PrettyInScarlett

Finally... I wrote some reviews for things to do in Cardiff for flashy new website 1Off (link also on the right) a while back and it went live this week. There are listings for off the beaten track places, shops, eats, clubs etc. The site also covers cultural stimuli in 5 other UK cities, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, London & Newcastle. As an aside, Limehouse Lizzy's gig has now been rescheduled for Friday 2nd March at the Point.

2007 started with a bang yesterday (21st Jan), first gig of the year. M and I took ourselves off to Barfly to see The Hedrons. There were 2 support bands last night. First up the Stopmotion Men, with whom we were quite impressed. I can't say that any of their songs were particularly memorable, but they were very enthusiastic, quite heavy for a 3-piece (guitar, keyboard & drums), and had a sense of humour. Kudos to the keyboard player, much appreciated (although that may partly be to my current re-learning of the piano). Check out their myspace . Next up, were The Peakz (although the posters around Barfly indicate that the 5150s should have been on), who are an unsigned Welsh band. Their songs were quite similar apart from 1 50-second spurt. They seemed fairly well rehearsed, but had a fairly common problem of mumbling into the mikes. Nothing memorable from where we were, but not awful either. They also have a myspace . The Hedrons came onstage to an unfortunately thinned-out c...

New Year hellos! I'll start with a round up of 2006. Easily the best show of the year was the Rolling Stones. Stupendous. Other than that, its pretty hard to choose, but as far as gigs go, I have very good memories (in no particular order) of The Subways, The Sunshine Underground, Goldfrapp, The Zutons, Goo Goo Dolls, Mistys Big Adventure and our previous outing to see Limehouse Lizzy. Worthy of further attention: Howling Bells, Indigo Moss, The Grates and Kate Goes, to name a few. Hoping for a better Cardiff Calling this year; apart from the excellent Mistys, The Pipettes and The Chalets, it was a bit of a disappointment. The same for the last Inner City Pirates gig - I was tempted to put one of their early 2006 shows in the favourites list, but their recent shambolic state precludes that. Don't bother list -definitely iLIKETRAiNS! 2007, then. Currently the gig list is looking a bit empty! I do have Journey to look forward too - oh yes they are playing Cardiff in March! The ma...

Very very annoying. Apparently Pink Grease have cancelled their February date (see previous post) and as yet no info on the Long Blondes . With not even Limehouse Lizzy to commiserate - tomorrow's show also postponed. The New Years fireworks had better be good then!

A little quiet on the gig front currently, although we will be having New Year a day early, Limehouse Lizzy are back at the Point on 30th, yay. Have finally managed to go & see Pans Labyrinth, which is an interesting fantasy film - but definitely one for adults. More music-related, after a quick rifle through my local Save The Children shop, I stumbled upon Pink Grease's album (? its a promo) This Is For Real. Pink Grease are an indie- punky Sheffield band I saw a few times at uni. I really like this CD, which is fortunate as Pink Grease are actually playing Cardiff early next year. Be at Clwb Ifor Bach on Mon 26th February (2007). Staying on the Steel City, fellow Sheffielders The Long Blondes are in Cardiff the day before, at the Point ! I intend to do a round up of the year shortly, in the meantime happy festivities... check out the picture for a taste of Knusperhaüschen (gingerbread house).

To start with aforementioned Innercity Pirates gig on 28th Oct, well it was ok but.... Their support were Red City who are as crap as we remember! The Pirates came on stage (what passes for a stage in Callaghans anyway) in fancy dress (Halloween), so it was Superman & Darth Vader playing. A few lineup changes - guitarist, keyboard player, and an extra singer - all names available on myspace . Set was ok, well ok for copious drinking previously. Not sure that the extra vocalist added anything to the songs, most of which were new (which to us means post My Red Cell days), or very new. All in all a bit disappointing, compared to their April gig.... On a happier note, a very eclectic mix at the Point on Wed 1st, courtesy of Mistys Big Adventure . Two support bands, Envy and Other Sins and Kate Goes . To start with Envy.. quite a polished performance from a support band, especially going on recent history! Enjoyable set, for more info see their website or myspace. Up next Kate Goes.. ...

Back to Barfly last night, the disappointment of last time luckily not repeated! This time it was to see Howling Bells plus support Indigo Moss. For once, a decent support band! Indigo Moss are a bit hard to categorise, low fi with country tinges? It worked anyway! Their sound is a mixture of original material and arrangements of traditional songs, and an equally interesting style - one of the female members had a vintage floor length dress on... but I digress. All obviously competent musicians; with the exception of the bass player and drummer, the other members kept swapping instruments. Very enthusiasic response from the crowd, at times it seemed as if they were more popular than Howling Bells!!! I purchased their EP straight after the set, & their album may find its way here too... For more info see their website or myspace . By the time Howling Bells took to the stage, Barfly was pretty much full! Another excellent set. Howling Bells are one of the current bands du jour and ...