richard hawley
RICHARD Hawley’s new album has caused a dilemma. After listening to it from
start to finish, I want to dump my entire CD collection in the nearest charity shop.
Nothing comes close. Truelove’s Gutter is a truly amazing piece of work, a darker
and more emotional record than his previous Ladies Bridge. This time round,
Hawley has crafted an album with the help of a strange selection of antique
instruments. He could never be accused of ‘creative cowardice’.
On a wet autumn afternoon, Hawley explains why his new record is his most emo-
tional yet. “After I came back from touring last year, I kind of made a fundamental
decision, more so as a human being than a writer. Any communication device
that I had, I limited its use. When you are on tour, it is great having the use of
email and phone texting, but as I have a very young family and a close-knit set
of friends, I just wanted to spend time around people. I discovered that a lot of
people that I love very much were having a difficult time. Not everything in life is a
party; I wish it was, but it is not.”
Truelove’s Gutter is a record that flows from start to finish. This was intentional.
“I wanted to make a record that you sat down and listened to from start to end,
that was not a part of bullshit soundbite culture. I just wanted to slow things
down. There is bleakness. The songs are about hopelessness, giving hope to no
hope, I hope!” says Hawley. His love for his hometown, Sheffield, has been well
documented, but what would he have done with the £15m that was wasted on the
eyesore that was The National Centre For Popular Music?
“I’d have got a big lorry and filled it with musical instruments and driven around
the streets of Sheffield and given them to anyone that wanted them. Most of them
would have ended up in second-hand shops, and a lot of them would have been
used to buy drinks, sell drugs, whatever. It would have inspired way more people
than that piece of shit building.” DAVID NOBAKHT
Richard Hawley, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Fri 16 Oct. Tickets: £1.
Info: 0172 771
blas*
TO celebrate its 25th anniversary, St David’s Hall is opening its doors to a
new sound for 2009/10. Traditionally a place for orchestral concerts, classical
music and evenings of comedy, music and dance, St David’s is adding rock, pop,
reggae, hip-hop and ska as part of a new monthly musical evening called Blas*.
This night of music is to promote a fresh sound of new talent from around Wales.
Starting on Tue 20 Oct, Blas* will run for six dates from October to May. With
only three of the six dates filled so far, St David’s Hall is urging up-and-coming
bands and performers from across Wales to get in contact and obtain the op-
portunity to fill the remaining three dates.
As well as being the opening night of Blas* it will also be the launch of a new
music venue, the L3 Lounge. This 300-seat venue will be playing host to what
has been billed as the most eclectic programme of live music in Wales. The L3
Lounge will be the home of Blas* and new music programme Roots Unearthed.
For its opening night, Blas* will be headlined by Audiocalm and supported by
Cuba Cuba and Whistling Biscuits. Audiocalm are already making waves as a
sensational live act, having been voted as the UK’s best emerging band after
finishing second in the internationally-renowned Global Battle Of The Bands. Set
to take the charts by storm, the boys are currently recording their debut album
in the studio, so take advantage to see them in this intimate venue before they
hit the big time.
Supporting bands Cuba Cuba and Whistling Biscuits are two other promising
bands worth keeping your eye on. Indie-pop outfit Cuba Cuba bring an upbeat
vibrancy to the stage, while Whistling Biscuits incorporate blues, country, jazz,
rock, reggae and more into their original and fun set.
Tue Nov 10 also sees Innercity Pirates headlining Blas* with support from Tiger
Please and Hafaliadau=Equations. CHRIS SMITH
The L Lounge, St David’s Hall, Cardiff. From Tue 20 Oct. Admission: £7.
Info: 02 207 11 /
www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
BUZZ 1
october 2009.indd 18 25/9/09 15:13:43
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