In its 2nd year, Cardiff Calling returned on 25th August. Much better weather than last year (which led to Dirty Sanchez to 'go soft', advising listeners to drink the free water & wear sunscreen), but substantially fewer people, not as many essential must-see bands, and as for the food - it will put me off going again next year (if there is one - the promoters seemed to be struggling and the event was on a much smaller scale than previously).
All was not lost - of the 3 stages (main stage plus Myspace tent and Xfm tent), the smaller stages and bands contained the real gems, the exception was Newton Faulkner on the main stage. Out of the line-up, we checked out:
Inner City Pirates
The Guns (for about 5 mins & then The Jan Watkins Band)
Newton Faulker
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog
The Roseville Band
Killing for Company
The Automatic
Remi Nicole
Bonde do Role
Super Furry Animals
The Rumble Strips
and about 5 minutes of The Streets - not our thing, sorry!
The best, in terms of atmosphere and interest, were Newton Faulkner, Remi Nicole and Bonde do Role. The Rumble Strips came close, points for trumpet and sax; they had a good attendance but didn't seem to exude the same aura of excellence.
Newton Faulker was quite a pleasant surprise, hadn't heard much of his stuff, singer-songwriter with panache! His highly amusing songs on a variety of subjects, including recent singles I Need Something and Dream Catch Me. He brought to mind an Inner City Pirates support from last year, a certain Matthew Monroe (for whom I still can't find a website). Newton Faulker has a nationwide tour in November, details on his website.
Remi Nicole is much hyped at the moment, in my mind alongside the likes of Lily Allen or Kate Nash, but much better and without Lily or Kate's annoying accents (affected or not). She gained an audience throughout her set, ending up with quite a full tent for 'Go Mr Sunshine'!
Bonde do Role are the 'other Brazilian band' (alongside CSS) and getting a fair amount of radio play. Their sound is very much 'sample something and make it fun' in the vein of (their words) funk/club/metal, and fun they are indeed, a party atmosphere from the off. I have no idea what they played, but it was all excellent; samples are available on their myspace. An American/European tour starts 1st September. Go!
For the rest, the ticket was (just) worth buying for the number of 'Barfly bands' that were on the Myspace and Xfm stages, and most of them were at least good. The Jan Watkins Band still sounded samey, Inner City Pirates looked sober but weren't that much better for it. Cowbois Rhos Botwynnog were very interesting, perhaps my first experience of Welsh-language music for any length of time. Killing for Company have grown on me a bit, at the Liberty Stadium they sounded a bit lost, but not here. Their set generated a good crowd, and they are competent purveyors of their chosen brand of rock, but there was nothing truly innovative. The dire Guns can't compare! Back at Cardiff Barfly on 5th October. The other acts on the main stage were good enough, although 1hr2o of The Streets seemed a bit too much & he hadn't inspired after 5 so we left. I believe Dizzee Rascal and Kate Nash were crowd favourites of the main stage audience and will probably dominate other reviews.
Up next? Alabama 3 are playing the Coal Exchange's last show before they close for redevelopment, 28th September.
All was not lost - of the 3 stages (main stage plus Myspace tent and Xfm tent), the smaller stages and bands contained the real gems, the exception was Newton Faulkner on the main stage. Out of the line-up, we checked out:
Inner City Pirates
The Guns (for about 5 mins & then The Jan Watkins Band)
Newton Faulker
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog
The Roseville Band
Killing for Company
The Automatic
Remi Nicole
Bonde do Role
Super Furry Animals
The Rumble Strips
and about 5 minutes of The Streets - not our thing, sorry!
The best, in terms of atmosphere and interest, were Newton Faulkner, Remi Nicole and Bonde do Role. The Rumble Strips came close, points for trumpet and sax; they had a good attendance but didn't seem to exude the same aura of excellence.
Newton Faulker was quite a pleasant surprise, hadn't heard much of his stuff, singer-songwriter with panache! His highly amusing songs on a variety of subjects, including recent singles I Need Something and Dream Catch Me. He brought to mind an Inner City Pirates support from last year, a certain Matthew Monroe (for whom I still can't find a website). Newton Faulker has a nationwide tour in November, details on his website.
Remi Nicole is much hyped at the moment, in my mind alongside the likes of Lily Allen or Kate Nash, but much better and without Lily or Kate's annoying accents (affected or not). She gained an audience throughout her set, ending up with quite a full tent for 'Go Mr Sunshine'!
Bonde do Role are the 'other Brazilian band' (alongside CSS) and getting a fair amount of radio play. Their sound is very much 'sample something and make it fun' in the vein of (their words) funk/club/metal, and fun they are indeed, a party atmosphere from the off. I have no idea what they played, but it was all excellent; samples are available on their myspace. An American/European tour starts 1st September. Go!
For the rest, the ticket was (just) worth buying for the number of 'Barfly bands' that were on the Myspace and Xfm stages, and most of them were at least good. The Jan Watkins Band still sounded samey, Inner City Pirates looked sober but weren't that much better for it. Cowbois Rhos Botwynnog were very interesting, perhaps my first experience of Welsh-language music for any length of time. Killing for Company have grown on me a bit, at the Liberty Stadium they sounded a bit lost, but not here. Their set generated a good crowd, and they are competent purveyors of their chosen brand of rock, but there was nothing truly innovative. The dire Guns can't compare! Back at Cardiff Barfly on 5th October. The other acts on the main stage were good enough, although 1hr2o of The Streets seemed a bit too much & he hadn't inspired after 5 so we left. I believe Dizzee Rascal and Kate Nash were crowd favourites of the main stage audience and will probably dominate other reviews.
Up next? Alabama 3 are playing the Coal Exchange's last show before they close for redevelopment, 28th September.
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