ADVICE TO WATCH YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT IS HEGEMONY IN ACTION – from Quench Issue 138 IÔÇÖd like to begin with two stories. The first is that of Josef K., protagonist of KafkaÔÇÖs magnum opus, The Trial. The other is that of Paris Brown, the ill-fated youth crime commissioner for the Kent Police. In The Trial, Josef K. is arrested on his thirtieth birthday. Neither the … Continue reading The Apologetic Generation
┬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
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
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
Kate Nash is back touring with her self-released third album ÔÇÿGirl TalkÔÇÖ. With a punk vibe not far off the girl power scene of the 80ÔÇÖs, itÔÇÖs a far cry from ÔÇÿFoundationsÔÇÖ but set to inspire teenage girls across the country just the same. Charlie Mock and Jess Rodgerson caught up with Kate ahead of her show at The Globe. First of all, welcome to … Continue reading Interview: Kate Nash
A look at the key beauty trends for Autumn/Winter – think berry shades, punk and flawless skin! Continue reading “A/W Beauty Trends”
Last week the Morgan Quarter hosted an alternative Student Lock-In, with the mix of independent and high street stores offering a chance to snap up some great discounts. The Oxfam Boutique located in the heart of the Morgan Quarter showcased their sustainable fashion, shaking up traditional notions of charity shops. I caught up with the BoutiqueÔÇÖs manager Catherine Lye to find out more about the … Continue reading Interview: The Oxfam Boutique
It was difficult to know what to expect as Birmingham 5-piece, The Twang, arrived in Cardiff for the penultimate date of their UK tour. Their previous two albums fail to provide much in terms of innovation and originality and the venue had been downgraded from Solus following poor ticket sales. Yet this tour precedes the release of a third record and the band have developed … Continue reading Live Review: The Twang & Jaws, Solus, 6.10.13
ThereÔÇÖs always a degree of cynicism when someone best known for their acting career tries to reinvent themselves as a musician. Hugh Laurie, the English actor nowadays best known for his role as Dr Gregory House on the US Fox Network series House is here giving his rendition of the traditional American blues song ÔÇÿJunco PartnerÔÇÖ taken from the bonus disc of his second album … Continue reading Single Review: Hugh Laurie – ‘Junco Partner’
Reviewed by Esther Strange The tour of Boeing Boeing is the fourth musical collaborative piece between Black Rat Productions and Blackwood MinersÔÇÖ Institute. The tour takes off in Blackwood and travels across the whole of Wales before touching down in CardiffÔÇÖs Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Boeing Boeing takes polygamy to a whole new level. Architect Bernard (Richard Corgan) is engaged to three … Continue reading Review: Boeing Boeing, RWCMD
Reviewed by Kirtey Verma
Continue reading “Review: It’s A Family Affair (WeÔÇÖll Settle It Ourselves), Sherman Theatre”
Birmingham was once the home of heavy metal, with Judas Priest and Black Sabbath both calling the midlandsÔÇÖ heart their home back in the 80s. But now, bubbling away amongst the River Rea, a new scene is staking claim to the third most populated urban area in the United Kingdom (seriously, Google it). Dubbed ÔÇÿB-TownÔÇÖ by the musical press, Birmingham is now the home of … Continue reading Preview: The Twang & Jaws, Solus, 06.10.13
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
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
Twelve years is a long time. A twelve-year-old child would be starting secondary school, discovering the other sex were perhaps not solely cootie-carriers, and feeling those first pangs of puberty. As Funeral For A Friend celebrate a dozen years together, they open their tour with a hometown show in the cavernous confines of the Great Hall 2 (the ÔÇÿ2ÔÇÖ seems only to consist of a … Continue reading Live Review: Funeral For A Friend – Great Hall 2, Cardiff
When one talks about the modern Welsh music scene, youÔÇÖd be hard pressed to avoid mention of Funeral For A Friend. Over the past twelve years, FuneralÔÇÖs emotive post-hardcore has inspired multiple generations, both in Wales and beyond. Tom Connick caught up with Gavin Burrough [guitar] and Rich Boucher [bass] ahead of their homecoming show at Cardiff UnionÔÇÖs Great Hall 2. Welcome back to Cardiff! … Continue reading Interview: Funeral For A Friend
Rhys Edwards reviews The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Show Live!
Continue reading “Review: The Hitchhiker’s Guide… Radio Show Live!”
9/10 For fans of: The XX, Lana Del Rey and chilled out pop electronica. IÔÇÖm not a big fan of hype. Perhaps thatÔÇÖs just my cynical side shining through, but upon hearing that thereÔÇÖs a hotly tipped new band I tend to dismiss such claims as meaningless jargon. Such was the case with London Grammar and their debut album If You Wait, which had suggestions … Continue reading Album Review: London Grammar ‘If You Wait’
Festivals have seemingly become an integral part of most studentsÔÇÖ summer holidays. Why not then combine a typical love of festivals with an even more typical student need for money? My festival of choice was on the Emerald Isle ÔÇô Electric Picnic (EP from here on) and this was to be my second time working there. EP has to be one of the most diverse … Continue reading Festival Review: Electric Picnic 2013
