If last night proved anything, the Cardiff indie scene is in rude health. Fredrick Stanley Star are hardly known outside of South Walian circles, and listeners to Radio 1’s Welsh programme. Yet last night was a sell out – mostly thanks to the excellent word of mouth that FSS generate. It helps that bands support each other here, and much of the audience was made up of other misfits who spend their free time making wonderful music. In fact, the night itself was put on by Attack and Defend’s DIY label Shape, who all looked a bit amazed and bedazzled as the night unravelled.
Among the support for ‘Stanley Star tonight was the extraordinary Little Bear Wails. My learned friend told me this was only their third show. They look like they have been doing this for years and years, and were having tremendous fun on stage. If there’s a concept here, its to get as drunk as possible while sounding like a pirate. This is the noise pissed and frustrated sailors would have made in the 19th century, with electric guitar, after returning from a four month long voyage. I don’t think I’ve ever seen stomping used as a major form of percussion as part of a band’s repertoire either. Awesome.
Fredrick Stanley Star, then. The first time I saw this band I was bowled over and surprised by their unity and passion, combined with their shambolic charm. This was still on show tonight. As Shape looked totally surprised by the turnout, FSS looked like the adulation and support from the crowd was beyond anything they had expected for the evening. They managed to hold their composure while the audience cheered for them, with the odd giggle of acknowledgement. FSS work in slow build ups and pace changes, building harmonies upon harmonies until they break under their own weight and the music needs to go somewhere else.
The whole time I’m wondering where this kind of music comes from. Out of my window at home I can see Plasnewydd terraces, not rolling hills and hillbillies. FSS are an escape from urbanism, from hard angles, concrete guitars and concentrated noise. You can literally close your eyes and let them carry you away into their universe, although if you did that you’d miss quite a show. If there are any negatives from the night, and this is a minor niggle, its that FSS would really benefit from a quieter atmosphere. But they still put on an amazing and powerful show even with the background fuzz. The album – Heaviside Layer – is out on Monday from Spillers and Diverse.
PS: Yes, sorry, Broken Leaf also played last night. Sadly the poor reviewer only arrived as Broken Leaf was finishing, although what I heard was quite suttle and splendid, and very much tied in with the rest of the evening.
