Words and pictures by David O’Neill
This was the third event hosted by the Celtic Wolves MC as a way of meeting and enjoying live music. The sun shone on a beautiful weekend in June in Pontypool – this was a rare event in itself! Those who attend Steelhouse know all about the weather in this region. Friday night was kicked off by three covers bands with all bands playing from the back of a flatbed curtain sided truck, a novel experience for them but makes for a huge elevated stage which gave everyone a very good view of the talent on show. Now, at ÜR we don’t review cover bands so suffice to say they were all very good at what they did and were enjoyed by the crowd. So, for us is it was on to the main action…
Saturday was another glorious day kicked off by one of the bands I first saw at their first gig almost six months ago – Beyond Oblivion. Fronted by a petite dark-haired female singer they impressed at the time and did so again. With their original stuff available on Spotify it is pretty impressive stuff but to help get the crowd in the mood they did two very good covers of ‘Holy Diver’ and ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ to aid the day in their 40 minute set (with all bands being allocated this except the two headliners).
BO were followed by Lazarus Moon, another local band with a bit of an edgy post punk feel to the music all driven along by the thumping drums and basslines, music available on Spotify. In the middle of this was a dance display by a group of female rock fans called Metal Maidens.
Cancel The Transmission were the next offering, a four-piece rock band based in south Wales with influences ranging from G ‘N R to Whitesnake. This was another of the local bands who have been making a bit of a name for themselves locally. Another demonstration of the local music scene being alive and rocking. A good tight rhythm section and solid vocals backed with very good instrumentation. Music available on Spotify.
Next up were a solid heavy rock/blues-based band who have recently been hammering the doors of Bloodstock Metal to the Masses and Highway To Hell festivals. King Kraken have only been together a short time but have ripped up stages wherever they have appeared. With new music available on Spotify, there was little to disappoint the crowd here. The quintet have been in a wide variety of bands but nothing compares to the Kraken.
Who Knows Didley are another local band who are playing regularly around South Wales with bass driven low throbbing rhythms and guitar riffage that will blow your socks off. However, the lyrics are cleverly written and quite tongue in cheek but very catchy. Look out for these guys if you get chance, you’ll have a good time.
On to the main support – Everyday Heroes are one of my favourite local bands, heavily influenced by Black Stone Cherry and the Southern Rock/blues genre they always deliver. A set full of their older music was infiltrated with some newer stuff from the upcoming album with Texas Red likely to become another standard in their setlist. These guys are starting to take off big time and deservedly so. If you haven’t heard of them you soon will. Spotify links HERE.
Finally, on to Those Damn Crows. What a week these guys have had. Three stonking crowded sets at Download to the back of a lorry in Pontypool, these guys deliver wherever they play. Fronted by the inimitable Shane Greenhall (who could go into standup if the music career ever fails, but I doubt it). Good solid in your face Rock n Roll delivered with precision and timing of a metronome. Crowds are battered into submission by the drums of Ronnie Huxford and Bass of Lloyd Wood before the clear vocals of Greenhall get them all singing along to tunes such as I don’t give a damn, Rock and Roll aint dead, Blink of an Eye and a few new ones to boot. Guitar solos and rhythms ripped off Dave Winchurch and Shiner Thomas guitars to the rapturous cheers of the small but perfectly formed crowd. All the music is available on all good streaming sources.
Great day, great music and to quote TDC: “who said rock ‘n’ roll’s dead”? Not in South Wales it ain’t. Keep on rocking, support live music, get out to small venues to see local bands, everyone needs to do it! Here endeth the sermon!