2 Music


Lionel set to come to the capital


CARDIFF SHOW: Lionel Richie


MULTI-PLATINUM-SELLING artist Lionel Richie is to re- turn for a 31-date tour that will see him perform in Cardiff on March 16. The five-time GRAMMY win-


ner and international super- star launched his current tour in the US in September 2013. Since then he has played an in- credible 70 shows in stadiums, arenas and festivals (2014 saw Lionel headline the Bonna- roo Festival in the US) across North America, Oceania and Asia – winning rave reviews everywhere he goes. Speaking about bringing his


tour to Europe Lionel said: “I can’t wait to get back to the UK. The audiences are always so great and I always have an in- credible time.” Catch Lionel at the Motor- point Arena, Cardiff, on March 16. Call 029 2022 4488 for tickets.


Gaz’s new release


Gaz Coombes follows his recent solo album ‘Matador’ with the release of new single “Detroit” on 6th April 2015. A tale of a late night existen-


tial crisis set to glorious wide- screen Kraut-heavy power pop, “Detroit” is one of many stand- out tracks from the hugely ac- claimed ‘Matador’. A limited edition 10” of “Detroit” will be released on Record Store Day (18th April) backed with a live version of the track recorded at the 229 Club. Catch him at The Gate, Car- diff on May 23.


Contact Us


EDITOR: Nicole Garnon 01633 777203 nicole.garnon@gwent-wales.co.uk


EDITORIAL AND DESIGN: Andy Howells andrew.howells@gwent-wales.co.uk


ADVERTISING: Andrea Hall 01633 777285 andrea.hall@gwent-wales.co.uk


ONLINE: www.southwalesaargus.co.uk www.twitter.com/argus_theguide


BRIGHTON’S finest new purveyors of rau- cous, off-kilter garage rock, Demob Happy follow their triumphant 2014 debut single “Succubus” with powerful new cut, “Young & Numb,” due for release later this year via the bands own Milk Parlour records. Fusing their natural affinity to relent-


less chord-thrashing with a fondness for melodic undertone and bold dynamic shifts, “Young & Numb” comes laced with feedback and fuzz. Lyrically, the track is less the nihilistic stoner manifesto that its namesake could allude to, and more a vicious rumination on the dazed efforts made to drag knowledge and meaning from the bedlam of youth. “It’s my frustra- tion about the fact no one is willing to step out of line at a time when we think our freedoms are greater than ever before, when actually our personal freedoms of expression aren’t. It’s about how no one wants to have an opinion anymore,” the frontman explains.


Friday, March 13, 2015 Follow us on Twitter @Argus_The Guide Meet The Band : Demob Happy


ROCK: Demob Happy


ANDYHOWELLS puts questions to Brighton rockersDemobHappy ahead of their


forthcoming Bristol date A headline tour through last October


saw Demob Happy leave the UK’s small venues broken and beaten, when, upon their return, the Guardian’s Single Of The Week heralded their debut single, as “a joyride through rock’s sleazier back al- leys.” Their live show is heralded as a whirlwind of energy and chaos, always handsomely toeing the line between dex- terity and disarray. Catch the four-piece on tour through March and April – their first venture into Europe before they de- scend upon the UK.


Andy Howells recently put questions to the band.


How did you come together? We’re just four best friends who enjoy


mutually coming together in small rooms over guitars and drums, and on the road over people who’ve paid to see us.


Where are you from? We live in Brighton, but we’re from New-


castle, and Wales is our favourite place to write music. Carmarthen has good water and good milk.


How would you describe your music style? It’s really a simple winning formula, just super catchy up-beat pop rock that mums


Painting a musical canvas New Release


LEGENDARY Moody Blues vocalist and bass player John Lodge is releasing his second solo album, entitled 10,000 Light Years Ago, on May 4. Lodge’s first solo album, Natural Avenue, was released in 1977. A member of the Moody Blues since 1966, Lodge was a part of such hit songs as Peak Hour, The Eyes of a Child and Steppin’ in a Slide Zone. Lodge’s new album also in- cludes guest contributions from former Moody Blues members Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder, as well as leg- endary guitarist Chris Sped- ding.


From the opening song, In


My Mind, to the biographical Those Days in Birmingham, the more reflective Simply Magic, the rock-influenced Crazy, the jazz-tinged Love


Passed Me By and the power- ful Get Me Out of Here, Lodge paints a variety of moods on a fine musical canvas. Lodge commented: “Back in


the 60s, when the dreams of a ‘new generation’ were being born, The Moody Blues wrote a stage show that became the album Days of Future Passed. The theme encompassed the past, present and future expe- riences of our lives. When it was successful I knew our de- cision to stick to our princi- ples by writing and recording music we felt driven to create was the right one. “I think this theme has con- tinued in my music, and it’s a musical record of our gener- ation travelling through life.” For more than 40 years, The


and sisters alike can enjoy. What’s been your best live experi-


ence? Our best gig by a long shot was per-


forming at Alan Shearer’s annual summer fete to raise funds for keen, yet under- privileged inner-city telemarketers at the Newcastle metro arena.


Where can people hear your music? People can hear our music by stealing


their grandma’s 3.6 GHZ macbook pro and visiting soundcloud.com/demob- happy.


Where can we see you live? We’re about to set off on a world tour


of the UK and Europe. The closest gig to South Wales is at the Louisiana, Bristol on March 29.


Visit demob-happy.com/tour for tickets.


Moody Blues has enthralled generations of fans, and their recorded legacy con- tains some of the most im- portant and groundbreak- ing work in the history of popular music, having gen- erated over 70 million sales throughout the world. Dur- ing the course of their illus- trious career the band has earned 18 platinum discs and won numerous awards. John reflects: “With a gui-


tar, a blank piece of paper and a pen, the musical hori- zon has always been there. I go wherever the songs take me.” John Lodge will be on tour


as a member of The Moody Blues in April and May 2015, in the USA and in June throughout the UK.


ALBUM: John Lodge


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