to form a band together, it seems all parts of the music industry are taking an interest in Royal Blood. Being nominated for both the MTV ÔÇÿBrand New For 2014ÔÇÖ and BBC ÔÇÿSound of … Continue reading Interview: Royal Blood
London┬áGrammarÔÇÖs UK tour has been eagerly anticipated.┬á Solus is illuminated by a thousand smartphones; Cardiff waits to watch it through a thousand cameras.┬á ThereÔÇÖs a buzz of conversation, which unfortunately fails to subside even after Hannah ReidÔÇÖs opening note. Although a complete sellout,┬áLondon┬áGrammarÔÇÖs live performance is not as gripping as expected. Reid is exceptional, and she sings beautifully, despite her obvious problems with the sound … Continue reading Live Review: London Grammar, Solus, 28.01.13
Since the release of their debut album ÔÇÿI Had The Blues But I Shook Them LooseÔÇÖ in 2008, Bombay Bicycle Club have been quietly working their way to the top of the British indie scene. With the release of ÔÇÿSo Long, See You TomorrowÔÇÖ, perhaps their most inventive and exciting album yet, they donÔÇÖt look set to stop any time soon. The commercial success of … Continue reading Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club – ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’
It doesnÔÇÖt seem like the most natural fit at first sight. The idea of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong releasing an album with Norah Jones may make listeners imagine a strange jazz/soul/pop-punk fusion album, but on ÔÇÿForeverlyÔÇÖ, the woman behind ÔÇ£my heart is drenched in wineÔÇØ and the man behind ÔÇ£do you have the time to listen to me whine?ÔÇØ are paying tribute to … Continue reading Review: Billie Joe and Norah – ‘Foreverly’
Ed Watson sits down with James Page, the man behind hotly-tipped singer-songwriter Sivu. Your pseudonym ÔÇÿSivuÔÇÖ is a Finnish translation of your actual surname, Page. How did this come about? IÔÇÖve been┬áplaying┬áacoustic stuff under James Page since I was about 15. Then I moved to London and started writing the newer songs that you hear on my EPs. I think the first problem was that … Continue reading Interview: Sivu
Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman, and Dot Major bring their trio London Grammar to Solus on Tuesday 28 January. Their critically acclaimed debut album ÔÇÿIf You WaitÔÇÖ was undoubtedly a musical highlight of 2013, reaching number 2 on the UK Album Charts. ItÔÇÖs a work of art. ReidÔÇÖs vocals are lyrically beautiful, accompanied by a warm tone and eloquent phrasings. It would be more than worth … Continue reading Preview: London Grammar – Solus – January 28th
The gig was opened by The Kix, a female rock trio from Aberdare in South Wales. Having only a limited amount of material, they only played for around twenty minutes, but they were well rehearsed and keen, making them an enjoyable opening to the night. A medley of Queen tracks including ÔÇÿBohemian RhapsodyÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿWe Will Rock YouÔÇÖ, finished their set on a high whilst … Continue reading Live Review: Electric Six, The Glee Club, 9.12.13
It is 7pm and everyone in line is in high spirits but anxious to enter the warmth of the venue. Finally, doors open and everyone filters into the venue. Only a few people gather by the stage. Most are at the merch table; meeting band members who are hanging around, multi-tasking between meeting fans and selling merchandise. Devin Oliver from I See Stars informs me … Continue reading Live Review: The Word Alive, CF10, 4.12.13
Is there any better way to raise awareness of mental health than to put on a multi-venue inner-city festival? No, is the answer. So, thatÔÇÖs exactly what Cardiff-based charity MIND did. For over 65 years MIND have been committed to ensuring that those experiencing mental health problems receive the help and support they deserve. Local promoters God Is In The TV Zine, Rockpie and Red … Continue reading Review: MIND Fest, 23.11.13 – Undertone & Four Bars
Your music has been described as ÔÇÿThe Stone Roses flapping at Echo and the BunnymenÔÇÖs long coats and mussing Robert SmithÔÇÖs hairÔÇÖ. How close in general would you say critical perception of your musical style has been in relation to the bands you are influenced by? Ben Romans-Hopcraft (vocals/guitar): ItÔÇÖs all over the placeÔǪ I think some elements are correct, bands like The Stone Roses … Continue reading Interview: Childhood
Bullet For My Valentine have been marking WalesÔÇÖ place on the heavy metal map of the UK for some years now, a show at CardiffÔÇÖs Motorpoint Arena seeming an appropriate finish to the Bridgend bandÔÇÖs ÔÇÿRule BritanniaÔÇÖ arena tour. But after FebruaryÔÇÖs disappointingly received ÔÇÿTemper TemperÔÇÖ, would Bullet be firing blanks in the live environment? First on are Buckinghamshire-based melodic rockers Young Guns, who from … Continue reading Live Review: Bullet For My Valentine, Asking Alexandria, Young Guns – Motorpoint Arena – 06.12.13
Walking into a venue to see the mass of curly blondness that is Big Jeff in the front row is practically synonymous with great expectations of a night. With a reputation of attending only the best show of the day, Jeff and his unruly hairdo set the mark pretty high Bristol’s ‘most confrontational punksters’ The St Pierre Snake Invasion start the evening off on the … Continue reading Live Review: Future of the Left – Thekla, 15.11.13
The Moon Club feels like the queue for a Ryanair flight. ItÔÇÖs rammed, bursting at the seams with a mass of sweaty, excitable people. ThereÔÇÖs a lovely buzz; Rapper Skunkadelic and his DJ are warming up the Moon nicely as it waits for the self-proclaimed Black Shakespeare, Akala. This is, perhaps, the perfect setting. Psychedelic graffiti covers the walls, the stage is close enough to … Continue reading Live Review: Akala – The Moon Club – 5.12.13
SheffieldÔÇÖs emo-rock two-piece Nai Harvest popped in for a chat with Charlie Mock about their new record, Gnarwolves and Twin Peaks. Let’s start by getting down to the meaning behind your name. It’s a reference to the American band Saetia- have they been a big influence on your music?┬á Ben: Not really! When I first started writing stuff for this we didnÔÇÖt really have a … Continue reading Interview: Nai Harvest
If youÔÇÖre new to music in the mother tongue of Welsh then Gwenno is a great artist to begin and arguably end with, but letÔÇÖs not get ahead of ourselves. ÔÇÿChwyldroÔÇÖ, the first of three singles from the upcoming LP (Welsh for Revolution) is a beautifully relaxing infusion of synth and bass, topped by the angelic vocal acrobatics of CardiffÔÇÖs very own music producer, DJ, … Continue reading Single Review: Gwenno – ‘Chwyldro’
Indie rock quartet Wolf Alice popped in for a chat with Charlie Mock┬áto talk NME, touring and what they want for Christmas. Firstly, your name is a reference to an Angela Carter short story- do you particularly like the piece?┬á Ellie: Yeah, we copied it. Joel: We thought it sounded nice, but we donÔÇÖt like it now so much. Joff: I like it! Theo: … Continue reading Interview: Wolf Alice
Upgraded from the Solus to the cavernous Great Hall, the feverishness that surrounds tonightÔÇÖs rare Dillinger Escape Plan UK appearance is palpable. Openers Maybeshewill channel this energy into a gargantuan feast of perfectionist post-rock. Peppered with spoken word samples and strobe lighting, the awed silence that pervades the room somehow speaks volumes. Three Trapped TigersÔÇÖ electronic noise-rock occupies a far different end of the instrumental … Continue reading Live Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Great Hall 2, 1.11.12
You know those albums where every song is absolutely top notch? Those albums that you just canÔÇÖt stop listening to? Yeah? Well, this is one of them. ÔÇÿNo BluesÔÇÖ is the newest release from CardiffÔÇÖs very own sextet and itÔÇÖs a mighty good one, to say the least. DonÔÇÖt let the optimistic title get you too in the mood for the latest bubblegum pop though; … Continue reading Album Review: Los Campesinos!
