FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS / FLOGGING MOLLY / BEANS ON TOAST | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Thurs 6 Feb
As I finally took shelter from the hurricane conditions outside and walked through to the body heat radiator of the arena, I heard the immortal words from the PA: “Do you want a song about chickens or a song about bullshit?”
This was opening act Beans On Toast, whose question had a couple of thousand people screaming “CHICKENS!!!”, which was definitely a first for me. Making the crowd laugh with their clever, often hysterical lyrics about sex, drugs and politics, I knew this would be one big rock’n’roll party.
After using up my life savings on a couple of beers at the bar, I returned to find Flogging Molly brandishing their trademark, breakneck-speed Irish punk anthems. They’re a tremendous live band. The audience – well lubricated by now – were jumping around, singing their hearts out. I even spotted a couple of Michael Flatley wannabes.
If the night had ended there, I don’t think anyone would have felt short changed. But as Frank Turner took to the stage with his band, The Sleeping Souls, it became obvious that everything leading to this was an appetiser for the main course. From the opening notes of rebel anthem Photosynthesis, right through to closer I Still Believe, the crowd were in the palm of Turner’s hand as he reeled off gem after gem from his back catalogue. As he darted from one side of the stage to the other, heads followed as if on Centre Court. He’s such a magnetic frontman, and the audience hung on every last word.
The Sleeping Souls were great too, providing a tight rhythm section, and there was plenty of energy coming from all corners of the stage. Turner was talkative throughout, and genuinely seems to love being on stage entertaining people. There’s no bullshit, just straight-up, fun, brilliant rock’n’roll, which explains the wide range of age groups there. I saw families with their kids, students, veteran bearded folks and a few older couples too. This is testament to Turner’s talent for writing a belter of a tune.
My plan was to go to a club after the gig, but after seeing those bands I knew that any club would surely be a letdown. So I made my excuses and wandered home with a satisfied smile on my face, beer in my belly and a fire in my heart. Bliss.
words IAN ROGERS photo BEN MORSE