Preview: Dads, Newport Le Pub, 16.11.13

Hailing from the musical hotbed of New Jersey, Dads offer up the kind of twinkly, guitar-based emo thats nonchalance is its greatest asset. Comparing themselves to ÔÇ£the shitty movie you know is crap but put on to forget about everything else going wrong around youÔÇ£, their lo-fi stylings are perfectly suited to Le PubÔÇÖs sweaty, beery confines. Latest EP ÔÇÿPretty GoodÔÇÖ is much more than … Continue reading Preview: Dads, Newport Le Pub, 16.11.13

Travel Top Five: Cities

Struggling with planning your EuroTrip? Worried you’ll take a wrong turn like Scotty and the crew? Travel writer┬áSarah Davies┬átalks you through the top city destinations across the continent from the dazzling sights in Paris to the artistic side-streets of Berlin. ┬á Travelling through Europe may seem like battling through an overwhelming urban jungle of stylish streets, majestic buildings and breathtaking views. With so many temptingly … Continue reading Travel Top Five: Cities

Trainer here, trainer there…

Menswear writer┬áJonathan Keys┬ágives his insight on the habit that we just can’t seem to kick… Trainer here, trainer there, trainers are everywhere! Modern day fashion has embraced the trainer and put a retro spin on it. Ever since the success of the Nike Blazer range, every reputable sports brand; Reebok, New Balance and Asics to name but a few have released their own lines of … Continue reading Trainer here, trainer there…

A night at Cardiff Fashion Week

Firmly placing itself within CardiffÔÇÖs Fashion Calendar, Cardiff Fashion WeekÔÇÖs showcase revealed upcoming A/W 13 trends from high street retailers and independent brands. One key trend was modernism, reflected within the monochrome colour palette, but also more predominantly within the structured, clear-cut silhouettes. Leathers and Tartan were key textures, nodding to the current inherent A/W punk trend, but also adding a touch of luxury through … Continue reading A night at Cardiff Fashion Week

Preview: The Feeling & Yellowire, Solus, 3.11.12

Have a guess at who was the most played band on the radio in 2006? Got a Feeling you know this oneÔǪ? It was of course The Feeling, who – after forming in the mid-90s – exploded into the British music mainstream in the mid-2000s with the smash hits, ÔÇ£Fill My Little WorldÔÇØ, ÔÇ£Never Be LonelyÔÇØ, and ÔÇ£I Love It When You CallÔÇØ. But their … Continue reading Preview: The Feeling & Yellowire, Solus, 3.11.12

Live Review: The Blackout, Solus, 24.10.13

Sean Smith, the slightly more outspoken half of The BlackoutÔÇÖs vocal partnership, often jokes they are ÔÇ£the best live band in the world.ÔÇØ Taken seriously or not, the statement resonated during their 90-minute set on 24 October, as the post-hardcore sestet left CardiffÔÇÖs Solus throbbing, sweaty and in need of a lie down. The eager teens who had hours before scattered the steps of Cardiff … Continue reading Live Review: The Blackout, Solus, 24.10.13

Live Review: letlive., Clwb Ifor Bach, 15.10.13

Since letlive. broke into the UK hardcore scene following the release of their critically acclaimed album Fake History in 2010, they have never failed to impress, especially in the live arena.┬á The bands chaotic, visceral live reputation often precedes them; first arriving in the UK in the summer of 2011 for a few small support slot runs and a couple of festival slots, causing mayhem … Continue reading Live Review: letlive., Clwb Ifor Bach, 15.10.13

Interview: The Blackout

Ahead of their return to Solus, Jack Glasscock and Louis Browne sat down with The Blackout‘s two vocalists to talk Merthyr and models. YouÔÇÖre almost halfway through your tour and yesterday you were back at home in Merthyr Tydfil, how was that? Sean Smith (Vocals): It was lovely ÔÇô 2008ÔÇÖs third roughest town in Britain. Gavin Butler (Vocals): Although, some of our crew spent the … Continue reading Interview: The Blackout

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

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

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

Live Review: The Twang & Jaws, Solus, 6.10.13

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

Live Review: Funeral For A Friend – Great Hall 2, Cardiff

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

Interview: Funeral For A Friend

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