Deaf Havana, Cardiff University Great Hall, Cardiff, 15th April 2014

Now, I'm really really really defensive about Deaf Havana. In more than one previous post I've been like "piss off hardcore people leave them alone" and I'm still like that. Sorry not sorry. 

My friend Yasmin and I have been DH fans for years. Having seen them work their way up to the Reading mainstage I sort of feel protective and proud of their decision to stick to their guns in the new direction of their music during their member reshuffle. Tonight would be a bit emotional, and judging by the bottle of wine and several vodkas we'd shared pre-gig, a bit messy. 

SADLY the queue meant we'd missed by a few minutes first support act and locals The People the Poet, previously Tiger Please. Surely next band The Maine would be soothe the wound, right?!?!?!? Blimey, how... underwhelming. The Maine were a band I loved in 2007, when synths and breakdowns were the thing (thanks, Four Year Strong) and yet the performance was flat, as displayed in a bored looking audience. "We All Roll Along" was a bit more as if we were all plodding along. Soz guys. 

Deaf Havana though. After a couple more drinks, this shouldn't have been the band to see. A band for whom I normally completely lose my mind. Not good. Sorry to all who heard me scream as "Smiles All Round", my favourite Deaf Havana song, and one I thought I'd never hear live again, was played. Despite the fact that this was indeed the Old Souls tour, there was enough Fools and Worthless Liars content to go round, and even a stripped down performance of the beautiful "Nicotine and Alcohol Saved My Life" (remember that?) during the encore. 

Deaf Havana's performance was, above all, fresh. James and the guys like to play around with their musical style, so we were treated to alternate versions of "Fools and Worthless Liars" and "22" as well as anthemic variations on "Hunstanton Pier" and the lovely "Mildred". A highlight for myself was "The World or Nothing". I remember the first time I listened to it, perhaps a few months before the release of Fools and Worthless Liars - knowing that was when I would fall in love with them. Thank God I didn't cry seeing them this time, but I was bloody near it. DH rather unexpectedly finished on devastating Old Souls final track "Caro Padre", as if my heartstrings hadn't already been tugged ferociously by James Veck-Gilodi. Bloody lovely end to a bloody lovely set. 

Post-gig, Yasmin and I had this surreal night out whereby she somehow became acquainted with half the band in Live Lounge, and I wondered why I was alive in Live Lounge. See y'all soon.

Bombay Bicycle Club, Cardiff University Great Hall, Cardiff, 16th March 2014

I know I've just got home from the gig but while it's all so wonderfully fresh in my mind (and I'm full of kebab, not so wonderfully fresh) I'll scrawl everything down now. 

Hello, anyway. It's been a while - since you last read from me I've done a few bits and bobs. I went to see Drenge and that was MEGA cool and I worked a CHVRCHES gig and heard their set from the cloakroom.

Back to tonight. I bought the tickets for my brother's birthday bloody ages ago and only recently had it creeped upon me. At the time of buying the tickets, Bombay weren't my favourite band and my memories of them live hadn't been up to much. I was however, a huuuge fan of their second album, Flaws, and thought it'd be nice to go. I'm so so glad I did. Earlier this month So Long, See You Tomorrow was released and if you haven't given it a little spin already, you bloody should. This latest release is funky as HELL and most of it was showcased tonight in the sweatiest gig I've been to for quite a while. Didn't help that I was wearing a big bloody coat but I'd have been sweatin' anyway. 

In the queue for tonight I was handed a little business card for "tonight's supports GUYYSS", Flyte. With no idea who these guys were, let alone the fact they were supporting, I had no idea what to expect, but for a first support these guys were totally solid. Try to imagine what The Byrds or America would sound like with synths. That doesn't sound all too convincing but I think you'll get what I mean when you listen to them in that their harmonies are clear as day. Clever, too, despite the frontman apparently looking "as if he's off it", according to my brother. Tunes like "Over and Out" were reminiscent of The Drums' beachy vibes whereas "Yellow Rain" was comparable to Bombay's new guitar style on So Long, See You Tomorrow and Everything Everything, electronically. It seemed like these guys are fans of climbing arpeggios and rather traditional note clashes - I'm a big fan. I don't think I'd be mad to propose that these guys could be playing an afternoon slot on the NME stage at Reading in a year or two and it'd be totally cool. 

Now, for some reason, I'd be under the impression for months that The Ramona Flowers were supporting but recently I discovered it'd be Rae Morris. Absolutely no problemo. Rae features on "Luna" from Bombay's new album so it only makes sense (I'm gonna thrust a gorgeous Radio 1 Live Lounge version in your face HERE). By the time Ms Morris had graced the stage, my brother was wankered on cheap Carling and was going "OMG ISIT ROYALS?". Nope, not Lorde, I'm afraid. Better. Vocally, Morris is pure and powerful and yet gorgeously saccharine. Whack this onto sustained pianos, muted drums and slidey distorted guitar and you've got a recipe for completely zoning out and looking a bit weird with your eyes closed - especially for the devastatingly gorgeous "Don't Go". I can't believe I'd dismissed her before as "another girl singer-songwriter". I'm a sexist prat.

Rae Morris doing her thang (thanks to my brother for taking some snaps).

My brother and I were relatively near in time for Bombay, and as you can imagine, close to a load of dickheads in bandanas and shirts with upturned collars who were rather loud. I could dismiss this when there were a load of pretty projected images (think Yellow Submarine meets Bollywood) and a very impressive light show to lead Bombay on to first song (and first on So Long, See You Tomorrow) "Overdone". As I mentioned, the first half of the set focused on the newly released stuff with what felt like a lot more bass (espesh for "Come To") which I'm always a fan of, before pleasing the crowd some oldies but goodies like "Evening Morning" (with its own sexy bass intros). By this time I was a bit worried I'd be missing out on the gorgeous "Home By Now" and "Luna" from the new album but I should have known Bombay wouldn't disappoint. "Home By Now" (despite the absence of the early 00s ambient electric piano throughout which features on the studio version,) was amazing and I think I probably hit some people dancing to that. Soz, everyone. Best song of the evening went to "Whenever, Wherever" (dedicated to Shakira, ofc) which left me really really sweaty. This song just built up until it sort of exploded, fizzed out and revealed RAE MORRIS ONSTAGE FOR "LUNA". Words cannot describe my love for this song. I went a bit too beserk for an indie gig and sang with my eyes closed (I wasn't even drinking). The guys finished with classic "Always Like This" and (the apt) "So Long, See You Tomorrow" before returning for a mainstage-worthy encore. Bloody hell, it was the heaviest I've ever seen a band who've covered the likes of Joanna Newsom in the past. Final song "Carry Me" was explosive and brought the set to a climax right at the end. Just brill. 

"So Long, See You Tomorrow" or at least very soon, Bombay. 

During "Luna" where I went currraazzy.