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Read the rest ยป► Thursday Diary
2. Swn Pop Quiz
5. Lost Knives
6. Islet
7. Gallops
“Ever shouted in a gallery before? Let’s do it” suggests the male guitarist of The Victorian English Gentlemens Club. Queue the Cardiff based 5-piece, standing in a crowded gallery at Cardiff museum; full of onlookers, paintings, photographs, as well as flowers and bunting dotted around the instruments making up the colourful set, screaming at the top of their lungs. The said screaming pretty much sums up the loud and lively set from The VEG Club; whose performance combined experimental pop, dirty noise and loud drumming; amidst periods of general calm, steady drumming, and harmonic vocals. A suitably loud and effervescent popping of the Swn Festival cork.
Dempsey’s at 1900 was the next stop off, to watch Them Squirrels, the first of Alex Wlliams’ three sets in a row. Continuing with the experimental theme, Them Squirrels unusual set featured intricate math-rock-esque guitar work, unusual vocals (sometimes in the form of animal impressions), buzzing synths and looping effects, and impressive drumming. A very well planned out show, down to the small details of lighting, Them Squirrels put on a spectacle that was about more than just the music. The songs themselves were long in length and varied in sound, often completely changing feel from the start to end, with plenty of speed changes also. At times it sounded almost Britpop-like (in the least offensive way possible!), sometimes had a bluesy feel, but was on the whole and loud and fast experimental shouty synth math-rock event featuring annoyingly good musicianship from all 3 members.
It was a quick dash to Barfly, to find that the schedule had completely changed, despite the barman’s insistence that everything was as was planned. Jamie Ley was dropped, which was quite disappointing after having previewed his enjoyable country folk like tunes on his MySpace page.
Y Fuwch Goch (Welsh for ‘The Red Cow’) was the next stop off to see the quite brilliant Three Trapped Tigers, onstage at 2000 for their first ever Wales gig. The three piece, one of which sporting a Spillers Records tee, played loud, fast instrumental post rock that sounded like three DJs fighting it off; with the odd wailing of incomprehensible vocals. The drummer put on quite an incredible display of fast and loud drum n bass sounding work, whilst being complimented by the laptops and guitar work of the other two members. Very good.
It was then back to Barfly, to try my luck once more, hoping that Lost Knives would be onstage. Indeed the four boyish faced gents were gracing the stage, at the not-so-planned time of 2030, for their first gig in Wales. The Manchester band, fresh from recording at the Maida Vale studios for BBC Electric Proms, played what was an enjoyable but somewhat uninspiring set to a relatively quiet Cardiff Barfly. Their songs, of anthemic indie rock nature, were catchy and pleasant, but when compared to the two acts of the evening thus far, failed to capture completely imagination of myself; however were well received by the majority of the onlookers. What they do, they do well, but the band possibly need that extra spark just to set themselves apart from the current crop of UK artists along the lines of Hard-Fi, One Night Only, Milburn etc.
It was then onto Islet (pronounced I-let, not I-lay as I incorrectly told you all t’other day), another band who have had their share of the limelight over the past month or so, recently being featured in the NME, despite having no recorded tracks (nor website). The four-piece, watched by famed Girls frontman Christopher Owens, are essentially Cardiff’s very own super group; featuring Attack + Defend’s Mark and JT, Fredrick Stanley Star and Them Squirrels’ Alex, and Emma, formerly of The Victorian English Genltemens Club. The set began similarly to their previous sets (such as supporting Lovvers), with Mark freely wondering through the crowd and screaming before the music landed with a crash. It soon becomes clear to all those watching Islet for the first time just why there is such a buzz about them around Cardiff at the moment; the set being the fantastic meeting place of too many genres to mention them all. I notice that in my mobile written notes, I have put “like a post-rock band with personality”, that actually seems to ring true. But ‘post-rock’ does very little towards helping you realise how they sound; the band also utilizing synthesizers, experimental vocals, and the band almost have a tribal feel at times. Once again it is an incredibly enviable show in terms of pure musicianship; each band member swapping instrument at will, with all band members playing drums at one point, whilst the actual drummer managed to play keys with one hand and drums with the other. Bastards, they are! Like a musical talent contest, every member plays off each other, each battling to come out on top; and it’s a fucking hard talent contest to judge. A very good set.
To round off my evening, it was Gallops at the now busying Cardiff Barfly. The set was as loud and energetic as ever despite being struck by some drum difficulties (a holey tom and a botched snare stand), which wasn’t even noticeable to anybody but the band. As per usual, Gallops put on an incredible show, brimming with explosive instrumental post-meets-math-rock that hits you like a punch in the face from a bloke that you can’t help but keep mocking. The Wrexham four-piece played the usual tracks that we have come to love with all of our unworthy little hearts, as well as chucking in a new song which sounded equally as phenomenal as everything they have made thus far. Gallops were without doubt the best band of the evening (the only band were the earplugs were actually removed), and most probably the best live band I have ever seen. I literally could have stood there for hours.
