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live review BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Tues 23 July words STEVEN GIDDEY photo JO LOPEZ In an age of manufactured TV pop stars, instant online music access and short attention spans, Bruce Springsteen does things the old fashioned way. Known for his blue collar, everyman music and blistering live shows, he once again brought his musical roadshow to Cardiff, lifting the Millennium Stadium roof off in a performance of such intensity that at times it felt like a southern Baptist church service rather than a concert. With a back catalogue spanning 17 albums and 40 years this was a set that was wide and varied. Bookended by gospel classic This Little Light Of Mine, Bruce and the E Street Band were quickly into their work. He took his much-loved crowd requests early on, including Prove It All Night(“ in the key of E right?” he asked his guitarists with a wry grin), and a first ever live performance of TV Movie from 1998’ s Tracks Box Set. New album Wrecking Ball was also covered off early on; Death To My Home Town, We Take Care Of Our Own and Wrecking Ball were well received, a sign that his audience are still loyally following his new work. With no sign of Born In The USA, Glory Days or Streets Of Philadelphia, a greatest hits set this was not. Not that this mattered a dot, Hungry Heart got the first big cheer of the night before we were treated to a surprise duet with Eric Burdon of The Animals on his classic We’ ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place. 14 songs in is generally around the time where most acts would be wrapping up, but not The Boss, he somehow summons the energy to keep going for longer and longer, absorbing the energy of the superb musicians behind him. Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren are tireless on guitar, Roy Bittan and Danny Federici hammer away at the keys, Max Weinberg never misses a beat and Jake Clemons is a fitting substitute for his late uncle, Clarence, on sax. An emotional tribute to long time E Street Band member Clarence left most with moist eyes, as did Waitin’ On A Sunny Day, where Springsteen was joined by a seven-year-old fan from the front row to sing the chorus, before summoning the musicians with a young, high pitched cry of“ Come on E Street Band!” The magic of Springsteen isn’ t just his longevity, his incredible back catalogue, or his ability to pluck obscure B-sides out of the air and play them note perfect. It isn’ t even The E Street Band. The magic of Springsteen is that he is utterly believable. He connects with every word he sings and every soul in the stadium. He leaves you drained, both from dancing all night and from the emotion of the occasion. His energy is infectious and the smile never leaves his face. By the time he leaves the stage for the first time after three and a half hours, you know you’ ve witnessed something very, very special.
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SATURDAY 3 All To Ruin Hobo’ s, Bridgend. 7.30pm. Info www. hobosmusicvenue. com. EP launch gig. Altered‘ 80s The Yard, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 7577. Avenge The Heartache + As Flames Rise + Falling For Vanity + To Catch A Killer Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm. Info mail @ givemefuel. co. uk. Big Band Swing Hamptons, Penarth. £ 34. Info 029 2070 5391. Rat Pack classics plus their descendants – Bublé, Cullum, Robbie Williams. By a probably believeable coincidence, I was listening to Mark Lanegan’ s cover of You Only Live Twice while typing this listing. I’ d come here to listen to him while eating a fivecourse meal. Blaenfest Various venues, Blaenavon. 12pm, £ 5. Info blaenfest @ gmail. com. Taking place in the Workman’ s Hall, the Queen Victoria, the Market Tavern and the town centre. Workman’ s Hall: Fell On Black Days, Ten Cent Toy, Born Of Ruin, Dead City, Crybaby Deathmatch, Oceans Apart, Red Exit Girl, Thousand Fingers, Clarity Is Arson and To The Depths. Queens: Wishful Drinkin’ Blues Band, Redneck, Pandora’ s Secret, Hounds Of Justice, Crash In Clouds, Now and Then, Fast Company, 1 Bold Soul and Lauren Balaam. Tavern: Lauren Balaam, Nick Byrne, Stacy Davis, Lily Skyrme, BBC Acoustic Band, Everybody Knows Eddie, SAAB Acoustic and Rob Pennington. Capital City Jam Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 2-10pm, free. Info info @ ministryoflife. co. uk. This will have lots of local rap / grime /’ urban’ artists, with Sneakbo and Klashnekoff the headliners. Fairground rides and workshops will be among the other attractions. DSW Borough Blues Club, New Panteg RFC, Pontypool. 8pm, £ 7 /£ 5 members. Info 01633 483238. Eric Faulkner’ s Bay City Rollers + The Siren Sisters Main Stage, Blestium Street, Monmouth. 8pm, free. Info info @ monmouthfestival. co. uk. Golden Voices, Golden Harp Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £ 12 /£ 6 kids. Info 0845 2263510. Featuring Côr Meibion Llanelli; conducted by D Eifion Thomas. Last Edition The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. Musicfest Grand Viennese Ball Arts Centre, Aberystwyth. 8pm, £ 7.50- £ 15. Info 01970 623232. Featuring the Orion Orchestra and conductor Toby Purser. Rachael Clee Grand Theatre, Swansea. 12-2pm, free. Info 01792 475715. Singer / actress performing in the Footlights Cafe Bar. Rhondda Rocks The Factory, Porth. 1pm, £ 10 /£ 15 weekend. Info 01443 687080. Today features The Primitives, The Computers, The Wave Pictures The Keys, The Lovely Eggs, Golden Fable, Zinc Bukowski, Houdini Dax, Little Eris, Whack Turkey and Morning Star.( Until Sun 4) Rock Choir – Pontyclun Branch Cardiff Central Library. 1pm, free. Info 029 2078 0960. * Spider Kitten + |
Cementimental + Jimmy Rowe Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, free. Info 01633 221477. Doom, noise and blues, in descending order.
SUNDAY 4 National Youth Orchestra Of Wales St David’ s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £ 12. Info 029 2087 8444. Owain Whatley + Maddie Jones + Calum Duell The Brewhouse, Cardiff. 7pm. Info 029 2039 9913. New series of Brewhouse Originals gigs, on every Sunday evening, presented by Big Scott. Rhondda Rocks The Factory, Porth. 1pm, £ 10 /£ 15 weekend. Info 01443 687080. Today features Space, Mark Morriss, Islet, Sweet Baboo, Zephyr Reign, Replaced By Robots, The Coalition, Death Pop, Blackbyrd, The Vendettas, Cherry Rebels and Paint Happy.( Finishes today) Sundae Sessions Gwdihw, Cardiff. 4pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933. Acoustic sets from Jack Barnett, Beccy Farr, Peyote, Gilded Bones and Siobhan McCrudden. Tafijah Allstars + Cobalt Sons + Junior Bill & The Scallies + Calum Ross Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £ 4. Info mail @ givemefuel. co. uk. Presented by Oxjam. The May Duo The North Star, Cardiff. 1-3pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Also on Sun 18.
MONDAY 5 Beneath The Reef + Ghouls + White Clouds & Gunfire The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 3. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. Brockham Choral Society Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Grown Up Music The Full Moon, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. A jam session for grown-ups, it says here. Madi Stimpson Trio Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 3pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Mavron Quartet Half Term Concert The Gate, Cardiff. 1pm, £ 5. Info 029 2048 3344.
TUESDAY 6 AC / DC UK Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £ 17.50 /£ 13.50. Info 01792 475715. Tribute band. Bethan Leaflet + Tom Law + Dodie Clark + Dave J Giles Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 6. Info 029 2023 2199. Capital City Jazz Orchestra Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 7 /£ 5. Info 029 2023 9253. * Joanna Gruesome + King Of Cats + Something + Gindrinker + Ides Buffalo, Cardiff. 7pm, £ 4. Info 029 2031 0312. Presented by Reeks Of Effort. The Joanna Gruesome album is great but YOU( probably) can’ t hear it( yet). The Wessex New Orleans Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 4.50 /£ 4. Info 029 2034 0591.
WEDNESDAY 7 Aidan Thorne Trio The North Star, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Alabama 3 The Garage, Swansea. 8pm, £ 15 adv. Info 01792 475147. Unplugged set. Arek Mazurek Quartet
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Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 7 /£ 5. Info 029 2023 9253. Bandaoke Porter’ s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info info @ porterscardiff. com.“ Sing with a fully rehearsed band and become the Popstar you always dreamed of being.” Bevan + The Tundra + Delyth McLean Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £ 3. Info 029 2039 7933. A Folk In The Owl’ s Nest night. Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Felindre Village Hall, Powys. 7-9pm, £ 4 /£ 2 under-16s. Info sambabrecon @ yahoo. co. uk. Every Wednesday. Hot Club Gallois Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1 + 3pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. James Duggan Ensemble Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm. Info 07802 912789. James Kennedy Open Mic The North Star, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Also on Wed 21. Song And Tune Nights The Windsor Hotel, Pontyclun. 7.30pm, free. Info 01443 226892. Every Wednesday except when there’ s a gig on. The Lost Souls Club + Tidal + 21 Against Sin City, Swansea. 7.30pm, £ 5 adv. Info 01792 468892.
THURSDAY 8 Brockley Forest The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. Dewi Griffiths The Old Library, Cardiff. 6-8pm, free. Info 029 2066 6566. Galapagos Now + Bee To The Itch + Love Bazaar The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 4. Info info @ thefullmooncardiff. com. Headliners are from Brooklyn and play music somewhere between post-hardcore and antifolk, I’ m informed. Harrington Saints + The Guntys + Trigger McPoopshute The Dolls House, Abertillery. 8pm. Info 01495 213300. Headliners are a street punk band from California.“ Subject matter rang [ es ] from politics to pints at the pub with the boys,” you’ ll be reassured to know. Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. With guest band Journeymen. Lee Jones Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 1 + 3pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. First solo, then with a band. Matt Cook Tempus Bar, St David’ s Hotel, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info 0844 8246171. Nice Peter Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £ 10 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. A YouTube comedian who plays the guitar. See you down the front. Of the queue to board the coach to Dignitas. Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm. Info 01633 858636.
FRIDAY 9 Andy Huntley The North Star, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2062 4050. Bedwas Rocks Bedwas Rugby Club. 6pm, £ 5. Info info @ bedwasrocks. co. uk. Featuring live music from bands TBC, and a BBQ. In aid of Velindre Hospital. On all day tomorrow. * Brecon Jazz Various ven-
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