Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
Sat 12 Feb 2011
words: STEPHEN NOTTINGHAM
This was Meic Stevens’ final gig in Wales before he emigrates to Canada. The 68-year-old Welsh singer songwriter, whose career spans 40 eventful years, has been a massive influence on Welsh music.
Meic performed Welsh-language material from throughout his career; with the focus on the R&B side of his repertoire. Accompanied by no-nonsense drumming and bass playing, this was a rocking and unsentimental send-off gig that highlighted Meic’s gravely blues vocals and his excellent guitar playing. The enthusiastic crowd sang along to their favourite tracks, and Meic has written some very catchy tunes.
Meic’s influence on the Welsh rock music scene reaches from the Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci to a new generation of exciting bands – including tonight’s support Colorama. Their music mines the psychedelic-folk that Meic was writing in the 1970s but their highly-acclaimed debut album Box is very much of the moment.
He may be leaving Cardiff, but Meic Stevens is sure to remain an influential figure for many years to come. In addition to exploring new musical possibilities in Vancouver, he will be finishing a third volume of his memoirs and working towards an exhibition of his paintings to be held in Llanbedrog, North Wales, in 2012.