“How does this happen?” remarks Those Damn Crows frontman Shane Greenhall, staring out in awe at the crowd from the stage of Cardiff’s Utilita Arena. To anyone who has been following the band for a while, the answer should be obvious. Across 10 years, the Bridgend five-piece, have built up a loyal following through consistent touring and three albums bursting with memorability. They may not be used to playing venues of this size, but they certainly deserve to be.
Sophie Lloyd serves as an impressive support act, demonstrating a wizardry on the fret-board that many guitarists only aspire to achieve. Interpolations of Pink Floyd and Metallica quickly win the crowd over, whilst the roster of guest vocalists she invites on stage – including Joe Williams from the evening’s opening band Himalayas – lend a diverse array of voices and musical stylings to the set.

If there were any reservations amongst audience members about Those Damn Crows’ ability to command an arena of this size before the show, then those doubts surely dissipate the moment they take to the stage, as the performers exude confidence. Opener Who Did It is one of many moments to provoke a massive sing-along. Meanwhile, the band successfully execute several tonal shifts, from the contemplative acoustic guitar led piece of Stay to the frankly hilarious cover of Video Killed The Radio Star – demonstrating the Crows’ sense of humour.
In terms of production value, this is a show worthy of a venue of this size. Each time we think the musicians, and technical crew have given all they have to give in terms of way to impress, there’s a new surprise thrown our way, be that the vivid light displays that compliment Blink Of An Eye or the dazzling pyrotechnics during Let’s Go Psycho. The band wanted to make an impression with this performance, and that’s exactly what they did, as across 90 exhilarating minutes, they turn the concert into a thrilling, emotional and life-affirming experience.

Far from resting after achieving perhaps their biggest career milestone with this show, Those Damn Crows already have a busy 2025 planned: releasing their fourth album in April, and headlining Ebbw Vale’s Steelhouse Festival in July. Tonight feels like the start of a new era for the band, as they go on to achieve further success – and that the few thousand of us here tonight could be witness to the birth of that era, feels like an immense privilege indeed.
Those Damn Crows, Utilita Arena Cardiff, Sat 14 Dec
words ALEX SWIFT photos ANTHONY JAMES