Stereophonics Rock Cardiff Castle

Had an outstanding time today watching STEREOPHONICS blitz Cardiff Castle with a 21 song salvo. I've been lucky enough to see them several times and they can be available but today, I thought, was their best yet but maybe a combo of factors helped.

A one-off gig to promote their forthcoming new album, Kelly Jones and the boys retruned to the venue of their first ever main gig. That was back in 1998 and ticket prices of £12.50 for this show were the same as then and they promptly sold out 10,000 in all of 40 minutes.

The weather was suitably October with gusty winds and a couple of heavy showers - sod's law after a month of dryness - but that only added to the fun. For me, being there with friends and meeting others plus news of City winning 4-0 made it all the more magical.

However most of all, it was the set list with a few new songs - they sounded good too - some early classics, all the hits and all interspersed throughout with Kelly having good banter with the crowd as well. Wonderful stuff.

They promised something big and unique for Wales next year - look forward to finding out what that will be.

Here's some of my photos of the day.

STEREOPHONICS Cardiff video from last night

See my blog entry for yesterday to get a gig review but here's a vid someone shot of Thousand Trees from the CIA gig. Not the greatest sound or vision but you'll get a sense of the occasion.

Gig: Stereophoncs at Cardiff C.I.A.

Went to the Cardiff CIA tonight to watch The Stereophonics and had a terrific night.

Having just released a Greatest Hits album showcasing their 21 hit singles over 10 years, The Stereos naturally performed a Greatest Hits set. The gig probably featured all of them and a couple of extras too in a set lasting over 2 hours and which saw some punters leave before its finale for the last buses and trains home.

It had a fantastic opening with legendary boxing commentator Michael Buffer (a recording, not in person) introducing the lads on-stage with a blistering opening of Vegas Two Times and A Thousand Trees which had the full house crowd jumping and pumping.

Musically, they were spot-on, very professional and as tight as anything but as a group who have produced all types of hits over the years from power anthems such as Local Boy In The Photograph to sweet sickly(?) ballads such as Handbags & Gladrags (which the girls loved) and Maybe Tomorrow and a number of other pleasant tunes which are good listening but don't send the pulse racing live, their set as a consequence was up and down in terms of the experience.

One minute the place was bouncing, the next it was a simple listen and a chat to your mates. Even the encore started with the two slowest dourest tunes in their armoury. Add in at least a minute's delay between songs and not the greatest amount of banter or rapport between Kelly Jones and the crowd although more than there used to be and it all made for an excellent if not always thrilling night.

However it's always worth it, for me, to hear some of those tunes mentioned above and other classic such as Just Looking, Bartender & The Thief, Traffic, Dakota and more.

Stereophonics just happen to be one of those rare groups who serve up something for everyone and you have to dissect through those you least love to enjoy those that 'float yer boat'. Some groups are like that and they're ahead of most if not all of them.