Live Review: Tom Odell, Great Hall, 12.10.13

October 12th saw Tom Odell give an outstanding performance to a thrilled audience. The show was by anyoneÔÇÖs standards a musical feast of talent from beginning to end, playing a number of his singles and album tracks as well as a Beatles cover and some new material ÔÇô bliss! Despite waiting for two and a half hours from opening for Odell to actually appear. when … Continue reading Live Review: Tom Odell, Great Hall, 12.10.13

Album Review: Max Raptor – ‘Mother’s Ruin’

Back in the 1970s, the UK played a major role in the huge new genre punk-rock. Since then, punk has changed a lot, as the StatesÔÇÖ took hold of it with Green Day and Rise Against. But with the Burton-based Max Raptor, the UK showcases how it can still create some solid punk-rock, with their latest album ‘MotherÔÇÖs Ruin’. It must be said this is … Continue reading Album Review: Max Raptor – ‘Mother’s Ruin’

Single Review: The Ramona Flowers – ‘Brighter’

Following on from the release of their last EP┬á’Lust & Lies’┬áa few months back, The Ramona Flowers’ new single ÔÇÿBrighterÔÇÖ is something which echoes this up-and-coming bandÔÇÖs potential for success. There are few bands around today that can mix a hint of rock, indie and electronica successfully, with a sense of raw passion, talent and hauntingly infectious lyrics; The Ramona Flowers can pull that off … Continue reading Single Review: The Ramona Flowers – ‘Brighter’

Album Review: The Getaway Plan – ‘Lovesick’

If youÔÇÖre looking for a cross between everything you once found on MySpace and the Camp Rock soundtrack, then Australian ÔÇÿalt-rockersÔÇÖ The Getaway Plan are your guys. Self-produced EP ‘Lovesick’ goes from almost catchy to downright depressing as it burns through its four painfully samey tracks. Whilst the riffs in title track ÔÇÿLovesickÔÇÖ could be the making of something more, TGPÔÇÖs whiney teen-angst lyrics (ÔÇÿI … Continue reading Album Review: The Getaway Plan – ‘Lovesick’

Album Review: Hanson – ‘Anthem’

Wave goodbye to ‘MMMBop’, kids, Hanson are back with a cleaner, more mature release┬á(you would hope so after nearly twenty years in the game) that could just send them into the charts once more. ThatÔÇÖs if the charts want something that sounds like Maroon 5 circa 2002 – ÔÇÿJulietÔÇÖ (complete with lyrical references to the play) and ÔÇÿTragic SymphonyÔÇÖ scream Songs about Jane. But then, … Continue reading Album Review: Hanson – ‘Anthem’

Interview: To Kill A King

Just before they took to the Great Hall to support Bastille, Amy Endacott took a quick five to catch up with To Kill A King frontman Ralph Pelleymounter.┬á Hello Ralph, and welcome to very wet and miserable Wales! Have you been to the country before?┬á WeÔÇÖve been here a few times and we really like it. Everyone is very welcoming and weÔÇÖve just been round … Continue reading Interview: To Kill A King

Interview: Beans on Toast

Liam ‘Maccers’ McNeilly┬áhas a little chinwag with self-proclaimed “Drunk Folk Singer” Beans On Toast at Clwb Ifor Bach. You spend a lot of time on tour. How has this one been and have there been any highlights for you? This tourÔÇÖs been a bit of a game changer. ItÔÇÖs flown really well and itÔÇÖs been banginÔÇÖ every night. In terms of highlights, I really like … Continue reading Interview: Beans on Toast

Interview: letlive.

Heading over the Atlantic for their first UK headline tour, Los Angeles’ self-confessed ‘soul punx’ letlive.┬ácaught up with Tom Connick ahead of their sold out show at Clwb Ifor Bach. How does it feel to be playing a headline show ÔÇô to be able to come over completely off your own back? Jason Aalon Butler (vocals): Dude, we talk about it like every day. ItÔÇÖs … Continue reading Interview: letlive.

Review: I’m With The Band, WMC

Reviewed by Sum Sze Tam Sitting down at the stage of IÔÇÖm With The Band, youÔÇÖd think it was the set of a somewhat bland music gig. The actors come out and start playing their first song ÔÇÿWeÔÇÖre All In This TogetherÔÇÖ (not the finale from High School Musical), and though the show is premised as an allegory for the political state of the UK, … Continue reading Review: I’m With The Band, WMC

The Apologetic Generation

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

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

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

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

Interview: The Oxfam Boutique

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