On This Day 05/09/2002 Suede

On this day, 5 September 2002, English rock band Suede played Cardiff’s Coel Exchange as part of a three-date preview tour for a full-blown tour to follow in October.

Formed in London in 1989. The band is composed of singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Richard Oakes, bass player Mat Osman, drummer Simon Gilbert and keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Neil Codling.

In 1992, Suede were dubbed "The Best New Band in Britain" by Melody Maker, and attracted much attention from the British music press. The following year their debut album Suede went to the top of the UK Albums Chart, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in almost ten years.

It won the Mercury Music Prize and helped foster 'Britpop' as a musical movement, though the band distanced themselves from the term.

The band were promoting their soon to be released fifth studio album, A New Morning.

By the time the album was released, public interest in the band had waned, as shown by the poor charting of both the album and singles. Despite this, however, the album received moderate praise from critics. It is the only Suede album not to be released in the US. It was the last studio album released by the band before their seven-year hiatus and reunion in 2010.

On This Day 27/07/2003 Marc Almond

On this day, 27 July 2003 former Soft Cell singer Marc Almond played Cardiff’s Big Buzz Festival.

Almond first began performing and recording in the synthpop/new wave duo Soft Cell where he became known for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He has also had a diverse career as a solo artist. His collaborations include a duet with Gene Pitney on the 1989 UK number one single "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart".

Almond's career spanning over four decades has enjoyed critical and commercial acclaim, and he has sold over 30 million records worldwide. He spent a month in a coma after a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2004 and later became a patron of the brain trauma charity Headway.

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to arts and culture.

Setlist

Tears Run Rings

The Days of Pearly Spencer

(David McWilliams cover)

Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart

(Gene Pitney cover)

Adored and Explored

Tainted Love

(Gloria Jones cover)

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

On This Day 04/06/2005 Arctic Monkeys

On this day, 4 June 2005, rock band Arctic Monkeys played Cardiff’s Barfly with support provided by Stoney.

Arctic Monkeys were one of the first bands to come to public attention via the Internet, with commentators suggesting they represented a change in how new bands are promoted and marketed.

Their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), received acclaim and topped the UK Albums Chart, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in British chart history at the time. It won Best British Album at the 2007 Brit Awards and has been hailed as one of the greatest debut albums.

In the United Kingdom, Arctic Monkeys became the first independent-label band to debut at number one in the UK with their first five albums.

They have won seven Brit Awards, winning Best British Group and British Album of the Year three times, becoming the first band to ever "do the double"—that is, win in both categories—three times; a Mercury Prize for Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not; an Ivor Novello Award and 20 NME Awards.

They have been nominated for nine Grammy Awards, and received Mercury Prize nominations in 2007, 2013, 2018 and 2023. Both Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and AM are included in NME and different editions of Rolling Stone's lists of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".

On This Day 31/01/2002 Stereolab

On this day, 31 January 2002, Anglo-French avant-pop band Stereolab played Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach.

Formed in London in 1990. Led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's sound features influences from krautrock and 1960s French pop music, often incorporating a repetitive motorik beat with the use of vintage electronic keyboards and female vocals sung in English and French.

Their lyrics have political and philosophical themes influenced by the Surrealist and Situationist art movements. While performing, they play in a more feedback-driven and guitar-oriented style. From the mid-1990s, the band began to draw from funk, jazz and Brazilian music.

Other longtime members included 1992 addition Mary Hansen (backing vocals, keyboards and guitar), who died in 2002, and 1993 addition Andy Ramsay (drums). The High Llamas' leader Sean O'Hagan (guitar and keyboards) was a member from 1993 to 1994 and continued appearing on later records for occasional guest appearances.

Throughout their career, Stereolab has achieved moderate commercial success. The band were released from their recording contract with Elektra Records, and their self-owned label Duophonic signed a distribution deal with Too Pure and later Warp Records.

In 2002, as they were planning their next album, Stereolab started building a studio north of Bordeaux, France. ABC Music: The Radio 1 Sessions; a compilation of BBC Radio 1 sessions was released in October. In the same year, Gane and Sadier's romantic relationship ended.

On 9 December 2002, Hansen was killed when hit by a truck while riding her bicycle in London. She was 36. Writer Pierre Perrone said that her "playful nature and mischievous sense of humour came through in the way she approached the backing vocals she contributed to Stereolab and the distinctive harmonies she created with Sadier."

On This Day 25/01/2006 Thunder

On this day, 25 January 2006, hard rock band Thunder played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on their Magnificent Seventh Tour.

Founded by former Terraplane members Danny Bowes (lead vocals), Luke Morley (guitar, backing vocals) and Gary "Harry" James (drums), along with second guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews and bassist Mark "Snake" Luckhurst.

Originally signed to EMI Records in the UK, the band released their debut album Backstreet Symphony in 1990, which reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart and number 114 on the US Billboard 200. The 1992 follow-up Laughing on Judgement Day reached number 2, while both albums were certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). All nine singles released from the two albums reached the UK Singles Chart top 40.

The Magnificent Seventh! is the seventh studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded from June to August 2004, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and engineered and mixed by Rupert Coulson. The album was released in the UK by the band's own label STC Recordings on 21 February 2005, in Europe by Frontiers Records the following day, in Japan by Victor Entertainment on 28 March and worldwide on iTunes on 13 April.

Setlist

Loser

Amy's on the Run

Higher Ground

I'm Dreaming Again

You Can't Keep a Good Man Down

Like a Satellite

Ball and Chain

Empty City

Just Another Suicide (You Wanna Know)

Love Walked In

Fade Into the Sun

I Love You More Than Rock 'n' Roll

Encore:

An Englishman on Holiday

A Better Man

Dirty Love

On This Day 15/05/2014 Pulled Apart By Horses

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 15. At 2014, alternative rock band Pulled Apart By Horses played The Globe, Cardiff.

They formed in early 2008, the band were signed by Transgressive Records in 2009, and released their debut self-titled album Pulled Apart by Horses on 21 June 2010. In August 2011, they went into Monnow Valley Studio in Wales to record with record producer Gil Norton, and their second album Tough Love was released to critical acclaim on 20 January 2012.

After Tough Love, the band sold out their first European tour, and went on to support Biffy Clyro and Foals. In 2010 they supported Muse at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

In September 2014 the band's third album Blood became their first top 40, entering the UK Albums Chart at number 38. In 2016, Pulled Apart by Horses recorded a take over for Annie Mac and the BBC's Radio 1 in the United Kingdom.

Setlist

PWR

Meat Balloon

V.E.N.O.M.

Hot Squash

I Punched a Lion in the Throat

Degeneration Game

E=MC Hammer

Wildfire, Smoke & Doom

Grim Deal

Some Mothers

Bag of Snakes

High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive

I Wanna Be Your Dog

(The Stooges cover)

Den Horn

On. This Day 31/01/2002 Stereolab

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 31 January 2002, Anglo-French avant-pop band Stereolab played Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach.

Formed in London in 1990 and led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's sound features influences from krautrock and 1960s pop music, often incorporating a repetitive motorik beat with the use of vintage electronic keyboards and female vocals sung in English and French.

Their lyrics have political and philosophical themes influenced by the Surrealist and Situationist movements. On stage, they play in a more feedback-driven and guitar-oriented style. The band also draw from funk, jazz and Brazilian music, and were one of the first bands to be dubbed "post-rock".

Stereolab were formed by Gane (guitar and keyboards) and Sadier (vocals, keyboards and guitar) after the break-up of McCarthy. The two were romantically involved for fourteen years and are the group's only consistent members. Other longtime members included 1992 addition Mary Hansen (backing vocals, keyboards and guitar), who died in 2002, and 1993 addition Andy Ramsay (drums). The High Llamas' leader Sean O'Hagan (guitar and keyboards) was a member from 1993 to 1994 and continued appearing on later records for occasional guest appearances.

Throughout their career, Stereolab has achieved moderate commercial success. The band were released from their recording contract with Elektra Records, and their self-owned label Duophonic signed a distribution deal with Too Pure and later Warp Records. After a ten-year hiatus, the band reunited for live performances in 2019.

On This Day 29/01/2003 Counting Crows

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 29 January 2003, American rockers Counting Crows played Cardiff International Arena on their Handy Candy tour. Support was provided by Gemma Hayes.

On July 9, 2002, the band released its fourth studio album, Hard Candy. The album included a cover of Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi". Vanessa Carlton contributed backing vocals to the single edit of the track, which appeared on the soundtrack for Two Weeks Notice and was re-released on future Hard Candy albums.

The original version, without vocals by Carlton, appeared on the first album release as a hidden track. Hard Candy received better reviews than the previous efforts, with "radio friendly" songs, like "American Girls" (which featured Sheryl Crow on backing vocals), and contains a more upbeat feel and tempo. The band toured with the Dutch band, Bløf.

A song, "Holiday in Spain", came together as a result of the camaraderie between the two groups: it is sung partly as a dual language duet, and partly as a musical "round", with both lead singers singing in differing languages at the end of the song.

Midway through the Hard Candy tour, drummer Ben Mize (born February 2, 1971, Durham, North Carolina) amicably left the band to spend more time with his family and pursue his own musical interests. After Mize completed the American leg of the tour, he was replaced by Jim Bogios, formerly a drummer with Ben Folds and Sheryl Crow. Jim attributes leaving Sheryl Crow for Counting Crows to becoming a band member and having more creative input.

Following the Hard Candy tour, longtime bassist Matt Malley left the band after growing weary of touring, and to attend to his duties as a new father. He was replaced by Millard Powers.

Counting Crows released the greatest hits album Films About Ghosts in November 2003.[38]

Setlist

Have You Seen Me Lately?

(acoustic)

If I Could Give All My Love -or- Richard Manuel Is Dead

(acoustic)

Mr. Jones

(acoustic)

Perfect Blue Buildings

Four White Stallions

(electric)

Speedway

(electric)

Omaha

(electric)

Mercy

(Tender Mercies cover)

Rain King

(with Sweet Thing)

Goodnight L.A.

A Long December

Big Yellow Taxi

(Joni Mitchell cover) (acoustic)

Good Time

Angels of the Silences

(acoustic)

A Long December

(electric)

Miami

(electric)

Round Here

(electric)

Encore:

Hanginaround

(with Gemma Hayes) (electric)

Sullivan Street

Encore 2:

Blues Run the Game

(Jackson C. Frank cover) (acoustic)

Holiday in Spain

(electric)