Before I write another word, you might have noticed (if your from the local area) I’m a headliner missing, no Henry’s Funeral Shoe who were said headliner, yours truly made the conscious decision to abstain, having already seen them any number of times, what drew me tonight were the opening two bands.

Openers Dead Shed Jokers have to me released the LP of the year in All the Seasons, produced by ex Tortoise Corpse’s Tim Hamill in his studio down in far West Wales, which you can pick up on Band camp (Sadly the Corpse have long since necrosed, but if you fancy listening to some absolutely stunning technical thrash, dig deep into the metal graveyard), in fact its not just me who’s been raving about this release, I think every mag that’s reviewed it has been stunned by how good a record it is, and I hope this is the one that drags them kicking and screaming out of the underground, I mean its even trending as I write in HMV in Cardiff.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, I had heard nothing but good things about live. And coming off the back of a tour slot with Miles Kane, recent Radio 1 coverage and a feature in NME, these are another Welsh band going places, shows how vibrant and diverse Welsh music is at present.

Opening to a more than half full priory the Dead Shed Jokers proceeded to tear the place a new one, no compromise and with only playing songs from the new LP, the band absolutely nailed it. Live the music takes on a whole new dimension, it’s complexities driving rather than slowing things down, when you watch the band, influences flick through your mind but ultimately what you are listening to is so unique the influences pale into insignificance, this is 100% original and I love the refusal to bend or re-shape the sound for the mass market.
Now I have to say after reviewing All the seasons I didn’t realize how much of a monster Dreams of North Korea was going to be live, you could have picked my jaw up off the floor. The only shame about tonight’s performance was it was too short!! Fact!

Now talk about rock music on the other end of the spectrum, as Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard kicked in their set I found myself transported back to the ’70s, frontman Tom very definitely channelling his inner Bowie drawing down early days Jagger when preening was par for the course, and recalling classic Glitter band, Bolan, Wizzard et al. And for the whole duration of the set, the band got tighter and tighter with the crowd expanding more and more, dancing and smiling taking over en masse with tracks like Late night city, Love forever and double denim hop, bringing the stomps.

Two bands, one pushing a totally new direction for rock music, the other caught on the revivalist train each relevant now and today, showing how strong rock music in Wales currently is, it doesn’t get much better for a Saturday nites entertainment.

Author: Nev Brooks