GIGS 2007

FUTURESOUNDS - CARDIFF, BUFFALO BAR - w/LADYFINGERS, PONEY EXPRESS & LINDSEY LEVEN - 29/11/07

Last minute stand-in for The Gentle Good who were too ill to sing. Usual sort of Buffalo Bar experience. Air conditioning was on straight in my face so it was really fucking cold.

Setlist:

BETHAN ELFYN INTRODUCING.... - LIVE ON RADIO ONE - 28/11/07

A year and a day since my last national radio appearance I took the Volunteers along to play four songs on the Bethan Elfyn show. Also included a 'Director's Commentary' on the Tree of Knowledge video.

Setlist:

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN - WARRINGTON, WA1 - w/NAPOLEON IIIRD & MODERNAIRE - 24/11/07

This is possibly the first gig I've done where I felt like I actually offended members of the crowd. Not a great feeling. Comments of 'he's dissing football now!' during 'The Gentlemen's Game' were as upsetting as they were wildly inaccurate.

Setlist:

BRAINLOVE TOUR - CARDIFF, CLWB IFOR BACH - w/NAPOLEON IIIRD & APPLICANTS - 20/11/07

Last date of the tour saw me joined by the Volunteers for a great headline set swapping bassists between Yo Soy and Tomos. Applicants played brilliantly and Napoleon was the loudest I've ever heard him. Another small/discerning crowd which I shall blame on the rain.

Setlist:

BRAINLOVE INSTORE - LONDON HOLLOWAY, PUREGROOVE RECORDS - w/NAPOLEON IIIRD - 19/11/07

Short solo acoustic sets from me and Napoleon to a crowd consisting only of people we were on tour with. Felt slightly like a wasted journey but nice to see the guys in puregroove again.

Setlist:

BRAINLOVE TOUR - BRIGHTON, WESTHILL HALL - w/POWER UP!, KEYBOARD CHOIR, APPLICANTS, & NAPOLEON IIIRD - 18/11/07

A cool little village hall style venue with a stage that looked like some kind of post war living room with its giant lamp and floral coverings. Once again the audience felt very far away and I got some slight shakes and didn't play my best. However everyone else said it was my best gig of the tour so go figure.

Setlist:

BRAINLOVE TOUR - OXFORD, THE CELLAR - w/KEYBOARD CHOIR, APPLICANTS & NAPOLEON IIIRD - 15/11/07

Probably the best date of the tour so far. KC had all their friends down and there was much shouting of 'Gandalf!' during my set (keyboard choir's conductor is called Gandalf). Applicants had a run in with a mouth breather of a bouncer and some slightly smug non-fans. Footage to go on YouTube soon - maybe.

Setlist:

BRAINLOVE TOUR - MANCHESTER, SOUP KITCHEN - w/APPLICANTS, MODERNAIRE, & NAPOLEON IIIRD - 14/11/07

Decidedly unusual place for a gig, a very upmarket soup kitchen. Get the impression not many homeless people are welcome there. Everyone sitting on benches and slightly far away. Thought we were going to be playing from the rail the soup trays go on when we first arrived.

Setlist:

BRAINLOVE TOUR - LONDON KILBURN, GOOD SHIP - w/APPLICANTS, KEYBOARD CHOIR & NAPOLEON IIIRD - 13/11/07

First date of the Brainlove tour 2007. Mostly a crowd of Brainlove affiliates gathered to wish us well. Did a spontaneous omnichord version of Memorial Hall which I enjoyed so much I carried on with it throughout the tour.

Setlist:

SWN FESTIVAL - CARDIFF, GLO BAR - 11/11/07

Huw Stephens' inaugural Swn festival. A mid afternoon slot so i did a couple of acoustic songs so as not to hurt people's hangovers.

Setlist:

TREETOPS BENEFIT GIG - DERBY, THE VIC INN - THE SCHOOL, SILENCE AT SEA, LAST ARROW & YANMOLBY - 4/11/07

Charity gig organised by Laura from Silence at Sea/The Volunteers. A full band gig with me also playing in Silence at Sea. Great noisy set from the Volunteers, kind of settling in as a band now.

Setlist:

MELTDOWN - CARDIFF, CLWB IFOR BACH - w/ADRIAN HUGHES, PANACEA SOCIETY & CLINICAL GROOVER - 28/10/07

A one off (possibly) non-song based noise experiment gig. Using the omnichord as the source and using laptop, kaoss pad and guitar pedals to process into one long improvised piece which segued into a cover. Didn't quite go to plan as the sound didn't help - to be fair the sound guy had probably never had to deal with something like this before and would've had no idea what to do with it. Also very quiet night.

Setlist:

FUZZTIVAL - SHEFFIELD, STUDENTS' UNION - FUSION -w/LOS CAMPESINOS, PINEY GIR, EUGENE MCGUINESS, YOU SAY PARTY WE SAY DIE, BUGBRAND & lots of others... - 27/10/07

3 o'clock slot opening the annual fuzztival festival. Bit weird going on at that time, every far too sober and far away. Much enthusiasm from the crowd though and a great event.

Setlist:

ISLANDS NIGHT - BOLTON, DOG & PARTRIDGE - w/DOLITTLE & STEVEN EVANS & THE PLANETS - 20/10/07

Fourth gig with the Volunteers - first with new Volunteer Jones standing in on bass for Volunteer Evans. Had a long trek there via a Little My gig in Manchester with half my band also playing with them. A good sound from a refurbished D&P, the Boltonians seemed to like the band after nearly a year away. Good stuff.

Setlist:

PINEAPPLE FOLK - MANCHESTER, CLUB PHOENIX - w/THE BLOW - 16/10/07

Great gig. Good sound, good crowd all obviously into electo-singer songwriters seeing as they'd come to see the Blow. Went down a treat and got mobbed with compliments afterwards. Ace.

Setlist:

THE FAMILY - CARDIFF, HOWARD GARDENS - w/THE STANLEY BAND & LUCKY DELUCCA - 05/10/07

After a busy week it was nice to do a gig literally 2 minutes walk from where I live. Interested crowd all looking highly fashionable and gorgeous as befits an art school. Went down well again. Managed to sing Tree of Knowledge in a thoroughfare and harrass people as they went by.

Setlist:

THE AWKWARD SILENCES' SILENT NIGHT - LONDON, KILBURN, THE GOOD SHIP - w/GINDRINKER, PAUL HAWKINS & THE AWKWARD SILENCES, & DAVID CRONENBERG'S WIFE - 03/10/07

Another good show. Gindrinker playing their best to a london crowd for only the second time ever. Paul Hawkins climbing over every square inch of the venue with his exuberance, DCW's delightly sinister Cramps-y Rock n Roll. Also I played some songs.

Setlist:

DON'T START FEELING ALL 'ROMANTIC' - NOTTINGHAM, JUNKTION 7 - w/THE DEIRDRES & THE SCHOOL - 02/10/07

Really enjoyed this one. The Deirdres got everything off to a good start with their anti-everthing twee-fi folk pop. This is the first time I've ever had people doing roly-polys during my set. Also the PA crapped out in the second songs and I was forced to adlib with a daniel johnston cover with the keyboard playing straight into the microphone. Everyone joined in with a round of handclaps, ace.

Setlist:

AKOUSTIK ANARKHY - MANCHESTER, GARDENS HOTEL - w/THOMAS TRUAX, & ISLANDS LOST AT SEA - 29/09/07

Brilliant gig. Really enjoyed this one. Proud to play with the inimitable Thomas Truax and my favourite follow Boltonians. Following Thomas through the hotel foyer and into a lift during his usual 'wandering off' moment was great.

Setlist:

FORTUNA POP VS BRAINLOVE - LONDON, BUFFALO BAR - w/NAPOLEON IIIRD, ILL EASE & ...AND WHAT WILL BE LEFT OF THEM? 28/09/07

A quiet but fun gig. Ace lineup. Particularly enjoyed Ill Ease one-woman punk band schtick.

Setlist:

TRUCK FESTIVAL - OXFORD - MARKET TENT (PINEY GIR'S QUILTING BEE) - 22/09/07

A quiet unamplified acoustic set organised by George Schla for the Piney Gir Charity Quilting Bee. Joined by Chris Alcxxk on melodica for three songs.

Setlist:

THE FREAKSHOW - DEMPSEYS, CARDIFF - w/TINY LITTLE MY & CLOUD ATLAS - 17/09/07

Re-launch gig for the re-release of 'Build Library Here (or else!)' I picked a set entirely from that record. Really enjoyed myself playing lots of old stuff that I'd not played for ages or ever at all. Dug out the grooveboxes as well leading me to have a table crammed with more gear than I've ever used before - dubbing the gig 'PWL & the Kitchen Sink'. I also joined Tiny Little My's vegetable tombola of guest singers and duetted with Liz from The School on 'All but the Beeps Meep'.

Setlist:

STUDIO BAR, MERTHYR TYDFIL - w/MR DUKE, HYSHERA, & THE ELECTRIC ARTIFICIAL - 24/08/07

Strange venue, part bowling alley, like something from the 50s. Felt like I should be playing Jonny B Goode or something. Was asked to play at the last minute after no fewer than three other bands pulled out of the night, so it wasn't what you'd call well-attended...

Setlist:

MELTDOWN - CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF - w/Adrian Hughes, Clockwork Rebels, Alex Dingley Band, & Plant Duw - 29/07/07 (solo acoustic)

First time I've done a gig on my birthday. Short acoustic set joined by Volunteer Roberts on violin for the last three songs.

Setlist:

HEROES + VILLAINS - CLWB Y BONT, PONTYPRIDD - w/GINDRINKER, KUTOSIS, & THE ELECTRIC ARTIFICIAL - 18/07/07 (w/The Volunteers)

I don't know what happened here, aside from some struggles with sound and the obligatory 'laptop cuts out' moment during PoSL I also seemed completely unable to play the guitar. I blame the lights.

Setlist:

WHITE HEAT - MADAME JOJO'S, SOHO, LONDON - w/HOLY FUCK & WHITE RABBITS - 26/06/07 (solo)

Medium all round for this one. Not particularly good or bad. Strange venue. You're separated from the majority of the crowd by a large pit. so people are either far away or really low down. Hard to get into it.

Setlist:

ELECTRIC CIRCUS - JUG & JESTER, LEAMINGTON SPA - w/DEATH 05 & WAIT... ALASKA - 23/06/07 (solo)

Decent gig to an enthusiastic crowd. Slightly marred by going on late due to both support bands starting late and overrunning. Was accosted onstage by a drunk scotsman offering to be my drummer. Also a fly landed on my laptop and died. Portentious?

Setlist:

BRAINLOVE ALL-DAYER - THE WINDMILL, BRIXTON - w/TRACY IS HOT & THE CLAP, THE EVENINGS, THE OPEN MOUTHS, JUNKPLANET, INSECTOID, FUCK BUTTONS, NAPOLEON IIIRD, APPLICANTS, & AGOSKODO TELIVEREK - 02/06/07 (w/The Volunteers)

Second Volunteers gig to a friendly and lively Brainlove crowd who cheered us on through technical troubles in the first few songs and sang along to a brilliantly timed powercut during the last song.

Setlist:

MELTDOWN BANK HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA - CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF - w/GUTO DAFIS, SILENCE AT SEA, WATERMELONS, GINDRINKER & NAUGHTY - 27/05/07 (w/the Volunteers)

First ever gig by the Volunteers. Nervous and slightly blighted by technical difficulties nevertheless it wasn't a bad debut. Watermelons made tits of themselves by acting like children over soundcheck arrangements. You'd perhaps expect more from a band who'd been going 20 years? They seemed to think it was all our fault - launching into an onstage diatribe about nepotism... Maybe if they'd turned up on time and been polite to the soundman like we were....?

Setlist:

LOOSE PRESENTS... - CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF - w/APPLES IN STEREO & HOMESCIENCE - 22/05/07

Really enjoyed this gig, first time upstairs at Clwb and it sounded massive. Had my guitar sounds 'corrected' by the sound man ('that's better now it sounds like a guitar'). Rob from Apples in Stereo has got to be the nicest man on earth, particularly enjoyed chatting to him about his visit to Cardiff castle that day. Ace.

Setlist:

FAG CLUB - DEMPSEY'S, CARDIFF - w/CLARA CLARA & KICKBALL - 21/05/07

Nice gig to a small crowd at Cardiff's gay activism group's band night. The other two bands were great, on a long tour from the states and france. Sadly they were very loud leading to compaints from Dempsey's staff which really killed the atmosphere during Clara Clara's raucous synth rock set. Ridiculous considering Dempseys have bands on all the time.

Setlist:

QUIET NIGHT OUT - THE BAY HORSE, MANCHESTER - w/ISLANDS LOST AT SEA, CHERRY SHERIFF & THE TRAVELLING BAND - 13/05/07

Nice intimate sit down kind of show with good sound despite no monitors and speaker problems. People were talking at the start and listening by the end, which is always good. Islands were good but blighted by the lack of monitors cos they could hear the backing track over the guitars.

Setlist:

UBERALLES - CALLAGHAN'S, CARDIFF - w/NAPOLEON IIIRD - 14/04/07

Napoleon on tour to promote his debut album. Awesome show. Good sound from the refurbished callghan's. lot better than last time i played there three years ago. Did an impromptu unamplified 'KK4' after a lead broke and was joined by Laura from Silence at Sea for 'PoSL' as a sneak preview of the PWL Volunteers Band.

Setlist:

THE FOUNDTAION - DRY BAR, MANCHESTER - w/MODERNAIRE, THE STAR FIGHTER PILOT & THE BLACK PATHS - 05/04/07

A self-concocted 'Cream of Manchester Electro' night coming shortly after I left manchester for cardiff. Nice crowd turned up, dancing was done. Modernaire are my favourite band in the world in the whole of today. Ace.

Setlist:

THE FREAKSHOW - DEMPSEYS, CARDIFF - w/THE WYVERN ROAD SHOWCASE, & SIMON AYRE - 12/03/07

Going for something different because of Freakshow's 'anything goes' outlook, I played my first groovebox-free gig in a long time. Opening with half a set of acoustic numbers the crowd were practically silent throughout. Brought it up a little in the middle then ended with a very old song that I've never played before. Amongst my favvourite gigs I've ever done.

Setlist:

CLUB FANGANDGO - STAR & GARTER, MANCHESTER - w/KID CARPET & TIM'S BROTHER - 23/02/07

More laptop trouble. Time for a re-think. Didn't have some of my gear so a kind of stripped down set. Still a good gig. Lots of support from the crowd. Kid Carpet was great and I liked Tim's Brother's video backdrop.

Setlist:

POW POW POW! - 93 FEET EAST, SHOREDITCH, LONDON - w/THE BRIDGE GANG, LOVE ENDS DISASTER & REDCARSGOFASTER - 14/02/07

Romance was in the air at this Valentines day gig. Found my mojo a bit more after a spate of slightly uninspiring gigs. Note to self: relax. Slight laptop problems again, ho hum. Good crowd, easily persuaded to clap along with The Futuristic Keyboard That Plays Itself. Fun.

Setlist:

HEY! MANCHESTER NIGHT - KRO BAR, MANCHESTER - w/LAST HARBOUR & SWEET BABOO - 09/02/07

Decent gig. Sound was a little wonky, the room really sucked acoustically and the PA wasn't up to much. Got upstaged by Sweet Baboo's charming drunken dementia.

Setlist:

CRIKEY BLIMEY - THE CROFT, BRISTOL - w/THE CHILD FOURANA & AL FRESCO BANKS - 29/01/07

Rounding off my first weekend of gigs in 2007. An 'intimate' set competing with a clearly audible thrash metal night in the room next door. Still the crowd were attentive and there was even dancing which is always nice.

Setlist:

MELTDOWN - CLWB IFOR BACH, CARDIFF - w/THREATMANTICS, RING, MR AND MRS CLARK & EIRLYS RHIANNON - 28/01/07

A great night. Suitably left field and eclectic from Ring's norwegian swamp blues, Mr & Mrs Clark's terrifying performance art, Eirlys' beautiful folk songs to Threatmantics kinetic string-punk. I went down a treat, hopefully ready to be welcomed to the cardiff scene ahead of my impending move there....

Setlist:

THE BROKEN SHACKLE TABERNACLE - LABOUR CLUB, NORTHAMPTON - w/NAPOLEON IIIRD & JOE WOOLEY - 26/01/07

A largely disinterested crowd. Felt completely like it made no difference whether I was there or not. Kicked off my year in a suitably auspicious way. Ho hum.

Setlist:

NAME OF EVENT - VENUE, TOWN - w/NAMES OF OTHER BANDS - 00/00/07

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