Kev2012
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Mid Wales Music Scene - GIG6: Newspaper Article
Kev2012 wrote:
Last Friday (July 20th) music fans across the county were treated to a showcase of some of Mid Wales’ finest musical talent. The event was organised by local non-profit music promoters Mid Wales Music Scene and was a party to celebrate the official album release of Llandrindod Wells band, Oneyeopen.
The show kicked off with Tom Hopkins (who was celebrating his birthday) giving a classic acoustic set that was encumbered with astuteness on the guitar, a harmonica, spontaneous trumpet playing and, as always, contained a comical and lyrical aspect which left the gathered crowd highly amused. His set was the perfect start to the evening, and as a measure of his continued development as a musician he has now recorded a 3-track demo album that will be available to buy at future MWMS gigs that Tom plays.
Following on from Tom was a man with a reputation around Llandrindod Wells for being an accomplished musician but remarkably it was his debut at a MWMS show. Marv, aka Martin Kingston, kicked off his set with a song that everybody knew the words to, even if it was an unexpected introduction. The lyrics to Postman Pat are synonymous with most childhoods, yet Marv unexpectedly christened his debut with a rendition of the children’s classic that craftily merged into a cover of a song more commonly heard in Mary Poppins! Needless to say his set did increase in seriousness as it progressed, covers of classic songs fused with personal tracks still in development left the crowd highly impressed with what they heard and eager to hear more.
James “Alaktrokash” Kemp took to the microphone next, a veteran of past gigs James Kemp’s singing was soon joined by the vast majority of the quickly swelling audience to form a rather interesting ensemble. He reeled off tracks such as She Reminds Me of Me and Lady Godiva with his usual expertise though it’s interesting to note each time he performs them somehow it appears like they sound better and better. At current rate of improvement James will surely be making waves in a wider music scene sooner rather than later. One only needs to listen to latest EP, Do You Accept…?? To realise the true extent of James’s ability as musician.
Anybody who has a TV, Radio or simply ventured out of their home on Friday would have been aware that the weather, to put it bluntly, was shocking! To say it rained would be a massive understatement. Needless to say a band travelling up from Exeter, and having to come via the M5, would have encountered substantial difficulty. That was exactly the case with main support for the evening Le Chat Noir who, despite a valiant attempt, had to give up the fight to make the gig at 10pm (and then spend the night trapped in their car on the motorway, and finally arriving home at 9am the following morning!). The disappointment of Le Chat Noir’s difficult circumstances was quickly dispelled however with news they will be coming back to Mid Wales very soon.
The Hostages, from Rhayader, have been enjoying a rather elongated sabbatical of late. Drummer Simon Boss-Johnson spent six months on a world tour, but he’s back now and despite only coming to watch the show, not be a part of it, a patched up Hostages comprising of Simon, Tom Jones (lead singer/guitar) and James Cox (guitar) jumped at the chance of an impromptu set. With loaned equipment, and no bass player, The Hostages done something many bands wouldn’t have even attempted. They took over the roll of Le Chat Noir with barely a moments notice and done so with some aplomb. They entertained the now bumper crowd and showed that they truly are one of the best live acts Mid Wales has to offer.
Synthetica, by comparison, are relatively new on the scene, but over a short period they have grown to be one of the hottest acts doing the Mid Wales circuit. Their techno infused rock is innovative, enjoyable and highlights the ability of the individual members of the band. They too opened up their set with a children’s classic as they done their own spin on the theme to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, before moving onto a song that epitomises their sound, Roll Like a Ninja will surely be the first track to find its way onto a Synthetica album. The Monty Basement was filled to capacity and it’s the atmosphere that is then created that Gareth and Glyn Pugh really work with their punchy vocals.
And that brings us nicely to the final act on the bill, and the reason why so many fans from all over Mid Wales found their way to The Montpellier Hotel. Oneyeopen are not a new band, but of late they have been making noise, in more ways than one. Their performance was the talk of the Workhouse Festival and they followed up the buzz they created with another show that grabbed every single meaning of the word rock and rammed it into the faces of the largest assembled crowd at any MWMS gig. Greg Fisher, lead singer and guitarist of the band, was in inspired form; the energy he radiated as he performed stunned those hearing the band for the first time, and fully justified the headline status for the evening. Greg was ably assisted by Mike Sivier, Alan Allen and Gary Grimson and Oneyeopen ended the party, thrown in their honour, with a performance that will live long in the memory of all those who were lucky enough to witness it.
Mid Wales Music Scene would once again like to take the time to thank everybody in attendance and highlight the behaviour that has be faultless at every gig. It is the fans turning up, and bands performing so ably, that has meant Mid Wales Music Scene will be celebrating its 1-year birthday on Friday, August 3rd. The venue will be the Montpellier Hotel and it’s an ambitious show that will feature six live bands in the basement, and five acoustic acts performing in the bar lounge. Headliners for the night will be Kerrang! featured band Three Years Hiding, who are signed to LockJaw Records and Not Advised, from Southampton, who are signed to Melodramatic Records and recently supported Inme. Entry for this unbelievable line-up of music will be a modest £3 and the show will start at 7pm sharp and run through to 11pm. Anybody from any band that has performed at a Mid Wales Music Scene show will be entitled to free entry on the door. More information will be appearing in the Mid Wales Journal on August 3rd.
Copyright of Kevin Martin 2007
Published in the Mid Wales Journal 28th July 2007
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Aug/7/2007, 3:22 pm
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