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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
ARTICLES
GIG OF THE MONTH
AMY WADGE, ALBERT BAR, SOUTH PARADE PIER – FRIDAY
AUGUST 22.
 Welsh
singer-songwriter Any Wadge is one of many talented artists appearing at this
year’s festival. I remember being impressed with her songs and her voice when
she played at Southampton’s Platform Tavern some six years ago, and she has come
a long way since then.
Amy started writing songs at the age of nine on the family piano. When she was
11, her parents bought her a junk shop guitar. She discovered a passion for the
instrument and taught herself to play along to Tracy Chapman's debut album.
While still at school, she gigged around Bristol's numerous music venues and
caught the performing bug. At 14, she signed her first record deal with her
band, 'Two Of A Mind' and released her first single at the age of 16.
Aged 19, after a year working in a record shop trying to decide what to do with
her life, Amy moved to Wales to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and
Drama where she trained as an actor. She busked on the streets of Cardiff, to
pay her way through college. At that time, the Welsh music scene launched some
of the huge 'indie' bands that emerged from the city during the late nineties;
The Manics, The Phonics, Catatonia and The Super Furries, etc. Their success was
potent, the optimism, infectious and Cardiff became a hugely dynamic music city.
After graduating, Amy decided to commit to music. She took a factory job,
putting little boxes into big boxes, in order to give her enough time and a bit
of money to pursue her ambition. She signed with a small independent Cardiff
label, 'FF Vinyl', who were doing A&R work for the BBC at the time, seeking out
local acts for the, Radio 2 'Music Live 2001' week in Cardiff. She got a slot on
the Janice Long Late Night Session and was heralded as one of the week's
highlights. The set was broadcast in its entirety that night.
Later that year, Amy appeared at the Cambridge Folk Festival, took Brittany's
Interceltic Festival by storm and was voted, Best Female Solo Artist at the
2002, Welsh Music Awards, beating Charlotte Church. Prestigious support spots
flooded in, including opening for Van Morrison, Damien Rice, two tours with Eric
Bibb and ultimately, the entire Jeff Beck, UK tour, in 2004, which saw Amy play
The Albert Hall on two occasions.
To date Amy has released four solo albums and one album as part of the all
female trio Hummingbird. She released her latest album, “Bump,” earlier this
year. It was recorded when she was nearly eight months pregnant, hence the
title! Amy also writes for and with other artists including Marti Pellow, Chris
Difford, Henry Priestman, Guy Batson, Amy Nuttel, Jade Gallagher and Lucinda
Belle.
GWYN ASHTON, CELLARS AT EASTNEY,
SOUTHSEA, WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20
 Gwyn
Ashton's one-man-band solo show is a blend of alternative blues and swamp
boogie, all played on his resonator, lap-slide, 12 & 6-string guitars, harmonica
and a homemade foot stomp board. Not only influenced by the likes of Hendrix and
the other rock guitar greats, this multi-talented Australian also draws his
inspiration from ’30s Mississippi Delta blues and includes bottleneck and
lap-slide in all of his performances.
Gwyn has delivered show-stopping performances at festivals such as Cognac Blues
Passions (France), Great British R&B Festival, Maryport (UK), Beauvais (France),
Dobrofest (Slovakia) and Prague Blues Festival, also co-headlined the Marseille
Blues Festival with Robben Ford and has been highly acclaimed by such luminaries
as Robert Plant, Johnny Winter and Eric Johnson.
He has played onstage with the likes of Mick Fleetwood, Hubert Sumlin, Marc
Ford, Jon Paris, Canned Heat and opened for BB King, Buddy Guy, Rory Gallagher,
John Hammond, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Van
Morrison, Pat Travers, Jeff Healey, Tony Joe White and many others. He also
appears and gives tutorials in numerous guitar magazines, has two of his songs
in movie soundtracks in France and Asia, conducts guitar masterclasses in
Australia and Europe and performs live on radio and television worldwide.
Welsh-born Gwyn Ashton migrated to Adelaide, South Australia in the ‘60s, picked
up a guitar at 12 and, from the age of 16, played every seedy bar, festival and
biker show imaginable. He relocated to Sydney in the 1980s, playing stints with
Swanee and Stevie Wright. With his own band, he carved up stages nationwide -
some in the middle of nowhere, fronted with chicken wire, sometimes driving for
days through the outback to get to the next show.
In the ‘90s he moved to Melbourne, played shows with Jim Keays and Mick Pealing,
recorded his first two albums and opened for Junior Wells, Rory Gallagher, Steve
Morse and Albert Lee. Promoting his then current album “Feel The Heat,” Ashton’s
band opened for UK rock icons Status Quo on their 15-date British arena tour in
1999.
In 2000 Ashton recorded “Fang It!” with Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O’Neil, former
Rory Gallagher rhythm section now with Nine Below Zero. He then fronted Band of
Friends, replacing ex Motörhead guitarist Brian Robertson.
This was a tribute to Rory, with Gerry, Brendan, Lou Martin, Mark Feltham and
Ted McKenna who all played with Rory over the years.
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS, TALKING HEADS,
SOUTHAMPTON – SUNDAY AUGUST 17
 American
band Voodoo Glow Skulls have an impressive list of achievements in their twenty
year career. The pioneers of West Coast ska-punk have released seven albums,
sold one million records, created their own record store, record label and
recording studio, and played prestigious venues all over the world.
The band was formed in 1988 in Riverside, California by brothers Frank, Eddie
and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O’Neill. The Voodoo Glow
Skulls practiced for two years in a sweaty back bedroom/practice space until
they forged a taut unit that performed with demonic intensity and a demented
sense of humor. Voodoo Glow Skulls first played out at backyard parties, where
they honed their mixture of old-style ska, punk and metal.
In 1990 VGS put out their first 7" EP with the help of local band Public
Humiliation and also booked their own DIY US tour. In 1991 the band added a horn
section. Joey Hernandez joined on saxophone, Joe McNally on trumpet and Brodie
Johnson on trombone. This would cement their blend of hardcore and ska. The
band's first indie release came out in 1992 with the "Rasta Mis Huevos" 7" EP
for Signal Sound Systems Records. Later in 1992, the band would release their
first 12" with SSS Records called "We're Coloring Fun".
Voodoo Glow Skulls recorded their debut, “Who Is, This Is?” for Dr Strange
Records in 1993 selling 200,000 copies worldwide. The band then signed to
Epitaph Records and released four CDs that collectively sold over 750,000 copies
worldwide. VGS soon began receiving positive critical reviews and the mainstream
support of commercial radio and MTV. Eventually they had a main stage spot on
the 1998 Warped Tour.
Their three most recent albums "Steady as She Goes", "Adiccion, Tradicion y
Revolucion" and "Southern California Street Music" have been released on Victory
Records. Their lyrical content varies between English and Spanish. One of their
albums, “Firme,” is available in both Spanish- and English-language versions. In
addition, they made a compilation album called “Exitos Al Cabron,” a collection
of Spanish-language material from their previous releases.
OWEN TROMANS & THE ELDERS, RAILWAY INN,
WINCHESTER – FRIDAY AUGUST 8
 As
the leader of the band San Lorenzo, Owen has toured with Idlewild and gained
support from the radio shows of Steve Lamacq and John Peel. Away from the band,
Owen has been producing diverse and engaging solo records for some time now.
Lyrically rooted in English suburbia and the countryside that lies beyond,
Owen’s music combines what Time Out magazine described as “uncluttered and
intensely beautiful ballads with fiery, guitar-based music.”
Owen’s first record was the self-produced “Box Of Tapes,” released in 2001.
Recorded to four-track over three years, running through hazy jams after school
to breaks from playing with San Lorenzo, the record mixed finger-picking guitar
mantras with brooding soundscapes and haunting songs. This release was followed
in 2003 with “From A Lost Library,” which still showcased instrumentals, but
also demonstrated Owen’s growing confidence as a songwriter.
In the summer of 2003 Owen also recorded an album in Northern Italy with local
musicians. This record became “Place,” a collection that featured some of his
finest narrative songwriting. Released on the Baros label it gained wider
distribution than his previous releases. “Your Heart Is Not Broken” followed in
2005, an EP which contained a reworking of the live favourite “John’s On The
Bridge.”
Owen’s new album “Hope Is A Magnet” was released on Fire Records in March of
this year. The album was reviewed on
www.americana-uk.com who had this to say: “The impression this record
creates has you asking yourself whether there’s a place right now for
intelligently written and snappily played pop music, there should be, which of
course doesn’t mean there is, but this music does deserve to be heard. The songs
are in the post-Morrissey Brit Pop landscape, shot through with some Billy Bragg
in both content and delivery, particularly ‘Dust Of Stars’, which also has some
fine guitar moments, a dash of Squeeze comes through too, ‘Levitate Me Judith’
has lines such as ‘Hey you’re the mind expander, lets get drunk on my veranda’
which actually calls to mind one of Victoria Wood’s comic efforts rather than
the bards of Salford and Barking! He also manages to squeeze in the well phrased
‘A missile is still a missile even if fired by mistake’.”
Support for Owen at the Railway comes from The Contrast and Phil Horton.
CONOR OBERST & THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND,
WEDGEWOOD ROOMS, PORTSMOUTH - TUES AUGUST 26
 Best
known for his work with the band Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst comes to the
Wedgewood Rooms with his latest project The Mystic Valley Band.
Conor is an American singer-songwriter born in 1980 in Omaha, Nebraska. He began
his recording career in 1993, aged 13, and since then has produced a huge amount
of material. As well as his band Bright Eyes (of which he is the only constant
member) he has also been involved with Desaparecidos, a rock orientated side
project .
At fourteen years of age, Oberst was singer and guitarist of Commander Venus, an
indie rock band in 1994. The former members of Commander Venus would later go on
to feature in many Saddle Creek records groups, who host and have hosted bands
including Cursive, Desaparecidos, The Faint, Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, Son
Ambulance, Azure Ray, The Good Life, Sorry About Dresden, among others.
As a guitarist and singer for the band Desaparecidos Owen’s music and lyrics
differ greatly from Bright Eyes, having more in common with punk rock than folk.
The lyrics are generally social commentary on the state of affairs in America,
compared to Bright Eyes' introspective lyrics.
Conor has also produced a solo album “Conor Oberst” on Merge Records, which is
due for release on August 5. Tickets for the Wedgewood Rooms gig are £15 through
www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk
TOFU LOVE FROGS, ENDORSE IT IN DORSET,
SIXPENNY HANDLEY – FRIDAY AUGUST 8
 Amongst
a host of interesting artists playing at this year’s festival are a band who
reformed last year after a nine-year break. Here’s a bit about the history of
the gloriously named Tofu Love Frogs from their website www.tofulovefrogs.co.uk.
In 1989, long before the invention of the clippers and the hair brush, a group
of squatters from Hackney started a folk club. This soon morphed into a band.
Hours before their first performance, still with no name and no percussionist,
they met Chris, who said he would play the percussion only if they performed
under the name the “Tofu Love Frogs”, and so the band was born.
Their first gigs, playing their unique mixture of folk, punk and booze; with
songs about politics and crime delighted the Hackney underclass. They played
mostly in squat parties and a few venues around London. Over the next year Paddy
and Chris both bought old buses and the show went on the road. Of course at this
time England was full of young people taking to the road and no free festival
was complete without the Tofus.
Paddy: “My 21st birthday was at Castle Morton Festival. We played on our own
stage and on the Wango Reilly stage. I was tripping so much my feet could hardly
stay on the floor”
Over the next few years the line ups changed as did the instruments. The mushy
haze that is the past does not allow for a full description of who played what
when, but here are some of the main players:
At first:
Paddy - fiddle and vocals
Chris - bongos then later impresario
Ebe - bass
Mark - Guitar
Nuala - fiddle
Richard - guitar and harmonica
Alan - Mandolin
Mark then left and Glyn played guitar. Then Glyn left and Mark joined again and
stayed with the Tofus until they split in 1998 – (apart from one tour when Mark
damaged his hand and Kel played the guitar). Then we had a few kit drummers.
They came and went and the order is a bit hazy. It went something like Andy,
then Duggie, Jim then Andy again, then George and finally Goff. We also had
Alicia singing and playing the tambourine, Barry playing Bodhran and Kate
playing the whistle
By about 1996 the Tofus were usually a four piece, guitar (mark), bass (Ade),
Fiddle (Paddy) and drums (Goff), but often included guests at gigs. The Tofus
recorded two cassette only releases, “In A Llittle Trouble” and “Toytown” and
two CDs albums “Rentamob” and “Vegetable Attack.”
After nine years of playing in squats, festivals and protest sites across Europe
the Tofus did their final gig, in a squatted pub for the wake of our roady Guy.
And now they’re back!
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AMY WADGE
ALBERT BAR
SOUTH PARADE PIER FRIDAY AUGUST 22
GWYN ASHTON CELLARS AT EASTNEY SOUTHSEA
WED AUGUST 20
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS
TALKING HEADS SOUTHAMPTON
SUN AUGUST 17
OWEN TROMANS
& THE ELDERS RAILWAY INN WINCHESTER FRIDAY AUGUST 8
CONOR OBERST
& THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND WEDGEWOOD ROOMS, PORTSMOUTH
TUES AUGUST 26
TOFU LOVE FROGS DORSET,
SIXPENNY HANDLEY FRIDAY AUGUST 8 |
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