Words originally published in Cardiff magazine Buzz, and can be found in the September issue
Trwbador ****
Sun In The Winter EP (Owlet Music)
Once initial reservations are brushed aside (Trwbador are in fact not a boring acoustic folk act) this EP reveals itself as an interesting and pleasing experimental take on pop music. Comparable to the electronic-laced weirdo-pop of Micachu and the Shapes, this is unusual and ambitious and, for that alone, deserves to win many an admirer. JM
Showing posts with label buzz magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buzz magazine. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle (Single review for Buzz)
Words originally published in Cardiff magazine Buzz, and can be found in their August issue.
Bombay Bicycle Club **
Shuffle (Universal)
From teenage ‘indie’ to slightly more grown-up acoustic folk, it seems Bombay Bicycle Club’s next step – third album A Different Kind Of Fix – will be into the kooky and the avant-garde. Well, that’s what they seem to want us to think, at least. Zane Lowe might be convinced, but we’re not. JM
Bombay Bicycle Club **
Shuffle (Universal)
From teenage ‘indie’ to slightly more grown-up acoustic folk, it seems Bombay Bicycle Club’s next step – third album A Different Kind Of Fix – will be into the kooky and the avant-garde. Well, that’s what they seem to want us to think, at least. Zane Lowe might be convinced, but we’re not. JM
Friday, 15 July 2011
Big Deal - Lights Out (Album review for Buzz)
Words originally published in Cardiff magazine Buzz, and can be found in the August 2011 issue
Big Deal ***
Lights Out (Mute)
You know when something is just 'nice'? I'm sure you do, it's a fairly simple concept. Well, take that, apply it to music, and you might end up somewhere close to the debut album from boy-girl duo Big Deal. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, and the power of their harmonised voices, the result is relaxing, enjoyable, emotive, and delicate fuzzyindiepopfolk. Pleasant it certainly is, but it’s just not profound. JM
Big Deal ***
Lights Out (Mute)
You know when something is just 'nice'? I'm sure you do, it's a fairly simple concept. Well, take that, apply it to music, and you might end up somewhere close to the debut album from boy-girl duo Big Deal. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, and the power of their harmonised voices, the result is relaxing, enjoyable, emotive, and delicate fuzzyindiepopfolk. Pleasant it certainly is, but it’s just not profound. JM
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Wolf Gang - Suego Faults (Album review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Cardiff's Buzz magazine, and can be found in the July edition of the print magazine.
Wolf Gang ***
Suego Faults (Atlantic)
Two years since he burst onto the blogging scene and quickly established himself as an ‘exciting’ act, it’s fair to say that Max McElligott's debut album is long overdue. Much like his work to date – vibrant and explosive synth-heavy pop, all sparkly and golden psychedelia – it’ll be sufficiently pleasing to those already aware of his talents, even given the lengthy wait they’ve had to endure. It’s fun. But anyone with an opposition to the 80s – or cheese – should probably keep their distance.
Wolf Gang ***
Suego Faults (Atlantic)
Two years since he burst onto the blogging scene and quickly established himself as an ‘exciting’ act, it’s fair to say that Max McElligott's debut album is long overdue. Much like his work to date – vibrant and explosive synth-heavy pop, all sparkly and golden psychedelia – it’ll be sufficiently pleasing to those already aware of his talents, even given the lengthy wait they’ve had to endure. It’s fun. But anyone with an opposition to the 80s – or cheese – should probably keep their distance.
The View - Cutting Corners (EP Review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Cardiff print magazine Buzz, and can be found in the July edition.
The View **
Cutting Corners EP (1965)
Besides from not actually being an EP (only 2/5 songs here are new), this won’t be as God-awful as some might expect. Perhaps a little more serious and genuine than 'Same Jeans' et al., but still with similar musical stylings, this is far from good… but could be lots worse. Honest.
The View **
Cutting Corners EP (1965)
Besides from not actually being an EP (only 2/5 songs here are new), this won’t be as God-awful as some might expect. Perhaps a little more serious and genuine than 'Same Jeans' et al., but still with similar musical stylings, this is far from good… but could be lots worse. Honest.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
The Victorian English Gentlemens Club - Bag Of Meat (Album review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Buzz magazine and can be found in the June edition of the print magazine.
The Victorian English Gentlemens Club ****
Bag Of Meat (This Is Fake DIY)
It feels a little strange loving over a band who might well read the excited words that you scribble about them, but the third album from Cardiff's very own art-rockers really is most excellent. Energetic, intelligent, noisy, exciting, diverse and weird are just some of the words I’d use to describe it. Supplying off-kilter synth lines, satisfying guitar riffs, excellent vocals and interesting song structures – this will pleasure your ears. JM
The Victorian English Gentlemens Club ****
Bag Of Meat (This Is Fake DIY)
It feels a little strange loving over a band who might well read the excited words that you scribble about them, but the third album from Cardiff's very own art-rockers really is most excellent. Energetic, intelligent, noisy, exciting, diverse and weird are just some of the words I’d use to describe it. Supplying off-kilter synth lines, satisfying guitar riffs, excellent vocals and interesting song structures – this will pleasure your ears. JM
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Cults - Cults (Album review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Cardiff's Buzz magazine and can be found in the June edition of the print magazine.
CULTS **
Cults (In The Name Of)
Cults' early tracks had a certain 60s pop freshness, an excitement, that lead to impressive levels of (seemingly deserved) blogger-hype. New tracks, however, struggle to capture the same pop-zing of the NYC band's earliest efforts, and re-records of early internet-hits mean that even they fall flat on this record. Perhaps that this was to be the first release on Lily Allen's venture into the record label biz should’ve been a sufficiently big hint that this might be a bit pants. 'Cause it is. JM
CULTS **
Cults (In The Name Of)
Cults' early tracks had a certain 60s pop freshness, an excitement, that lead to impressive levels of (seemingly deserved) blogger-hype. New tracks, however, struggle to capture the same pop-zing of the NYC band's earliest efforts, and re-records of early internet-hits mean that even they fall flat on this record. Perhaps that this was to be the first release on Lily Allen's venture into the record label biz should’ve been a sufficiently big hint that this might be a bit pants. 'Cause it is. JM
Monday, 18 April 2011
Steve Mason - (Single review for Buzz magazine
Words originally for Cardiff's Buzz magazine and can be found in the May edition of the print magazine.
STEVE MASON ***
All Come Down (Double Six)
The ex-Beta Band man returns on his lonesome, swapping his band's psychedelic sound for a, well, slightly different psychedelic sound taken from his 2010 LP. Think kind of ambient, electro, folk-y psychedelic. Okay, so not that different to The Beta Band, and perhaps not quite as good. All Come Down is perfectly pleasant, though, if a little cheesy.
STEVE MASON ***
All Come Down (Double Six)
The ex-Beta Band man returns on his lonesome, swapping his band's psychedelic sound for a, well, slightly different psychedelic sound taken from his 2010 LP. Think kind of ambient, electro, folk-y psychedelic. Okay, so not that different to The Beta Band, and perhaps not quite as good. All Come Down is perfectly pleasant, though, if a little cheesy.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Mazes - A Thousand Heys (Album review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Cardiff's Buzz magazine and can be found in the April edition of the print magazine.
MAZES *****
A Thousand Heys (Fat Cat Records)
As much as Mazes debut is a huge nod to the past (saying that here lies a Pavement influence would be a big understatement), it’s also an album that is very now. Wading their way through the swathes of bloggers leaping to hype their lo-fi alternative rock jams, the London band have seemingly been entirely unaffected by it all. Although A Thousand Heys will be especially adored by fans of Male Bonding, Lovvers, and Spectrals, it has a lot to offer to pretty much anyone and will undoubtedly find itself on plenty of end of year lists. JM
MAZES *****
A Thousand Heys (Fat Cat Records)
As much as Mazes debut is a huge nod to the past (saying that here lies a Pavement influence would be a big understatement), it’s also an album that is very now. Wading their way through the swathes of bloggers leaping to hype their lo-fi alternative rock jams, the London band have seemingly been entirely unaffected by it all. Although A Thousand Heys will be especially adored by fans of Male Bonding, Lovvers, and Spectrals, it has a lot to offer to pretty much anyone and will undoubtedly find itself on plenty of end of year lists. JM
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong (Album review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Cardiff's Buzz magazine and can be found in the April edition of the print magazine.
PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART ***
Belong (Play It Again / Fortuna Pop!)
The follow up to their much loved and critically acclaimed, Belong will need to live up to some high expectations for many. The New York band’s self-titled 2009 release mixed saccharine and twee pop with noisy, jangling guitars and boy/girl harmonies to wonderful effect. Unfortunately this doesn’t reach those expectations. Not quite, anyway. It’s still a strong showing along similar musical lines to the debut, if slightly more downbeat, with plenty of strong tracks – but, ultimately, might leave some underwhelmed. JM
PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART ***
Belong (Play It Again / Fortuna Pop!)
The follow up to their much loved and critically acclaimed, Belong will need to live up to some high expectations for many. The New York band’s self-titled 2009 release mixed saccharine and twee pop with noisy, jangling guitars and boy/girl harmonies to wonderful effect. Unfortunately this doesn’t reach those expectations. Not quite, anyway. It’s still a strong showing along similar musical lines to the debut, if slightly more downbeat, with plenty of strong tracks – but, ultimately, might leave some underwhelmed. JM
Friday, 18 February 2011
Y Bandana - Y Bandana (Album review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Cardiff's Buzz magazine and can be found in the March print edition.
Although they’re not there yet, north-Walian Y Bandana show potential on their self-titled debut. It’s a little safe and middle-of-the-road indie rock/pop that you’d be forgiven for thinking came out of Sheffield in 2005 were it not for the Welsh vocals, but the youngsters show an ability to play well and write catchy tunes. Although it will be loved by many, band members might just look back in five year’s time a little embarrassed - once tastes have developed and influences widened.
Although they’re not there yet, north-Walian Y Bandana show potential on their self-titled debut. It’s a little safe and middle-of-the-road indie rock/pop that you’d be forgiven for thinking came out of Sheffield in 2005 were it not for the Welsh vocals, but the youngsters show an ability to play well and write catchy tunes. Although it will be loved by many, band members might just look back in five year’s time a little embarrassed - once tastes have developed and influences widened.
Wild Palms - Until Spring (Album review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Cardiff's Buzz magazine and can be found in their March print edition.
Wild Palms are another in a long line of young bands coming in at the time of post-punk popularity; essentially they spent their teens listening to The Maccabees before recently discovering the likes of My Bloody Valentine. Although Until Spring is vocally and lyrically a little bit weak, instrumentally it’s very good - all bent and distorted delicious guitar lines. On the whole this is a decent listen, Wild Palms fairing better than most of their chart-aspiring, Joy Division imitating peers.
Wild Palms are another in a long line of young bands coming in at the time of post-punk popularity; essentially they spent their teens listening to The Maccabees before recently discovering the likes of My Bloody Valentine. Although Until Spring is vocally and lyrically a little bit weak, instrumentally it’s very good - all bent and distorted delicious guitar lines. On the whole this is a decent listen, Wild Palms fairing better than most of their chart-aspiring, Joy Division imitating peers.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Fenech Soler - Demons (Single review for Buzz magazine)
Words originally for Buzz magazine, and will be published in the February edition.
***
More dance-y electro-pop fun from this dance-y electro-pop fun four-piece, taken from their self-titled debut released in twenny-ten. Nothing overly atrocious or offensive, though it’s the sort of big-chorused, self-adoring ‘anthem’ that Radio 1 excruciatingly force-feed you like the ducks that you are. This single comes loaded with even dancier remixes, for those of that persuasion. JM
***
More dance-y electro-pop fun from this dance-y electro-pop fun four-piece, taken from their self-titled debut released in twenny-ten. Nothing overly atrocious or offensive, though it’s the sort of big-chorused, self-adoring ‘anthem’ that Radio 1 excruciatingly force-feed you like the ducks that you are. This single comes loaded with even dancier remixes, for those of that persuasion. JM
Monday, 6 September 2010
Mr. Nice (Film Preview for Buzz Magazine)
Words originally for Buzz Magazine, written during a week's work experience completed in August 2010, published in Buzz's October issue.
Mr. Nice
A biopic starring Rhys Ifans about the life of notorious drug smuggler Howard Marks is to hit UK cinema screens this month.
Ifans stars as the Bridgend-born Marks in film {Mr. Nice} (pronounced like the French city rather than the adjective, apparently), named after his autobiography of the same title, which is directed by Bernard Rose and also stars Chloë Sevigny as Marks’ wife, Crispin Glover, and Omid Djalili.
Marks, who is friends with Ifans, shot to fame as an international marijuana smuggler, believing that the drug should be legalised, through a string of high profile court cases, as well as links with the IRA and the mafia – and he was often seen as a political criminal rather than merely a drug smuggler.
The film, a comedy-drama that made its debut at the SXSW film festival, follows his life; through his times at Oxford University, as a teacher, his steps into the drug business and the life that follows it, as well as issues regarding the legalisation of the drug.
Mr. Nice will be on cinema screens around the UK on Fri 8 Oct.
Mr. Nice
A biopic starring Rhys Ifans about the life of notorious drug smuggler Howard Marks is to hit UK cinema screens this month.
Ifans stars as the Bridgend-born Marks in film {Mr. Nice} (pronounced like the French city rather than the adjective, apparently), named after his autobiography of the same title, which is directed by Bernard Rose and also stars Chloë Sevigny as Marks’ wife, Crispin Glover, and Omid Djalili.
Marks, who is friends with Ifans, shot to fame as an international marijuana smuggler, believing that the drug should be legalised, through a string of high profile court cases, as well as links with the IRA and the mafia – and he was often seen as a political criminal rather than merely a drug smuggler.
The film, a comedy-drama that made its debut at the SXSW film festival, follows his life; through his times at Oxford University, as a teacher, his steps into the drug business and the life that follows it, as well as issues regarding the legalisation of the drug.
Mr. Nice will be on cinema screens around the UK on Fri 8 Oct.
Monster Jam (Tour Preview for Buzz Magazine)
Words originally for Buzz Magazine, written during a week's work experience completed in August 2010, published in Buzz's October issue.
Monster Jam!
Four-tonnes worth of fuel-guzzling metallic beast, 2,000 horsepower engines, $250,000 worth of engineering, 66-inch tyres, lots of noise, freestyle motocross, and American men with facial hair driving monster trucks. Can you guess where this is leading yet (I reckon it was the mention of monster trucks that gave it away, or possibly that darn headline?)... Monster Jam is back in Cardiff!
This year visiting the Millennium Stadium in October for one day only, the tour brings some of the world’s most famous trucks and drivers across the globe, performing flips, spins, wheelies and jumps – as well as generally destroying things as they go.
One of this year’s drivers coming to Cardiff is current Monster Jam World Freestyle Champion Charlie Pauken, who drives the legendary Grave Digger truck. We had a chat to him about what it’s like to drive one of these 10 feet long and 11 feet wide beasts, which can reach 100mph and are capable of jumping off of ramps to heights of over 100 feet, for a living.
“It’s pretty wild,” Charlie says, casually. “One trick I like to perform is the flat wheelie, but as I’m driving the truck through a wheelie I like to stick my hands out and wave to the crowd. I’ve got so comfortable in the truck doing the tricks now that I think: “’I’m not doing anything else, so I might as well just wave to the fans!’”
Isn’t that a little dangerous? “I’ve been knocked out twice and I broke my hand a few years ago,” he says. “It can be dangerous, but I’m in one of the safest vehicles out there to be crashing into things.”
Safe? Pff. Why bother doing it, then? “To me it’s always about the kids,” he says. “Putting a smile on a kids face, that’s everything to me.” Which is lucky, because any kids (or adults) can head down before the event a little early (if they buy an extra ticket for a few quid) to meet and get their photos taken with the drivers of this slightly crazy, but definitely exhilarating, sport. Sounds pretty cool.
Sat 9th Oct, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Info: 08442 777 888 / www.monsterjam.com. Tickets: £20 for adults, £10 for children.
Monster Jam!
Four-tonnes worth of fuel-guzzling metallic beast, 2,000 horsepower engines, $250,000 worth of engineering, 66-inch tyres, lots of noise, freestyle motocross, and American men with facial hair driving monster trucks. Can you guess where this is leading yet (I reckon it was the mention of monster trucks that gave it away, or possibly that darn headline?)... Monster Jam is back in Cardiff!
This year visiting the Millennium Stadium in October for one day only, the tour brings some of the world’s most famous trucks and drivers across the globe, performing flips, spins, wheelies and jumps – as well as generally destroying things as they go.
One of this year’s drivers coming to Cardiff is current Monster Jam World Freestyle Champion Charlie Pauken, who drives the legendary Grave Digger truck. We had a chat to him about what it’s like to drive one of these 10 feet long and 11 feet wide beasts, which can reach 100mph and are capable of jumping off of ramps to heights of over 100 feet, for a living.
“It’s pretty wild,” Charlie says, casually. “One trick I like to perform is the flat wheelie, but as I’m driving the truck through a wheelie I like to stick my hands out and wave to the crowd. I’ve got so comfortable in the truck doing the tricks now that I think: “’I’m not doing anything else, so I might as well just wave to the fans!’”
Isn’t that a little dangerous? “I’ve been knocked out twice and I broke my hand a few years ago,” he says. “It can be dangerous, but I’m in one of the safest vehicles out there to be crashing into things.”
Safe? Pff. Why bother doing it, then? “To me it’s always about the kids,” he says. “Putting a smile on a kids face, that’s everything to me.” Which is lucky, because any kids (or adults) can head down before the event a little early (if they buy an extra ticket for a few quid) to meet and get their photos taken with the drivers of this slightly crazy, but definitely exhilarating, sport. Sounds pretty cool.
Sat 9th Oct, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Info: 08442 777 888 / www.monsterjam.com. Tickets: £20 for adults, £10 for children.
Breakin' Convention Dance (Show Preview for Buzz Magazine)
Words originally for Buzz Magazine, written during a week's work experience completed in August 2010, published in Buzz's October issue.
Breakin’ Convention
Breakin’ Convention is a critically acclaimed annual festival of hip-hop dance theatre and, now in its seventh year, visits Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre at the end of this month to kick off its third extensive UK tour.
Curated and hosted by hip-hop artist Jonzi D, the tour brings some of the world’s best hip-hop dancers around the UK – from Paris’ Phaze T (“casually astonishing” – The Independent) to Sebastien and Raphael (“the most outstanding use of theatrical performance and video projection” – Too much Flavour), of Perpignan and Berlin respectively – as well as giving some of the best local talent a chance to perform to hometown crowds.
As well as dance, the show, which is the only of its kinds in the UK, also brings an international workshop programme to each city, including graffiti writing and freestyle circles (where audiences are often seen to join in), animating each venue’s foyer area. It should be a fun few nights indeed.
Breakin’ Convention, Fri 22-Sat 23 Oct, Wales Millennium Centre. Tickets . Info: 029 2063 64 6 4 www.wmc.org.uk
Breakin’ Convention
Breakin’ Convention is a critically acclaimed annual festival of hip-hop dance theatre and, now in its seventh year, visits Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre at the end of this month to kick off its third extensive UK tour.
Curated and hosted by hip-hop artist Jonzi D, the tour brings some of the world’s best hip-hop dancers around the UK – from Paris’ Phaze T (“casually astonishing” – The Independent) to Sebastien and Raphael (“the most outstanding use of theatrical performance and video projection” – Too much Flavour), of Perpignan and Berlin respectively – as well as giving some of the best local talent a chance to perform to hometown crowds.
As well as dance, the show, which is the only of its kinds in the UK, also brings an international workshop programme to each city, including graffiti writing and freestyle circles (where audiences are often seen to join in), animating each venue’s foyer area. It should be a fun few nights indeed.
Breakin’ Convention, Fri 22-Sat 23 Oct, Wales Millennium Centre. Tickets . Info: 029 2063 64 6 4 www.wmc.org.uk
Doctor Who Live (Theatre Preview for Buzz Magazine)
Words originally for Buzz Magazine, written during a week's work experience completed in August 2010, published in Buzz's October issue.
Doctor Who Live
Feeling a little too old and grown up for hiding behind the sofa from all the monsters on Doctor Who? Sensible enough to have realised that a flight of stairs would stall those Daleks for long enough for you to escape were they to storm your house in the middle of the night? So tough that not even the biggest and baddest of Cybermen could stop you from enjoying your morning newspaper on the bus to work? Perhaps a Dalek flying towards your face in a live arena will fix all of that growing up and maturing that age has done to you... Say “hello” to Doctor Who Live, the BBC Worldwide audio and visual production that comes to Cardiff International Arena at the end of this month.
Doctor Who Live follows Vorgenson, a new character played by Nigel Planer (Neil from The Young Ones, performances in We Will Rock You and Chicago), who is described as ‘an inter-galactic showman’ and the Doctor’s biggest fan. Vorgenson, who was adapted exclusively for the show by {Doctor Who} executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat, travels the galaxy with his clever invention, the Minimiser – a machine that can summon any Doctor Who character as part of his travelling show dedicated to his hero, the Doctor.
As he travels, Vorgenson brings a wide range of monsters to the stage for his audience to see, with terrifying live voices provided by Nick Briggs. Briggs, who creates the voices for the likes of Cybermen and the Daleks for the award winning BBC television show, will also play the role of Winston Churchill – another of the characters summoned by Vorgenson using the Minimiser.
The live show brings together music, live performances from top actors, optical illusions, special FX (including a flying Dalek), pyrotechnics and video scenes of Matt Smith as the Doctor shown on giants screens on stage; promising the same suspense, excitement, and terror that {Doctor Who} has provided for almost 50 years.
Doctor Who Live, Thurs 28-Sun 31 Oct, Cardiff International Arena. Tickets start at £25. Info: 029 2022 44 88 / www.livenation.co.uk/cardiff
Doctor Who Live
Feeling a little too old and grown up for hiding behind the sofa from all the monsters on Doctor Who? Sensible enough to have realised that a flight of stairs would stall those Daleks for long enough for you to escape were they to storm your house in the middle of the night? So tough that not even the biggest and baddest of Cybermen could stop you from enjoying your morning newspaper on the bus to work? Perhaps a Dalek flying towards your face in a live arena will fix all of that growing up and maturing that age has done to you... Say “hello” to Doctor Who Live, the BBC Worldwide audio and visual production that comes to Cardiff International Arena at the end of this month.
Doctor Who Live follows Vorgenson, a new character played by Nigel Planer (Neil from The Young Ones, performances in We Will Rock You and Chicago), who is described as ‘an inter-galactic showman’ and the Doctor’s biggest fan. Vorgenson, who was adapted exclusively for the show by {Doctor Who} executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat, travels the galaxy with his clever invention, the Minimiser – a machine that can summon any Doctor Who character as part of his travelling show dedicated to his hero, the Doctor.
As he travels, Vorgenson brings a wide range of monsters to the stage for his audience to see, with terrifying live voices provided by Nick Briggs. Briggs, who creates the voices for the likes of Cybermen and the Daleks for the award winning BBC television show, will also play the role of Winston Churchill – another of the characters summoned by Vorgenson using the Minimiser.
The live show brings together music, live performances from top actors, optical illusions, special FX (including a flying Dalek), pyrotechnics and video scenes of Matt Smith as the Doctor shown on giants screens on stage; promising the same suspense, excitement, and terror that {Doctor Who} has provided for almost 50 years.
Doctor Who Live, Thurs 28-Sun 31 Oct, Cardiff International Arena. Tickets start at £25. Info: 029 2022 44 88 / www.livenation.co.uk/cardiff
Frisky and Mannish (Comedy Tour Preview for Buzz Magazine)
Words originally for Buzz Magazine, written during a week's work experience completed in August 2010, and can be found online here.
Frisky and Mannish – The College Years
Following their much loved and critically acclaimed debut show School of Pop, as well as a string of awards at various festivals, musical-comedy duo Frisky and Mannish return with follow up The College Years, visiting Cardiff’s St David’s Hall as part of their UK tour this month.
Laura and Matthew, who formed their comedy act in 2008, are known for hilariously re-arranging well-known (and sometimes much hated) pop songs such as those of Lady Gaga, as well as merging modern pop culture with history or classic literature, like their Kate Nash rendition of Wuthering Heights.
The pair were featured as ‘talents to watch’ by The Sun, but don’t let that bother you – real newspapers love them too, such as The Guardian and The Independent who chucked adjectives such as “joyous” and “wildly talented” at them.
The College Years is the sequel to their schooling debut and provides more of the same, but better, according to reviews. It sees the likes of Florence and the Machine covering Peter Andre, Noel Coward singing Lily Allen, and Dizzee Rascal performing a duet with Shirley Bassey all to side-splitting effect and, at 10 quid, is a bit of a bargain too.
Tue 14th Sept, St David’s Hall. Info: www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk / 029 2087 8444. Tickets: £10
Frisky and Mannish – The College Years
Following their much loved and critically acclaimed debut show School of Pop, as well as a string of awards at various festivals, musical-comedy duo Frisky and Mannish return with follow up The College Years, visiting Cardiff’s St David’s Hall as part of their UK tour this month.
Laura and Matthew, who formed their comedy act in 2008, are known for hilariously re-arranging well-known (and sometimes much hated) pop songs such as those of Lady Gaga, as well as merging modern pop culture with history or classic literature, like their Kate Nash rendition of Wuthering Heights.
The pair were featured as ‘talents to watch’ by The Sun, but don’t let that bother you – real newspapers love them too, such as The Guardian and The Independent who chucked adjectives such as “joyous” and “wildly talented” at them.
The College Years is the sequel to their schooling debut and provides more of the same, but better, according to reviews. It sees the likes of Florence and the Machine covering Peter Andre, Noel Coward singing Lily Allen, and Dizzee Rascal performing a duet with Shirley Bassey all to side-splitting effect and, at 10 quid, is a bit of a bargain too.
Tue 14th Sept, St David’s Hall. Info: www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk / 029 2087 8444. Tickets: £10
Mary Chapin Carter (Gig Preview for Buzz Magazine)
Words originally for Buzz Magazine, written during a week's work experience completed in August 2010, published in Buzz's October issue.
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare
Thurs 28 Oct
Mary Chapin Carpenter may not particularly enjoy the “country” music tag that she has had laid upon her for the last 23 years of performing, but unfortunately it’s a word I struggle to avoid when writing this preview. In fact, this label is not something only argued against by Mary herself, but also by music writers of her early days and throughout her career as a whole. They argue that Mary, despite being simplistically labelled on websites such as Wikipedia as a “folk and country music artist”, is much more than this – various individuals noting over the years that her sound is reminiscent of The Beach Boys, Motown music, The Beatles, and it is highly unfair, with her use of the likes of sitar, ukulele, and guitar loops, to describe her music with such basic labels.
This tag doesn’t seem to have hurt her career too much, though. With five Grammy Awards under her belt, 12 top 10 singles, and having sold over 13 million records in her time, American-born Mary to continues to have an incredibly successful career – and her visit to Aberdare, which is her only Welsh stop as part of her 10-date rarely seen UK tour on the back of her latest album {The Age of Mircales}, will undoubtedly be a popular one. Support comes from American singer-songwriter Tift Merritt.
Tickets: £25 advance, £27.50 on the door. Info: www.coliseum.rct-arts.org / 01685 881 188.
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare
Thurs 28 Oct
Mary Chapin Carpenter may not particularly enjoy the “country” music tag that she has had laid upon her for the last 23 years of performing, but unfortunately it’s a word I struggle to avoid when writing this preview. In fact, this label is not something only argued against by Mary herself, but also by music writers of her early days and throughout her career as a whole. They argue that Mary, despite being simplistically labelled on websites such as Wikipedia as a “folk and country music artist”, is much more than this – various individuals noting over the years that her sound is reminiscent of The Beach Boys, Motown music, The Beatles, and it is highly unfair, with her use of the likes of sitar, ukulele, and guitar loops, to describe her music with such basic labels.
This tag doesn’t seem to have hurt her career too much, though. With five Grammy Awards under her belt, 12 top 10 singles, and having sold over 13 million records in her time, American-born Mary to continues to have an incredibly successful career – and her visit to Aberdare, which is her only Welsh stop as part of her 10-date rarely seen UK tour on the back of her latest album {The Age of Mircales}, will undoubtedly be a popular one. Support comes from American singer-songwriter Tift Merritt.
Tickets: £25 advance, £27.50 on the door. Info: www.coliseum.rct-arts.org / 01685 881 188.
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Above: Jake attempts to consume a vegetarian-style hot dog at Latitude music festival, 2010.