It’s not every night you can go out in Cardiff and watch an equally heavy, decent live band. The fine folk behind Lesson Number One promotions however are certainly doing their bit to change this. Tonight is no exception with 3 acts ranging from experimental rock noise to straight edge hardcore to brutally heavy ‘math’ metal. There’s only one problem though… it’s nearly 9 o’clock and there’s no sign of the headliners, with no obvious channel of communication with our American friends, it’s uncertain whether Race Bannon are going to be taking to the stage at all tonight. Regardless, the show must go on!
Up first, with quite possibly the best name ever submitted into the pages of musical history Cardiff / Skewen based drum and guitar duo ‘Brown Wings’. I’d heard a few tracks online beforehand and was curious to see how these self confessed Lighting Bolt ‘nuts’ came across live. Long story short… they didn’t disappoint, with a range of pedals that would make even John Petrucci jealous (ok… slight exaggeration) and a bizarrely miniature backline (considering the behemoth scale of noise!) guitar and drums sing, dance and collide in a cacophony of warm fuzziness, decimating sound waves and filling the room with a cloud of pure unadulterated groove and tribal / rock / metal rhythm! Who needs a bass guitar when you’ve got a big muff pedal eh?!
The only thing you could ever hold against these guys is that they sound a hell of a lot like Lightning Bolt… I struggle to see how this could ever be perceived as a negative comment however as “I don’t wanna sound like a queer or nothing… but I think Lighting Bolt kick ass!” For that reason alone Brown Wings are well worth checking out, these guys are seriously talented, equally inspired and I’ve got nothing but respect towards them for getting up on stage and trying something a bit different. I could probably listen to these guys play all night and not get bored, trouble is they’ve only got so many songs written and everyone is left wanting more… much more, one to watch for sure! For more information on how to get your very own ‘Brown Wings’ check out their Myspace at the following address… www.myspace.com/brownwings
Next up is Human Race, who, as some of you might gather from the moniker are a hardcore band. I’ve personally got a bit of a love / hate relationship with hardcore but for me that’s also part of the appeal. I’m instantly drawn in by a sticker on the bassists guitar “Drugs are for sluts and Losers”, how awesome is that? I’m a slut and a loser so I guess I’m doing alright on that front. There’s a lot of testosterone on show tonight but the band are both loud hell and tight as fuck! For me Human Race’s set was the embodiment of what ‘hardcore’ is all about and the boys put on a solid show. I wasn’t even shitting in nappies when Minor Threat and Black Flag were out there, putting in the miles and giving a whole generation of disenchanted youths a voice so it’s really cool having a bit of that going on 20 years later… and in your own backyard. Check em out at… www.myspace.com/thehumanracehc
And that’s that… the night is over, Race Bannon didn’t make it. There’s nothing left to do except say our thanks to the promoters and retire downstairs for some dearly priced tequila slammers. Fair play to Noel and the guys at Lesson Number One as anyone who wasn’t content with the two varied offerings of noise are being reimbursed at the door (how often do you see that happen?). Were still out back in buffalo pissing our refunds up the wall when word finds us that Race Bannon are in the building… We head upstairs to see what all the commotion is about and sure enough there they are… ready to play, ready to tear this place a new asshole… trouble is, this is the UK and after 11, it doesn’t matter if your Motorhead, Jazzy Jeff or Madonna you aren’t getting on stage. I’m so pissed by this point one of my eyes has started to close and the only word I can say is “Boobies!”, so you know… excuse me for not quoting the band word for word. From what I can gather there was a mix up at the airport with the van, with no working mobile phones or indeed a clear idea or plan of how to get to the venue it was a lose, lose situation. The guys look slightly bummed about missing the show, not that you could really guess from their wide grins and absurdly positive, friendly American attitudes!
“We’d play now if we could!” they all in turn assure me, even offering to play the following day wherever and whenever it could be arranged. It would have been awesome to see Race Bannon play, but sometimes you just can’t have it all, I wish them the best, thank Noel and the team and stumble off towards home. The next day I wake up and plonked underneath my letterbox is a copy of Race Bannon’s new album ‘Acid or Blood’, Southern records sent it across prior to the gig, the CD like the band however, arrived slightly too late… but hey we do live in Wales after all and props to the guys for making it over at all! Next time I’m sure will be a different matter… this isn’t over Race Bannon! I press play on the stereo, sit back and cradle my aching head… shit… I think I’m going to be sick! But don’t just take my word for it, check ‘em out for yourself at www.racebannon.net or for you social networking whores type into your browser www.myspace.com/racebannonrocks
For more information on Lesson Number One and the best upcoming live shows in South Wales / Cardiff go to lessonnumberone.blogspot.com
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