A LONG time ago, this column used to just be about gigs the writer thought looked good in the month ahead, but at some point, for reasons the writer cannot actually remember, it changed into an outlet for the writer’s opinions on things such as elections, when they occur. This edition, however, combines both things (sort of) by looking back at POLLING DAY GIG MEMORIES! Read on…
Queens Of The Stone Age, Newport Centre, Thurs 7 June 2001: this was when QOTSA were still good, and very on-trend to boot, so naturally south Wales rewarded them with a turnout that made the 59.4% who apparently voted that day look impressive in comparison. Nevertheless, they were tight, had the mighty Goatsnake as their opening band and the pisspoor King Adora as main support, inviting everyone to go and drink in the bar because this ridiculous venue doesn’t let you take beers in the main room for crying out loud. In the election, meanwhile, absolutely nothing of interest happened.
Virus Syndicate, Toucan Club, Thurs 5 June 2005: I was involved in putting this on with a bunch of pals, and just as well because it absolutely tanked. Our keenness to do what I think was the first dubstep night in Cardiff, with sets from Virus Syndicate’s DJ Mark One and the later-to-be-big Pinch, was all well and good, but we weren’t club promoters and most of the potential audience for this didn’t know we existed. VS, who drove down from Manchester to play and straight back again, were great nevertheless. In the election, meanwhile, absolutely nothing of interest happened.
Damon & Naomi, Cardiff Arts Institute, Thurs 6 May 2010: Damon & Naomi, formerly of Galaxie 500, are minor royalty for fans of old-skool American shoegazey indie, so this being a free entry gig was quite the coup. Or so one might have thought before rocking up here in the company of a couple of dozen other punters. What ingrates live among us! Don’t remember much about their set, to be fair: a low-key one with people slouching on cushions, I think. In the election, meanwhile, parliament was hung like a quirky decoration on the wall of this long-gone venue, yet it would be wrong to say that the Lib Dems atomised their integrity by climbing into the Tories’ van of puppies for a crumb of governmental power. Wrong, because that happened a few days later, not on the night.
Moss, Moon Club, Thurs 7 May 2015: first ever south Wales date (I think) for respected UK doom metal band garnered – wait for it – a handful of punters. Seem to recall Moss missing a bassist, for some reason, but they were decent enough and said “fuck the Tories” to conclude their set. In the election, meanwhile, the UK did not concur with Moss.
Gnod, The Moon, Thurs 8 June 2017: the venue’s operations having moved downstairs two years hence, these glorious Salfordian noiserock polemicists squeezed onto its pokey stage and made a great racket. What’s more, the attendance was not shite, perhaps even ‘quite good’. That’s because Gnod fans are clever legends who want to watch the election but know you can go and see a band first without missing anything that important. In the election, meanwhile, a combination of events occurred which caused me to wake up on my friend’s sofa an hour after I was supposed to be in work.
Daresay I’ll be at Man Forever, which is previewed on the Music page, come Dec 12. Before that, there’s BODYVICE (Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Sat 7), THE SCHOOL and ROSEHIP TEAHOUSE (The Moon, Sun 8) and SPECTRAL VOICE (Fuel, Tue 10). After, a Popty-Ping Records Christmas party (Le Public Space, Newport, Sat 14), MCLUSKY (Clwb Ifor Bach, Thurs 19 and Fri 20), MACHIAVELLIAN ART and HAQ123 (Moon, Fri 10 Jan), THE BELLRAYS (Le Public Space, Fri 17 Jan) and the second Volume Forever Alldayer with ITALIA 90 and many more (Moon, Sat 25 Jan). Or possibly total nuclear annihilation. Noel Gardner