Review of
New Theatre, Cardiff
by Paul S from Cardiff
The New Theatre is a lovely, traditional, theatre in the centre of Cardiff. It's well maintained and attractively decorated.
The seats are really comfortable and with good leg room (except for the Upper Circle - 'the Gods'), really important if, like me, you are tall and have back problems! There is... [more]
The New Theatre is a lovely, traditional, theatre in the centre of Cardiff. It's well maintained and attractively decorated.
The seats are really comfortable and with good leg room (except for the Upper Circle - 'the Gods'), really important if, like me, you are tall and have back problems! There is plenty of on-street parking within a 5-10 minute walk, free after 6PM (Park Place, Museum Avenue, Windsor Place), and also good bus and train services.
Tips: If you don't expect the show to be that full, buy cheaper or mid range seats (like back stalls), as you will likely be invited to move down to better seats before the show starts. Or you can do so anyway at the interval or before. There are also stand-by and other offers available depending on performance - ask. [less]
Live Review of
Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes
by Paul S from Cardiff
Either I'd forgotten just how good a Southside Johnny gig can be or he got even better! There were a few changes from the last time I saw Southside: a little more facial hair, the trademark shades being discarded early on, and the ever changing line up of the... [more]
Event Date: November 2, 2009
Event Venue: The Globe, Cardiff
Either I'd forgotten just how good a Southside Johnny gig can be or he got even better! There were a few changes from the last time I saw Southside: a little more facial hair, the trademark shades being discarded early on, and the ever changing line up of the Asbury Jukes.
But much remained the same, including great musicianship from the eight strong backing band, featuring a strong horns section (sometimes reminiscent of the Memphis Horns sound), keyboards, drums, lead and bass guitars.
There were the trademark gestures and the false starts: Johnny deciding he didn't want to do this song right now when he was a few lines in, killing the band when they chose a number he didn't want tonight or stopping a band member who'd outplayed their solo. He certainly likes to control the show and make decisions on the fly - you wonder if it gets frustrating at times for the band, although I guess they know what they are going to get.
But when it all comes together it's truly glorious: the anarchic and spontaneous nature of a Soutside Johnny performance making a refreshing contrast to some well-known bands working though their stale set lists. In then last few years I've seen both the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen with the E-street band in Cardiff's Millennium stadium and hardly enjoyed them. They'd lost whatever it was that delivered those great experiences years ago. This was much more fun, with even Springsteen's own numbers like "Love on the Wrong Side of Town" sounding better here.
There was a lot of humour in the performance and the interaction with the crowd - never far from the stage in this wide and shallow small venue - was certainly entertaining. It's not often you get an audience member asked up on stage to sing chorus lines in Welsh!
If the lyrics were mostly about frustrated love, break-ups and heartbreak (inevitable with so much blues and soul influence), the sound was truly uplifting. As the gig progressed there was an increasing emphasis on crowd-pleasing numbers with sing-along choruses - I'm still hearing songs like Talk to Me and Walk Away Renee, days after the concert.
Above all, there was total commitment. On stage for a non-stop two and a half hours, Johnny left the capacity crowd with big smiles on their faces. Best gig I've seen in Cardiff this year. [less]
Local tip for
New Theatre, Cardiff
by Paul S from Cardiff
Why pay for the limited range of expensive theatre drinks in the interval when there are several good bars just across Greyfriars Road? We pop across to Lloyds#1 Bar because we like 'real ale' - unavailable in the New. Of course, you must check how long the interval is or... [more]
Why pay for the limited range of expensive theatre drinks in the interval when there are several good bars just across Greyfriars Road? We pop across to Lloyds#1 Bar because we like 'real ale' - unavailable in the New. Of course, you must check how long the interval is or risk being unable to get back to your seats! [less]
Live Review of
Lightnin Willie
by Paul S from Cardiff
Great performance from the veteran Texan-born bluesman. If at times he seemed unsure who some of his very good backing musicians were, he still delivered a great set of dirty, growly blues. Recommended.... [more]
Event Date: July 18, 2009
Event Venue: Abertillery Blues Festival
Great performance from the veteran Texan-born bluesman. If at times he seemed unsure who some of his very good backing musicians were, he still delivered a great set of dirty, growly blues. Recommended. [less]
Live Review of
Victor Spinetti
by Paul S from Cardiff
You always hope your entertainment choices will be rewarding. But this was a gamble. Sure, Victor Spinetti was a well known actor, perhaps best known for supporting roles in the Beatles' films and other sixties movies. But I didn't know anyone who had seen him recently. Would a couple... [more]
Event Date: November 2, 2008
Event Venue: New Theatre, Cardiff
You always hope your entertainment choices will be rewarding. But this was a gamble. Sure, Victor Spinetti was a well known actor, perhaps best known for supporting roles in the Beatles' films and other sixties movies. But I didn't know anyone who had seen him recently. Would a couple of hours of his reminiscences be the boring tales of a has-been?
Fortunately, he came up trumps. The one-man show was solid entertainment and it felt a real privilege to listen to his tales of the famous people he knew and with whom he had performed.
There were plenty of smiles and chuckles in teh audience, as Spinetti recalled numerous embarrassing, funny and fascinating incidents, all put across with true panache.
Certainly Victor used his South Wales origins to special effect, knowing that his Cardiff audience would warm to such references. But isn't being really attuned to your audience infinitely preferable to the rock stars' "HELLO wherever it is that we are tonight"?
The time flew by and we left feeling uplifted and thoroughly pleased with our choice. Catch him if you can! [less]
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