The Joy Formidable Gig Review

Last night I went to see The Joy Formidable in Cardiff’s Student Union, and they played an exceptional show. I’d been dying to see them since I have missed them at Reading Festival for 2 years in a row, and the gig last night definately made up for it. In fact they went beyond my expectations.

 WE//ARE//ANIMAL, a welsh band who have been praised by the likes of NME and Radio 1, opened the set. They were pretty good, with what I can only describe as a ‘rocky-indie’ vibe. They were the perfect warm up for The Joy Formidable, suitably getting the crowd going.

By the time The Joy Formidable came on stage, the room was packed. When the band came on to the stage, they came on with a bang. Playing ‘Cholla’ straight away. The music completely filled the room, helped not only by the guitars, drums, and not to mention lead singer Ritzy’s electrifying voice, but their entire stage presence. They were jumping around and completely enjoyed themselves, instead of just standing there, which makes all the difference. Plus the mixture of the light effects, the montage of images playing on a screen behind the band with a hanging outline of a wolf’s head (to match the title of the bands new album Wolf’s Law), and Ritzy’s completely sequined golden dress, made for an overall performance.

It was clear that The Joy Formidable had put effort in to every single aspect of the show, not letting one detail surpass their attention, yet they still managed to maintain a down to earth light-heartedness, talking to the audience, and both smiling and swearing constantly. The gig wasn’t just about the music, but about the overall effects, yet these effects didn’t drown out the music at all. The loud drums and guitar thrashes, and Ritzy’s pitch perfect voice, still came out on top. 

Although the entire gig was amazing, my favourite moment had to be their performance of a song from the new album ‘Maw Maw Song’. This song has a bit of a rock edge, and they put so much life in to the performance. Although I think it was the slightly weird, fucked up, montage of images in the background, that made the performance for me, which showed images such as twisted barbed wire being held in a women’s mouth, a fat man eating chocolate, images from Pan’s Labyrinth, and falling dollar bills. It made no apparent sense, and thats why I loved it.

The Joy Formidable managed to sell their new record well, without letting it overshadow the gig or skimping on their old stuff, which is tricky to do. I’ve always noticed bands either pay lots of attention to old stuff, or play a lot of new stuff without giving dedicated fans the older material they want to hear. The Joy Formidable struck the balance perfectly. They played plenty of tracks from the first album, yet quite a lot of songs from the new album, which they really sold. Of course, after an encore, they closed the show with ‘Whirring’, which is a firm favourite amongst The Joy Formidable fans. I’m so glad I finally got the opportunity to see this band. They know how to play live and how to appeal to a crowd, and I’d urge anyone who gets the opportunity to see this band play live. It’s an experience worth watching. 

New Albums for 2013

As I wrote in my last blog post, 2013 is the year for new music. It’s also the new year where loads of new album releases from some top bands are on the horizon. Some we can just predict, but some are coming out really really soon, and it’s about time too...

Bastille.

Bastille are a band I can not stop listening to. They’re indie-pop music and emotive lyrics makes for extremely addictive listening. Bastille are releasing debut album Bad Blood in March. After some highly praised singles such as Flaws and Overjoyed the album is much anticipated. I’m equally excited about their upcoming headline Bad Blood tour.

Daughter

Another band I can not stop listening to. Daughter produce emotive, beautiful songs like ‘smother’, ‘youth’ and ‘candles’. I’ve been listening to Daughter since the summer so their debut album release in March makes me extremely excited.

Palma Violets.

Everyone obsessed by music is obsessed by Palma Violets, so their debut album 180 released on 25th of February is sure to be a high seller. I’ve been banging on about this band for months so I can’t wait to see what songs fill their album. 

Fidlar

On my last blog post I was raving about Fidlar, and their debut album will be coming very very soon, in february in fact, and will include all the songs that their fans have been enjoying for months, like Cheap Beer and Max Can’t Surf

Biffy Clyro

2013 may be a big year for the upcoming artists of the world, but it’s not all about the debut releases. Biffy are releasing their 5th studio album, Opposites, in 2 days!! (the 28th January) with a tour to match. Their songs... have already had great reviews. Personally, when I listen over Biffy’s material I much prefer the later stuff, their 4th album Only Revolutions being my favourite, so I feel I will definately enjoy this album.

Stereophonics.

Stereophonics are back!! How excited am I? VERY. How can I not be excited to hear new releases from the band who brought us Handbags and Glad-rags and Dakota? Awesome. They are releasing Graffiti on a Train on February 4th with a tour to follow in March.

Frank Turner

Frank Turner is also releasing his 5th studio album, entitled Tape Deck Heart, in April. Frank Turner just keeps on delivering amazing songs time and time again, which are both lyrically enriching and bringing folk music back in to the mainstream, so no doubt this album will live up to it’s expectations. Many of his fans will of already heard his new song Four Simple Words, which is just classic Frank Turner, heart warming and capable of getting a crowd going. 

four simple words - Frank Turner

The Strokes

Nothings been confirmed as to when, as it’s relatively new news, but it’s looking likely that The Strokes will release a new album this year, after unveiling new song 'One Way Trigger'. The Strokes are often hit and miss with fans, but i personally love their gritty indie sound, and thought they were a great headliner at Reading 2011. 

Sounds of 2013: Upbeat 'nu-punk' beats, musical optimism, and old school nostalgia

I’m really excited about the future of new music in 2013, especially with a rise of punky-thrashy music. It’s new, fresh, modern, yet screams of punk. I like to think of it as ‘nu-punk’. It’s been pretty much epitmosed with bands like Palma Violets:

When I first heard Palma Violets back in 2012 one of the things that really drew me to them was that they didn’t sound like the modern bands of today. They sounded really 1970’s American punk-esque. Think Ramones. If you listen to The Ramones My Brain Is Hanging Upside-Down and then listen to Palma Violets Best of Friends, you can’t help but draw comparisons. Of course, Palma Violets appeal to a modern audience because while there is that punk nostalgia, there is also a 21st century sound, which i think sums up 2013 musically. But it’s not just the brits that are going all punky...

Fidlar

After hearing Palma Violets, loads of other bands have popped up with those punky sounds, Like Fidlar. Fidlar stands for skate-term Fuck It Dog, Life's A Risk, and their music represents how they live up to this motto. Fidlar are ridiculously thrashy, loud, brash, in your face. Perfect mosh pit music. Yet at the same time, unlike other mosh pit inducing bands, they sound ridiculously upbeat. The music, despite being thrashy, sounds like it comes straight out of the California sunshine, which you'd expect considering they hail from LA.

Fidlar - Cheap Beer

Deap Vally

One of the bands I’m most excited about for 2013, and can’t stop raving about, is ‘Deap Vally’. I hate to say this, but lets face it, it’s rare that, in a music industry dominated by men, you find an amazing female band, that have the potential to go really far. Deap Vally are like a modern Thelma and Louise, screaming of Southern America and female power. Their music is loud, unapologetic, and encapsulates the punk trend that’s spanning both sides of the atlantic. 

Deap Vally- Lies

What is different about all these ‘nu-punk’ bands is not just that they’ve obviously injected some modernity in to their music, but is that, their music sounds pretty happy. Back in the 1970’s, punk wasn’t about creating something beautiful. It was about destruction. It wasn’t SUPPOSED to sound nice. It took pride in being ugly. It was meant to reflect the depressive mood of the times felt by the youth, especially in British punk. While new bands may sound pretty punky, this isn’t what their about. Their music is upbeat. It makes you want to sing along. It is about creating something. 

But, for those who aren’t a massive fan of this punk revival, never fear!! There are loads of other great new upcoming bands that i’m getting really excited about, that aren’t exactly punky, such as:

Peace.

Like Fidlar, Peace are an upbeat band, that sounds like they come out of the summer sun. Unlike Fidlar, they are less thrashy and punky. Peace gained popularity in 2012 with the release of their EP Delicious. Now they’ve released new single Wraith, so an album is surely in the pipeline. At first, I didn’t know what to make of peace. Were they this amazing band with loads of depth to them, or were they just another band whose music was a bit empty? The more I’ve listened to them, the more I’ve decided it’s the latter. I almost regret being unsure of them.

Peace - Wraith

Swim Deep.

Again, this is an upbeat, feel good band. Theirs definitely a trend of optimism here!! Which is great, considering in the past great music has been all about being a bit depressing, to be completely honest. Swim Deeps single Honey sounds pretty delish, and I can’t wait to see what else comes from this band. 

Swim Deep - Honey

Angel Haze.

Angel’s EP ‘New York’ came out in October 2012, yet the hype around her is definitely concentrated around 2013. And no wonder. This has to be the first EP I’ve ever listened to and had to buy immediately after one listen. This woman is a talented rapper, singer, and a lyrical genius. Her songs are dead catchy, and, like Deap Vally, totally unapologetic, meaning this is going to be a great year for female artists. New York and Supreme are songs that can pretty much be put on repeat.

Angel Haze - Supreme 

Savages

Another female band, again proving women are taking over the music scene for 2013. Savages sounds like a pretty brutal name for a band, but don’t be fooled. While with songs like Husbands they’re still drawing on that punk trend with quick and brash instrumentals, theirs also a nostalgia for 80’s sounds. Think Bowie and Blondie, yet more modern. 

Savages - Flying to Berlin

The 1975.

I don’t even know how to write about this band, because they vary so much from song to song. What I can say easily enough though, is that they are good, really really good. They’ve already released 2 EP’s (Sex, and Facedown) and a third (Chocolate) is on the way, as they are keen to establish themselves and get some fans on board before an album release. And I can definately say I am one of these fans. They’re music is a little bit old school in that it brings back that teenage indie-pop we all know and love, yet also sounds a lot like newer bands such as Theme Park or Tribes. 

The 1975 - Sex.

In 2013 we can also expect some great album releases which I’m going to blog about ASAP!