ASIWYFA @ Barfly Review
TheSprout had been looking forward to Belfast crew And So I Watch You From Afar passing this way again since we last reviewed them in September.
Since then they've played more gigs than you've had sleeps, and released the short but inspired The Letters EP, which showcases another four tracks of instrumental excellence.
Second support act (apologies to Circa Regna Tonat for missing their opening set) and Welsh boys I Am Hope (**) had gnarly riffs and plenty of presence, but the moments of melodic power pop were a bit la-di-da for my tastes.
Thank carnage, then, for LaFaro (****), who probably deserved co-headliner status tonight. Also hailing from Belfast, the four-piece gave a run-through of a small but impressive back catalogue of scuzzy punk and thrash. Their debut, self-titled album is out in May and is on theSprout's to-buy list.
ASIWYFA (*****) seem to get more aggressive with every tour. So much so that every song is followed by a half minute of concentrated retuning of guitars, such is the ferocity of riffage. That said, frontman Rory Friers does display some restraint in asking the sound guy to turn down his guitar a fraction because he "doesn't want the world to end just yet," as well as his usual affections for the crowd.
Tonight was the final night of their UK tour which, along with a handful of birthdays among band and crew, meant there was a celebratory air of mania to go with the usual pogoing and devil-horn salutes. Newer tracks from the above mentioned EP such as S Is For Salamander are now a staple part of the band's set, and we hope their more celebrated tracks like A Little Solidarity Goes A Long Way and closer Set Guitars To Kill remain so indefinitely.
Along with the likes of The Bakerton Group and, more locally, Black Cesar, ASIWYFA may be an acquired taste as part of experimental, instrumental heaviness, but they are certainly one of the best such outfits paying regular visits to Cardiff in 2010.
3 Comments – Postiwch sylw
Dan (Sub-Editor)
Rhoddwyd sylw 74 mis yn ôl - 13th April 2010 - 16:15pm
Don't know this band, but I Am Hope rock. They were contenders for CLIC Battle of the Bands last year.
Are the stars you've typed after the band names your rating of them?
Scattered
Rhoddwyd sylw 74 mis yn ôl - 13th April 2010 - 17:22pm
That's right, Dan - scoring system out of five.
Sam Sprout (Editor)
Rhoddwyd sylw 74 mis yn ôl - 13th April 2010 - 17:25pm
You can see Circa Regna Tonat tomorrow for free in Cardiff Arts Institute - http://www.thesprout.co.uk/en/events/circa-regna-re-no-heroes/02076.html