EDITION
INTERVIEWS RECORD REVIEWS CLASSIC ALBUM POETRY CORNER LIVE REVIEWS GIG GUIDE
NEWS / REVIEWS / GOSSIP / HISTORY / POLITICS
SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE • ISSUE 7
INSIDE... THE LOAD-IN...... 4 RISING STARS – IFY IWOBI...... 5 BEHIND THE SCENES – THE COVER SHOT . . . . . 7 SWANSEA FRINGE FESTIVAL 2019...... 8 CLASSIC WELSH ALBUM – NEUTRONS. . . . . 10 BLACK HISTORY MONTH...... 11 LOST FROM THE SCENE – MARK MONTINARO. . . 11 PAGE 8 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE – KELLY STEWART. . . . . 13 Here’s where you can pick up your POETRY CORNER – TRUDI PETERSEN...... 15 copy of Magazine: ARTS REVIEW – MARK JAMES ...... 16 SOUNDBOARD SWANSEA NEATH CARMARTHEN TOM EMLYN...... 17 Derrick’s Music The Music Shop Parrot Records RECORD REVIEWS...... 18 Psicon Music (Neath Indoor Market) CARDIGAN Sin City LLANELLI The Cellar Bar LIVE REVIEWS ...... 21 National Waterfront Cadno Music CWMAMAN Museum GORSEINON Cwmaman Theatre NIGE ...... 22 Cinema & Co. Spider Music & Arts Centre Cover To Cover (Mumbles) MERTHYR LLANDOVERY OH PEDRO ...... 22 Square Peg (Sketty) Red House The Castle Hotel Viva La Frida (Sketty) BRECON PONTYPRIDD STUDENT LIFE...... 23 Hen Dderwen (Sketty Park) The Muse A Strings ABERDARE CARDIFF GIG GUIDE – OCTOBER & NOVEMBER ...... 24 Jac’s Spiller’s Records
PSSSSTT!!! ...... 25 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. THE NEXT GENERATION – KIKKER...... 26
ROBOSCOPES...... 27 ISSUE #8 ADVERTISING DEADLINE: advertising IN THE FRAME ...... 28 15th NOVEMBER @soundboardmagazine THE LOAD-OUT ...... 30 Published: December 1st .co.uk
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, Graham Morse, Jack EDITOR Sounds, Steve Haines, Tansy Rees, If you would like to stock MIKE KENNEDY Rosie Scribblah, Roger Henderson, editor@soundboardmagazine .co uk. John Paul Davies, Amy Sinha, SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE Anthony Price, Richard Willis, Mitchell please get in touch . DESIGN & SUB EDITING Tennant, Keith Williams, Moira
Graham Morse GRAHAM MORSE – GMID Morgan, Eleanor Shaw, Tom Emlyn, No part of this magazine may be repro- duced in any form without the written design@soundboardmagazine co. .uk Lazarus Carpenter, Paul Battenbough, permission of the Editor . Personal views Ifi Iwobi, Jeremy Gluck, Andy Boyt, expressed in SOUNDBOARD are not necessar- EDITORIAL TEAM Jonathan Nichols . ily those of the publisher . Whilst every care FLIPSY MCCAW, JOEL MORGAN is taken, we cannot take responsibility for PHOTOGRAPHY 2019 unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or CHIEF CULTURAL CORRESPONDENT Johan Butenschøn Skre, the shoddy appearance of any singer . JACK SOUNDS Helen Louise Banham, Raymonty Thompson, Mike Kennedy, Steve © 2019 SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE LTD Manley, Graham Morse, Shutterstock, Cover Photography & Image: & Johan Butenschøn Skre Billy Stillman, Carl Connikie, Barry Hill
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] THE LOAD-IN SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
WELCOME TO ISSUE #7 OF SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE, YOU LOVELY, SWEET, KIND, CULTURED, TASTEFUL PEOPLE. WE MANAGED TO MAKE IT THROUGH A WHOLE YEAR. AND WHO’D HAVE THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAPPEN? THIS ISSUE SOMEONE HAD THE LUNATIC IDEA TO DO A SGT. PEPPER’S STYLE PHOTOSHOOT IT’S A LOVELY FEELING: BEING SAT HERE LAZY IN THE Luckily, we had those resources at our disposal, so here we LIGHT OF A SOFT MORNING SUN, TAPPING AWAY IDLY AT are, a year later, about to embark upon another Swansea Fringe THE KEYS OF THIS WRETCHED LAPTOP AGAIN; PRETEND- Festival debauch, where twenty stages of righteous music, art, ING TO WORK, BUT ALL THE WHILE REALLY JUST WATCH- comedy, poetry and god-knows-what else, will converge on ING OUT FOR THE SPARROWS THAT WHIP PAST MY WIN- Swansea like a travelling army. We’ve got all the details (well, DOW EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES LIKE A SQUADRON OF not all, that would be impossible. Go to www.theswanseafri- TINY, FEATHERY FIGHTER JETS. nge.com for a COMPREHENSIVE guide) and an interview with Meep-Meep-Meep! Whup-whup-whup! They’re very hand- festival founder/Svengali/spiritual leader Joe Bayliss in these some to my eye, and I’d much rather watch them go about their very pages, and we’ll even be venturing out of our ivory tow- joyous aerial business than be writing this editorial, but I’m an ers in order to host a stage at Hanger 18 on the Friday night. adult and I have responsibilities, so no more about sparrows. After that we’ll be negotiating bulk discount on ill-fitting Apart from to say that we’ve got a flock of about twenty of tuxedos for the inaugural Sound Board Awards, being held at the little buggers living in the trees, bushes and in the eaves the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea on November of houses nearby – not ours, sadly – and they treat the area 9th. Yeah, we’re having an awards ceremony. Why not? Best directly outside my house as a cross between a farmers market Band, Best Album, Best Single, Best Live Act, Best Solo Artist, et and a flight training zone. They’ve been here for about two cetera and so on. The whole kit and caboodle. Bad jokes and months now, and I’ve grown very fond of watching them; malfunctioning auto-cues. We figure it’s the perfect way to I like to imagine various factions in the flock having Wacky celebrate another great year for music in our fair city, and we Races-esque rivalries with each other, and then all going off intend to hold it every year from now on. So, put it in your on mysterious adventures together. diaries. I know I have. What else is in there? Oh yeah – it’s But I’m an odd soul who missed a lot of sleep, so you’ll my birthday in a fortnight and the Rugby World Cup right in have to forgive me my eccentricities; it’s too late to do any- the middle of everything else. Morning games, too. Oh, Jesus. thing about them now, anyway, the die has been cast and the And I have two weddings to go to. Oh, my life and my wallet time has passed, and – according to Bob Dylan – those who and my liver. Pray for me. were first will later be last. Good old mumbling Bob. I find As far as the awards are concerned, what we need from you that, in these troubled times, I’m turning to Bob, old Bob, – the public – are NOMINATIONS. It’s no good us sitting here 1963-Huckleberry Finn-Bob, more and more often; maybe it’s and saying what WE like. We want to know what YOU like. about hearing echoes from a more hopeful time, or maybe Contact us on Facebook or email: flipsy.soundboardmagazine@ I’m just a romantic musical dinosaur. gmail.com. Then we’ll hand over your nominations to ten care- Now I’m imagining a romantic dinosaur getting ready for fully selected and wholly-impartial judges drawn from musi- a date: shining his scales; checking his claws; looking in his cally-inclined business owners and other local luminaries, who dinosaur mirror and singing his dinosaur songs. between them – over coffee and arguments – will pick the win- Right! That’s enough! FOCUS. No tangents ‘til the middle ners. Then the winners get a tasteful little prize on the night, as or the end, bub. Never at the front. Remember the rules. well as the opportunity to give a misjudged and well-lubricated So welcome to Issue #7 of SoundBoard Magazine. Who’d speech in front of an audience of their peers. What could pos- have thought that would happen? Not me, certainly. Not by sibly go wrong in that scenario? I can’t think of a single thing. a long bloody chalk; I thought we’d have gone down in a hail Elsewhere in this issue you’ll find the usual mix of reviews, pre- of ignominy, failure and vicious accusations, right after Issue views, interviews and columns from our regular and irregular con- #2. Heh. I’m only joking, kids; I had every faith that, despite tributors, as well as the ever-popular (and usually quite profane) us being a bunch of nobodies, we’d manage to win out and Roboscopes and the hammy-based adventures of our favourite rev- save the day. It’s a matter of drive. And chance, of course. And olutionary pug, Pedro. One day we shall all bow down to his mag- having a lot of people willing to work hard for no salary or nificence, the workers shall break free of their chains, and there’ll reward beyond the occasional pint washed down with lash- be adequate hammy for everyone. Vive la raza. Patrone Pedro. ings and lashings of prestige. We hope you liked the CD on the front #6. It was appar- ently very much sought after, so we apologise to anyone who couldn’t get hold of a copy. It’ll be on the streaming sites very F***-UPS... soon, so follow us on Facebook for updates on that score. We HERE AT SOUNDBOARD HQ WE AIM TO BE AS weren’t really sure how we were going to top that for this ACCURATE AS WE CAN, BUT WE’RE HUMAN AND issue, but then someone (Hi Mike!) had the lunatic idea to SOMETIMES WE MAKE MISTAKES. ask anyone who’d been involved in music in the city over the last fifty years to turn up to the Grand Theatre for a Sgt. Sorry to TOM EMLYN for (ho ho) ACCIDENTALLY using a pic that Pepper’s style photoshoot. Now, I’ll be honest, we weren’t sure wasn’t him, and also apologies to SAM BAGGOTT, whose name we whether anyone was going to turn up, but, bloody hell! Have spelt really quite badly, both in Issue #6 . you seen the cover? And we’ve got to top THAT now. Check out TOM’S band @newsfromnowhereband and find SAM @holyhomevideomusic on Facebook. Well done, everybody! JS
4 RISING STARS – IFY IWOBI SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
ILLUMINATING IFY Ify Iwobi has recently released her debut album, Illuminate and has been making waves on the Welsh music scene with her collaboration with a number of singers such as MADI, Emi McDade, Asha Jane, Geraint Rhys & Danica Swinton.
THIS CLASSICALLY TRAINED PIANIST IS NOT AFRAID Ify finally found friends when she moved to Gorseinon TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES AND CREATE EXCITING College’s Sixth Form and on to Brunel University where NEW SOUNDS. she studied performance music. Now, at 25, Ify has con- Ify combines contemporary pop with traditional clas- fronted two of her main protagonists and let them know sics which has seen her music played on stations across how their bullying affected her. She describes the whole the UK and US and a successful launch in Cardiff at the experience as daunting but cathartic: “Often the bullies Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama which was at- don’t realise how damaging it can be. These girls were horrified tended by Steve Balsamo, Jeremy Gluck and Connie Fisher, when they were made aware of what I was going through inside.” amongst others. To look at Ify now you wouldn’t know that this strong, Ify recently opened up about her bullying at school and talented and beautiful young lady has ever suffered from says that many of the lyrics contained on Illuminate are in- anxiety and depression, and it highlights the importance spired by what she went through which resulted in years of speaking out to your loved ones to let them know of therapy and medication. She hopes that sharing her what’s going on. Without that conversation that Ify had story will give courage to other young people that are be- with her parents we probably wouldn’t have Illuminate ing bullied. She says: “It wasn’t being hit or anything physi- and all of the wonderful music inside it, and if there ever cal, it was all psychological. I was sidelined and ignored when I was a success story this is it, as Ify has gone on to become tried to join in. It was sustained bullying where someone would an accomplished pianist who has performed across the take my lunch, first a little, then all of it, leaving me hungry. UK, and internationally, winning awards for her playing It’s really tough because you don’t want to admit to being bul- and compositions. She has composed music for films as lied. Over time I became anxious and depressed, I hoped that well as scoring film soundtracks and even finds time to it would change over time but it just got worse. I felt really sad lead the Ify Iwobi Band who have performed at Wales’ Mil- for years and it affected my mental health which resulted in me lennium Centre and The Royal Welsh College Of Music being on medication and having therapy throughout my teens.’’ & Drama. Ify Iwobi is definitely one to watch out for. MK
music.apple.com/gb/album/illuminate
5 THE CELLAR BAR CARDIGAN sat FEBruary 22Nd 2020 DR. SARDONICUS’S MIDWINTER NIGHT’S DREAM PSYCHEDELIC FESTIVAL#3 Sendelica + The FRIDAY Mahatmas FEB 21ST FREE ENTRY Sonic Trip PARADISE 9 Project & BROKEN Omnichron LINES + Special Guest Elfin Bow
tickets £15 advance sendelica.bandcamp.com BEHIND THE SCENES – THE COVER SHOOT SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
PICTURE THE SCENE: IT’S SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE’S EDITORIAL MEETING. WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE EVERY ISSUE, TO PLAN SPACE, TALK THROUGH IDEAS AND GENERALLY ENJOY THE PROCESS OF CREATING A MAG- AZINE THAT WE THINK PEOPLE (YOU) WILL LOVE TO HOLD AND READ. We are in the pub (of course), there are four of us, and we’re talking about Issue #7’s cover.
Having just recovered from the monumental task that was Issue #6’s cover-mounted CD, the general feeling is that we should revert to simplicity and have a pic of Joe Bayliss (The Fringe Festival’s coordinator) front and centre. he We had almost moved onto the next item on the agen- rip da, when someone (I have since been reminded that it was
T Mike) said: “Why don’t we do a Sgt. Pepper’s cover, with all the Close to a hundred people
Fringe acts?” arrived. And we had work to do!
T Now, I’ve been a graphic designer for a First of all, the whole idea evolved – with respect to The
roject long time, and I know from experience Fringe, this was now a much bigger concept – we decided that sometimes a short, on the spot that it was more appropriate to present this as simple statement can a celebration of Swansea’s rich and varied musical heritage, P
endelica open up a huge can of past and present. ahatmas worms. This was such With so many more people than expected, and no pros- a statement. But we pect of a location change, props were hastily rearranged, Elfin Bow Elfin S mnichron onic
Guest pecial all instantly loved lighting pushed to its limits, and a new M plan formulated as to what kind of image S S
O we were going to produce. If you thought
#3 that Johan (the photographer) and I looked calm, then you weren’t looking + hard enough. The shoot went smoothly, and we tried our best to make sure that every- one is included. The final image, we the idea, and think, represents a huge slice of the tal- there was no going back. ent that this city had and has to offer. The photographer was And it does remind you a little of The briefed; the location was Beatles, right? Thanks for being a part
arranged (and reccied); of it, we hope you like it as much as the artists invited and the we do. GM shoot was planned and di- rected (by yours truly). A big THANK YOU! to Swansea’s Grand Theatre for the use
We had hopes of thirty to forty people actually turning of the Arts Wing, and to photographer Johan Butenschøn Skre up, we worried that we may get ten. What then happened (who incidentally, also co-runs the amazing Cinema & Co.) both humbled and frightened us in equal measure. We couldn’t have done this without you. THE CELLAR BAR CARDIGAN sat FEBruary 22Nd 2020 SARDONICUS’S DR. DREAM NIGHT’S MIDWINTER PSYCHEDELIC FESTIVAL + FRIDAY FEB 21ST FREE ENTRY 9 PARADISE & BROKEN LINES £15 advance sendelica.bandcamp.com tickets
7 SWANSEA FRINGE FESTIVAL 2019
IT WAS THIS TIME LAST YEAR, DEAR FRIENDS THAT WE INTRODUCED OURSELVES TO YOU IN THE FORM OF IS- SUE #1, OF OUR SHINY NEW MUSIC AND ARTS PUBLI- CATION; SOUND BOARD MAGAZINE. WITH A FIRM ( TWO HANDED) HANDSHAKE, A BROAD SMILE AND A FRINGE PROMISE TO OURSELVES AND TO YOU THAT NO MATTER WHAT, WE’D TRY OUR DAMNEDEST TO LAST THE YEAR! RATHER CLEVERLY (AND OPPORTUNISTICALLY) WE LAUNCHED THE MAGAZINE SWINGING MERRILY ON THE BENEFITS COAT TAILS OF THE SWANSEA FRINGE FESTIVAL 2018. We (I) coerced The Fringe volunteers to arm themselves with ber what it is JB speaks of in this copies of the new and wonderfully smelling magazine, to interview. What was I saying, oh distribute them wherever they went around the events and yeah, about the Swansea Fringe thus plunged ourselves deeply and noisily into the Swansea Festival. See. music scene. Since then each issue seems to have gained more I refer back to our very first and more momentum and we’re incredibly proud of how it’s magazine issue where the elu- all been going. In fact, due to our increasing sive Jack Sounds refers to JB as: demand we actually need to start printing A quiet easy-going man with more copies but as with everything in this mischievous twinkling eyes and life there’s no such thing as a free lunch so a beard you could hide a badg- we’re doing what we can (in other words, er in. Still true. We start. we’re working on it). As soon as I press record, Of course with The Swansea Fringe re- JB adopts his BBC Radio 2 Issue turning here in this, the year of our lord voice and immediately #1, The 2019, what better way to celebrate our becomes aware he’s doing Swansea Fringe anniversary than by swinging on those it. We chuckle (he has a Special, coat tails once again. And my how much brilliant speaking voice for radio I October Swansea they’ve grown. The Festival this year has should add). 2018 Fringe’s doubled, nay quadrupled in size like some kind of gremlin/ Ultimately when anyone presses record on anything Joe water hydrant scenario. There are things popping up all over people forget how to speak or what it is they were about to Bayliss the place for your amusement, entertainment and pleasure say. “I don’t actually know what’s happening with the fringe week- and I’m about to tell you just what kind of things you can end at all. There are people, performing at some point. Joe says. expect. Of course what with me being a person in the know [Interview done?!] We pull ourselves together. We’re pro. and right royally connected and the like, I got to speak with “So, We’ve got around about thirty venues. There are about eighty organiser, curator and expert in the field of appearing very events going on. With over two hundred artists appearing. We’ve calm; the Reverend Joe Bayliss of Swansea Music Hub. (He’s got pop up performances in lots of different places happening as not a Reverend). well outside some of the venues. There’s music comedy, spoken Joe, or JB as I like to call him, has many offices. I’ve met word/poetry, there’s cabaret, theatre, open air cinema in Castle him for ‘meetings’ in most of these to discuss ‘work’-related Square, talks, a Twmpath! business but the most regular ‘office spaces’ so far have been Aside, we discuss the fact that Twmpath is also the Welsh Hoogah, The Tav and Bar Riff. Not that I’m complaining. word for hump (‘humps ahead’, which amuses me greatly). Joe is usually teamed up with the lithe creature that is Si- We talk about this for an immeasurable time, probably too mon Parton, but this year sees him flying solo. Well, at least long. It’s not relevant. in the sense that Simon, for want of a better phrase has been Something I think is a rather wonderful addition are all the fluffing off getting married and going on holidays and work- family events going on this year (the Twmpath being one of ing with BBC Horizons and the like so has been less available them) of which there are more and many and free events. A to tend to Festival matters. “He’s somewhere in Europe I think lot of them too. All events will be clearly marked with what at the moment, he’s been away ages”. JB doesn’t look resentful. time the cut-offs are for our youngsters. But how brilliant that they get to see the scene and what is available to experience. BALKANEERS Many younger artists have been added to the bill too. It’s in- clusive and important. I’m a fan of this. A must see in my eyes is The Rock Project, run by Ben Tiffin, which is a bunch of youngsters from 7-18 years, rocking out all the best types of songs. It’s joyous. On top of all this there is a pop up recording studio, an in-session feature (a recording, live session and interview ele- ment) at The YMCA, broadcast on Facebook Live. There’s a creative industries day, record fair, workshops (I really should have just written a list – see the gig guide on page 24). With the event spanning over such a wide spread of ven- ues and events JB of course can’t be everywhere at once, so volunteers have been recruited. There will be opportunity for We settle into our surroundings; coffee, a change of seat- people to volunteer over all coming festivals and as someone ing (sat by the speakers and far too much funk going on for who’s experienced it, it’s A LOT of fun. Mindfully looked after a morning meeting). We discuss hangovers (mine), moving and coordinated by the efficient and lovely Emily Vander- house, Tony (I’m giving no context to who this is or why we poeg, spare a thought for those people making things run spoke of him) and stalkers, also that Prosecco doesn’t count smoothly over this weekend, they’re doing it for love, re- as white wine because of the fizzy bubbles. member that (or a chance to get in free somewhere but still Because I’m getting on a bit dear (kind) reader I immedi- they have to wear the t-shirt and man the door and generally ately press record on the old handheld in order to remem- run around like loonies looking after you all.
8 SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
AFRO CLUSTER
Speaking of T-shirts, there is an incredible design by Tansy Dark Daughters, a poetry collective from Bristol (a modern Rees Illustration which will be available to buy exclusively twist on female fairytale characters). over the weekend, you can nip along to the box office in “But there’s honestly so much going on it’s hard to pin point Three Lamps and that’s where you get your wrist bands for the but I’m really really looking forward to getting stuck in” says JB. day or weekend, programmes and of course Sound Board Maga- I concur. zine. You may have got it from there today and are lounging in So, here’s to Swansea Fringe 2019. In my humble opinion Cinema and Co. with a flat white reading this and waiting for Swansea and its neighbouring areas are thriving creatively at the next band/spoken word artiste or comedian to come on. the moment. A weekend event like this only goes to high- Who knows? Maybe I’ll be with you (sounds creepy, scrap that). light what’s happening in a more concentrated way, and The Of all the little (big) stresses along the way (he’s so out- Festival and the creative voices in the city do appear to be wardly calm) Joe does get to enjoy it all. Hell, that’s why he shouting louder, do appear to be drawing more attention to does it right? the City, and do seem to be creating a buzz. Having given up a huge chunk of his time (personal and The Festival is making the need for creativity more impor- working hours to do festival related organising) Joe admits he tant; in every aspect of the word. Art, poetry, music, theatre finds it hard to delegate. But this year sees a lot of different venues and organisations curating their own stages over the THE ROCK PROJECT weekend which will take off some of the pressure: Libertino with Swansea Music Hub, Psicon, Crunch, R*E*P*E*A*T and Swansea Uni Live Music Society to name but a few. Sound Board Magazine’s stage of course can be found at Hanger 18 on Friday 4th October. The whole thing starts with a proverbial bang at the Brang- wyn Hall with the launch party on Thursday night. It’s got stalls, acoustic entertainment, and a host of amazing acts; notably Afro Cluster who will return to put a rocket up your what’s-it. Also the brilliant Trampolene have agreed they’ll grace the stage for a late night headliner in Sin City on the night to end the celebrations. Or more honestly to start them. Not only that, the enigmatic Jack Jones will be doing and creative thinkers and doers coming together. And Swan- a keynote speech. ‘Cos that guy’s got things to express and I sea is a damn sight better for it in these crazy times. wholeheartedly express that you check that out. JB and I go on to discuss how wonderful it is that there “Once the weekend starts then I generally do relax”, admits JB. are more chances for younger people to go and see and be “I actually enjoy just watching it all come together and people just involved with live music and art and creativity in the City at enjoying themselves, wandering around, musicians dashing from the moment, which is a far cry from the ‘barn dances in Bed- place to place with guitars on their backs. That’s when I relax and fordshire’ I experienced growing up! JB suggests this sounds just enjoy it”. like a euphemism. I honestly don’t know what he means. “Of course there’s the piece de resistance: Lost Tuesday Society We’re back onto the Twmpath again! at the Elysium on Saturday night” (he knows his audience) “but The interview goes downhill from here, so I hit stop on the that is also with headliners The Balkaneers”. (Oh). handheld and we order another coffee. FM “It’s become tradition now that that’s where I have to end my night, is with The Balkaneers wherever they are and I’m genuinely looking forward to that”. Check out the events pages at: JB recommends, well, everything. But things he’s looking www.swanseafringe.com forward to in particular are: Balkaneers (and Lost Tuesday Society by default); Tickets from The box Office: Afro Cluster (hell yeah); Three Lamps in Swansea or www.eventbrite.co.uk Zervas and Pepper (I’ve yet to see them live but have always loved what they do; Facebook: Trampolene (they’re amazing, a real experience); and All Our Swansea Music Hub, The Swansea Fringe
9 FROM THE PAST CLASSIC WELSH ALBUM
WHEN PHIL RYAN AND WILL YOUATT 1974, complete with a magnifi- LEFT MAN IN 1973 THEY RE-FORMED, cent logo designed by Mad Maga- THEIR LIVE BAND, IORWERTH Neutrons zine’s Rick Griffin. PRITCHARD AND THE NEUTRONS. The album still carries punch The head of A&R at United today thanks to Ryan’s work with Artists, Andrew Lauder, put them the organ and some great touches in Monmouth’s Rockfield Studios BLACK by Stuart Gordon on the violin. where they began recording an al- One song featuring the lyr- bum. It would turn out to be Black ics of Pete Brown, Mermaid And Hole Star, and the band would be- HOLE STAR Chips would later play a part on come (just) Neutrons. the sleeve of Ryan & Brown’s last United Artists (1974) To record the album, Ryan and album, while the album’s only Youatt assembled several friends single, Dance Of The Psychedelic and former bandmates, including Lounge Lizards, would be dedicated drummers John ‘Pugwash’ Weath- to Ryan’s hero Graham Bond. ers (formerly of Eyes Of Blue and Only one non-album track was now with Gentle Giant) and Dave released – as a B-side to the single Charles (formerly of Sam Apple – and it featured Dave Edmunds Pie and now with Help Yourself); on slide guitar. The track, Suzy And guitarists Martin Wallace and Ray The Wonder Boy would later surface “Taff” Williams, who had been on the CD reissue of The Neutrons’ in Eyes of Blue and Piblokto!; vio- two albums. MK linist Stuart Gordon (ex-Incredible String Band) and vocalist Caromay Living In The World Today / Feel / Dixon. Mermaid And Chips / Dangerous Although the album started in Decisions / Doom City (Scrinos’ Wales it was finished at Chipping Revenge) / Dance Of The Pyschedelic Norton Recording Studios before be- Lounge Lizards / Going To India / ing released in the September of Snow Covered Eyes 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 BLACK HISTORY MONTH SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
Black History Month (BHM) in Wales acknowledges the contributions made by Black people to local, national and World history and culture. It does this through delivering an informative, educational and celebratory programme of events throughout the year through BHCymru365, culminating each year in the month of October for Black History Month. MOVERS, SHAKERS
Photo: Carl Connikie & LEGACY MAKERS THE AIM IS TO ENCOURAGE EVE- Shakers & Legacy Makers and celebrates is still celebrated there in February RYONE, IRRESPECTIVE OF ETHNIC- both historic and present day people each year. ITY OR COLOUR, TO TAKE PART making dynamic change for better MK: And how did it take off in the UK? IN EVENTS, LEARN ABOUT OUR futures. We celebrate ‘Movers and UI: BHM in the UK emerged as part SHARED GLOBAL HISTORY AND Shakers’ and we focus on ‘Legacy’, in of the African Jubilee Year for Marcus CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND CUL- building long term partnerships and Garvey Centenary Celebrations in Ameri- TURAL UNDERSTANDING. programmes to educate and create ca with events taking place in October Mike Kennedy caught up with the new and innovative artistic practice to mark the beginning of the new aca- CEO of Race Council Cymru, Uzo Iwo- of the highest quality, both in terms demic year organised by Akyaaba Addai bi, to find out more. of product and presentation. Sebbo, coordinator of Special Projects MK: Hi Uzo. Can you give me an at the Greater London Council. BHM in overview of BHM and tell me what the UK has now grown to over 6000 it’s all about? “Black history events and in Wales, examples of ac- UI: Cardiff, the capital of Wales, was tivities such as trips, class assemblies one of Britain’s first multi-cultural is Welsh history” and workshops were organised by Patti cities, where numerous nationalities Flynn in Cardiff’s Butetown in and be- have lived side-by-side for decades. yond 1973. BHCymru365 and BHMWales are host- MK: Tell me about the origins of BHM Our goal, which we are working to- ed by Race Council Cymru, which is the UI: It goes back to 1926 when Carter wards through Black History Cymru 365 over arching umbrella body in Wales G Woodson, (Editor, Journal of Negro – BHC365 – is to see meaningful activi- that works to combat prejudice, race History), established African Car- ties happening all year round, not just discrimination, harassment, abuse ibbean celebrations in America to in October. Black history is Welsh his- and violence. RCC promotes art, her- mark the birthdays of two men who tory. itage and cultural activities for black, greatly impacted on the American MK: Where can we find out more? Asian and minority ethnic communi- black population: Frederick Doug- UI: Please join us on the 19th Octo- ties across Wales. lass an American abolitionist who ber at the Swansea Grand Theatre Arts MK: Each year you have a theme. worked to end slavery and Abraham Wing for a brilliant line up of artistic What’s the theme for 2019? Lincoln, the American President who performance. We will welcome you UI: This year’s theme is Movers, freed slaves during the civil war. It with open arms!
LOST FROM THE SCENE...
MARK MONTINARO, DIRECTOR, AC- master. Mark performed at my festival TOR, POET, RACONTEUR AND GAR- Lazzmatazz, every year, except this DENER, TOOK HIS FINAL BOW FROM and for the last three years judged the THE STAGE OF LIFE LAST MONTH. Tim Williams Award for Performance For twelve years, performing, col- Poetry. He hated being a judge and laborating, and sharing stages, I am yet was very good at it and brought proud to have known Mark as a friend rounded opinions, based on a sound and co-conspirator. I am not alone. So academic knowledge of poetry and many folk loved this quiet unassum- performance art. ing power house of a man who gave A Celebration of his life was held in stunning performances all over Eu- Narbeth and well attended by many rope. But it is here in Wales where his family and friends, sharing stories of heart loved to be. his life, and it all continued at the His performances of Dylan Thomas’ Boathouse in Laugharne afterwards work brought him international ac- for a memorable wake. claim and at home here in Laugharne With a beautiful family and an he performed regularly for hundreds extraordinary life behind him, his of tourists at Dylan Thomas’ Boat- commanding voice mesmerizing au- memory will live on for so many. For house. He wrote and acted his own diences, even his face told a story. me personally, my favourite piece of stories and poetry performing at Appearing in several short films, he Montinaro: his rendition of The Out- events and festivals and was a truly demonstrated a range of roles from ing by Dylan Thomas. In his words, passionate memorable actor, with a a neurotic policeman to an evil ring “And then I said good night!” LC
11
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE – ROSIE SCRIBBLAH SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
Swansea Museum pulled out all the stops recently, searching through the Museum stores and bringing to light a selection of vintage stuffed birds for a long weekend of drawing and screen print with Australia-born and Scotland-based artist Kelly Stewart. A BIRD IN THE HAND THE BIRDS ARE ALL VERY OLD AND til I came across this crazy-looking one. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SOME He’s stuffed, unfortunately, which may OF THEM HAD SEEN LIGHT OF DAY be why he looks a bit mad. FOR YEARS. I wasn’t able to get on to the screen Kelly is a frequent visitor to Swansea print weekend that followed – her Print Workshop, bringing her incred- courses are booked up as soon as ible know-how to teach local artists they’re announced – but I’m on the the craft of screen printing. But every- next one in a few weeks, this time thing with Kelly starts with drawing, studying Swansea Museum’s Insect and her expertise is in developing draw- Lepidoptera collections. I can’t wait. ings for print, which is how I found Swansea Museum is fab. It’s a fas- myself sitting in the quiet Victorian cinating treasure house of Swansea calm of the Museum’s educational life, with the famous and immensely room, face to face with delicate, frag- popular Mouse Trail. RS ile and quite beautiful examples of antique taxidermy. here that I was introduced to the medium The little birds were mounted on of screen printing as well as the beauty of small polystyrene blocks as they can- traditional European architecture.” not be handled directly. Under Kelly’s In 2000 she bought a one way ticket to London and soon moved to Edin- burgh, attracted by the Arts Festival, joining Edinburgh Printmakers Work- shop where she is still based. After the drawing day, Kelly and her group of Swansea artists moved back to Swansea Print Workshop for two days of translating these drawings into a boxed set of screen prints. Made up of postcard sized mini prints by photocopying, enlarging, re- ducing and cropping, the designs were eventually transferred to silk screens to be printed up in dazzling colours. expert tutorial, I worked with about Kelly says: “All these years later I’m half a dozen other artists all day. It still learning new things with the proc- was intense, drawing and concentrat- ess. Screen print offers endless possibili- ing on getting as many sketches as ties through overlaying images, mark For more about Kelly’s work: possible to be reworked into screen making, handwritten text, texture and skellydesigns.co.uk prints over the following two days. found imagery, creating images that oth- Kelly got into screen printing back erwise wouldn’t be possible with tradi- Swansea Print Workshop is an artists’ home in her native land: “As a child tional painting materials such as acrylic collective who run courses for beginners growing up in Australia I liked to draw and watercolour.” and expert printmakers: lots of things but in high school it was After two days of intensive art activ- swanseaprintworkshop.org.uk architecture that took my focus. It was ity, Kelly’s expertise paid off in a series the work of realist painter Jeffrey Smart of boxed sets of miniature screen prints. Rosie Scribblah is a Swansea-born artist that caught my attention. I went on to Personally, I got a lot out of the draw- and printmaker: www.scribblah.co.uk study a BA(Hon.) Design (Visual Commu- ing day. I’d never seen a bittern before nication), majoring in illustration. It was and didn’t even know they existed un- swansea.gov.uk/swanseamuseum
13 For An Outstanding Music-Lyric Video visit SeeBehindTheMoon.com The lyric video is one of the best we’ve seen and is engaging in its own right”
lyricmagazine.co.uk re: ‘high on sunset’ lyric vid 4 steve balsamo
contact T: 07813634565 E: [email protected] crazethejack.bandcamp.com/track/let-it-grow ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION ad_01_Aug2019_v2crops.indd“ 1 13/08/2019 22:12:25 IT WAS POETRY, THEN IT WAS SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 HIP HOP, BUT NOW IT’S BACK TO... POETRY CORNER
TRUDI PETERSEN Drugs, Alcohol & Poetry
Words: Karen Gemma Brewer
TRUDI PETERSEN IS A NATURAL BORN amazing, I love it!’. Kate, that day, unlocked to garner a reputation for both written POET, AS THIS SUMMER’S TRIUMPH something that came out of nowhere. I sud- pieces as well as her lively, and often hi- AT THE TIM WILLIAMS PERFORMANCE denly realised I should be doing this. I bor- larious performance poems. POETRY AWARD AND SHORT-LISTING rowed money from a friend to buy her book, “I do write two different types. My per- IN THE WELSH NATIONAL POETRY went home and wrote poems for a week. It formance work is mostly humorous, per- COMPETITION TESTIFY. wasn’t ‘I’m going to write.’ I had to write. It formance people want to be entertained It took the culmination of a family was like a dam had been unblocked.” and I do have a bit of a reputation for mak- crisis, half-a-life in drugs and alcohol, ing people laugh. Victoria Wood is my hero and a Tempest to bring her talent burst- although I have also been likened to Pam ing from the bottle. A Welsh girl with “I went home and Ayers. I love story-telling and there is of- poetic roots, born at Cross keys – the ten a strong narrative running through my same Valleys village as poet Jonathan wrote poems for a work.” Edwards – she spent her teens in Tho- This was in evidence at the Castle mas’ Laugharne, but with a dash of week. It wasn’t ‘I’m Hotel, Llandovery where Trudi scooped Chile in her blood. Her Great, Great, the Tim Williams award with The Love Grandad, trainee ship’s doctor , Herrera going to write.’ I Poem of Flick and Spike, the life story of found love at Newport docks and a new two punk rockers trying to hang-on to a life as a coal miner in the Valleys, stay- had to write. It was bit of Anarchy through the decades and ing until his death in 1920. like a dam had been their ever normalising lifestyle. Funny, Trudi trained as a nurse at St David’s, well observed and tugging at that bit of in Carmarthen and also had a spell in unblocked.” rebel fighting to survive in everyone. Cardiff, specialising in the treatment of “On the page I tend to be more serious, drug and alcohol addiction and blood deal with more serious subjects and am less born viruses. On the Monday night of the fol- rhyme focussed, although my written po- “For years all my writing was academic, lowing week, Trudi shipped up at Car- ems are also usually story orientated and drugs and alcohol text books for doctors marthen’s Queen’s Hotel, home to the just about all of my poetry is focused about and nurses, one of them a best seller. I then monthly Poem’s & Pints Night estab- places, people and events.” ran my own consultancy for over five years, lished by the late Anthony ‘Trance’ Between days as a quirky shop keeper training nurses and prison staff, all going Jones and Dominic Williams. – dealing in antiques and art at Found well until my eldest daughter was suddenly “Dominic asked if I wanted to read a and Seek in hometown Carmarthen – unwell and spent nearly a year in hospital poem, I said ‘Yeah’ and that’s where I start- and nights performing around south with a head injury.” ed, six years ago.” and west Wales, Trudi is currently com- Trudi closed the consultancy to focus Appearances at Cardigan’s Cellar Bards piling a collection of poems drawing on family, becoming a full-time carer. soon followed and then Trudi made the on her South American ancestry and “For a break I went to the Laugharne week- short-list for the highly respected Pen- dreams of one day visiting Chile, the end, saw Kate Tempest and ‘OMG, that’s fro Poetry Competition as she began home of Patricio. GB
ADVERTISE YOUR music / gig / shop / venue HERE [email protected]
15 ARTS REVIEW – JEREMY GLUCK
created for the show. From work POST-BREXIT on paper, to vinyl toys and work made from leather, demonstrat- ing the breadth of his portfolio. ANXIETY AND A collection of published and un- published works created in the after- DEPRESSION math of the UK’s 2016 referendum re- sult, Post-Brexit Anxiety and Depression Mark James at GS Artists manipulates and reinvents diverse current themes with work such as a On September 13th, three years and swastika recreated in Daily Mail logos, more after the Brexit referendum, a parody of Band Aid entitled Brit Aid, the response of accomplished, printed as is the case with many of internationally commissioned the pieces on tabloid stock and – my Cardiff-based artist, graphic de- personal favourite – a monochrome signer and filmmaker Mark James: vintage Union Jack scanned onto a Post-Brexit Anxiety and Depression, bin liner. opened for a month at rising Swan- Energetic, and with a powerful time- sea artists-run High Street gallery release impact, this engaging work de- GS Artists. serves scrutiny and celebration. JG James’ conceptual work is in- spired by a mix of popular culture and social commentary. Credits for For more information: his art direction and design in the www.markjamesworks.com music industry include Super Furry Animals, Gilles Peterson, Maximo gallery in his hometown of Cardiff. GS Artists: Park, Mala, Gruff Rhys, Karl Hyde, Co-funded by the Arts Council of galeriesimpsonswansea.com Underworld, Cian Ciaran, Euros Wales. The inaugural exhibition: Childs, The Charlatans and Joe God- Sorry It’s Not For You, saw James dard as well as designing interiors delve into an extensive archive and for Island Records, Abbey Road Stu- choose key pieces from two dec- dios and Universal Music. ade’s worth of personal projects At the end of 2013, James opened and music-related assignments, *Subject to Change, an experimental alongside new works specially
THE 2019
Magazine Awards To celebrate our first year in print we’ve decided to share the love with you all and give stuff away. Well, not all of you. Just the winners in the following categories: Best Live Act • Best Album Best Group • Best Solo Best Single / EP Best Original Live Music Venue Best New Act • Lifetime Achievement
Join us at the National waterfront museum Saturday November 9th from 6.30pm Help us celebrate in style! TOM EMLYN – REVIEW SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
AS I SIT ON THE BUS IN THE RAIN WRITING THIS, I’M THINKING ABOUT HARPOON HARPOONBY KING OF DESPAIR, THE SHORT-LIVED MID-2000s SWANSEA BAND THAT RELEASED ONE ALBUM, SPLIT UP, THEN REFORMED MIRACULOUSLY LAST YEAR. Summer is over and autumn is here again, climax, a plain philosophy describing the responsibilities leaving us in need of something to ‘sustain us we have to each other in our relationships. I Can Do Better through our grey empty days’. Luckily, we have Than That and Let’s Just Leave Things The Way That They Are this album; a message in a bottle, precious are also just incredible, emotionally resonant songwriting, driftwood on the shore of the mundane. seeming to answer each other with hope, determination The band is made up of members of other and resigned, ironic defeat. great local bands; Rag Foundation, The Cosmic The album’s cover art is based on a fleeting glimpse of Array, Fire Chief 5, No Thee No Ess, Fernando a passer-by captured on camera by Paul as an art student, Rey, and The Caves. The lyrics of Paul Batten- and there’s a thread in the lyrics about the beauty of stran- bough are simple, powerful observations full of gers and the possibilities of transient, faraway love; ‘only tired melancholy wisdom. Darren Beale, Huw foolhardy strangers love you back’. There’s the daydreaming Rees, Dai Godwin and Gareth Thorrington are a line ‘behind the Iron Curtain, I’ll find you, I’m certain’, and united force, a hallucinatory reference playing exactly to Soledad Miranda, a Span- what the songs ish actress from the 1960s require with who died tragically young, restraint and who looks down from the power. The pro- clouds, gives the narrator a duction is clear- knowing wink and says ‘go minded and on son, you can do it’. punchy; warm In the album closer Hap- guitar tones, a piness, these distant female locked-together figures seem to merge into rhythm sec- one ghostly, idealised form; tion and swirls ‘the face that I’ve walked by of distant key- so many times’. While cel- board. ebrating these moments of KING OF DESPAIR OF KING To me, the yearning, the songs wryly album is a testament to the understand the deceptive vitality and importance of nature of these fleeting at- independent music, a dev- tractions and their equal astating statement that’s potential for disaster or been lurking, surreptitiously redemption; ‘the ink never brilliant, somewhere far be- dries on a contract that’s never neath the lowest-common- signed’. Maybe it’s a love denominator mediocrity song to happiness itself, of our 21st century fever maybe an acknowledge- dream. Written in the after- ment that happiness can math of a breakup by a songwriter who was by his own only be found if you’re not looking for it, that maybe the admission ‘as lost as a man can be’, the songs speak of the sense of possibility implicit in the yearning for a ‘tattoo I’ve cycle of life, adulthood, growth, change and healing. ‘The never had’ is the reward in itself, even if ‘all your rainbows party is over, I am three hours older, and darling, I am so tired’. end in black’. I’m probably reading too much into it, but Their sound is country-inflected indie full of lush har- like all the best songwriting, these songs are wide open to monies and clever hooks, reminiscent of Gram Parsons, Neil the interpretation of the listener, poetry drawn from per- Young, Pavement and The Silver Jews but without feeling over- sonal experience that becomes universal. ly indebted to any artist. Simple melodies that feel nostal- These are songs about small insignificant moments that gic and remind me of earlier decades and less complicated can transfix you like a harpoon, whether because of their times, songs for the people ‘waiting down at the bus station fleeting beauty or lingering pain, but the weary cynicism where a light flickers off and then on’, ‘beneath the soul-blue sky’. of the songs is balanced by ironic yet compassionate hu- Songs to rely on ‘when the going gets tough and you’re short on mour. Every time I listen to it, it makes my day better and truth’, music that is a place in which to ‘pitch your tent with reveals more depth. The songs are so simple they’d be bor- happiness’. Simple graceful couplets about the pain of being ing if they weren’t so brilliant; it’s much harder than it alive. ‘Pretty as a ballerina on a music box, one more dizzy girl sounds to write songs as straightforward and raw as this. that can’t get off’. Please listen to it, it’s just sitting there waiting for you to It’s impossible to choose a favourite track, but Common hear it, available to stream and buy on Bandcamp. I’m on the Courtesy is an incredible pop song that builds to a euphoric bus in Swansea and I’m still thinking of King of Despair. TE
17 RECORD REVIEWS
ALBUM EP Finale is a gently swaying and sweeping track with some atmospher- ARTY FARTY EAST AND ic guitar work from Jason Jones along- Modern Humans WEST SIDE STORY side a gentle backdrop of synths and understated vocal lines. You Flexi Thing Vol .5 It seems disrespectful to place it In the post apocalyptic, right wing with shoe-gazing music but it could Tory fantasy of the metropolis, Mod- R*E*P*E*A*T Records has been on the fit quite neatly into that box ifwe ern Humans sits above, in ruminative scene since 1994 and is driven by the were still in the 90’s. As it is, it sounds fashion, like Rodin’s thinker. The sad- passion and commitment of Richard fresh and innovative and the perfect dened philosopher overlooking the ‘Rosey’ Rose who has recently moved soundtrack music for a film as yet un- capital, imitating Wim Wenders’ an- back to Swansea from England. They seen. If this is Mr Jones’ standard we gel in Wings of Desire, surveying the have released East And West Side Story want more please. MK dismantling of the humane, while the featuring Lemondaze (Cambridge), greed and detachment of the upper Tundra (Bury St. Edmunds), The San- www.lavendersweeprecords.com classes continues unabated. danistas (Tredegar) and Swansea’s Pic- There is a distinctly fresh European sel. The whole pack is beautifully put (Remainer?) feel to this album that together with comprehensive sleeve ALBUM nods to 80’s electronica as its aural notes and comes complete with a mentor, though evolved to a higher, digital download to accompany the ILLUMINATE more thoughtful plane. bright yellow flexi disc. Ify Iwobi We begin with Ipso Facto a jol- All four tracks share a punk-pop feel ly, mildly abstract introduction to with catchy melodies and riffs with the capital city, with vocalist Doug some great driving beats. Lemondaze Classically trained pop musicians are Stephens promising to “stretch my is a hybrid love-child of punk and the not unheard of: Rostam Batmanglij of legs and scratch my balls before the much later shoe-gazing brigade but Vampire Weekend, Anton Zaslavski city rises”. There’s also a metrosexual it works really well whereas Tundra (aka Zedd), Andrew Bird, and Radio- candour and humour on display: “I have more of a Dick Dale feel to them head’s Jonny Greenwood being just put on my dressing gown and left with a serious surf vibe going on. The a representative scoop. However, without a sound, let’s take the roof Sandanistas wear their kings of punk sourcing one locally is bound to be off this place.” power pop crown easily as you’d ex- a stretch, making Ify Iowbi’s debut Fleshing out the concept further, pect from such a class act but Picsel Illuminate as noteworthy as it is thor- we encounter the strident European are snapping at their heels with the oughly listenable. Dreamer. Think Yassassin by Bowie, noisy, catchy Not Myself. An award winning Swansea-born with Tom Verlaine guesting on vo- Flexi-discs may be a novelty to pianist and composer who studied cals, actually delivered by Doug own but the inclusion of a download Music Performance at Brunel Univer- Stephens; while Brendon Shelly is the code makes this release accessible to sity London, Ify has performed inter- svengali who controls the keys. It’s a a much wider audience and keeps nationally. very clean sound with dub allusions. the music that much more visible in Not content with her achievements Let’s move to Switzerland!, they cry. today’s changing market. Things are as a concert pianist, she knocks out Music to Cry to references Vauxhall looking bright, things are looking film soundtracks and, as Illuminate Bridge beginning a journey into an- Rosey! MK witnesses, somehow has found time other of London’s array of lots. Dis- over the past two years to write, location, alienation and dysfunction, www.repeatfanzine.co.uk record and launch her debut album, the psychology of the populace’s recruiting a cast of very talented art- loneliness, lost connections. The ists to accompany her. individual subsumed, swamped by SINGLE See the Light kicks off the album, sheer numbers. with a smooth electro groove to en- Blink is a standout track based in FINALE gage, but it’s with Solace, featuring West London, travelling the 207 bus Frisbees In The Fog Asha Jane, that it grabs. Ify’s gentle and Uxbridge road, an almost Roman touch on the keyboard well-matched road of a journey. I know this because to an emotional but never cloying I’ve travelled that way many times. Taken from the forthcoming short lyrical sentiment. Curiosity, fronted It’s a touching tune with strings, a big film Finale, this clear vinyl, one sided by Emma Davidson, is where things riff and message. It could be based on lathe-cut disc is one of a limited run go sideways (in a good way), jazz in- someone named ‘Johnny from Soho’ of thirty copies. flections complete with digital finger who ends up in a nursing home like a Hand numbered and housed in a pops making for ideal lounge vibes. latterday McMurphy in One Flew Over luxurious booklet this really is a thing Emi McDade’s vocal on Waves I the Cuckoo’s Nest. There’s something of beauty and we love it, and that’s See is an absolute treat, soaring over compelling and sad about it. Life before it’s even hit the turntable. Re- measured beats and her own subtle compressed and distilled into a few leased on Swansea’s Lavender Sweep backing parts. minutes of flashback. Records it’s the new project from the Two instrumentals complete the Nine tracks of irreverence with pro- city’s best kept musical secret: former album: Assemble is simply gorgeous. tagonists a playful Ken Loach might Phantom Light-er and current Rusty Slow, punctuated with muted but have dreamed up. Nutz Band leader, Anthony Jones. then powerful drumming, it must So if you like modernity, metropolis Over the last few years Lavender bear on Ify’s soundtrack skills, unfold- and fancy an updated, more sophis- Sweep has been at the forefront of ing with a compulsive rhythm. Going ticated, electronica of the 80’s, then innovative music releases utilising Home takes a more minimal route, re- this is the album for you. PB everything from cassettes to micro- lying on piano to play out an accom- cassettes and now these beautiful plished debut. JG https://m.me/modernhumans1 lathe-cuts, with releases from the likes of The Carbon Manual and Tau- ifyiwobimusic.com rus 1984.
18 SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
ALBUM ALBUM THE CROMLECH UNEXPECTED CHRONICLES IV: ITEMS IN THE THE DOOR INTO SUMMER BAGGING AREA Sendelica We’ve Come To Steal Your Energy
Sendelica are a West Wales based After the massive disappointment of psychedelic rock group, comprising Madonna’s latest album Madame X core members Pete Bingham (gui- which redefined dreariness on an in- tars & electronics), Glenda Pescado dustrial scale, it was back to Bananar- (bass) and Lee Relfe (sax). Sendelica ama’s In Stereo and Avicii’s Tim (both are unusual in so far as they are very albums already played to death) or successful at what they do. There time to venture into uncharted terri- was a time when you couldn’t put tory. Such an opportunity arose with ‘successful’ and ‘Welsh band’ in the We’ve Come To Steal Your Energy. same sentence but they have a dis- Record albums can be curious crea- cography which defies belief and an tures at best. Played for the first time, enormous diary of tour dates behind the tracks can sound all the same. and ahead of the them. As the title Played again, one or two of them says, this album is the 4th instal- start to sprout up and catch your in- ment of a series. terest and the more you listen and The music is entirely instrumental work with the album, what initially so the players only have their musi- sounded uninviting is now top of cal skill to tell the story. However, your playlist. the saxophone parts are so lyrical Or there’s the album you instantly that one doesn’t really miss the vo- love the very first time you hear it, cals all that much. play it constantly, and it’s dead and There are only four tracks but gone within three weeks. these are lengthy so there are plenty Then there’re those you struggle of bangs for your buck. If I had to to get through on an initial play and choose one word to sum up the al- end up with absolutely no interest in bum, it would be ‘atmospheric’. giving a second go. Such an album is The album begins with the ex- Unexpected Items In The Bagging Area. pertly delivered Lightstar. Its beau- Imagine an insane asylum where tiful and intricate theme is carried each inmate writes and records a alternately by the saxophone and track on their own, oblivious to eve- the guitar, providing a nice contrast. ryone else. The resultant compila- The chord structure hints at the 70’s tion could either end up filling every classic rock song The Pusher by Step- available cell left in the country or penwolf, though the effect is less hailed as a masterpiece by those al- sinister. ready there. This is followed by Saturnalia, an- I like Dance, Techno-Pop, EDM, other atmospheric epic, reminiscent anything in fact with a heartbeat of Pink Floyd’s Echoes. It’s easy to see and maybe something to hum along why so much of Sendelica’s material to. What this album is I have no idea. has been adopted for film and TV What genre or purpose or theme it background music. aspires to still leaves me completely Nine miles high certainly captures in the dark. Yes, much effort prob- the 70’s atmosphere, again with the ably went into this work: time, sax and guitar alternately taking the money, arguably creativity as well. lead. But when the lead singer sounds like The lead guitar carries the opening someone singing down an empty theme in the final rendering which Pringle can, I regret to say I either is called Lightstar reprise, though it have no musical taste whatsoever or doesn’t seem to resemble the origi- the wax in my ears is long overdue nal Lightstar to me. The intensity for a cleaning. ebbs and flows with outbreaks of co- Come back Madonna, all is for- ordinated riffs here and there. given. KW Would I choose to listen to this? Yes, I would. The lack of vocals makes the album far less intrusive WE WANT TO HEAR than usual. As a welcome relief to formulaic pop songs, you never FROM YOU know quite where each track will Email links to music for lead you. Intriguing and surprisingly relaxing. Nice. RH review to: reviews@soundboard https://sendelica.bandcamp.com magazine.co.uk RECORD REVIEWS
ALBUM SINGLE Swansea, and his latest collection Cut- ty Wren. TALLULAH STAY This Album, – a collaboration with Feeder MELLOW Andy Edwards, himself a doyen of traditional and contemporary folk Nathan Launchbury-Jones music – reflects the blend of English Feeder, a rock band who have been in and Welsh language songs forming the business for more than 20 years At first, I thought I’d made a mistake the bed rock of our colourful oral his- have released their tenth studio al- and was listening to a live version of tory. bum, Tallulah. Their musical style has this new offering from Ystalyfera’s The title track, Cutty Wren and varied over the years, from their 1997 own Nathan Launchbury-Jones. tracks such as The Ploughman Lad and grunge sounding Polythene to a more There was shouting and a very echo- The Oyster Girl invoke visions of an acoustic Comfort In Sound featur- heavy acoustic nature to the record- idyllic agrarian Wales before the scars ing string orchestras. In their works ing. As I listened on, this became part of the industrial revolution blighted spanning ten albums, twelve com- of the charm and reminded me a little our vista. pilations, four EP’s and forty singles, of the ‘as live’ vibe of Paolo Nutini’s This album offers an eclectic mix- there has always been a fundamental Pencil Full Of Lead. ture of songs in both languages, high- rock basis to their sound. Tallulah is Despite the calm-sounding nature lighting Tommy’s commitment, as a no less representative of what they of the song’s title and message of non Welsh speaker, to learn his na- are geniuses at. keeping cool, the over arching feel- tive tongue out of choice having been With hard hitting guitars, an ener- ing from the song is of a musician raised in an English speaking home getic rhythmic section, soaring an- who just loves playing music and this and educated in English. It also pro- themic vocals, and thought provok- carries you on a journey through the vides Tommy with a broad palette to ing lyrics in their opening track Youth, song that makes you want to rush out showcase his talents across a variety it showcases what the rock genre is all and see Launchbury-Jones play live. If of instruments including the won- about. Blue Sky Blue and Daily Habit he can capture this feeling in a snap- derful autoharp. If you haven’t heard feature feel good lyrics, catchy guitar shot, you wonder how it would feel to one before you are in for a treat. AB riffs and a consistent driving rhythm. see a full set of his music. They sound like Oasis or The The combination of a good song Smashing Pumpkins for example, and the vibe of the single make this EP bands which have influenced Feeder’s good enough to stand out within the sound and are key in their composi- local scene. It is always pleasing to NIGHT DRIVE tion style. hear another young artist with huge Matthew Thirlwell Feelings of angst are evident in the potential plying their trade in our lyrics Fear Of Flying, with unexpected wonderful corner of the world. SH musical transitions and an urging Night Drive, Matthew’s debut EP is a rhythmic section which provides a www.nathanlaunchbury-jones.co.uk melting pot of Dark Folk, Britpop and different feel to the previous tracks. his self coined tag ‘Bedroom Pop’. It Rodeo and Tallulah feature encourag- was produced by up and coming pop ing lyrics and are slower, heart-warm- SINGLE artist Alfie Templeman. ing numbers with hooks that leave CUTTY WREN Opening track Serotonin is a fantas- the listener wanting more, a typical tically melodic song that is arranged trait of Feeder’s music. Shapes and Tommy Jenkins well (especially the almost shimmer- Sounds is a charging track with reflec- and Andy Edwards ing guitar that serves the song well) tive lyrics whilst Guillotine resembles and most importantly does what all an acoustic, symphonic sound simi- good pop songs should do, get stuck lar to works seen in Comfort In Sound. I’m sure he will hate the description in your head. Kyoto, Kite and Windmill feature in- but Tommy Jenkins is an elder states- The following three songs keep the teresting modulations and ambiguity man of the Welsh traditional folk Britpop/shoegazing vibe while shift- behind the lyrics, certainly heavier scene. His mission has been to keep ing gears slightly with the ballad-y tracks which references to their ear- alive songs and styles which often Falling for you, the more reflective Lit- lier grunge works. hark back to preindustrial times. tle Tragedy; with a lift coming from Lonely Hollow Days is a fitting end Tommy’s influences are wide and the upbeat Honeymoon. to the album, with captivating melo- varied, he started his musical career With interesting lyrics throughout, dies sung, exhilarating lyrics heard in what we would see as ‘the normal Matthew clearly knows how to keep and intricate acoustic work from the way’, playing in local bands and in a a listener’s attention when writing a guitars. Feeder’s tenth studio album number of styles from Pop, Blues and song. The EP ends with a complete Tallulah is classic Feeder that old and Soul to Bluebeat/Reggae before a life right turn into Matthew’s Dark Folk new fans should check out. ii changing exposure to an 18th Century tag with Forest Fire, reminiscent of anthology of Welsh poetry and folk the hypnotic guitar style of José Gon- www.feederweb.com songs. The rest as they say, is history. salez, it is a song that builds wonder- As a member of the ground break- fully and is a perfect ending to the EP. ing band Cromlech he played to large In a world where people follow audiences in Celtic and traditional trends, you get the feeling that Mat- WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU music festivals across Europe and thew isn’t trying to be anything but beyond but in his own words they himself on this EP. If you like well Email links to music for review to: “couldn’t fill a bath” at home. written pop with melodies that your [email protected] Fortunately a hard core of discern- mind will struggle to shake off, I ing listeners have provided Tommy would highly recommend this. JN We make every effort to include as with an audience desirous of hear- much as we can, but we do have lim- ited space and cannot guarantee that ing his work and he has been able to Instagram: @matthewthirlwell your submission will be reviewed. record a number of albums over the Twitter: @thirlwell11 years, including Songs of Gower and
20 LIVE REVIEWS SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 THE 17TH DREAM OF DR SARDONICUS The Cellar, Cardigan 2nd - 4th August 2019 WITH AN INTERNATIONAL LINE- performing bands UP FEATURING THE GROUNDHOGS, bringing their limit- SENDELICA, THE BEVIS FROND, LOST ed editions, T-shirts TUESDAY SOCIETY AND MEMBERS OF and lathe-cuts to CURVED AIR AS WELL AS CHEMISTRY be snapped up by SET YOU MIGHT BE FORGIVEN FOR eager fans. And THINKING THAT THE PSYCHEDELICS snapped up they are. HAD TAKEN OVER THE QUIET WEST- When Swansea’s Lost Tuesday Soci- WALES TOWN OF CARDIGAN FOR ety finished their set, all their albums ing about THE WEEKEND. sold out in ten minutes. After her solo favourite gigs and Well they kinda did really as the set, Sarah Birch suffered (is that the new releases. With people like Pete whole town was bustling with activity right word?) the same fate. Who says Bingham and Fruits De Mer around, as music fans from around the world vinyl is dead? the music will never die. Here’s to the descended on The Cellar. All the live action takes place under- 18th Dream... MK Once a year people from as far away ground, and with a maximum capac- as Japan and Australia make their an- ity of 100 the place soon fills up with nual pilgrimage for this three-day festi- standing room only. The sound is ex- val that is now in its 6th year. cellent even if you can’t always see the Full line-up: The brainchild of record label Fruits stage and the variety, and craftsman- Elfin Bow / Fellowship Of Hallucinatory De Mer and Sendelica’s Pedro Kaldini ship of the music is superb. Voyagers / Paul Sax (Curved Air) / Lost (aka Pete Bingham) the festival is the Where else would you get to see The Tuesday Society / Spurious Transients most successful small event in the Alan Pire Experience followed by Chem- / Moon Goose / Alan Pire Experience / UK’s musical diary and continues to istry Set and then Sendelica? Chemistry Set / Sendelica / Groundhogs go from strength to strength. The Cel- It’s a fantastic atmosphere with / The Bevis Frond / 3D Tanx / Mark lar Bar is the perfect home, upstairs you fans mingling with the stars, chatting McDowell / I Am Voyager / Wally Stagg / have a vinyl lovers’ delight with all the and getting their albums signed, talk- Sarah Birch
The melodic rock from this four-piece outfit from Blackwood was the surprise of DEAD the night. They are now on my list of fa- vourite local bands, they were incredible. Final support came from Harbour MEMORY Way, a three-piece outfit also on the local scene. I’ve seen the band a cou- HARBOUR WAY, ORTARIO ple of times now and they never disap- point, though I was confused why they THE DIRTY FLAMINGOES played after the main support band. Finally, Dead Memory hit the stage Hangar 18, Swansea with smoke machines in full effect Saturday September 14th and, in spite of poor attendance, gave it everything in a set of melodic rock HANGAR 18 IN SWANSEA IS A FAN- quality that was fun, energetic and TASTIC VENUE WITH A GOOD SIZED expertly played. A phenomenal show SPACE AND GREAT ACOUSTICS. from the German band and included a My reason for visiting this time was a song featuring the singer from Ortario, little-known German four-piece called a great example of band camaraderie. Dead Memory. A great show at a great venue. The evening was opened by local The attendance was extremely poor act The Dirty Flamingos. They had an though, I still don’t understand why infectious joy of playing that was great people don’t go to live shows. About advertising@ to see and their slightly jazzy take on £5 for four great bands is a snip and soundboardmagazine heavy rock was fun to watch. with quality like this on the doorstep, .co.uk Next up were special guests Ortario. it’s an absolute bargain. SH 21 ROB NELMES’ NIGE
entire sandwich (although, there’s a good idea))) and three pork pies. We said our goodbyes to Aunty Barbara and left her. Alone. AUNTY BARBARA On the way home, Nige suddenly said “Can you hear that, Rob?”. PART THREE OF A THREE PART THRILLER... I Listened, and I could hear a ‘Thud, thud, thud, etc’ sound coming from under the VW Polo (green). “Oh, no. I think I have a puncture” Super awesome day yesterday. Nigel (Nige to his friends) texted me said Nige, expertly. Nige pulled over and we got out to inspect. Nige to say that his Aunty Barbara is allowed to come home from hospital was right. The passenger side (my side/Aunty Barbara’s side) was as today, and would I come with him to pick her up after work. I re- flat as an unlucky hedgehog. “Shall we call the AA, Nige?” I asked. plied “That’s a big 10-4 good buddy”, which means ‘yes’ in lorry driver “Look, Rob. I had a few pints on the weekend, but I don’t think I have a language. I was so glad that Aunty Barbara is coming home today. I problem” Nige joked. Well, that was it. We laughed like mad. Even in read a thing about bed sores on the internet yesterday. I was bored. It the face of extreme adversity, Nige can somehow keep his humour. wasn’t very interesting. In fact, I didn’t read much. I looked at photos He really is a special nutter. After we stopped laughing (approx. 38 of bridges instead. seconds), Nige said “Nah, let’s do it ourselves”. So, like Ray Mears and Nige picked me up at 5.40pm in his VW Polo (green). I got in the that posh one (I cast myself as Ray Mears and Nige as that posh one) car and said “Hello, Nige”. “Hello, Rob” was Nige’s response. And with we got to work. We managed to change the tyre in less than 30 min- that we headed off to Singleton Hospital. On the way there we saw utes (approx 23 minutes). I know it’s not Grand Prix standards, but Craig Davies walking (or more accurately, limping) down the road. there were only two of us, and it was dark. We got back in the car, We were in school with Craig Davies. He likes Nige, but doesn’t like washed our hands with lemon scented hand-wipes and felt like real me. I was glad he was limping. Nige beeped his horn and waved at men. “Pint?” enquired Nige “Youbetcha” I said. Nige knew what I Craig Davies, I didn’t wave. Maybe I should be a little more friendly meant. We drove off. towards him, after all it was years ago that he ruined my packet of Nige parked his car outside his house and we walked down to The Top Trumps (Horror) by leaving them on a wall (it rained). Craig Dav- Brunswick. Nige got two halves in and we sat down and chatted. Here ies waved and shouted something. We couldn’t hear him because we is what we talked about (in between drinking another five halves were in a metal box going 28mph. He’s not the brightest. (each)): Walking, The Gulf Stream, Whether Craig Davies was trying We got to the hospital to find Aunty Barbara sitting in reception. to warn Nige that he had a flatty (flat tyre), Posh Spice, Pork scratch- “Oh, Hello Aunty Barbara. How long have you been sitting here?” Nige ings, Acne, Alex Jones (obv (obviously)), The depression, Depression, asked, inquiringly “Since half past ten this morning” responded Aunty Ghosts, Michael Jackson’s white glove, Art. Barbara “You should have rang my mobile, I would have taken time off After the pub we walked (staggered) up to the chippy. On the way, work” said Nige. He really is so caring. “It’s ok Nigel, I quite like it here. we sang the theme tune to ‘Home and Away’. We got to the chippy, I’ve seen loads of people I know. I even saw Craig Davies. He twisted his an- Nige ordered a bag of chips, a sausage in batter (large), a pot of gravy kle playing darts”. “How can someone twist their ankle playing darts?”, I and a can of Vimto. Nige said we should share the pot of gravy (so thought to myself “An idiot” I continued thinking. We got aunty Bar- kind), so I ordered a bag of chips, a sausage in batter (large) and a can bara into the car. I kindly gave up my regular front seat position. She of Vimto. We sat in the cold November air and took it in turns to is over 80, and I thought there won’t be many more chances for her dunk our sausages (in batter) into the pot of gravy. “Phew! What a cou- to sit in a front seat of a car before she dies. six times, tops, I estimat- ple of days, Rob” said Nige “I know” I responded. “I’m glad your Aunty ed. Three, if it’s an exceptionally cold winter. We got to Gorseinon Barbara is home and not dead”. “OUR Aunty Barbara” Nige said. And he Where Aunty Barbara lives (for those of you who are not Welsh, the meant it. We high fived and went home. As I lay in bed, I thought word ‘Gorseinon’ means a place name in Wales. Near Penllergaer). back at this whirlwind couple of days. It’s been mental. I’m so glad We got Aunty Barbara home. I made her a nice cup of tea (8 sugars), I could be there for Nige. I know he would be there for me. After all, whilst Nige made her an egg sandwich (fried (just the egg, not the that’s what BFF (best flipping friends) are for.RN
OH PEDRO Tansy Rees STUDENT LIFE SOUNDBOARD • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
Swansea University Live Music Society – The University Bubble – Words: Rory Clark Header photos: Ignas Vaidogas
I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM ‘burst the bubble’ (pardon the pun) SWANSEA UNIVERSITY WITH A BA and have received considerable atten- IN HISTORY. WHILST MY DEGREE tion from local contemporaries whilst WAS LESS THAN MUSICAL, I SPENT still being very involved in the Uni ALL THREE YEARS OF MY STUDENT scene. Names that spring to mind in- LIFE THROWING MYSELF HEAD clude Holy Home Video and Tom Mar- FIRST INTO THE CITY’S MUSIC tin, acts that were spectacularly popu- SCENE, PLAYING GIGS, MEETING lar both on and off of campus. There PEOPLE AND DISCOVERING LOCAL Two Til Twelve are also students who were unaware TALENT. OR SO I THOUGHT. that there even was a campus scene By the time I had reached my third until way into their gigging career, year, I was running a series of ‘live bands like Two Til Twelve and Taxi sessions’ with younger bands, film- Rank fit this category nicely. ing them and uploading them online. This article is not intended to com- This, along with my Presidency of the plain, nor to chastise promoters for Swansea University Live Music Society, not extending their outreach to young grabbed the attention of a few bigger audiences – the number of bands with names in both Soundboard Magazine members under the age of 21 seems to and Swansea Music Hub. After a few have increased tenfold since I was a conversations with big names in the Holy Home Video fresher – instead, it’s intended to dis- area like Mike Kennedy, Joe Bayliss and cuss a problem that is found too fre- Gary Lulham, it was revealed to me quently in student circles. that I knew considerably less about “With the Swansea Successes and failures aside, I have the music and art throughout the city noticed a trend of the University bub- than I had previously thought; there Fringe coming ble getting smaller and smaller. When were bands I’d never heard of, gigs Matthew Lewis-Richards asked me to I was missing, even venues I didn’t up, the Live Music contribute some words on behalf on know existed. I was the victim of the The Live Music Society, this is the first age-old problem: ‘The Uni Bubble’. Society has access thing that came into my head. Campus life is great. All of your Whenever I speak to other members friends are right beside you, and the to its own stage, of the community, the disconnect be- pub is (quite literally) right around the an opportunity we tween campus and city is something corner. It’s easy to see why students I always wish to discuss, but when it tend to get somewhat self-involved, could only have came to writing it I began to realise that and that’s really at the heart of the the divide isn’t as big in Swansea as it issue. There’s very little incentive for dreamed of five was when I was first introduced to the students to try and explore what is scene. Thanks to the efforts of organi- outside the immediate reach of a re- years ago” sations such as Swansea Music Hub and assuring open mic night, or jamming Soundboard Magazine, as well as venues with your housemates. younger acts for fear of low turnout. that are free to hire like Cinema & Co., The idea of University being some- This, combined with the fact that young people are able to access every- what separate from the rest of the there isn’t a strong line of commu- thing that seasoned musicians can. city is nothing new. Campuses have nication between outsiders and cam- Mostly, these words are a thank-you always been looked at with a some- pus bands, results in many university to everyone who is giving University what sceptical eye by long-term resi- groups simply not getting outside at- students a chance, even you, reading dents (for good reason, of course), but tention and vice versa. this, for having picked up this maga- music is generally something that is The music scene in Swansea has al- zine. With the Swansea Fringe coming expected to transcend these bounda- ways been strong, and it can be dif- up, the Live Music Society has access ries and its something that can be dif- ficult to get a word in if your band is to its own stage, an opportunity we ficult to broach as a younger person. brand new, especially if you’re only could only have dreamed of five years I personally know from experience around during term times, or only ago. I’m excited to see how the city that coming to a new city knowing no have a year on the cards before you grows closer to its student population one, with just a guitar in your hands, move away for good. Saying there is in the future. it can be difficult to book gigs. little incentive to book student bands Make sure you go out and seek new Of course, this is a two-way street; isn’t a comment intended to be harsh music, listen to that link your friend students are often absent from your on promoters or venues, it’s simply sent you, and stick around after your normal gig crowds, and promoters pointing out a pragmatic reality. friend’s band has finished their set. can be cagey about wanting to book Of course, many students have Happy listening! RC
23 GIG GUIDE : OCTOBER & NOVEMBER
The Swansea Fringe: Tuesday October 8th Monday October 21St monday november 4Th OCTOBER BBC Horizons presents Fuzzy Sloth Events Pay the Man, Heartwork River Becomes Ocean, Kill Tuesday October 1st-4th Presents: Lineup TBA + more The Ideal ROCKTOBER, 31 live events The Hyst, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea Sin City, Swansea in a row The Fringe Family Wednesday October 9th (free) wednesday november 6Th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Windshake + support Tuesday october 22Nd Okilly Dokilly UK tour Fuzzy Sloth Events National Waterfront The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Crazy Peace of Mind Hangar 18, Swansea Presents: lineup TBA Museum The Swansea Fringe: News From Nowhere, The Bunkhouse, Swansea thursday november 7Th The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Elysium Stage Hobgoblin, Windshake (free) Taiko Film Wednesday October 2nd Cinema and Co., Swansea Wednesday october 23Rd + live performance Pity My Brain presents: Elysium Bar, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Thursday October 10th Bedlam Bookings presents: Cinema and Co., Swansea Lo-Pan Repeat Stage SW Showcase #02, The Survival Code friday november 8Th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Smile at Strangers + sup- + supports Bennl 1 Reactions tour International Jazz Festival: The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: port The Bunkhouse, Swansea Sin City, Swansea Alan Barnes Octet Folk at the Fringe The Bunkhouse, Swansea Thursday october 24Th saturday november 9Th The Garage, Swansea Elysium bar The Vinyl Revival In with the Jellyfish + Hell’s Bells Thursday October 3rd Swansea International Jazz + Sarah Birch guests Sin City, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Festival: Ray Taff Williams Cinema and Co., Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea Vice Squad Launch party and Stringfellows Friday October 11th Friday october 25Th The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Brangwyn Hall, The Garage, Swansea Grimecrafts presents: Tenacious G The SoundBoard Magazine Swansea Swansea International Jazz Free Rave (Tenacious D tribute) Awards Night School, Tom Auton, Festival: The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea The National Waterfront Angri Kidd Chris Ingham Quartet American Hitmen from Salt Saturday october 26Th Museum The Bunkhouse, Swansea Lake City Unite Against Hate, sunday october 10Th The Swansea Fringe The Garage, Swansea Swansea International Jazz Hangar 18, Swansea Swansea Alt Industry Night Sin City, Swansea Festival: Thnks Fr Th Mmrs The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea Crowleys, Swansea Tristan: The Spice of Five Sin City, Swansea Pete Way Band friday november 15Th Cinema and Co., Swansea The Garage, Swansea Saturday October 12th Hangar 18, Swansea Mr Tea and the Minions Hangar 18, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Dogruff (house/techno), Tribe of Swan Halloween The Bunkhouse, Swansea Swansea International Jazz The Reduced Literature lineup tba Ball General Levy, 25 years of Festival: Nicholas Meier Degree Deadwood: MetallicaVs Creature Sound, Swansea Incredible World Group Cinema and Co., Swansea Maiden Halloween bash Sin City, Swansea The Garage, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Hangar 18, Swansea Pearler, Grym + more RTF Promotions presents: FRIDAY OCTOBER 4Th Milieu: Welcome to Warlord, In Which it Crowleys, Swansea Statement Force The Swansea Fringe: Swansea Burns + support Disco Wonderland Hangar 18, Swansea SoundBoard Magazine Creature sound, Swansea Sin City, Swansea saturday november 16Th Stage Cinema and Co., Swansea SUNDAY OCTOBER 6th Bassline w/dimension Sunday october 27Th The Urban Voodoo Hangar 18, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Sin City, Swansea The Crawling Machine The Swansea Fringe: High Tide Stage Gimme Some Lovin, soul + Tides of Sulfur + Mines The Bunkhouse, Swansea Songwriters The Bunkhouse, Swansea band The Bunkhouse, Swansea Goldie Lookin’ Chain No Sign Wine Bar, Swansea The Blow Out The Garage, Swansea Monday october 28Th (15th anniversary tour) The Swansea Fringe: Sunday October 13Th Like Giants + support Sin City, Swansea jspeakz, Starv, Murkage The Perch, Swansea Psicon Stage Convictions, Familiar The Bunkhouse, Swansea sunday november 17Th aka Chkz Hangar 18, Swansea Spirit Tuesday october 29Th Alt Industry Night Creature Sound, Swansea Swansea International Jazz + support Duck Phaser Comedy The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Lib- Festival: The Bunkhouse, Swansea Clubs presents: The Quireboys ertino & Swansea Music Daniel Martin and Dave Monday October 14Th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Sin City, Swansea Hub Stage Cottle Trio Ben Luc Matt Price Wednesday november 20Th The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea Punk/Blues Showdown The Swansea Fringe: The Garage, Swansea Swansea International Jazz Tuesday October 15Th wednesday october 30Th The Bunkhouse, Swansea Swansea University Live Festival The Hip Fire, Wine Morals Lakes, Brightr + support thursday november 21St Music Society Stage Laurence Cottle Big Band + support The Bunkhouse, Swansea Isolation + support Crowleys, Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea Thursday october 31St The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: The Garage, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Wednesday october 16Th This Feeling + The Extons, saturday november 23Rd The Demimonde Street Party on the High Winger Records, line up Motel Thieves Midnight Tornado Elysium Bar, Swansea Street TBA The Bunkhouse, Swansea launch party The Swansea Fringe: The Bunkhouse, Swansea Hangar 18, Swansea Designated Drinking Creature Sound, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: Thursday october 17Th NOVEMBER sunday november 24Th Cinema and Co., Swansea The Twighlight Stage Sentry, I Fight Bears, Scot- friday november 1St Alt Industry Night Swansea International Jazz tcantswim + Youthana$ia Sigirya, Oak, Pearler The Bunkhouse, Swansea Festival Crowleys, Swansea The Swansea Fringe: The Bunkhouse, Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea friday november 29Th Hamish Stuart Band All My Dark Daughters Friday October 18Th Dream State Live Psycho School: Multi The Garage, Swansea The Zinvandels Sin City, Swansea Room Alt Club Night The Swansea Fringe: Cinema and Co., Swansea The Swansea Fringe: The Bunkhouse, Swansea Hawklords The Bunkhouse, Swansea How to win a pub quiz First Collections Saturday October 19Th Hangar 18, Swansea Gary Moat’s Cinema and Co., Swansea All Dead, All Dead: Hal- saturday november 2Nd Burnt Out Wreck The Swansea Fringe: Cinema and Co., Swansea Track Record loween Headline Heft presents: Hangar 18, Swansea Trampolene late night The Bunkhouse, Swansea Halloween Free Rave saturday november 30Th headliner Cinema and Co., Swansea Ferris and Sylvester + Dazed presents: My nu The Bunkhouse, Swansea Hugh Cornwall Electric Sin City, Swansea support leng, Dread MC sunday november 3Rd Sin City, Swansea SATURDAY OCTOBER 5th Sin City, Swansea Alt Industry Night The Swansea Fringe: Sin City, Swansea Estuary Blacks, The Death The Bunkhouse, Swansea Send dates to: The Black Wolf Stage Monday October 7th In The Cards + support of Money, Obey Cobra Catch Fire, The Young Hearts editor@ Crowleys, Swansea soundboardmagazine.co.uk The Bunkhouse, Swansea Cinema and Co., Swansea The Bunkhouse, Swansea
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, CONNECTIONS PLAYLIST, which has ited double vinyl. The festival in Au- I’M NOT TOO FOND OF HEARSAY already been picked up by stations gust featured Swansea’s SARAH BIRCH AND I’M UNDOUBTEDLY NOT A FAN in Wales and America, and a Spoti- and LOST TUESDAY SOCIETY along- OF HE-SAID-SHE-SAID... PULL UP A fy playlist called WALES WEEKEND side THE GROUNDHOGS, SENDELICA, PEW (MOVES IN SLIGHTLY CLOS- HANGOUT. The aim is to raise aware- CHEMISTRY SET and Holland’s THE ER)...YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHAT?! ness of the fantastic music that is being ALAN PIRE EXPERIENCE. Organiser, Swansea music producer JOE GIBB made in Wales. PETE BINGHAM has confirmed that will be working with THE LEVELLERS Another new initiative in the city next year’s festival will feature MAN as on their new album just as soon as he’s right now is being launched by HMV headliners. finished adding his magic touch to the with, once again, WELSH CONNEC- The PATTI PAVILION successfully re- new one by LOST TUESDAY SOCIETY. TIONS. The chain will now stock launched itself as a live music venue The former MIGHTY ATOM wonder- local music on a sale or return ba- at the end of August with a concert by boy is said to be excited about all the sis and will hold monthly live in- GEOFF TATE followed by a triumphant new music he’s working on. store sessions and signings. If you’d return for SON OF MAN alongside BUF- Music is now a feature at the month- like to be considered for this, email FALO SUMMER in September. ALED ly SKEWEN PRODUCE FAYRE. This [email protected] LEWIS from BIG DAY PRODUCTIONS community initiative runs on the last And while we’re on all things WC, has worked tirelessly to make this a se- Sunday of every month and is de- they have just been constituted as a rious venue once more and there’s lots signed to support local independent Community Interest Company and more planned for that iconic stage yet. traders and bring the community to- have been invited to partner RACE For all those of you asking about gether. So far Swansea ukulele band, COUNCIL CYMRU at their BAME HUB the availability of MAN’s latest album, THE ROCKERLELES, have played there, at Swansea’s GRAND THEATRE. Their ANACHRONISTIC TANGO, we can con- as has ELERI ANGHARAD, with TANSY main objective will be to encourage firm that you can now order it from REES and ROGER HENDERSON are due the diverse communities to work to- DERRICK’S RECORDS, Swansea, after a to play before the year end. gether on cultural projects promoting new distribution deal was agreed. And talking of music and markets, understanding and unity throughout Swansea musician, ROGER HENDER- WELSH CONNECTIONS’ MUSIC AT the City and Wales. SON has been in the studio with The THE MARKET initiative was launched HAWTHORN AVENUE are going from MAVRON STRING QUARTET record- in September in front of more than strength to strength with their music. ing some ‘period’ songs that he’s been 500 shoppers at Swansea’s Indoor mar- Since playing their first headline gig in sitting on for a while. They all moved ket. The lucky shoppers were treated Cardiff the duo have been playlisted on in to SYCAMORE STUDIOS with PETE to live music from KARL MORGAN BBC RADIO WALES and BBC RADIO 2. KING and laid down the tracks that (Who’s Molly?), STEVE BALSAMO & Well done to MARCUS and LAURA. SEB GOLDFINCH had scored, and the ANDY COLLINS (The Story’s) as well Rumours going around that Swan- results (we can confirm) are pretty as SARAH BIRCH, IFY IWOBI, GARETH sea’s hip-hop sensation, CRAZE THE amazing. It’s like taking a trip back to LEWIS, ROGER HENDERSON, SWAN- JACK, is putting together a live band the forties. SEA SINGS COMMUNITY CHOIR and which could feature members of THE ROCKERLELES. Each month the WORLD VS WORLD, LOST TUESDAY market will be provided with a playlist SOCIETY and KING GOON. Did you hear some Gossip? of Welsh artists to be played over their FRUIT DE MER’s latest psychedelic Have you Heard it on the Grapevine? instore system several times a day. The festival in Cardigan’s THE CELLAR was Do you know any Rumours? whole project is also supported by a all recorded and we’ve heard a rumour Email us in confidence: brand new radio show, THE WELSH that it will be released on a strictly lim- [email protected]
25 THE NEXT GENERATION
Having recorded a demo EP with R*E*P*E*A*T which they’ll be releasing digitally in October, and with a run of limited CD’s on their band camp – “we like the idea of making some- thing physical even if it is becoming less popular” – there are rumours they are in talks with Death Monkey Records for some KIKKER kind of release in the future. ISSUE #5 SAW ME WRITE UP AN INTERVIEW WITH Plans for now are getting tighter, writing YOUNG DRUMMER JOE HOPPE FOR OUR NEXT GENERA- more and playing and recording where TION FEATURE. IN THAT ARTICLE I SAID SOMETHING they can. I hear on good authority (Dam- ALONG THE LINES OF: IF THIS YOUNG MAN ISN’T IN A ian, World vs. World) that Kikker have so BAND BY THE TIME WE GO TO PRINT THEN SOMEONE far impressed and that they put on a NEEDS TO SNATCH HIM UP QUICK! good show. Nice lads too. Check them Not only was Joe contacted and recruited by newcomers out on Band Camp and all the usual Kikker, the band have already started to make waves across Social Media places. FM Swansea and have gigged a fair few times out of the city in places like Neath and Cardiff. And they’re good! Really good Joe Hoppe in Issue#5 right, in fact. Matt says of his band mate, “as soon as he came in we and below (second from left), immediately felt tighter, we had a real structure to our songs, even now drumming with Kikker. when we were jamming it out.” The full line up, after a few changes here and there (drum- mers... it’s always drummers) are: The tallest of all boys with the most fabulous hair, Jacob Winter. The far too cool and qui- etly confident studentMatt Kivi, Jake Rowlands (he wasn’t there so I couldn’t possibly comment but I’m sure he’s ace), and the incredibly talented, well dressed Joe Hoppe. This lineup has only really been together writing and per- forming for a few months and while Jacob seems to be the wordsmith the whole band write together. With a variety of influences musically they describe their sound as ‘garage shit punk’ or alternatively ‘garage punk shit’. Who knew? Everywhere I’ve looked recently Kikker have been on the bill. Sensibly teaming up with like minded bands on the scene here and in Cardiff. They know instinctively already not to over play the scene though, that saturating the market leads to less people at gigs (historically) but they’ve made an impression. 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.
SWANSEA MARKET EDITION
Aries. Leo Cockle Island That place where you can You will buy some carrots, but you buy nose-rings and will not use them. You try to take big ornamental pipes them back, but the bloke just looks Just come out of the closet already, Capricorn at you funny. You only bought two geez. We all know. Nobody cares. It’s Overstaffed electrical stall small ones and they cost 12p. 2019. Even my Nan is gay. Watch out for people with feet. Your lucky symbol is the asterix (*) (which Your lucky flag is... yes you’ve guessed it, Your lucky market is Swansea Market looks a bit sexy if you use your imagina- it’s rainbow. Now wave it tion in the right way) Aquarius Virgo Crusty roll stall Taurus Very busy Thai café Although you are first (alphabetical- The lottery desk The letters D I S A S T E R ly) in the Roboscopes, you are not all Big sock trouble this week for you. spell disaster for you this month. that, Get off your high horse. Who I mean the socks aren’t big, the Your lucky entrance to Swansea Market do you think you are? Beyonce? You trouble you have with socks is quite is the one by Lush (Not where it is now. are not. Unless you are. And if you big. Well, when I say quite big, I Where it used to be) are, Hi Beyonce. mean trivial. You will lose a sock Your lucky Vegan shop is this week. It’s ok though, you find it Brontisaur... Brontasawru... Bruntisa... within 30 seconds. Libra That one by the rug stall Your lucky ham is ham with crumbs on Dragon-made-out-of-coal-holding -a-cheap-crystal, stall You think about starting a hobby this Pisces Gemini week, but you won’t do it. You eat Fish stalls (pure coincidence) That stall where you can buy lots of jelly though so, win win. You are the type of character that is work trousers (if you are a build- Your lucky salad is from that falafel place so meticulous (I spelled meticulous er (or plasterer)) and T-shirts by the cockle stalls. right first time (not bragging (brag- with wolves howling at the moon ging))) that you probably noticed On Tuesday you will remember an that I haven’t used a single swear ice cream you ate about three years Scorpio word in this edition of Roboscopes. ago. It was lovely. I am so jealous of NO! Well, fuck you. you right now. Fuck off. Twat. You don’t deserve a lucky thing. Stop brag- Your lucky onions are big fucking onions, ging about your ice cream, weirdo Sagittarius you useless fucking tool. Prick Replacement Hoover bags stall You will think you are all hard Cancer this week. You go about the place Meat corner like Phil Mitchell. You even marry Things are looking up for you this someone called Sharon and then fall week. You will twist your neck. down a hole in a garage. Not so hard SUBSCRIBE! Your lucky clothing is a terrible frock now, eh, sunshine. For just £18 / year Your lucky Vegetables on a table are from the Gower SOUNDBOARD MAGAZINE delivered direct to your letterbox contact: [email protected]
There you go, the spirits have spoken oooooooooooooooh!
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THE LOAD-OUT KRAZY TIMES VERNON MILLS-HOPKINS PLAYED BASS GUITAR WITH THE SQUIRES AND WAS WITH TOM JONES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. HERE HE TELLS ONE MEMORABLE TALE FROM THOSE DAYS BACK IN THE SWINGING SIXTIES, INVOLVING SOME VERY FAMILIAR NAMES AND SOME SURPRISING GUEST APPEARANCES.
I REMEMBER OUR MANAG- ER, GORDON MILLS, ASKING “ US (THE SQUIRES) IF WE’D DO HIM A FAVOUR AND SUP- PORT ENGLEBERT HUMP- ERDINK AT A BIG GIG HE’D GOT AT THE ASTOR CLUB IN BERKLEY SQUARE, LONDON. The club was owned by a guy called Bertie Green who was friendly with some very shady characters including the notori- ous Kray twins, who just hap- pened to be in the audience on the night we played. Tom wasn’t needed for the show but he decided to come along anyway. I guess it was better than sitting all alone in a dingy bed-sit, or he wanted to check out the competition. The Astor was a massive club and we’d set up the equip- ment in the afternoon which meant we could turn up an hour before we were due on stage. We were shown to the
“with all the noise we’d been making, the python had woken up and started to slither out of the bag” Vernon (at the back) with Tom Jones and The Squires (at the back) with Tom Vernon dressing room by an Italian waiter. It was a broom cup- steak off him but we dragged him back to the dressing room board with a curtain across the front, right next door to the and decided to share what was left of it between us all. kitchens. After a while we noticed that there was something Chris couldn’t have closed the zipper up on the holdall moving inside a holdall that had been left to one side. Chris because with all the noise we’d been making, the python Slade (now with AC/DC) walked over and looked inside had woken up and started to slither out of the bag. Suddenly and immediately jumped back as the head of a huge python the waiter appeared and he was screaming at us in a mix emerged! Bertie Green had only gone and booked a stripper of English and Italian accusing us of stealing the steak. We on the same bill with us and this python was part of her act. all denied it and he became even more hysterical telling us We zipped up the bag and tried to forget about it. that the steak had been meant for Mr Kray and he wasn’t Meanwhile the aromas from the kitchen were driving us happy! The waiter was sobbing: “The bad man will ‘sleeta’ wild. We’d been living on a pound a day which was all that my throat”. Gordon Mills was allowing us. It was just enough for a sau- By now the snake had worked his way out of the bag sage roll and a pint each. That’s all we were eating. and was slithering across the floor. I said: The waiter had left a food trolley outside our curtain ready “Tell Mr Kray the snake ate it and cook him to be taken into the club and the smell of steak was driving another one”. us wild. I lifted one of the silver tureens up to see the biggest The next day Gordon read us the riot T-bone steak in the world, and it was still sizzling. As the act. He was livid. Bertie Green had been aroma wafted around me I called the band over to take a having a go at him about the steak but look: “Have a sniff of this, boys”. we continued to deny it right to the end. As I was about to drop the lid back on top a hand shot It tasted great though.” out and grabbed the steak from the plate. We all stared in wonder as Tom ran towards the fire exit chewing on the Vernon was chatting to Mike Kennedy steak as he went. and Sarah Birch. More great stories can Unfortunately for him the fire exit was blocked from the be found in his autobiography, Just outside and we soon had him cornered. We couldn’t get the Help Yourself, which is out now.
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THE COVER IMAGE...
SWANSEA’s rich and varied musical history can’t easily be captured in one image, but that didn’t stop us trying. Here are ninety seven faces representing music and performance from the 1950s to the present day, helping us to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Swansea gaining its City status. Tag yourselves, and anyone that you recognise in the image on our Facebook page. See page 7 inside for the full story.
Image: Johan Butenschøn Skre & Graham Morse. ©2019 SoundBoardMagazine Ltd. Reproduction prohibited without the express written consent of the Editor.