live
PARAMORE
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Sat 21 Sept
Teenage girls, middle aged parents and in-the-musical-closet metalheads unite, because your favourite (not) guilty pleasure are making a return to Wales after their last show in Cardiff for a couple of years. Since forming in 2004, Paramore have had a meteoric rise thanks to a hectic touring schedule and support from the Fueled By Ramen label that’s also counted Fallout Boy and Panic! At The Disco among their ranks. In their nine years as a band, there’s been an equal amount of discontent and strife along with the success. Founding members Josh and Zac Farro left under acrimonious circumstances after accusations of lead singer Hayley Williams’ overzealous management to market her instead of the band. Much like the teenage fanbase of the band, the story of Paramore played out like a high school drama between an attention-seeking alpha female and a group of guys vying for the same attention. It’s easy to let the internal tensions and politics of the band outweigh the music, but it’s hard to ignore that there has been a lot of hard work and great pop song writing to emerge from the group in their nine years together. Combining pop-punk, emo, ballads and straight up unadulterated pop influences has ensured a steady string of hits both in the UK and across the pond in the states. Arguably, their breakthrough song was Misery Business, which I dare you to listen to and attempt to dislike even against your better judgement. April of this year saw the release of their self-titled fourth album, which has carried on the same tradition of infectious pop rock that they’ve built their fan base on, and the show in Cardiff will be their first appearance in Wales to promote the new album and their back catalogue. Expect high energy and asymmetrical haircuts galore, with pint-sized Hayley taking centre stage and overshadowing the rest of the band with her charisma and super size voice. Let Paramore into your life and embrace your inner teenage girl and you’ll have a good time regardless of how much you have to spend on a warm beer at the show. Tickets: £27.50. Info: 029 2022 4488 GARETH MOULE
LAZY HABITS
Sin City, Swansea Sat 5 Oct This is a lot to take in. London eight-piece Lazy Habits are a contradiction that resists description. Expect formidable hip-hop verses, rich jazz melodies and choruses as catchy as any pop charttopper. It sounds like a lot, and it is. Astonishingly, though, not only does it work, it excels and results in a truly refreshing sound. It’s worth mentioning also that despite identifying as a venture in hip-hop – albeit only as much as New Orleans jazz and classic-era soul – they may surprise you lyrically. You may put your drinks up if you wish but this is purely optional. Throwing Miss Baby Sol, Lazy Habits’ guest vocalist for the night, into the mix further ups the ante. Proving to be no less of a contradiction than the band she joins, I find myself less than certain that there are not two Baby Sols out there – so proficiently does she straddle musical genres. She had a top five single last year with Redlight, and does uptempo so well it may be a surprise when confronted with the decadent but distinctly sunny sound of her debut solo album – which has earned her kudos from the likes of Eliza Doolittle and Paloma Faith. Whichever Baby Sol shows up that night you’re in for a treat. Summation: expect hip-hop, jazz, ska, reggae and soul with pop production values. Tickets: £8. Info: 01792 468892 (AM)
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
St David’s Hall, Cardiff Tue 24 Sept Country musician and all round ultradude Kris Kristofferson is heading to Wales to play a one-off concert at St David’s Hall. The Grammy award winner, one of contemporary country music’s biggest names, will be playing tracks from his latest studio record, the critically acclaimed Feeling Mortal, as well as various classics from throughout his much accomplished career. Kristofferson, who dreamt of musical success from a young age, managed to force his way into the music industry after getting a job as a janitor at Columbia Records. Not long after he earned a reputation as one of America’s finest and most important voices and so began an extensive career, whose highlights include not least the penning of classics including Me And Bobby McGee, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Help Me Make It Through The Night and For The Good Times. Also an accomplished Thespian, Kristofferson spent a significant period of his career focusing on acting and has performed in over sixty films to date. Indeed younger folk might know him best as Blade’s mentor Abraham Whistler or as Jennifer Aniston’s dad in He’s Just Not That Into You. However, Tue 24 Sept will be all about the music. And, with only four other UK gigs in the pipeline, anyone who wants to see him should seriously consider getting themselves along. Tickets: £29.50/£26. Info 029 2087 8444 (PM)
THE MAGIC NUMBERS
Pontardawe Arts Centre Weds 11 Sept Four-piece sibling band The Magic Numbers return to tour the UK before the release of their fourth album in early 2014. Consisting of two brother and sister duos – Romeo and Michele Stodart and Sean and Angela Gannon – The Magic Numbers burst onto the scene in 2005, with the release of their first album and a passionate, swelling fanbase. They quickly gained media attention and went on to be nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, which inevitably propelled the band further into the limelight. They have since released two more albums and had the chance to tour with the likes of Morrissey, The Flaming Lips and The Who. They will be playing the Pontardawe Arts Centre as part of their first ever acoustic tour across the UK and Ireland. This tour is heading in a much more personal direction for the band, who are leaving the big city venues behind for much more intimate shows. They’ll be debuting some of their new material from the forthcoming album, which is yet to be titled, as well as revisiting their older albums; additionally, there’ll be some question and answer sessions, giving the audience greater participation in the show and a more direct connection with their fan base. They aim to visit some of Britain’s best churches, theatres and music venues along the way and reach out to a new audience. Tickets: £15. Info: 01792 863722 (KH)
FAUSTUS
Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan Fri 4 Oct Faustus has pressed together three ultra-talented folk musicians in one band: Paul Sartin, an accomplished academic and fiddle player with a background as a lay clerk in Cathedral choirs; Benji Kirkpatrick, a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter brought up by folk musicians; and Saul Rose, a melodeon player born out of Morris dancing and ending up in London’s West End. Faustus has become the younger sibling of Paul Sartin’s original quartet Dr Faustus which also featured Benji Kirkpatrick and duo Tim Van Eyken and Rob Harbron. They released their second album Broken Down Gentleman earlier this year as a follow-up to their self-titled debut album, and are embarking on a tour around the UK, which began in Cardiff Bay’s Wales Millennium Centre. Their take on traditional English music, hand-in-hand with their undeniable musical talent, has been hailed by critics and in 2009 they were nominated for Best Group in the BBC Folk Awards. They generally share the responsibility of lead vocals, offering three different styles to the performances and the odd switch of instrument which gives a rich variety to the common stereotype of folk music. They will be playing in Cardigan’s Theatr Mwldan, in an intimate show – attendees of which can expect their usual banter and charisma mixed in with their enthusiastic performance and songs that are possibly rooted in innuendo. Tickets: £13/£12. Info: 01239 621200 (KH)
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