Phantom Radio

August was an unusual month as it was the first month in years I've gone with a gig. This is due partly to my participation in the Tokyo marathon. We've decided to draw in the horns so no Summer festival for us.

So you go a month without a gig then you get three in the same month. The first Houndstooth (right) was last Tuesday in what is rapidly becoming my favorite Cardiff venue the Full Moon club on Womaby Street. It feels, it smells like a proper venue especially as the Gents toilets are so close to the stage. I got in lateish for the gig with Gareth, but early enough to see the support 'band' Tender Prey. A Mark Riley favorite. On this occasion it was just the lead singer with a guitar, and very good she was too, a few effects pedals with percussion support from the stamping feet of the crowd.

I'd been waiting for Houndstooth to come over from America for awhile. I love their music and especially the one track 'Canary Island' which got some appreciative applause  and hopps when they played it. Houndstooth managed a neat trick of being both a bit shambolic and very tight. They also had a nice line in self deprecating stage banter.When Gareth and I filled out the bassist was selling the merch. "Hey!" she said, "Hey!" we replied and both bought albums. Great gig.

Next along was the second Mark Lanegan of the year for me, home turf for me this time at Soulus in the Cardiff Uni. I was suprised when Gareth and I got in there cause they'd done a complete refit, for the better I'd say, far more room, although I did miss the skanky sofas...I think I may have seen the Skanky Sofas once...The main support was Duke Harwood, who I wish i got closer to cause the crowd wasn't in the mood for his low-fi Americana, but it was good to catch up again with Gareth. The Mark Lanegan set was great, pretty much the same as the one he did in Bristol in January. He was slightly more talkative, slightly. At Bristol he was signing after the gig but then I had to get going, this time I came prepared with his last album. I didn't to be the over keen to I let someone be first in the queue. He was a big Mark Lanegan fan, and I passed a plenty few minutes yapping to him, he aplologised for being a geek. "Hey, we're all geeks." I replied. When I met Mark Lanegan he was as grumpy as fuck, but I would have been disappointed if he'd been any other way.

The next band up came courtesy of my next door neighbor Steve. He asked if I wanted to go and see a band called Outfit in the Louisiana in Bristol. Of course I did! I liked what I'd heard of the band and I love the Louisiana as a venue so we took a trip across the river. Thought the band were great in an Everything Everything type of style. They were a little bit chaotic but charming.

Since I've started writing this post I've been to my annual Richard Thompson gig. He was as great as ever - Sian hates him - and good to see him with a band again. I'll never miss the opportunity to hear "1957 vincent black lightning" live, and it was amazing to hear him do "Meet on the Ledge". Seeing him with my best mate Matthew was the cherry on the cake.

So my gig Tuesdays continue with Crosby, Still and Nash, which no one else would go with me to, and at the end of the week PiL back in Brizzie!