The Broken Family Band’s decision to call it a day in 2009 after eight years and seven releases was a sad, bittersweet one. Happy with their achievements and mindful of losing the fun by plugging away to diminishing returns, the amicable retirement allowed for some fittingly reflective, funny and cheeky farewell shows and a run-out for some back catalogue favourites. In particular, a lump-in-the-throat, tear-in-the-beer set at End of the Road and a closing night slot at Swn will live long in the memory.
Songwriter Steven Adams, happily, had no intention of stopping outright. Returning to the alter-ego under which he released 2006’s slept-on, low-key solo gem Problems he dropped the definite article, recruited a band and wrote the songs which now form the first SINGING ADAMS record Everybody Friends Now. Retaining the eye for a tune, the acerbic tongue and unnerving ability to convey personal, affecting words while avoiding any hint of mawkishness, the excerpts placed online so far suggest a continuation of the more streamlined indie-rock of later BFB albums stripped of some of the anglicised alt-country of their earlier work. The band, recruited from Absentee and Saloon among others, carried off an initially tentative lunchtime main stage set at last year’s Green Man with ease, and Adams continues to be one of those effortless songwriters who makes you wonder how so many others get it so horribly wrong.
DEER PARK are favourites of the fine folk at Diverse and Gathered In Song, and with good reason. They’re a band for whom name-dropping comparisons are a benefit, rather than a hindrance, which bodes well for lazy gets like myself; raucous alt-country with an emphasis on the alt-, think Replacements/Camper Van Beethoven folky thrash, Okkervil River erudition and Willy Vlautin’s storyteller’s pen. Jon Greenwood of THE DOUBLECROSS adds an opening acoustic set – think Nebraska, the downbeat Lemonheads songs and a shade of pent-up Promise Ring emo.
Me and Matthew Jarrett are DJing too, apparently. Don’t let that stop you taking a smoking break.
SINGING ADAMS (ex Broken Family Band)
DEER PARK
THE DOUBLECROSS (acoustic)
& Joy Collective/Diverse Music DJs
Sunday 10th April 7.30pm
10 Feet Tall, Church Street, Cardiff
£6 adv / £7 door http://www.wegottickets.com/event/109661
Featuring former singer of THE BROKEN FAMILY BAND Steven Adams, SINGING ADAMS are just about to release their debut album ‘Everybody Friends Now’ on Records Records Records.
Still retaining the sharp wit that earned Adams his reputation as one of the finest lyricists and songwriters of recent times, mixed with optimistic indie, folk and rock ‘n’ roll sounds – this show is not to be missed!
http://www.myspace.com/thesingingadams
http://www.myspace.com/deerpark
http://www.myspace.com/doublecrossmusic
