Oceansize – Cardiff Barfly – 04/02/10

After this show was originally cancelled back in November (due to the hospitalisation of drummer Mark Heron), this rescheduled date sees an admirably sized queue lining up to enter the Barfly – a venue that’s always been too small for this band. Unfortunately staff walk up and down faffing about with the logistics of valid tickets from the original date. As a result, we get in over half an hour late. But it’s not us that suffer, it’s openers Brontide.

We hot-foot it down the stairs to find them half way through their first song. They get one more. Just one. The band protest that they can have time for a third track, but are answered with house lights and sound system. It’s the closest Rocklouder has been to seeing a band smash equipment in sheer anger. It’s a shame, because the song (and a half) we heard sounded fantastic.

Reading Festival 2009 – Saturday

Ouch. Saturday greets us with more bruises than we had expected, so we make a mental note to take it easier, then promptly throw such notions out the window to headbang like a loon to excellent newcomers Chickenhawk (4) on the BBC Introducing Stage. We then head to the NME Stage to catch too-cool-for-school Spinnerette (2), who are possibly the disappointment of the weekend. “I hope your day gets better,” says Brody Dalle “I know mine will.” Yeah, cheers love we get it, but perhaps we’d look less bored if you looked like you actually wanted to be here. Metric (3) then startle everyone to life, the polar opposite of Spinnerette; lively and energetic, they ditch all notion of looking cool as frontwoman Emily Haines showcases some truly hilarious dance moves (think dad-dancing crossed with aerobics) but it’s something the crowd is more than happy to get involved in.

Rolo Tomassi – Cardiff Barfly – 29/04/09

Rolo Tomassi do something to us tonight, we don’t quite know what but we lose track of time and composure as each track belts out better than the last. We’re not the only ones under a spell; they shouldn’t have removed the barrier, as bodies collide into the stage and RM suddenly becomes impromptu monitor and mic-stand protector. ‘Oh Hello Ghost’ and ‘Abraxis’, like most of Hysterics, utterly slay – but despite ‘I Love Turbulence’s excellence it’s older track ‘Film Noir’ that really impresses tonight; delivering a claustrophobic intensity that speaks volumes about the band. The noise they make just should not work, yet it makes us perfectly willing to ignore possible injury as we contort, mosh and dance. ….

In full on Rockmidgets.com

5/5

Cancer Bats – Cardiff Barfly – 28/04/2009

Intense is far too weak a word to describe headliners, Cancer Bats. From the word go, the crowd set about demolishing themselves in surprisingly little space, the band soundtracking the carnage with excellent runs through tracks like ‘Harem Of Scorpions‘ and ‘Bastard’s Waltz‘….

in full on Rocklouder.co.uk

4/5

Metallica – London O2 Arena

Death Magnetic well and truly silenced doubts Metallica after the St. Anger period, though anyone that caught their triumphant set at Reading (or Leeds) Festival would have already been more positive about the legends ninth studio album. However, those at Reading might have experienced a little déjà-vu if they got tickets to this sold out O2 Arena show, as if the many cries of “turn it up” had finally echoed to London.

3/5

The sound is abysmal. …

In full on Rocklouder.co.uk

Fight Like Apes – Cardiff Barfly – 23/02/09

that Fight Like Apes choose to start with one of their two finest songs isn’t a worrying sign of things about to get boring, but a testament to their live skills. ‘Something Global‘ packs more energy into under three minutes than should be possible, instantly dividing the crowd between those that know how much fun they’re in for and those that don’t, which means half the crowd looks on impressed or bewildered whilst the other half (RL included) jump and dance around like goons…

In Full on Rocklouder.co.uk

4/5

The Prodigy – Brixton Academy

We’ve missed the supports and the longest cloakroom queue in the world threatens to rob us of the headliners, too.  Luckily, as we squeeze through the rammed Brixton Academy crowd, we’re in the front rows in perfect time for dance/rave/punk/whatever heroes, The Prodigy to arrive.  The venue explodes to the pounding beats of new number ‘World’s On Fire’, fired out by Liam Howlett behind his imposing ‘control center’.  All attention is drawn towards Maxim and Kieth Flint though; the MC’s stalking the stage – everything about their appearance and demeanour predatory…

3/5

In full on Rocklouder.co.uk

Swn Festival – Future Of The Left – 16/11/08

Sunday brings the early start Saturday should have had, and we take our space in the Barfly for Butterflies With Beards (2/5), whose songs are a bit college rock band, but hide anthemic intentions full of potential. Neath four-piece Friends Electric (4/5) are next, and they come with an increase of fashionably dressed teens and a flurry of photographers.

…

However, one band have yet to steal the show. If you paid the full wristband price and only saw Future Of The Left (5/5) this weekend, it would have been worth it.  …

In full on Rockmidgets.com

4/5

Day One
Day Two

Swn Festival – Truckers Of Husk – 15/11/08

We begin Day two of Swn (click here for Day One and Day Three) in the cramped corner of Buffalo Bar, where locals Attack And Defend (4/5) have a nightmare that turns into the best and worst set of the day. After an excitable intro, the set grinds to a halt as their guitar fails. Two replacements later they start again, their ramshackle clatter combining with the unpredictability of what’s unfolding. And when the instruments actually work, it sounds great. It’s livewire frontman Mark Thomas who makes this disaster enjoyable; all witty, despairing banter and energy that could power a tower block. It sees him standing on tables, and thrashing about on the floor, kicking things – like the stage that he puts his foot through… the fact they keep going means one of the worst gigs of their lives provides the set of the day. …

In full on Rockmidgets.com

3/5

Day One
Day Three

Glassjaw – Cardiff University – 09/05/2008

This never happens. Glassjaw are a rare band to be spotted in the UK, but when they announced a single headline date amidst the handful of Give It A Name shows, we never thought it would end up in Cardiff. Cardiff is very lucky.

Armor For Sleep are not. They do nothing wrong except be there. Barely a tenth of the audience wants to see them, but such is the anticipation for the headliners, if a band like Metallica had been main support, they too would probably have received the same polite but impatient applause. It’s a shame, because for all the sneers of ’emo’ (the hair, kerchief and whiney vocals don’t help), Armor For Sleep are an outstanding act. They need a little more diversity to their songs, but in a smaller venue, their tight, intense and gorgeously dynamic music would own the venue.

But enough of this!