SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE • ISSUE 6

UNDER THE COVERS... COVER INTERVIEW EDITORIAL...... 3 QUICK INTERVIEW – HAWTHORN AVENUE. . . . . 5 STEVE RISING STARS – ETHAN HOVESTADT...... 5 BALSAMO COVER CD...... 7 PAGE 16 CLASSIC WELSH ALBUM – . . . . . 10 QUICK INTERVIEW – CHINA DRUM ...... 11 OBITUARY – JOHN CORBETT...... 11 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE...... 13 VENUE FEATURE – THE PATTI PAVILION ...... 14 HIP HOP CORNER – CRAZE THE JACK ...... 15 THE COVER INTERVIEW – STEVE BALSAMO. . . . 16 RECORD REVIEWS...... 18 ISSUE #7 (OCTOBER 1st), ADVERTISING DEADLINE: 17th September LIVE REVIEWS ...... 21 Here’s where you can pick up your NIGE ...... 22 copy of SOUNDBOARD Magazine: OH PEDRO ...... 22 SWANSEA NEATH CARMARTHEN Derrick’s Music The Music Shop Parrot Records A YEAR IN REVIEW SWANSEA UNIVERSITY LMS – .23 Psicon Music (Neath Indoor Market) CARDIGAN GIG GUIDE – AUGUST & SEPTEMBER ...... 24 Sin City LLANELLI The Cellar Bar National Waterfront Cadno Music CWMAMAN GOSSIP...... 25 Museum GORSEINON Cwmaman Theatre Cinema & Co. Spider Music & Arts Centre THE NEXT GENERATION – ERIN LANCASTER . . . . 26 Cover To Cover (Mumbles) MERTHYR LLANDOVERY Square Peg (Sketty) Red House The Castle Hotel ROBOSCOPES...... 27 Viva La Frida (Sketty) BRECON PONTYPRIDD Hen Dderwen (Sketty Park) The Muse A Strings IN THE FRAME ...... 28 ABERDARE CARDIFF Jac’s Spiller’s Records ENCORE... – ‘H’ IS FOR HELIPAD ...... 30 If you would like to stock the magazine and get lots of people to come to your place looking for it, please let us know.

PUBLISHED BY EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS ADVERTISING SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE LTD & REVIEWERS 2019 advertising@ 90a Bishopston Road, Swansea SA3 3EN Flipsy McCaw, Joel Morgan, soundboardmagazine .co .uk Mike Kennedy, Steve Haines, EDITOR Tansy Rees, Rosie Scribblah, Roger If you would like to stock MIKE KENNEDY Henderson, John Paul Davies, Amy editor@soundboardmagazine .co uk. Sinha, Anthony Price, Richard Willis, SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE Mitchell Tennant, Keith Williams, please get in touch . DESIGN & SUB EDITING Moira Morgan, Eleanor Shaw, GRAHAM MORSE – GMID Tom Emlyn . No part of this magazine may be repro- duced in any form without the written design@soundboardmagazine co. .uk PHOTOGRAPHY permission of the Editor . Personal views expressed in SOUNDBOARD are not necessar- EDITORIAL TEAM Helen Louise Banham, Raymonty ily those of the publisher . Whilst every care FLIPSY MCCAW, JOEL MORGAN Thompson, Mike Kennedy, Steve is taken, we cannot take responsibility for Manley, Graham Morse, Shutterstock, unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or CHIEF CULTURAL CORRESPONDENT Johan Butenschøn Skre, the shoddy appearance of any singer . JACK SOUNDS Billy Stillman . © 2019 SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE LTD Cover & Contents Photographs: Graham Harries

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER? SoundBoardMagazineUK We want to hear from you. Send us your submissions. Email us. Please and thank you. [email protected] EDITORIAL SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

GREETINGS! WELCOME TO ISSUE 6 OF SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS. WE HOPE YOUR SUMMER IS PROGRESSING WELL, AND YOU HAVEN’T OVERDONE IT ON THE SUNBATHING. I CAME HOME FROM CASWELL THE OTHER DAY LOOKING LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A HORROR MOVIE Honest, it’s an easy thing to do in this fine weather. I had Elsewhere in this issue you’ll find all the usual features, to sleep on the laminate for three nights like some kind of news and reviews, all diced, collated, pruned and presented shunned household pet. All told: a horrible mistake. Slap on for your pleasure and information. There’s an exclusive inter- the old factor 50, kids. Don’t end up like me. view with Britrock favourites China Drum, a feature on the It’s been another wonderful couple of months for culture newly-reopened Patti Pavilion, and a quick chat with con- in Swansea, and we’re honestly struggling to keep up with it temporary country rising stars Hawthorn Avenue. We’ve con- all. Bandicoot got a record deal; Stereophonics played a mas- vinced Tom Emlyn (News From Nowhere/Bandicoot) to write sive gig in Singleton Park; we had a half-a-dozen Swansea acts a column every month, too. Thus far, he seems slightly more playing various stages at Glastonbury; the Fringe Festival is reliable than Jack Sounds, but you never know with these just around the corner, swiftly followed by a little shindig of muso types. Tom, when you read this, we love you. our own, too, of which we’ll have many more details in the As we’ve said before, this magazine can only ever cover a thin next issue. It’s all too much. slice of what’s going on round here, mostly because the Swan- This issue we went crazy in the heat and decided to put a sea music scene has become turbocharged recently, for reasons CD on the cover, like it’s the 90’s or something. A retro move. we don’t entirely understand but are very happy about. There But why not? We had a situation crop up where we had a stu- is now a steady stream of quality touring acts playing regularly dio, a producer and an opportunity, so we took full advantage in Sin City, The Bunkhouse and Creature Sounds every week, of it. We hope you like the results. If you’re a producer, or and local bands are now selling out their shows at a pace which have a studio, and you fancy doing something similar, get in would have seemed unthinkable a couple of years ago. All in touch. We’d love to do this kind of thing again. all, it’s a good time to be alive, provided you avoid all news outlets, obviously, and never turn on a TV or get into a con- versation about politics with anybody at anytime, anywhere. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this or any other issue. Without your help we’d have a much narrower focus; as it is, it’s already a difficult thing, trying to find a bal- ance between covering what interests us (the people who run this little enterprise) and trying to make sure no one feels left out or marginalised, but we try. By God, do we try. Moving on, we hope you enjoy Issue 6, and that your sum- mer turns out to be an absolute bloody delight. If you’re not in Swansea, come visit us sometime. You’ll love it here, no messing. Stay away from the Wetherspoons, naturally, but there’s plenty else to see if you know where to look. The live music is plentiful, varied, berserk and everywhere. We have galleries and parks and beer gardens and miles and miles of sandy beaches. World famous ice cream, too. In fact, in our humble opinion there are few better places to find yourself on a hot summer’s evening than Swansea bay, looking out over an azure blue sea at the coast of Devon glistening in the distance like a rolled out green carpet scattered with jewels. Bliss. On a fine day I reckon Swansea Bay makes the bay of Naples look like a shoddy, inferior, gaudy imitation. Ha! Spo- ken like a true Jack. Totally deluded. Ah, well. I know in my heart it’ll always be a lovely-ugly town. But the bay in the sunshine, oof! Lovely. Come and have a look, just clean up your rubbish after you, is all, and – as always – act tidy. Kisses and (Joe’s) ice-cream, SBM

Oh yeah, one more thing... If your CD is missing we’ll be putting a playlist of the tunes up on the streaming sites in a month or so. There are some legal issues surrounding copyright that prevent us from doing this while this issue of the magazine is still officially in a state of “doing the rounds”, but rest assured that we’ll be uploading the tracks as soon as we can . In the meantime, seek out someone who has a copy and steal it from them .* *Soundboard Magazine does not in any way endorse robbing CDs off your mates. Magazine does not in any way endorse robbing *Soundboard NEW ALBUM CD / LP / DL

AVAILABLE FROM: https://sendelica.bandcamp.com/album /cromlech-chronicles-iv-the-door-into-summer THE QUICK INTERVIEW SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

Mike Kennedy caught up with Laura Benjamin and Marcus Gumms ahead of their sell-out show at Swansea’s Cinema & Co. HAWTHORN AVENUE NOT YOUR AVERAGE BANJO-PICKING HILLBILLIES.

HAWTHORN AVENUE HAVE BEEN MK: Do you write together or apart? CREATING QUITE A STORM WITH LB: Always together. We’ve fallen THEIR CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY into a kind of routine which looks a RISING STYLE SONGS AND LAID BACK LIVE little something like this: One, Mar- PERFORMANCES, AND RECENTLY cus fiddles on the guitar and makes HAVE BEEN A-LISTED BY BBC RA- loads of noises until a cool riff/ gui- DIO WALES, GETTING RAVE RE- tar part comes out. Two, We come STARS VIEWS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS. up with a concept of what we want to write about, based on IIIII the sound of the riff/ gui- tar part. Three, We go into my garage (which we had converted into a classroom since my dad is a maths tu- tor) and make a mind map on the white board, until eventually a string of words that sound like good lyrics come out. MG: Four, the optional step, Laura bins the whole idea because it’s too cheesy or includes the words ‘beer’, ‘truck’, ‘boots’ or ‘moon- MK: How did you guys meet? shine’ and we go back to step one ETHAN LB: We had both been gigging on the [laughs]. same scene for a few years when Mar- HOVESTADT cus came along to the jam night that MK: Do you ever disagree on the Ethan discovered photography I host in Swansea every Thursday, and style of the songs? when he was looking to do a after we sang together, we realised how LB: Not really, we generally go into creative A-level and has been well our voices gelled together and it with a concept that we both love taking photos for just under a how musically compatible we were. Af- and if either of us isn’t happy with an year, he takes his inspiration ter that we filmed a video of us singing idea, it gets thrown out. We think it’s from Michael Kenna and has a cover together and a few gigs came important to make sure that we love based his current A-level project from it, which was when we decided the music that we’re releasing. If we work on Kenna’s. With no for- to sit down and write together. Wild- don’t want to play it on repeat when mal training Ethan continues to fire was born in September 2018 on the it’s finished then how can we expect deliver great images and hopes first day we decided to try co-writing anyone else to want to? to continue his love of photog- and we knew straight away that we raphy at University. were onto something amazing. MK: What are your future plans? Still learning his trade, Ethan, LB: After launching and releasing was most recently seen snap- MK: How do you describe your music? Wildfire in February, our first year LB: The hardest question we ever get is going to be spent releasing as asked. We came together over a love much music as we can in order to of Country Music, so that’s definitely show everyone who we are and ping away at Derrick’s Records, where it started. But we’re not your what we’re about. We’re planning Swansea, for Record Store Day classic banjo-filled, hillbilly, songs- on taking our music further afield, and his happy sharing his pho- about-dirt-roads and how-much-we- with gigs lined up in our home tographs with others. love-our-trucks Country, we like to town, Swansea, as well as Cardiff, He’s recently started working think we stay on the cooler side of and several major cities in Eng- in his own studio, developing Country, with a little bit of a Rock land (more on that later, can’t give 35mm film, an invaluable expe- twist. We’re going with the term ‘al- too much away at this stage). You rience in this digital age when ternative country’ and letting people can expect gig announcements the discerning client is going judge for themselves. very soon. back to basics.

5 CARD IGAN NO.1’S M U S I C VEN UE CARDIGAN  The In The Cellar, we likeCellar LIVE MUSIC. So, we’ve had concerts with lots of performers and bands. There have been many performances, in both Welsh and English, since 2005. Find out more by visiting www.cellarsounds.wales. The Cellar was designed for musical performances. It’s our community space for gigs. But, more than this, we like poetry and verse and theatre and song. And, of course, everyone is welcome. You can see performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with occasional midweek and Sunday performances. We have a well stocked bar, a stage, dance floor and some nice seating. Come and enjoy a night of fun with us. Award winning musicians and poets; chart topping bands; often included in the world tour circuit; always a blast... The Gig At The End Of The Universe! www.cellarsounds.wales / 07818 056599 COVER CD SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

THE STRAY PURSUIT Mess with my head Music and Lyrics by The Stray Pursuit The Stray Pursuit have just released their second ever single ‘Mess with my head’ and unbelievably have only been together ABER a very short time . I mean like a few months! Despite this they’re already selling out their gigs and being championed about the place like musical heroes! Their debut single ‘Out of this world’ is available on all major streaming platforms and here we have our TAWE Abertawe Road version of ‘Mess with my head’ for your listening pleasure, a pumping driving tour de force of pop, indie and rock . I’m undoubtedly sure you’ll be hearing a lot more about their endeavours in future cop- ies of the Mag . PASTEL She Waits for Me Music by Jack Yates; Aaron Torney; James Yates; Rhys Wheeler; Jack Smith. Lyrics by Aaron Tormey Since bursting onto the scene last year with what appeared to be an already-written back-catalogue of indie classics, Pastel have strutted and stormed every stage they’ve got on to . A genuinely exciting and shim- So why a CD? Even better, mering talent, they’ve got the attitude, the tunes and the lollipops to go all the way to why a free CD of exclu- the toppermost of the poppermost . Top sively13 recorded tracks by boys . With She Waits For Me, they’ve de- the cream of local talent? livered another slab of melodic, britpoppy Well, simply put, we thought indie, but – unlike a lot of bands influenced by that era – they’ve remembered the bring it was time to give you all the house grooves . something nice to hold and play and marvel at and ask: WINDSHAKE ‘how do they do it?’ ACCEPT IT FROM ME It started out as a hare-brained idea Music by Oliver Thomas, Ethan David and Sam (maybe dream) of Dave Milsom Thomas. Lyrics by Sam Thomas from Death Monkey Records . He’s as A ‘dynamic 3-piece’ who play ‘psychedelic passionate about the local scene as rock and roll’ . They’ve been releasing a we are and has long wanted to put steady stream of singles and EPs for the out a compilation album of local last couple of years, and their energetic bands . Put him together with local live shows have seen them win a growing studio owner, Pez Anderson of Ab- stream of fans and admirers . Coming off the ertawe Road Studios, Richard Rose of back of their unofficial crowning as ‘crowd R*E*P*E*A*T and suddenly there’s a favourites’ in 2018’s Swansea Fringe Festi- major bromance going on . The re- val, they embarked on a 150 date, sprawl- released their latest single, Main State, along sulting love-child is what you now ing gigging marathon across Britain . They with an accompanying video, in mid-July . hold in your hands . TOM EMLYN We’ve tried to pick from every genre of music and have tried our best not Accidentally to be ageist or sexist, so you’ll find Music and Lyrics by Tom Emlyn a youthful Holy Home Video next to Tom Emlyn Williams (We’d refer to him as the wrinkly collective that is King ‘Tew’, but that means ‘fat’ in Welsh, and he’s Goon and everything in between . built like a racing snake) is the hilariously tal- ented frontman from psychedelic-indie up- starts News From Nowhere (who are currently The one thing that binds them working on a new album), as well as being all together is quality, inventive- a recentish recruit on bass and guitar for ness and originality. It’s not easy bound-for-the-stratosphere Bandicoot . Fella pulling thirteen acts into a stu- gets everywhere . This song is just another example of his meandering genius . dio for a three hour slot but we did it, and we may just do it again. 7 COVER CD

HOLY HOME VIDEO It was fun while it lasted (But I don’t think I’ll Do It Again) Music and Lyrics by Sam Baggit and Cadi Rhind Holy Home Video are the purveyors of the ing lessons they always promised to take . kind of close-harmony, dreamy pop mu- What’s not always noticed is the sly sense sic that makes you think of American high of humour in their lyrics, which along with schools and meandering river trips on a the dual-voice melodies and the general air summer’s evening . Their songs are always of ‘we’ve rehearsed the bejesus out of this’, exquisitely constructed, and performed creates the kind of pop-rock perfection that with the sort of vocal perfection that makes most acts can’t touch . listeners resolve inwardly to take those sing-

HAWTHORN AVENUE THANK YOU! THE WATER’S EDGE To all the acts involved, for giving up time and enduring the stress Music and lyrics by Laura Benjamin and Marcus Gumms of trying to record a tune in three hours. Also to all those who worked Marcus Gumms and Laura Benjamin, two tirelessly behind the scenes, fuelled experienced musicians from South Wales, only by gallons of coffee and a team up to combine Country, Rock and Pop, making fresh, new music . Their key sense of rising panic, to bring influences come from artists such as Florida you this shiny product... that is, Georgia Line, The Shires, American Young if someone hasn’t nicked it off and most predominantly, Striking Matches . the cover already. We know it’s a In September 2017, the pair sat down to retro move to pull in this age of write their first song and within a day, their streaming media, but we reckoned first single was born . They have released an that people would still dig it. If you EP more recently and believe you me, they like this kind of thing, let us know work hard and get themselves about . But and we’ll try and do more. ain’t that the Country way?

SARAH BIRCH All in the eyes Music and lyrics by Sarah Birch Sarah Birch is the ‘singer front- gestating and painstakingly-crafted collec- person type-thing’ from Lost Tuesday Soci- tion of songs, intended to pay homage to ety . This track is taken from her debut solo a number of different folk song traditions, album, The Ballad of Peter and Jane, which whilst still retaining a contemporary edge . came out earlier this year on Death Mon- According to Sarah, All In The Eyes is a song key Records . Sarah’s solo project is a long- about “mundanity, masks and misogyny .” DUNKIE THE VANISHING Music and Lyrics by DUNKIE DUNKIE is a massive collaborative project, are quickly gaining an audience worldwide, hatched into being and teased into life by and their unique approach to the visual side Mountain Ash-based musicians/producers of their music, working with artist Michael Anthony Price and Wayne Bassett . Their Gustavias Payne to produce a piece of art- work is intricate, carefully thought out and work for every song on their upcoming al- displays a huge range of influences, rang- bum, “WORKING TO DESIGN”, shows their ing from Hot Chip to the Beach Boys . Their dedication to detail and love for the work heartfelt, poetic songs of loss and yearning they produce .

JOEL MORGAN Little Flames Music and Lyrics by Joel Morgan This is a one-off and exclusive track, per- and loads of vocals on top like a multi-decked, formed entirely by Joel, on a range of bor- shifting sound sandwich, but about a week rowed instruments, that may or may not before I decided to take the somewhat ambi- appear, in a different form, elsewhere in the tious approach of trying to be the whole band future . Who knows, eh? Asked about the instead. The song is one of those that doesn’t session, Joel said: “When they asked me to do fit in with any of the projects I’m currently in- a song, I initially thought I’d just go down and volved with, but it’s got a sweet melody and it record an acoustic number, then layer loads just wouldn’t quit. Hope you enjoy it.”

8 SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

LOST TUESDAY SOCIETY Bee Skin / THE Knowing what you are SOUNDBOARD Music and lyrics by Lost Tuesday Society Lost Tuesday Society have been around a Magazine fair while on the Swansea scene and have ventured further afield in more recent times playing the ‘big’ festivals like Green Man Awards and the like . Maintaining the festival vibes – with a touch of the Eastern European 2019 thrown in there for good measure – the 6 piece are currently in the studio finishing off their tricky second album, which has taken Saturday 9th November on cathedral-like proportions in comparison NATIONAL WATERFRONT MUSEUM to its slightly more folky debut album . The track here is essentially 2 songs in 1 (value Email us your for money) recorded and performed acous- tically as an exclusive version for the CD . nominations for: KING GOON The Playing Fields of Eton BEST: Music by King Goon. Lyrics by Joel Morgan KING GOON claim to play “a lunatic blend Gig • Venue of ska, punk, folk and dance”, and their live shows tend to be rambunctious, sweaty, Album • Single • Video profanity-laden affairs . So, obviously, given the opportunity, they decided to record Group • Solo • Duo us a super slow, acoustic version of one of their oldest and fastest tracks . Guitarist Joel disconcerting, and that’s why we like it.” The New Act Morgan told us: “It’s basically some angry, band are currently working on their long- silly lyrics – that now seem even more relevant delayed and occasionally long-awaited [email protected] than they did 8 years ago, when the song was debut album, and plan to “come out of re- written – sung sweetly over a rhythm slowed cording hibernation with a rapid-fire string down to a funeral march, the effect is a bit of releases that’ll really get in your grill” .

Greenmailer play loud and heavy, and we’re GREENMAILER very glad to have some proper noise on the THIS Non Sequitur CD! Crunching guitars? Check . Rumbling Music by Steve Aherne; Hywel Griffiths; bass? Check . Pounding drums and howled SPACE Mark Roberts. Lyrics by Mark Roberts vocals? Check and double check . The song itself is a rework of a track from their epony- mous second album; according to the boys, COULD the song started shifting under them as they were playing it live, eventually morphing into the version they’ve recorded for SBM . If this BE seems an odd way of doing things, well, it’s Greenmailer, who increasingly seem to be taking great delight in confounding what YOURS! you’d expect a grungy, band made of up of blokes in their late 30s and ear- ly 40s to come out with . Play this one loud .

WORLD vs WORLD BURN IN HELL Advertise in Music by Kirk Bowen; Krist Davison; Damian Harris; James Morgan. Lyrics by Kirk Bowen SOUNDBOARD Ah, World Vs . World . What else can you say about the hardest working band in Wales? That they know exactly what they’re about? That if they call you a bastard then you probably deserve it? Probably both these things, and more . Political, literate, melodic and incredibly pissed off, this is a for the next album, the original poor-quality re-recording of an early W vs W tune . As recording is lost in the realms of history, plus, it advertising@ Damian Harris (drums) explained to us, “We is still our most-requested encore song, so we soundboardmagazine chose to record ‘Burn In Hell’ for this compi- thought it’d be nice for everyone to have a tidy .co.uk lation because we’re still working on material version at last!”

9 FROM THE PAST CLASSIC WELSH ALBUM

WITH A LINE UP OF , MIKE GIBBONS, , RON GRIFFITHS, BADFINGER WERE THE Badfinger SECOND SWANSEA ARTISTS TO BE SIGNED TO APPLE LA- BEL, AFTER MARY HOPKIN. In early 1970 their debut album, MAGIC , was released, inspired by the Peter Sellers film The Magic Christian which featured three CHRISTIAN of the album’s tracks. Hit singles across the world soon followed but Badfinger’s story is a sad MUSIC one marked with bad business deci- sions and poor management which Released 9th January 1970 would eventually lead to the suicides of its two frontmen, Pete Ham and Tom Evans. Crimson Ship, Dear Angie and Maybe Come And Get It / Crimson Ship / Often cited as the original power- Tomorrow. With production duties Dear Angie / Midnight Sun / pop band this album was an indicator shared by Tony Visconti, Mal Evans Beautiful And Blue / Rock Of Ages / of what was to follow. The big hit sin- and McCartney himself, the album Carry On Till Tomorrow / I’m In Love / gle was the Paul McCartney-penned could have felt fragmented but it Walk In The Rain / Fisherman / Come And Get It but the album has holds together remarkably well and Knocking Down Our Home / equally strong self-penned songs like still sounds fresh to this day. MK Maybe Tomorrow

ADVERTISE YOUR music / gig / shop / venue HERE [email protected] Hen Dderwen Sketty park drive, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8JH Tel: 01792 203631 Your favourite local pub that is proud to bring you quality traditional pub meals, exciting daily offers and unbeatable value! New Daily Deals: MONDAY – 50% off our Real Pub Favourites menu, 12pm - 5pm TOP-IT TUESDAY – Any topped salad for £5.99 WEDNESDAY – Kids eat for £1 with any adult main meal bought THURSDAY – 2 loaded burgers for £15 after 5pm FRIDAY – 2 grills and 2 drinks for £20 after 5pm SATURDAY & SUNDAY – Weekend wallet saver, 2 courses for £9.99 We now offer a Senior Selection for £4.99 each THE QUICK INTERVIEW SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 STILL BANGING THE DRUM IN 1989 CHINA DRUM FORMED AS there was sand on it, so it would hov- dropped by our record company, so ADAM LEE (VOCALS/DRUMS), BILL er over the tarmac and get to the soft we had to think about what we were MCQUEEN (GUITAR/VOCALS) AND earth and then just squat down and doing and how to earn money. BROTHER DAVE MCQUEEN (BASS/ wouldn’t move, so Billie Joe and Tre We all started getting proper jobs... VOCALS); JAMMING TOGETHER IN [] just piled out of their bus getting back together again [in] about AN OLD PIG SHED ON A FARM IN and said, “What the fuck are you lot do- 2013. Facebook was there, Youtube NORTHUMBERLAND. ing?!” and we told them, and they said, was there, all the media platforms By the year 2000, they’d released a “Right, come on, we’ll that we could put ourselves on, number of singles and EPs along with it was so much easier to let peo- three full-length albums Goose- ple know we were back together fair (1996), Self Made Maniac again. It was a smooth way of (1997), and Diskin (1999). They doing things. It’s so much eas- toured throughout Europe (in- ier to get your stuff out there cluding war-torn Sarajevo), the now. US and beyond, whilst support- DH: What do you have ing the likes of , Ash, planned at The Cluny? and Green Day AL: Well we’re gonna do ex- (who are such big fans that bass- actly the same set as we did ist is even sporting at Reading in ‘96, but we’re a China Drum tee in their When gonna do some extra stuff at I Come Around video), and also the end of the gig, y’know, played Reading Festival in both it’ll be a nice surprise. We’ll 1995 (Main Stage) and 1996 (NME pull out some B-sides that Stage). we haven’t done for years To mark the anniversary of their give you and songs that we haven’t done for Reading 1996 appearance, China a push”, and they pushed us ages really. Above all, we’ll have a Drum are playing a special home- down the tarmac road, it was abso- damn good laugh. The response so far town anniversary gig at The Cluny, lutely hilarious. has been amazing, obviously we’ve Newcastle, on 31st August, where DH: Back to the present, what’s got Beverley Kills supporting us and they will perform their Reading ‘96 set happened since Reading 1996? the love for them is massive, they’re in its entirety for an intimate crowd. AL: Well we toured after Reading, an absolutely awesome band. DH: Tell us how you found your- then we wrote Self Made Maniac af- DH: Will you be embarking on a tour selves at Reading Festival 1996. ter that, as Goosefair had just come or working on anything any time soon? AL: Well we played Reading in the out around the time of Reading, and AL: It’s trying to Find The Time ‘scuse previous year on the Main Stage, and when we went to tour for that, that the pun, to be able to do that, but we were first on in the afternoon on was when we got Jan [Alkema] in, as obviously, general life gets in the the Friday, and that was like an out- way all the time. So, we’re hoping of-body experience. And basically we to get our knuckles down and get on were on tour from that day, fully on “We’d love to with more writing and get on with tour until the next Reading Festival, more recording, and finally release so we didn’t even have time to think [play] Wales some stuff that we’ve been holding about the next Reading Festival we just on to for three or four years. had a rough date, and then we found because so many We’d love to get a mini-tour to- out properly we were playing the Sat- gether and get all the places we’d urday about a month beforehand. people ask us to” love to play covered, including DH: Is that the time I heard a story Wales because so many people ask about a hovercraft or something? Compulsion had split up so we asked us to play here and there. It still AL: Yeah! That’s the one, yeah. We Jan if he would like to come over as gobsmacks me, there are still people brought a hovercraft along just to our drummer basically so I could go up getting in touch now saying, “I’ve make things a little bit…er…‘easier’ the front and jump around like a seal. just discovered you’re back together!” for us, so we had something to think After that we relentlessly toured, It’s a real heart warming experi- about, know what I mean? Instead of and then we had a little bit of a break, ence. We didn’t realise back at the sitting there going, “Oh my God we’re and then we got stuck in to the re- time how many people we were ac- all going on stage in six hours!”, we just nowned, difficult third albumDis [ - tually reaching so it’s great to have went out playing on the hovercraft kin]. So we tried to reinvent ourselves that now. It’s amazing. And you’ve instead. At the time I think, KLF had a little bit, and try to do things in a got original fans bringing their kids a pink tank, and there was someone different way, writing in a different along to the gigs and that, it’s great. else that had an armoured vehicle. way. Jan was involved in the writing Super Furry Animals I think. So...we process which gave things a different turned up in a black and white hov- dynamic, and then we did a few tours Adam Lee was talking to Damian Harris. ercraft, and we were going down the for Diskin, and then we got to about tarmac road in the VIP carpark, and millennium year, and then we got Find out more: chinadrumofficial

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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE – ROSIE SCRIBBLAH SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

More than half a century ago, back in the 1960’s, some engineers and artists in the USA got together and started working on interdisciplinary projects that became known as SciArt.

FIRETHEN IT ALL SORT OF FIZZLED IN THE HOLE!It’s funny where an artist’s inspira- OUT. FAST FORWARD A QUARTER tion can come from. I never thought OF A CENTURY TO THE UK IN THE I’d be inspired by culverts. It had MID ‘90S AND SCIART RESURFACED never even occurred to me to look WITH THE WELLCOME TRUST, WHICH at them and this is something that FUNDED A DECADE OF RESEARCH Stephanie has written about, how PROJECTS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED culverts are often overlooked in the WHEN MEDICAL SCIENTISTS AND landscape and their potential changes ARTISTS WORK TOGETHER. to river ecosystems. It was good. Since then, there have But our visit to the culverts in the been more and more scientific research Tawe headwaters triggered all sorts projects across British universities that of ideas. When I was standing there, include an artist as part of the team. high up on the Beacons with my Now there’s FIRE Lab at Swansea drawing board and sketching stuff, University and I’m part of the team. peering into these stone portals, I was FIRE stands for Freshwater Interdisci- reminded of some of the ancient folk- plinary Research and Engagement and lore of Wales, particularly the Gwra- much of our work centres on Swan- gedd Annwn, which roughly translates sea’s own River Tawe, from it’s mouth as Witches of the Otherworld and of down at the Marina all the way up to Annwn itself. The legend of the Lady its source in the Brecon Beacons, not of Llyn Y Fan Fach, not far away, is far from Llyn Y Fan Fawr. FIRE Lab about a Gwragedd Annwn, female dei- looks at the ecology of the Tawe as ties who inhabit freshwater systems well as the interaction of the commu- different human activities.” like lakes and rivers. And Annwn is nities alongside it and, here’s where The landscape is sparse rugged the Celtic Otherworld, very differ- I come in, the role of creativity in sheep country, but nevertheless beau- science and in engaging with those tiful in its brutality, dotted with Neo- communities. lithic stone monuments, a testimony One of the things that FIRE lab is to our long relationship with the Riv- particularly interested in is under- er Tawe. But we weren’t there to look standing how culverts – infrastruc- at the nearby standing stone, circle or ture often associated with smaller processionary avenue. road-river crossings – influence the Instead we hopped out of the car species that live in and around the and scrambled up and down the steep River Tawe. So, one fine day in May, valley sides to look at more recent hu- I headed off up into the Brecon Bea- man architecture, the culverts, many cons, along an unnamed road off the Victorian I think, and crafted beauti- A4067 above Tafarn y Garreg, with fully from dressed stone. I had travelled Steph Januchowski-Hartley and James this road many times and never knew White to look at different culverts just what lovely examples of industrial near the source of the Tawe. architecture were hiding beneath the ent from the Christian Heaven and Aquatic ecologist James White says: wheels of the car. I fell in love. Hell. Annwn exists just next to us and “The River Tawe harbours a range of flora Some of them are high up on the there are creatures who are supposed and fauna despite a long history of neglect sides of the river’s valley, others con- to be able to move between our world and strain inflicted by human activities. nect the tributaries more seamlessly and Annwn at will. While changes in the management of riv- beneath the old unnamed road. It can leave one wondering if these ers has improved ecological conditions For James, the most interesting ob- culverts disrupt our living alongside across the catchment, ecosystems support- servation of the day came right at the Annwn and how the Gwragedd Annwn ed within the Tawe are still threatened by very end, where we noticed one of of these waters might be affected or not. the culverts on a Tawe tributary had Standing still in the silence and slowed down the stream’s flow and sunshine, watching the scientists slip- created a pond-like feature which har- ping into and out of the darkness of boured newts and frogs. the stone tunnels, I could well believe “These animals love conditions where in the magic of this place. flows are minimal or absent all together, so this artificially created pond down- stream of the culvert provided a unique For more information: opportunity for organisms rarely found firelaboratory.co.uk in rivers to colonise the Tawe tributary.” scribblah.co.uk

13 VENUE FEATURE – THE PATTI PAVILION

ADELINA’S GIFT ONE OF SWANSEA’S MOST FAMOUS University before starting work with LANDMARKS, THE PATTI PAVILION HSBC and later the Inland Revenue. WAS DONATED TO THE PEOPLE OF Now, with Foyaz, I’ve started All Sea- THE CITY IN 1917 BY, WORLD-FA- sons Events which will be based at the MOUS OPERA SINGER, DAME ADE- Patti. LINA PATTI. Previously used as her Winter Gar- MK: What do you plan to bring to den to entertain guests at her home Swansea? in Craig Y Nos, in the upper Swansea Valley, The Grade II listed building FM: We’ll be specialising in family now sits in Victoria Park overlook- gatherings, team events, taking the ing Swansea Bay, and over the years whole event from planning to deliv- has been used for a variety of cultural ery. The Patti will be a place for the events, festivals and (most important- whole community to come together ly) rock gigs. and enjoy themselves. We’ll cater for The building has fallen into disre- all budgets making sure that we meet pair over the years, and despite a brief the requirements of our clients. reprieve in the 1990’s when it was fea- tured in a TV renovation series it soon MK: What about music? descended into disuse. In 2009 some major investment saw HM: We’ve linked up with two fantas- the construction of a glass extension, tic people who are helping us bring and refurbishment of the iconic mu- “We love Swansea music back to the Patti and their ex- sic venue began after cousins Hanif perience has been invaluable. Aled and Foyaz Miah decided to bring the and want to bring Lewis from Big Day Productions is Patti back to life. going to be bringing some exciting With the first major gig planned for the Patti back to bands here and Debbie Ley, who has the end of July, Mike Kennedy caught been a huge supporter of live music in up with Hanif and Foyaz to get the life for the whole Swansea with her own venues, is also lowdown. community.” giving us some amazing support. The experience between those two is like a MK: I’ve spent many late nights here sprinkle of magic dust. watching bands like The Stranglers, Cymru and that gave me the confi- Magnum, Man and Jefferson Air- dence and skills to realise my dream. FM: It’s been hard work and a big plane. It’s great to see the new stage I actually met Prince Charles on his learning curve for us but with the and PA going in. What made you recent visit to Swansea and it was support of Aled and Debbie, Chris guys want to do this? good to be able to show him what I from Derrick’s Records and many have achieved because of his scheme, others we’re confident that we can re- FM: We both grew up around here a scheme which is still very support- store the Patti to its former glory. and the building has always played a ive to this day. big part in our lives. We love Swansea HM: It’s important to us that the Patti and want to bring the Patti back to MK: Straight from the trust to start- brings the whole community togeth- life for the whole community. ing your own business? er. We grew up here. We love Swan- sea, and where else would you get a HM: I set up my business after I se- HM: [laughs] No, no. After that I view like Swansea Bay? There’s no cured a place on The Prince’s Trust went to Gower College and Plymouth better place in the world. 14 (IT WAS POETRY, BUT NOW IT’S) HIP HOP CORNER SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

“I’m not doing CDs anymore... people don’t want them” THE JACK THE CRAZE

PICTURE THE SCENE: A BUSY CAFE IN and my mate in school said he didn’t and chat or they’re in the smoking area. UPLANDS ON THE SUNSHINY SUNDAY like it so he gave it to me. I started play- Bring back smoking into pubs. Be- MORNING OF THE SWANSEA AIR SHOW. ing the drums when I got to comp., so cause it kills you as an artist. It’s just like Sunburnt bodies (probably) nursing I had rhythm and then starting writing say now, two artists go on, then a fag hangovers guzzling a poached egg and lyrics much later after I started produc- break, they (the audience) are out there avocado smash with sprinklings of sam- ing my own stuff. I can compose stuff for hours ‘cos they can’t contain what phire. The clinking of cutlery, the com- on a keyboard and I produce, I mix and they want to say to each other and an forting sounds of the coffee machines master everything as well, so I don’t hour later they’ve missed everything. hissing and gurgling and the odd pet- depend on anyone. The only people I I’ve been there! I’ve been that person rifying overhead blast of a massive fuck depend on is for colabs, it’s good like. I to come on after the smoking break and off jet plane headed for the bay (jan- listen to a lot of music, not just Hip Hop no ones there like. gling my nerves royally). and it’s progressed from there, you get I don’t like performing in front of 10 Anyway, I’m here to meet Swansea your ideas from different artists. to 15 people, I’d rather perform in front based hip hop artist Craze the Jack (Craig Overall, it’s probably not as much as of, I don’t know, 100 people or more. Lewis). Salt of the earth, doesn’t suffer other people but I’ve done two albums You got 10 to 15 people, they’re prob- fools gladly, all round nice chap. Not two EP’s and a shed load of singles. I’m ably the ones that are really interested knowing much about the Swansea Hip working on an EP at the moment and I in your music that’s why they’re staying Hop scene personally (turns out there re- want to put out videos with the tracks, there but its the atmosphere you want ally isn’t much of one) I first came across I’ve been looking a lot at peoples’ mar- with it as well, so they may be really CTJ when the BBC’s Biggest Weekend and keting and it’s hard as an independ- into your music but you’re not getting Horizons got together last year to gather ent artist to do everything yourself, that kick from them, also when you got a few local artists to re record a Bad Fin- but I think I want to put out a whole less people, they are less inclined to let ger track Come and Get It with Rachel K package. I’m not doing CDs anymore go. They don’t want to jump around like Collier on which CTJ was featured. though, people don’t want them. I’ve twats do they, cos everyone can see ‘em. We get coffee. We talk of many things; still got a box in the house. My aim in the future is to do more we establish that whilst I would have I had a couple of months of nothing big gigs. I want to do that. I want to been a teen mum, I am old enough to recently but then I’ve played in New- progress up to that. be his mother; he explains to me what port and I’d really like to do Bristol. I’m going to shake things up a bit hash tags are for; we discuss how people There’s no real Hip Hop scene in Swan- now though. I probably won’t do the don’t seem to listen to CD’s anymore sea, I don’t think they get it here for Hip Hop nights so much. I want to get and he tells me why we should bring some reason. It’s all Cardiff, Newport a live band behind me and play bigger back smoking in pubs. and Bristol. It’s more Urban. places, different venues and with my I like the studio but really I’d rather mate Josh do some more acoustic Hip CTJ: So I’ve been performing properly be on the stage. There’s something Hop gigs with his songs as well. for the last couple of years but have about it. You look at everyone and they been doing music really since I was just give you the energy then, as soon as about eleven. So when I was about sev- people engage and start vibing to your Craze The Jack was talking to en, the Marshall Mathers [Eminem] LP music you just go fucking hell, lets just go Flipsy McCaw. came out and I always remember listen- for it then. ing to it (in about 2000 I think). You know what though, If there’s a bar Check out Craze the Jack in all the usual I remember listening to it in my moth- in the other room, people will just fuck online ways. (Plus there are some CD’s in er’s friend’s house first with headphones off and go to the bar and they’d stay there a box somewhere!)

15 COVER INTERVIEW – STEVE BALSAMO

WHAT’S THE STORY WITH THE SWANSEA SCENE? STEVE BALSAMO IS THE SWANSEA-BORN SINGER-SONGWRITER WHO’S HAD SUCCESS IN THE WEST END PLAYING THE LEAD ROLE IN JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, STARDOM AROUND THE WORLD WITH HIS BAND THE STORYS, SHARING THE STAGE WITH SANTANA, JOE COCKER, CELINE DION AND TO NAME BUT A FEW .

Now based back in Swansea, with his local newspapers and radio are owned through stories and about the al- family, he’s recently released two ac- by bigger parent companies, and in ready established artists and really claimed EPs. Mike Kennedy caught up the case of The Wave and Swansea start writing about the abundance with him recently to get the low down. Sound it’s, a German label, Bauer and of incredible talent we have here in MK: So what have you been up to since the playlists for all the stations they Swansea and the surrounding areas. the [2006] Balsamo Deighton album? own is centrally run, meaning little A dedicated radio show on The Wave SB: Well Mike, I’ve been writing difference from station to station across would be amazing! As I said before, since Rosalie and I stopped working the country with little or no autonomy. hearing your song on radio never gets together. I’ve been working on songs We can drive from Land’s End to John old, and I think it could drive lots of for a series of 4 EPs, two of which, Cir- O’Groats and hear the same ten-or-so traffic via the artist’s and friend’s so- cle The Wagons and recently High On songs played from the usual major la- cial media sharing, so could actually Sunset have been released. I’ve also bel acts. So local commercial radio is increase listeners to the station. been helping develop a few younger not playing local music. They used to do it. I remember artists that I think are great, and I’ve Badger on Swansea Sound giving my had a song covered by Cliff Richard, old band The Living Room its first ever on his latest album, called Gonna Be play. It came before Shawn Colvin sing- OK, which was fantastic as my late “It’s getting ing I Don’t Know Why, a song I’d later mother was such a huge fan. increasingly cover with Balsamo Deighton, and I re- MK: Who have you been working corded a duet with Shawn on my solo with on the new material? tough to get any Sony record. None of that would have SB: I’ve been working on my music happened I think without Badger, and with mighty Tim Hamill (Sonic One re- coverage anywhere I remember it gave me the confidence cording studio), who I’ve been work- to keep on keeping on. ing with for over 25 years. Andy Col- because of lots of MK: You’ve recently been instru- lins my old compadre from The Storys, mental in developing a way for local and one of my favourite singer song- factors. More music music to get heard in conjunction writers, has been helping me write is being produced with the council and PRS, haven’t you? and produce some music, along with SB: I love Swansea and I particular- Gareth Lewis from The Dukes Of Ha- than ever before.” ly love Swansea Market. I was having fod and Christian Phillips of The Sonic food there a while back, and over the Executive Sessions. Karl Morgan (Who’s internal PA system they were playing Molly?) has helped out too. I’ve been MK: So if this is the case across the the usual TOP 40 music. I thought lucky as I’m surrounded with amaz- UK, how do local bands get played? there was a great opportunity to ing players and writers. SB: Yes, It’s pretty much the whole showcase only Welsh music, maybe MK: How have the EPs been received? of the UK with major labels dictating for a few hours a day in, firstly, The SB: EP1 was really well received get- pretty much what happens on TV Market, and then possibly in other ting playlisted here, and in Holland, and and radio. They also have access to public spaces run by Swansea Coun- is being played all over the world. It’s al- the premier Spotfiy playlists and the cil. We approached Welsh Connections ways a huge thrill to hear your songs on people who compile, so that’s pretty and wrote up a proposal and then the radio. The plan with the EPs is to see much sewn up too. There are excep- spoke to Tracey McNulty, Lisa Wells what’s what, where the interest is and tions. Karl Morgan and his band, Who’s and Chris Mellor at the council who just make some music for music’s sake. Molly?, along with writer and produc- were incredibly supportive. So from No real agenda apart from getting a map er Pete Woodruffe have written a song, this September Music In The Market to the next set of adventures. Since I’ve Found You which not only has will launch which will be a monthly MK: How difficult is it for musicians been added to some huge Spotify playl- playlist comprised of only Welsh and to get airplay or press coverage locally? ists, but are getting major label interest Welsh-speaking music. There will be SB: It’s getting increasingly tough because of it. They are actually beating opportunities for Music live from the to get any coverage anywhere because the system that is essentially stacked Market, which we intend to stream of lots of factors. More music is being against the little people. live and make available online, and produced than ever before, which on MK : What needs to change? there will be dedicated Spotify playl- one hand is great, but it’s difficult to SB: Local press, maybe, needs to ists which people will be encouraged get the ever diminishing slots. Also be a little less concerned about click- to share. John Hywel Morris the head of

16 SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

“I think it’s our duty to help the next generation of artists coming through. Swansea has always been an unbelievably creative place.”

PRS Wales will partner us in helping SB: I think it’s our duty to help the bands and artists at the moment to explain how this works in terms of next generation of artists coming single any out. Get out there and see generating PRS income, help spread through. Swansea has always been an some live music. the word via Shazam, which is an app unbelievably creative place, but I feel MK: What are your plans for the you can download to your phone there has been maybe a lack of people immediate future? that allows people to find out any who’ve done some things in the in- SB: I’m going to keep on writing song that is playing. It’s about help- dustry saying, “try this, it may save you and working with some new song- ing educate the newer bands on how a lot of time and heartache”, or “speak writers and artists, with a plan to to monetise and think of themselves to this person, they can help”. maybe set up a label and publishing as entrepreneurs as well as musicians. MK: What advice would you give? company proper to help them get It’s very exciting, and a big thanks to SB: Keep writing songs, as the song their foot on the ladder. the market team and the council for is King and Queen, and be nice. MK: Steve, thanks for taking the making this initiative happen. MK: Is there anyone we should be time out to chat with us and good MK: As well as that do you feel it’s looking out for musically? luck with all of your projects. important for someone with your SB: I think anyone featured in this success to help mentor the up and magazine is a good place to start, but

Photos: Graham Harries coming artists? really there are too many amazing stevebalsamomusic.com

17 RECORD REVIEWS

SINGLE and Lady Antebellum show and Haw- you you can hear why. It’s a beautiful thorn Avenue use it very well, both in love song with some great piano work LET’S SWIM harmony and in counterpoint. While running throughout it and poignant AGAIN their initial release Wildfire is perhaps lyrics about growing old together. the most obviously ‘Country’ and is If you enjoyed Steve’s earlier release Dead Crow devilishly catchy, the other tracks on – Circle The Wagons – you will love the EP display the other facets within this, and if this is anything to go by Dead Crow is a Hip-Hop artist based the genre. we are in for another two outstanding in Swansea. He has been performing Raised Me Better is more brooding collections pretty soon. for a few years and has supported and melancholy while The Water’s Already widely acknowledged as such bands as The Hypnotic Brass En- Edge and Fade Away are classic ballads, one of our finest voices and songwrit- semble. both of which are relaxed and almost ers this is the sound of a man just hit- His new track Let’s Swim Again meditative at times. ting his stride. More please. MK shows his impressive flow, a rhyth- With this range of styles within the mic sensibility that is complicated wider genre, the duo showcase their High on sunset / Better Man / Lost and without being cluttered, and some developing abilities as well as their found at the same time / I won’t give up vivid imagery. The track feels raw and complementary voices. on you / It’s always been you. straight to the point, percussive bars The EP is a very polished produc- spilling out over a claustrophobic, tion and it is clear that great care has stevebalsamomusic.com percussive bass-heavy first verse that been taken to get the songs sounding seems like a series of urban fragments exactly as they have been imagined or vignettes, observations of people’s and I am excited to see how their ALBUM lives: “stopping for a second give it to songwriting develops. If this was a THE GIRL the second person that I’m watching in US release, I would fear it would get the window guessing if they come out for lost in a saturated market, but in a ALWAYS WINS confession and turn over properties... a country that has largely eschewed the John Rogers Prosser and John Vile brother and sister who ran to get home genre, Hawthorn Avenue are bringing with no phone book & bones, it’s another a new dimension to the genre, I can’t per usual”. help but feel that they have a natu- My first impressions of the album is The chorus opens the groove up ral home on Radio 2. It is a very solid very slick and a well-presented pro- with a repetitive sampled lo-fi loop release from a very promising young duction. that feels abstract and dreamlike and duo. SH I messaged the artist to ask his back- lyrics that have a searching quality: “I ground on the album, he obliged, he put a call out for others...now it’s time to www.hawthorn-avenue.com said: “The songs were written over quite learn to swim again”, maybe implying a long period of time. We had no real a search for community and a return lasting representation of our music, so to childhood innocence in a rough EP we thought it was about time.” world. HIGH ON The third song on the album, Mr The loop continues into the second Cool, John said was written when he verse, which feels like more like a per- SUNSET saw his son goofing about in large sonal reflection on the act of writing: Steve Balsamo sunglasses. Listening to the track, it “I beg you I’ll plead ‘cause I can’t stand does have an element of childish fun the sight of watching my pen bleed” / about it, I could see in my mind’s eye “cuts & scratches my paper cries alone...I The second of four planned CDs finds the boy dancing around to it, with scribble my numb imagery to hit the drop the former West-End star and Storys the sunglasses on. so quivery” / “my eyes look back as I wait frontman on fine form and working The album itself has a very 60’s/70’s for my misery to kick in”. There’s also once more with producer Tim Hamill, singer/songwriter vibe and bands that the great line: “while everyone’s blues and a little help from his friends, came to mind were The Eagles and The hits hard like pub trivia”. The track Andy Collins and Gareth Lewis. Kinks (Ray Davies especially). (which can be found on Youtube) has On the opening track you could be Just listening to Watching your an engaging video of Dead Crow walk- listening to a lost Don Henley classic, dreams go down, the quote for this ing through a French city,. He’s an in- atmospheric guitar, a breezy Califor- song is “a homeless guy who spends all triguing artist with something to say, nian chorus with perfect harmonies. his time in the warmth of the local cin- and it’ll be interesting to see where This is one to rival The Boys Of Sum- ema and falls for an usherette”, the tone he goes next. TE mer as everyone’s favourite driving of the song juxtaposes well with the classic, top down, volume up. story, however, John and Paul put it Better Man opens with a Bruce across very nicely. EP Hornsby-like piano riff moving from The title track has a very Latin Jazz/ a gentle ballad to a full out rocking Rock style to it, the vocal melody WILDFIRE tune thanks to some great guitar work makes you want to sing along, whilst Hawthorn Avenue from Tim Hamill with soaring vocals the rhythm makes you want to do coming in over the top courtesy of a little samba, the following song is Collins and Lewis. similar, even if it’s a bit slower and Country music? From South Wales? Lost and found at the same time is a has a more nostalgic tone to the song. So it’s God’s Country and Western? gorgeous ballad complete with lush ’s Glory is a song that really Or maybe Country and Western Mail? string arrangements, which is a sure stands out for me, really mournful Labels aside, Marcus Gumms and fire worldwide hit, watch this space! guitars, with the vocal floating on top. Laura Benjamin have infused a slightly I won’t give up on you has all the The song itself is about commemorat- rockier sensibility and a smattering of hallmarks of a gospel classic with ing the 1888 Bryant and May match electronica into the standard coun- a powerful chorus and pounding girls strike. It reminds me of the folk try equation and it works very, very mantra-like beat. There’s no doubt music that I used to listen to when I well. Male/female combined vocals that Balsamo is one of the voices of first got into it. I can imagine Eliza can work well, as Lost Tuesday Society his generation and on It’s always been Carthy, Steeleye Span and such other

18 SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

bands doing this song. SINGLE There’s Rosemary, the last song on the album, is a time for reminiscing HEART ON FIRE about old friends been and gone, with Laura Power no regrets. All In all, an album of sto- rytelling genius. RW Laura Power is an extraordinary solo reverbnation.com/johnprosserandpaulvile artist from Rhondda in Wales. She is surprisingly only twenty years old, with a voice way above her years! Her EP first and only release, Heart on Fire, is a phenomenal yet ecstatic song. I am EP1 sure Laura is destined to be a world- The Algal Bloom wide sensation. Laura got started in music as a child, singing along to her father playing EP1 is the new record from the New- the guitar, which in turn inspired her bridge band, or should I say collec- to start singing professionally. tive, considering there are seven of So, what does it sound like? The them, The Algal Bloom. peaceful, gentle guitar strums as Lau- Nice work. I’ve heard the name be- ra sings a truthful yet calm melody fore but not any of their music. The which sticks in your head for the rest first track of the four reminding me of the day. The guitar is refreshing of Needle and The Damage Done by and ear-catching, as Laura sings with Neil Young, is no bad start. The track her sensational voice. You can hear is called Learn to Swim and has love- smooth eclectic guitar, the question ly harmonies, some bold brass and is: will it ever play loudly? an Exile on Main Street feel. So pretty Hold onto your hats with this art- good so far. ist. I wonder if Laura will ever step up This is followed by Piano Song to the next level of singing. Extraor- which seems to come from a long dinary and brilliant, incredible and line of country blues with a great gui- awesome, it makes you happy listen- tar sound and eventually segueways ing to her song, reminding you of into a pastiche (that’s maybe unfair) happier times playing at the beach or of Lets Do the Timewarp. Kind of weird going on holiday. but not unpleasant and it does bring After listening to the song, a a smile to my face. number of times, it’s surprising how Thirdly we have Paid Today which your mind catches the lyric, and you is very pleasant indeed, with mellow find yourself humming the tune. Hammond and classic laid back Gram Welsh music really is in good hands Parsons-esque vocals. Fans of GP or with a youthful approach to song- Nashville Skyline will love this, only writing that Laura certainly shows us. a few missing additional harmonies Brilliant! SIENNA LEWIS stop it from being truly unforgettable. EASTERN PRIMARY SCHOOL, TAIBACH. Finally, proudly bringing up the rear is Walkin. This too has all the hall- marks of laid back country rock but with a few nods to both the Beatles and Bacharach, so you can’t really go wrong there. The lead guitar sound is THIS fantastic and the outro is reminiscent of Elbow on a good day. A really enjoyable listen. Overall SPACE it’s uplifting and doesn’t fall into be- ing overly melancholic as can be the case with other bands in this genre. COULD The musicianship and production is top class. It’s well worth a listen and BE if you can catch them live, I recom- mend that you do. HR YOURS! soundcloud.com/user-898826260

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ALBUM SINGLE but it’s only a stylistic borrowing. The tunes are completely his and deliv- MAGIC AND THE CAUTIONARY ered in an easy style without any his- MOLECULES TALE OF COX trionics or strain. A man who comes across as completely at ease with his The Pride McQUEEN voice and place in the world. “Don’t Sharam Gill ask me where I’m from” he requests in The new release from Cardiff label between some obscure lyricism in- Dope Biscuits is a super-group with a volving perhaps Jesus. fitting collective name. Billed as a concept album, The Cau- Lovers of the Weak moves away from Jamey P. Enbe, Rufus Mufasa, Sub- tionary Tale of Cox McQueen is a col- The Beatles’ territory and has a slick Kon and Twammers all feature on The ourful rainbow of orchestration, sax over a major seventh dreaminess, Pride’s first release. spoken word interludes and a pictur- that reminds me of Canadian band Although a traditional pride of li- esque poem of human existence. The Destroyer. ons is the epitome of the alpha-male sort of humdrum dramas that Mike Change is She’s Leaving Home with model, there is no discernible hierar- Leigh and Ken Loach might indulge a girl named Faye who flits through chy in this collective. Instead, what in, spiced up with some psychedelic the temporary landscape that Mr. Gill The Pride offer on Magic and Molecules diversions to muddy the waters, con- seems to excel at giving life to. Fol- is a fluid means of expression for a fuse and delight. lowing on there’s a ukelele track that range of artists, voices, accents, per- Sharam Gill is the author of this recalls George Formby and sounds like spectives and messages. There is pride album. All at once wildly eclectic, it was recorded on a wax cylinder. in the words, pride in the role of the yet also steeped in a kind of Edward- There’s a depth and honesty on artist as explorer of possibilities and ian Britishness that Paul McCartney show here. Sharam Gill has brought pride in the worth of the audience launched on us in the Sgt Pepper era. his vision to life with strong melodies who are listening. The whole album is packed with and a reverence for The Beatles. It’s a Rufus Mufasa is well known for her the musings of a dime-store visionary, delightful aural journey, eccentric in educational work and this is a record though I don’t think we need look lofty conception and sensitively ob- that seeks to enlighten its listener. too deeply into a concept and regu- scure. What Do You Want brilliantly splices lar narrative about a fictional fellow These are the kinds of tunes that rap alongside a spoken speech that named Cox McQueen. If anything keep repeating in your head long af- tells of a dystopian future we are, this character feels like a peripheral ter, and has an ease and comfort like a disappointingly, already living in. figure, another Rosencrantz and Guil- well-worn pair of slippers. PB Opener The Rare Side of Me sets out denstern. their stall: “love is the weapon / know The person who kicks off the al- facebook.com/mymusicSharamGill your worth” are the first of many mes- bum and disappears until his open- sages of empowerment that ring-out ing track is reprised on Cox is pooped throughout the album. [reprise] on the 11th track of 13. Here There is an exploration of other guitar indulges in some pyrotechnics worlds and cultures, in tracks like Lu- and the synths crank it up. Whoever nar Dust to shed light on the state of this man Cox is, remains as obscure South Wales and UK-wide issues. It as when we were first introduced. doesn’t amount to anything as con- Wherever he goes though, there is a vincing as Sun-Ra or Janelle Monáe’s soundtrack of quite vivid colour. use of Afrofuturism, but maybe that One thing I know about Sharam Gill isn’t The Pride’s intent. without knowing him: He loves The Similarly Dope Biscuits have publi- Beatles. Specifically he loves the era cised the album as ‘Moon Bap’: a new when the fab four were experiment- style of Psychedelic Hip-Hop. The ing with conceptual ideas. The two tripout backings float about in their albums that Gill draws from are Sgt. own ambient soundscape behind the Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and flow of words that sit atop. It is this Magical Mystery Tour. psychedelic soundworld that brings The elegant orchestrations of the clarity and consistency to the collec- opening track Cox is pooped gives way tives’ many narratives but it doesn’t to the McCartney-esque laced Heather possess the mind-altering bends of makes her face brass band romanti- Chance the Rapper. Instead, the instru- cism and singalong la las. It’s a track mental backing roots the music (in a to smile along to. Simple and seduc- good way) rather than taking the lis- tive. tener to somewhere other. On the ar- Following on is Silver gown and resting Primitive a double-time groove golden vest (a parody of the title Silver kicks in that is a welcome gear change threads and golden needles methinks?) from the album’s consistently mid- This track really is a homage to the tempo feel. Immortal calls The Pride a title track of Sgt Pepper’s and For the ‘contracted lifetime alliance’. Benefit of Mr Kite spruced up with nice Album closer Level Up takes a big dry cleaned Edwardian era uniforms leap away from the synthesised back- and golden epaulettes, waxed mous- ings with a genre-defying guitar lick taches, brass band and vaudevillian that encapsulates the all-encompass- whistles. ing nature of the album perfectly. If Noonday sun has a feel like a colli- The Pride are together for life then sion of Fool on the Hill and Lucy in the their ambition and ingenuous ap- Sky with diamonds that bursts into a proach to music making could take psychedelic phased haze. Mr Gill cer- them anywhere. JPD tainly does love his Beatle memories

20 LIVE REVIEWS SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 BANDICOOT AL MOSES, MOTEL THIEVES, AIDENKERYN, OLIVIA KNEATH Sin City, Swansea Saturday July 13th 2019 UNTIL TONIGHT, I HAD NO IDEA me a little of Tori Amos. She was very ally AND metaphorically, led to a dy- PROG-INDIE EXISTED, BUT AFTER good showcasing a full set of original namic that was both interesting and HEARING BANDICOOT’S EXPERIMEN- songs including Queen and Love Song infectiously fun to watch – their set TAL STYLE I HAD TO LOOK IT UP. IT but again, there were only a smattering was definitely a highlight. DOES EXIST AND IT’S A NICHE THAT of people listening. Finally, Bandicoot took to the stage BANDICOOT FIT WELL IN, BUT MORE Things got slightly busier for Mo- and with a set-up that included a saxo- ON THEM LATER. tel Thieves, a Swansea band gaining a phone, a slide guitar and an almost The evening opened with Olivia great deal of traction locally but this comically small keyboard, I knew this Kneath, a young singer songwriter set was a much more sedate affair than would be something outside the norm. from Swansea and it’s a terrible shame the previous night’s headlining show The room had filled quite significantly there weren’t more than a handful of at The Bunkhouse. Their lack of energy and while still small, there was an un- people to hear this performance. Ex- tonight was probably more of a reflec- questionable atmosphere. With their tremely engaging and with a lovely vo- tion of the small crowd but a small core first song including slide guitar, I was cal tone, the young singer mixed cov- of fans ensured that songs like Stitches intrigued and as the set progressed, it ers including Suspicious Minds with and In or Out along with a cover of The seemed to me that many of the songs original songs that were VERY funny. Cure’s Boys Don’t Cry were warmly re- felt quite freeform. It was an interesting Songs like Good Guy and Doctor On- ceived. performance from the Swansea band line show humour and irreverence Al Moses, a Cardiff-based four piece, but my feeling is that they may be too beyond her years. Keep an eye on this were up next and for me, their punk- niche for most. However, there were a young lady, she has the potential to do tinged indie was the performance of number of fans singing and dancing very well. the night. They have two lead vocal- along so there is unquestionable sup- Next up, another singer songwriter ist/guitarists and their interaction and port for the band and the future looks in AidenKeryn whose songs reminded ability to bounce off each other, liter- bright for these local boys. SH

These boys got some good grooves a more jangly guitar sound and less and a little bit of midi trickery to add heavy than most of the other bands to the low-end rumble, making sure tonight (not that that’s a bad thing, of HEAVY ON they still have a big, fat sound. They course) and good pacey vocals finish- sounded quite 90’s alternative rock/ ing the vibe. Good stuff indie at some points to me, but that Finally, we have our headliners for THE RIDE was broken up with some good riffing the night, Heavy on the Ride. As I said and some solid beats laid down with a earlier, I’ve known this band and been (10th Anniversary show) good feel by the drummer. Keep an eye listening to their stuff for most of the out for these guys and catch them live ten years they’ve been going (again, FRENCH ALPS TIGER, when you get the chance. thanks for making me feel old, boys) Don Juan were next band up; this four- and they always impress me, always DON JUAN, THE FENS piece band from Bristol have a few more massive-sounding across the board. atmospheric moments and worked the The easy comparison to make is to The Bunkhouse, Swansea dynamic between these lighter, but no say they sound a bit like Queens of The Saturday June 8th 2019 less intense parts, and heavier more en- Stone Age, and that is a pretty accurate ergetic sections well, giving choruses a statement, too – and a reference most SO I’M BACK AT THE BUNKHOUSE real impact when they kick in. These people will get – so I’m gonna run with TO WATCH ANOTHER GREAT LINE guys sound like they’ve spent a lot of it. Heavy, noisy, and riffy rock music, UP OF LOCAL(ISH) BANDS FOR time thinking about what kind of feel played with a bit of swagger, is what HEAVY ON THE RIDE’S 10TH ANNI- they want to create with the music; these boys do. It’s always struck me as VERSARY SHOW. they’ve gone for a big rock sound with being good music to drive to; in equal I remember seeing them in their a nice contrast between the lows and parts suited to a summer drive around early days, so this band – completing a highs and pulled it off well. Gower and a late-night drive home decade of existence – whilst an impres- Third band up was one I’ve heard down the motorway. There are catchy sive feat in this day and age, doesn’t the name of a few times but never melodies, but the overall feel is dark half make me feel old. Still, I had a managed to catch live, French Alps Ti- and powerful, and it’s a nice blend be- good feeling about this gig. ger, from Cardiff (I think) these guys tween the two that the band thrive on. First band up on tonight’s four band remind me of what would sometimes Tonight, they’re on good form and you line up are The Fens, a simple two-piece be called ‘college rock’ back in the 90’s; can tell they’re well-rehearsed. Tight band consisting of a guitarist/vocalist it’s quite indie-sounding and poppy, and locked in, with some great musi- and a drummer; there are more and but with a bit more grit to it. There’s cal segues between the songs. All in more of these two-piece bands pop- plenty of energy in the music with all, these guys are a superb live outfit, ping up these days, some good, some pumping bass lines and drums that and I’d really recommend that you go bad. The Fens are definitely the former. drive things along at a good pace, with check them out. HG

21 ROB NELMES’ NIGE

“OMFG” (oh my flippin god) I screamed “How?” I was liter- ally gobsmacked (not literally). Nige explained that he had illegally AUNTY BARBARA downloaded the tracks and ‘burnt’ them onto a CD (compact disc(k)). PART TWO OF A THREE PART THRILLER... He said not to worry about the legality of it because everyone does it. Nige said that it’s probably illegal to whistle on a Wednesday in some AWESOME DAY YESTERDAY. NIGEL (NIGE TO HIS FRIENDS) ancient laws. “Laws are made to be broken” he said, in an amazing PHONED ME TO TELL ME THAT HE’S HEARD FROM THE HOSPITAL. Clint Eastwood accent. I opened the case, excitedly. It was empty. Great news! Aunty Barbara has got severe and extensive bruis- I was so disappointed. Nige leant over and pressed the power on ing all down the left side of her body. No broken bones. Nige his in-car CD/radio player. The opening chords to Money for Nothing reckons that she’s made from titanium, like Ironman. Superb film. filled the VW Polo (green). I was super delighted. For the rest of the He also asked if I would like to go with him and visit her later in journey we sang our heads off (not literally). We got to the hospital the evening. Obviously I jumped (not literally) at the chance. I before Lady in Red could enter our ears. love hospitals, Nige knows this. I love everything about them. When we got to the hospital, I was shocked that there was a Costa The smells. The Lifts. Nige arranged to pick me up at 5.40pm. He near the reception. Until yesterday I hadn’t been to a hospital since also said that he had a surprise for me. I was super excited. having my septic thumb lanced about 20 years ago. Unsurprisingly At EXACTLY 5.40pm, Nige beeped his horn outside my house. I didn’t notice it yesterday due to being so concerned about aunty I walked down my garden steps and noticed that there were an Barbara. “Costa fortune, more like”, Nige joked. It was such a relief to enormous amount of slugs out, but I was too excited to notice, so have the old Nige back. I Laughed hard, even though I had heard I stopped noticing. I got in Nige’s VW Polo (green) and we headed that joke from Nige, like a million (not literally) times. off. We shot the breeze (chatted) for a while. We talked about eggs, We got to the ward where Aunty Barbara was staying. Again, but my attention wasn’t 100% focused on eggs. I couldn’t stop she was sitting up in bed eating a pork pie (she loves pork pies). thinking about the surprise. Suddenly, as we drove past Sainsbury’s We greeted each other. Nige had brought her a box of Maltesers, in Sketty, Nige said “Look in the glove-box, Rob. There’s a surprise in an orange and a pack of four pork pies. We sat and chatted and she there for you”. Like a six year old at Christmas I opened the glove- showed us her bruises. They ranged from a dark green to a bright box. Under a pair of gloves was a CD case. I read the hand-written purple. Although they looked sore, I was hugely impressed by the (Nige’s handwriting (he has lovely writing for a man of his height)) colours. I asked Aunty Barbara where the old lady that was in the cover. It said “Awesome Mix CD”. Now, if you are not a film buff like bed next to her had gone “Oh” she replied “She died last night”. me and Nige, you may not get the reference. We both absolutely “Oh, dear” I said. And I meant it. We said our farewells and left. love the “Guardian of the Galaxy” series of films (1 and 2). We even On the way home we listened to the entire Awesome Mix CD. went to the cinema to watch the second one. Well, in these films, Nige drove the long way home so we could listen to it all. Such an the ‘hero’ has an ‘Awesome Mix Tape’. So it was an homage to that. amazing compilation. I thanked Nige for such a special gift, it far I looked at the back of the case, Nige had written the names of the exceeded all my expectations (Mars bar). He said it was the least songs that were on the ‘Awesome CD Mix’. They were all there. All he could do after me being there for him in his hour of need. I said of my and Nige’s favourite songs. Here is the list: Money For Noth- it was a pleasure. And I meant it. We high fived and I went home. ing, Lady In Red, Fat Bottomed Girls (we are adults (male)), The theme As soon as I got in I put on the Awesome Mix CD and sang tune to ‘Home and Away’, Bright Eyes, Delilah, Mambo (number 5), Bat along. It was brilliant, but not half as brilliant without my great out of Hell, Dancing on the Ceiling. Underneath those words were friend Nige singing along (he sings the female parts in the Home these words: To Rob. Thanks for being an ‘awesome Friend’. En- and Away theme tune). I went to bed happy and dreamt about joy your ‘awesome mix cd’. Nige. Scotland. To be continued... RN

OH PEDRO Tansy Rees

22 SWANSEA UNIVERSITY LMS – A YEAR IN REVIEW SOUNDBOARD • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

Swansea University Live Music Society – A Year in Review – Words: Matt Richards; Photos: Ignas Vaidogas

The Live Music Society (or LMS, as it is often better known) has long stood proud as an established member of Swansea University’s many societies . Musicians associated with the society have spanned any number of different genres and made waves all across this small city, adding an undeniable and essential breath of fresh air and youth in to an already wonderful local music scene .

FORMER MEMBERS SUCH AS CLAS- One of the most interesting points the final, leaving each of us in the LMS SIC METALHEADS, CADACUS, AND in the year was our Record Store Day- committee not only in complete awe FOLK DUO, HOLY HOME VIDEO, inspired activity. For this event, the but absolutely beaming with pride. MADE THEIR NAMES KNOWN plan was as follows: Each participant Panda Jam, Peter Greene, Harmonies THROUGHOUT BOTH THE UNIVER- will write down an artist’s name and of the Revised and Taxi Rank all bat- SITY AND THE REST OF SWANSEA place it in a hat. They will then take a tled it out for the love of the crowd DURING THEIR TIMES OF STUDY random artist’s name out of it and be and the judges. The night was made AND CONTINUE TO DO SO AFTER given the task of recording a cover of up of a wonderful blend of genres and THEIR GRADUATION. More recently, one of their songs. styles including stoner rock originals, the LMS alt rockers Taxi Rank, appear LMS president, Rory Clark, then acoustic sing-alongs and jazzy, swing- to have taken the reigns as the soci- spent a fairly intense eight hours or ing covers. The night proved to be the ety’s leading performers, playing the so in one room, quick-fire recording perfect showcase of the range of talent esteemed Summer Ball and generally everybody’s covers. Participants in- and ability of LMS members as well as turning heads throughout the area cluded full bands as well as solo acts the support of Swansea students and with their high energy performances and the results were as outstanding residents alike. In the end however, and phenomenal songs. as we had hoped. Highlights from it was Taxi Rank who rightfully took Regardless of the society’s long- the title of champions of the battle of standing legacy however, the LMS ap- the bands, treating us all to their own peared to hit a bump in the road at The contest reached face-melting riffs and catchy choruses the end of the year 2017-18. This isn’t its climax with a before closing with an earth-shattering to say that the year was not a success, cover of Killing in the Name. The reward however. In fact, events including completely packed-out was a spot on the bill at Summer Ball, the end of year showcase at Mozart’s where their killer set went down a treat and the ‘Battle of the Acoustics’ with room at Cinema & Co. and no doubt more than made up for the award of a spot at the Summer ...leaving each of us in Capaldi’s absence in the ever-proud Ball made for a good year. The issue eyes of the LMS committee. however was this: Most of the mem- the LMS committee... Overall, the year 2018-19 has been bers were graduating (and therefore one of resounding success for the leaving) at the end of the year and al- beaming with pride. LMS. New membership has been high most no new students that year had and retention of those new members remained in the society to help run it the record include some complete re- into the following year looks to be in- in the following year. This posed a dif- imagining of classic tracks including credibly positive. A number of won- ficult task for the year ahead, 2018-19, Ignas Vaidogas’ eight-minute-long, derful new performers and whereby the newly appointed com- heart-breaking, emotional reworking have been discovered within the society mittee and the rest of its members of Careless Whisper and Ruth Maycock’s including local indie rockers, Two ‘Till would need to pull out all the stops to stripped back, angelic rendition of Twelve, and Canadian singer-songwrit- ensure that the LMS would regain its Daft Punk’s Lose Yourself to Dance. All er, Nicole DiVincenzo, who appears to member retention and remain at its of the songs recorded can be found on possess both the voice and song-writing best. Thankfully, we appear to have the ‘Swansea Live Music Society’ ac- capabilities to make even the toughest done just that. count on Soundcloud, under SULMS Swansea boy shed a tear or two. At the start of the academic year DOES RECORD STORE DAY. The year ahead looks promising for (end of September / beginning of Oc- Though many successes were made the LMS. Increased membership, a tober) initial interest in the LMS from throughout the year, undoubtedly the plethora of talented musicians and a new students was as high as ever. There- proudest moment of the year for the number of massively inspiring events fore the committee (including myself) LMS was the reintroduction of the bat- throughout the year have seemingly were keen to sit down in JC’s bar and tle of the bands during March after it brought the society back to its former begin brain storming ideas on how to ceased to be over the last few years. The glory. The test now will be to continue maintain this interest as soon as pos- opening rounds and semi-final took with this success, energy and passion sible. Plans including a gig at the new place in Singleton Campus’ Rebound in to the next year. As newly elected Hanger 18 and a return of the classic venue, with an even bigger turnout for president of the society for the year to LMS battle of the bands were thrown each show as it went on. The contest come, I feel perfectly confident that around and – for the most part – our reached its climax with a completely the team can achieve just that. Here’s ideas would later come to fruition. packed-out room at Cinema & Co. for to another year!

23 GIG GUIDE – AUGUST & SEPTEMBER

THURSDAY AUGUST 15th FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20th AUGUST Germein + guests SEPTEMBER Rick Buckler of the Jam Thursday AUGUST 1st The Bunkhouse, Swansea Friday September 6th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Porcelain Hill + support FRIDAY AUGUST 16th Two Til Twelve SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21st The Bunkhouse, Swansea 3 headed snake Cinema & Co., Swansea 101% Pantera FRIDAY AUGUST 2nd The Bunkhouse, Swansea SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7th The Bunkhouse, Swansea StOp, sToP!/ Saints of Sin Hen Ogledd Hometown shows presents SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd Cinema & Co., Swansea Hangar 18, Swansea White Riot Alcatrazz Hometown shows presents World vs. World Sin City, Swansea Sin City, Swansea Taxi Rank (Just trying to brexist Tour) FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13th TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24th Sin City, Swansea plus support from Kikker Green Haze Lagerstein/ Footprints in Lost Tuesday Society and Christian Sayers The Bunkhouse, Swansea the custard Live at Cinema & Co., Swansea SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Abertawe Road Studios, Swansea 17th Dream Festival Total Stone Roses and Son of MAN/ Buffalo Sum- SATURDAY AUGUST 17th Lost Tuesday Society Oaysis mer/ Philo Beddoe William Poyer/Sarah Birch/ Cardigan Sin City, Swansea The Patti Pavilion, Swansea Samuel Owens SATURDAY AUGUST 3rd TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17th SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Hometown shows presents The Pale White Martin Turner (ex Wish- FRIDAY AUGUST 23rd Windshake Live Sin City, Swansea bone Ash) Sin City, Swansea – SUNDAY AUGUST 25th THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Eva Bartok/MINES/Only Bank Holiday Bunkfest Mtxs/Bleach/Support The Bunkhouse, Swansea fools and corpses The Bunkhouse, Swansea Creature Sound, Swansea FRIDAY AUGUST 23rd DJ night takeover by Hometown Shows presents Attached Events Heavy on the Ride Sin City, Swansea Cinema & Co., Swansea Aiden Hatfield SUNDAY AUGUST 4th Crowleys Rock Bar, Swansea Bohemian Grove/ THIS Cancel the Deference/In depths Transmission The Bunkhouse, Swansea Hangar 18, Swansea 17th Dream Festival SATURDAY AUGUST 24th SPACE Sarah Birch Cardigan A heavy nighty FRIDAY AUGUST 9th The Duke, Neath Will and Weasal (tbc) Omnichron COULD BE Cinema & Co., Swansea Cinema & Co., Swansea Hometown shows presents TUESDAY AUGUST 27th Far from Animals World vs. World YOURS! Sin City, Swansea (Just trying to x Twenty Two, Igam Ogam, brexist Tour) faster on Fire, Tight muff The Masons, Llanelli The Duke, Neath WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28th PROMOTE YOUR World vs. World Brightr/ H_ngm_n (Just trying to brexist Tour) (acoustic) The Dragonfly, Pontypool The Bunkhouse, Swansea music / gig / SATURDAY AUGUST 10th FRIDAY AUGUST 30th Swanisphere Stand Atlantic Tribute festival Sin City, Swansea shop / venue The Bunkhouse, Swansea A heavy night Hometown shows presents Creature Sound, Swansea Helldown, State of deceit, SATURDAY AUGUST 31st HERE Sidney Fate Witherward UK Tour Sin City, Swansea Creature Sound, Swansea All Dead, All Dead Crazy town Cinema & Co., Swansea 20th anniversary tour Advertise in Sarah Birch and guests The Bunkhouse, Swansea Brecon Jazz Festival FRIDAY AUGUST 30TH King Goon – SUNDAY AUGUST 1st SOUNDBOARD The Muse, Brecon Swansea’s finest TUESDAY AUGUST 13th included on the bill Apathy Avenue Big Cwtch Festival, [email protected] The Duke, Neath Carmarthenshire

This guide is correct at the time of going to press. But you all know that you should 24 check with the venue or performer before travelling, right? Have a great night! WANNA KNOW A SECRET? SO WHILE I DON’T LIKE TO GOSSIP, the date is provisionally May 30th 2020. just weeks after it’s former landlord I’M NOT TOO FOND OF HEARSAY Another festival taking place that described his frustrations at the lack of AND I’M UNDOUBTEDLY NOT A weekend – but in Llandovery – was law and order in the area around the FAN OF HE-SAID-SHE-SAID... PULL LAZZMATAZZ. THE CASTLE HOTEL pub. The people behind CREATURE UP A PEW (MOVES IN SLIGHTLY hosted the three day event for the SOUND have taken it over and plan to CLOSER)...YOU’LL NEVER GUESS second year running with Swansea’s open up an eatery later in the year. WHAT?! WELSH CONNECTIONS & ABERTAWE Rumours abound about new sign- The SWANSEA FRINGE returns in Oc- ROAD STUDIOS sponsoring the song- ings to Swansea record label DEATH tober with a fantastic line-up of artists writing competition. MONKEY RECORDS. The latest band across an even bigger range of venues. The SOUNDBOARD MUSIC AWARDS will to be linked to them is Blackwood’s SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE will be curating a take place on November 9th at THE TRACKSTAR PORNSTAR. Watch this day of music at HANGAR 18 on Friday NATIONAL WATERFRONT MUSEUM space. 4th with THE CAROLINES, STRAY PUR- with eight categories being contested Local radio station, OYSTERMOUTH SUIT, RED TELEPHONE, ZEPHYR, MY by local musicians. The winners will be RADIO – home to The Flipsy McCaw GIRLFRIEND’S A ZOMBIE & JOHNATH- decided by a panel of ten local movers show – has a great line up of guests AN NICHOLAS. Tickets are available and shakers from the Swansea music this month featuring SEAFALL, ALGAL right now from EventBrite.co.uk scene. Look out for the list of nomi- BLOOM, JOHN DAVIES & NICK JAMES, The SQUARE PEG CAFÉ at Sketty nees in the next issue. KAREN GEMMA BREWER, HAWTHORN Cross has started holding monthly There’s a new band on the gig cir- AVENUE, CANDY MOUNTAIN & music sessions on a Saturday after- cuit... Check out THE SCAMPS, a newly DUNKIE, every Wednesday from 4pm. noon. The brainchild of Leah it aims formed band of ‘mature’ students from Sad news, as we can confirm that to give new performers the chance to BEN TIFFIN’s rock school THE ROCK prohibition favourites THE RUMBLE- play to an appreciative audience in a PROJECT. They can be found in venues STRUTTERS have called it a day. We great venue, you even get coffee and around the Swansea area. have heard though that there is a com- cake! Hero of the hour is KEI IVETT from pleted album sitting in the vaults just THE RETURN JOURNEY FESTIVAL, THE BUNKHOUSE who has not only waiting for a release. held at CLYNE FARM in June, was such been filling the venue with great acts a success that the team behind it have but he’s also found time to set up an Did you hear some Gossip? decided to do it all again. The farm was evening to provide food for those who Have you Heard it on the Grapevine? packed out with all ages having a fantas- are struggling in these times. Well Do you know any Rumours? tic time listening to the music and tak- done Kei! Email us in confidence: ing part in the activities. We’re told that THE WHITE SWAN has re-opened [email protected]

25 THE NEXT GENERATION

ERINLANCASTER WE BUMPED INTO ERIN LANCASTER AT THE CASTLE did the Eisteddfod. I really enjoyed it and from there I start- HOTEL, LLANDOVERY, WHICH HOSTED THE LAZZMA- ed to enjoy it more and more. When I was 13 my mam got TAZZ FESTIVAL FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING. me a ukulele for Christmas, so I learnt how to play, I started Held on the first weekend in June the festival is now in writing songs and a year later, I started doing gigs [laughs]. its seventh year and goes from strength to strength with SBM: So do you come from a very musical family? music, poetry, spoken word and craft stalls as well as a EL: Ha Ha! No! Not many people in my family are musical small literature section added in 2019. but they really encouraged my singing career. Mainly my SBM: Congratulations on winning the Welsh Connections Mam, my Nan and Wayne, as they always take me to gigs, songwriting competition. no matter the distance, and have bought me my instru- EL: Ah thank you, it was amazing, I didn’t expect that at ments. all. I only entered because I’d heard about the competition SBM: What’s the plan for the future? recently and I’d written a song that I was really proud of. EL: I hope in the future to go on to a singing career, being I’m also a regular at The Castle Hotel and often come to able to write songs and gig. That would be my dream. the open mic nights so I knew I was going to have a great SBM: Where can people get to see you? time. They’re a great bunch here. EL: I do a lot of open mics and gigs in Caffi Soar, Castle SBM: How did it feel to win? Hotel Llandovery and Woodfired (Merthyr). EL: Oh my god, it felt great! I loved my song but it’s really difficult to know whether other people liked it too. Win- FIND ERIN’S MUSIC, AND MORE, HERE: ning was like a clarification that it is a good song. SBM: When did you start singing and writing songs? EL: I got into singing when I was about 8 years old when I 3rin.singing Erin singing Erin Lancaster

26 ROB IS AN EXPERIENCED HOROSCOPIST AND ASTROLOGER. He has worked with many celebrities, such as the guy with the glasses off those Halifax adverts, Ryan Giggs’ sister and Hunter from Gladiators.

Aries Leo Capricorn. The carpet shampoo The optical illusion The broken watch It was only yesterday you were think- You go to the supermarket next You find a leftover Werthers in your ing how great your life was. However Tuesday. You forget to get tomato glovebox this weekend. today, you have realised what an puree. You useless excuse for a hu- Ker-fucking-ching! awful person you are. It’s not all bad man being. When you get home you Your lucky direction is north/northeast news though. Oh, it is. Sorry. find some in the fridge. Sorry about Your lucky green thing is a green car the insult. You didn’t deserve that. Fuck off. Aquarius Your lucky prison is Wormwood Scrubs. The gammy foot Taurus Next week is going to be more awful The sticky stuff than this week. I would just stay in You know that feeling that someone Virgo bed. In fact, stay under your bed. In is walking over your grave and it The virg a box. Locked. makes your shoulders move invol- You listen to “Welcome to the Jungle” Your lucky ray is X untarily? Well, that’s how you look by Guns ‘n’ Roses on Friday. You when you dance, this weekend. doubt very much that Axel Rose ever Don’t dance. lived in a jungle and what fucking Pisces Your lucky cheese is strong right has he welcoming you to one. What? WHAT? Oh, I suppose you want Grrrrr. a Roboscope, do you? Oh, for fuck sake. I Your lucky lettuce is flatleaf have better things to do than to write an Gemini accurate as fuck prediction of your future The wobbly wheel on a for your amusement. What do you think supermarket trolly Libra I’m made of? Roboscopes? However, you This weekend brings you untold hap- The Ark (Noah’s) smell nice today so here it goes.: piness. You will buy new shoes. If by next Wednesday you haven’t With laces. Stop dribbling. got married, give up. No one wants The arm that fell off Your lucky Burt is Lancaster. you. At least you have that box set of that famous sculpture. Friends to keep you company during You will find love in the most unex- the long, lonely nights. pected place this week. No... wait. It’s Cancer Your lucky moon is full (ish) GLOVE. You will find glove in the The frightened hamster most unexpected place this week. On Monday you wake up speaking in You filthy fucking pervert. football punditry. When asked how Scorpio Your lucky poem rhymes did you sleep, you answer “well, it The fruit bowl started off great, at half time I thought I You see a pigeon on Sunday. had nailed it, but was very poor second Your lucky pen is bic half”. When you go to work, one of your colleagues says to you “alright... [insert your name here]?” you say: Sagittarius “well, I could be out for at least three [The thing that Rob forgot] SUBSCRIBE! weeks, we are waiting on results from Later this afternoon you will look at For just £18 / year the physio. Hopefully it’s just a liga- someone and hate them. You think ment. Fingers crossed, eh”. about pouring acid in their stupid SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE Everyone hates you. looking fucking face. You don’t delivered direct to your letterbox Your lucky cactus has no spikes. Twat. though. Chicken shit. Your lucky Enid is not Blyton contact: [email protected]

There you go, the spirits have spoken oooooooooooooooh. 27

ENCORE... H is for HELIPAD MY TWIN BROTHER AND I WERE TURNING 30 ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2011. WE DECIDED THE BEST, MOST RIGHTEOUS THING TO DO WAS TO SPEND THE EVENING WETTING OUR BEAKS, THEN FIND SOMEWHERE CALM AND SECURE TO SETTLE DOWN FOR SOME SERIOUS RECREATION, COME THE WITCHING HOURS.

WE’D BEEN REHEARSING IN A STU- DIO IN HIGH STREET, MANAGED BY STU AND GRIFF, THE BOYS WHO RUN JOEL SWANSEA M.A.D., AND WE’D ALSO MORGAN DONE BUILDING AND SOUNDPROOF- ING WORK IN THE PLACE. OFTEN, DURING THE REHEARSALS OR THE that rope is tied a paintbrush. Lye is WORK, WE’D LOOK AROUND THE using this paintbrush to mark out an BIG ROOM AND SAY TO EACH OTH- almost perfect circle around the “H”, ER, “BY GOD! YOU COULD THROW A which he’s then thickening up with HELL OF A PARTY IN HERE!” another brush, and... So we asked, and they hemmed Fuck me, it’s a helipad! We may STUART’S VIEW... and hawed, and said “NO!”. so we have gone too far. said “C’mon maaaan”, and nagged, But it was too late to stop them. Bet- SO I HAD KNOWN JOEL AND JAMES and, eventually, they relented and ter a finished helipad than half a one, FOR SOME TIME HAVING MET THEM IN THE VIPER ROOM REHEARSAL said, “OK”. There were conditions, I thought. Yeah, and we might even SPACE NEXT TO SIN CITY, WE WERE of course: “Keep the noise down, don’t get away with it, too. Lesser men have INTRODUCED THROUGH THE OWN- smoke inside, leave at a sensible time got away with more, after all. Best to ER OF THE VIPER ROOM, ALEX. and clean up after you.” have another drink, really, and… At the time Swansea M .A .D . had the I have to be clear at this point that: We left about dawn. We’d played only community owned band rehears- MY BROTHER JAMES WAS NOT ‘Calon Lan’, at emotional volume, al facility in the city, on High St . (the PRESENT AT THE PARTY because, just as the sun came up over Kilvey building is now being demolished) . instead, being the (physically, spir- Hill, and we felt like native sons and There was a friendship between us itually) weaker twin, he was at home daughters. It was the right time to and still is . So when they asked if they could have an extended “jam” at the with one of his lingering illnesses, so leave. Our plan, as regards the heli- rehearsal space for their birthday (be- this one’s all on me. pad, was utterly wonderful: we were ing twins) and lock up themselves, I We got there about 11. There were just going to deny everything. No thought nothing of it and said yes . It about 15 of us, including a gentleman complicated alibis, just flat, cold de- would save us coming out to lock up we shall call ‘Lye’. Because that is his nial. What helipad? Don’t know what anyway . name. Lye is a man of art; I’d met him you mean, officer. I don’t know what went on but when once or twice, but he was more of a I went home in a taxi and went to I came in the morning after, it looked mate of (former Goon percussionist) bed. My mattress was like a womb. I like people had a good time! The place Jon. The next few hours passed in a woke up a few hours later, disturbed was like a mini festival had taken place . Which I thought at the time “okay blur of dancing, drinking, gambling by some horrible, incessant noise. that’s not too bad” . and confessions. I remember, at one Ringing phone. No chance; no way, Then I looked out the window in point when I was sat at the table, Jon no how. I leave it ring out, then pick horror and found that someone had and Lye suddenly appearing on my it up and look at the screen. “49 painted a perfect full sized white heli- blind side, babbling gibberish about missed calls”. Oops. Last one was from pad circle and ‘H’ on the roof opposite paint. It was clear they wanted paint, my brother. I take a deep breath and the studio . but not much else they said made call him back, and he picks up on the It was both a frightening and awe- sense. “Where is the paint?” they kept first ring. He seems agitated. some sight . My mind was in overdrive asking. “Joel, where is the paint?” “WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU just looking at it . Yeah I was panicked, badly panicked . What paint? Did I promise paint? DONE?! STU’S GOING FUCKING It was like one of those rock n roll mo- Wait! I know where there’s paint. MAD! WHY DID YOU PAINT A GI- ments a manager has to explain away There loads! So I tell them where it is, ANT HELIPAD ON THE ROOF?! when the band throws a TV through then turn back to the table and think WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!” a hotel window . At the time I thought nothing more about it, until about “What helipad?” I replied – sticking to things like this only happened in the an hour later, when someone starts the plan – “I don’t know what you mean.” 70s . I think I was a bit angry at the time laughing hysterically and pointing The rest of the day became a circus as well, only because I didn’t know how out through the fire escape at the oth- of phone calls, apologies and difficult to explain this to our landlords . How er side of the room. I stagger over and conversations. I was unable to stick to could I? Joel, James and King Goon are still peer out into the darkness to find that the plan indefinitely, and was forced good mates and are some of the most the flat roof a floor below us now has a to admit partial culpability. There was intelligent, creative, innovative and gigantic letter “H” on it, done 15 feet fallout and there were recriminations. dangerous musicians I have ever had high in thick slabs of white emulsion. We were immediately banned from the pleasure of meeting . “Ah”, I think, “so that’s why they the studio, obviously and, rightfully. However, be warned, going “on one” wanted the paint.” I felt like a swine about for a long with them is not for the faint hearted . Looking closer, I can see Jon sat on time afterwards, right up until I got Oh, and what did we tell the land- a bucket in the middle of the “H”, and a phone call telling me you could see lord? “Some kids must have climbed on Lye about 20ft away, fiddling with it on Google Earth, at which point I the roof at night and done it.” Long live King Goon! something. Then I realise the bucket realised that it would forever be my Jon is sitting on is pinning a length greatest achievement. From space. To Stuart Sumner-Smith, CEO of Swansea M.A.D. of rope to the roof, and at the end of infinity and beyond! JM

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