It’s a sensational kind of night at Clwb Ifor Bach. Sensational, partly in the sense that every gig is a brilliant experience for the people that are there. Still, tonight is one that reminds us precisely why moments of community and acceptance are so vital. More than a show, this is a rallying of Cardiff’s queer punk crowd to help raise funds for Telgate’s singer Casper to receive gender-affirming surgery. A rare moment of community activism which reminds everyone not just of loud music’s ability to foster a sense of solidarity, but to have a meaningful and significant impact on people’s lives.
So much so that having sold out the entire bottom floor, the legendary venue, being in the words of the headline act “absolute babes”, have decided to move the show upstairs in an act that allowed more people to come along including me, owing to my propensity for leaving buying tickets for anything until the last second. More than that, I see friends I recognise from Cardiff’s very own Aubergine Café and Queer Emporium at this event, furthering the sense of mutual respect among people who share common identities or experiences.
Well before the gig is due to start, contrary to the usual ever so slow arrival of gig-goers, an impressive and colourful queue has formed on Womanby Street – one that someone next to me accurately describes as “very long and very gay!”
Frankie Parris starts tonight’s proceedings. The wistful acoustic guitar pieces speak to the beauty and utter splendour of any gathering where people can go and be themselves. The quiet introspection of the songs reflects the fragility that many of us have experienced within our lives, while soothing us with gentle kindness that fills the room with a kind of tranquil comfort. Parris cites Leonard Cohen as a particular inspiration and even performs one of his songs from the early folk era.
Frankie Parris starts tonight’s proceedings. The wistful acoustic guitar pieces speak to the beauty and utter splendour of any gathering where people can go and be themselves. The quiet introspection of the songs reflects the fragility that many of us have experienced within our lives, while soothing us with gentle kindness that fills the room with a kind of tranquil comfort. Parris cites Leonard Cohen as a particular inspiration and even performs one of his songs from the early folk era.
Nothing could have felt more natural. Cohen’s music – despite coming from a different tradition of struggle, echoes the silent serenity that one feels after hurt has passed and one’s left with their own thoughts, relying on those they love to put back together the parts of themselves. The sound of solitude resides in scaled-back folk performances to captivated crowds of people who can feel the emotion that bleeds through the music. It's one that Cohen always captured with his songs, and its one Parris has captured for tonight’s audience.
Small Miracles are up next, and wow! do they succeed in summoning the wild energy you expect from a punk show! Tearing off a robe to reveal a makeshift dress that from memory reads “the future of punk is trans”, the room is made awash with smiles in awe at the flamboyance, extravagance, and unique vocal style of singer Finn Pelling, while the rest of the band brilliantly capture the rapturous combination of the pulsating melodious of new wave, the raucousness of grunge and the absolute flamboyance of glam.
Small Miracles are up next, and wow! do they succeed in summoning the wild energy you expect from a punk show! Tearing off a robe to reveal a makeshift dress that from memory reads “the future of punk is trans”, the room is made awash with smiles in awe at the flamboyance, extravagance, and unique vocal style of singer Finn Pelling, while the rest of the band brilliantly capture the rapturous combination of the pulsating melodious of new wave, the raucousness of grunge and the absolute flamboyance of glam.
A standout moment in the set comes with a cover of It’s A Sin by The Pet Shop Boys, as Pelling explains the emotional resonance of seeing that song performed live, aware of its significance to the gay liberation movement in the 80’s and yet relating those same lyrics to the struggles transgender people are living today! In fact, what makes this set so brilliant is that Small Miracles can be seem acting out the emotions on display, as if every song is its own unique piece of theatre. And yet look beyond their stage presence, and you see that the sentiments of liberation, righteous anger, as well as that of seeing beauty in yourself and your community, are not just theatre!
“Thank you to Clwb Ifor Bach for allowing us to play on the top floor. and thank you Telgate for allowing us to play to our target audience – the gays!” Banshi’s singer proclaims to cheers. The rest of the set continues in that deeply cheeky and bold vain, the influences from psychedelic rock intertwining with textures from blues, pop, and metal, as the acts vivacious stage presence holds the vibrant momentum of the night in perfect balance. “No offence to any of the straight, cis guys in the audience but you suck” comes one of the funniest jibes of the night as the anthems spit venom at homo- and trans-phobia. All of this inspires the crowd, including myself (admittedly, with the help of having had a few drinks, in my case) to dance along, liberated by dazzling, and empowering quality of the music, and performance.
Finally, Telgate take to the stage. Despite this feeling being present throughout the night, this is where I absolutely get the sense that this is what rock and roll is all about. Mosh pits which take up most of the floor rage for almost the entirety of the time the band are on stage. Witnessed from the back of the room, the glare of stage lights and haze of artificial smoke, the musicians frenetic movements silhouetted against them, gives a brilliant aesthetic to proceedings.
“Thank you to Clwb Ifor Bach for allowing us to play on the top floor. and thank you Telgate for allowing us to play to our target audience – the gays!” Banshi’s singer proclaims to cheers. The rest of the set continues in that deeply cheeky and bold vain, the influences from psychedelic rock intertwining with textures from blues, pop, and metal, as the acts vivacious stage presence holds the vibrant momentum of the night in perfect balance. “No offence to any of the straight, cis guys in the audience but you suck” comes one of the funniest jibes of the night as the anthems spit venom at homo- and trans-phobia. All of this inspires the crowd, including myself (admittedly, with the help of having had a few drinks, in my case) to dance along, liberated by dazzling, and empowering quality of the music, and performance.
Finally, Telgate take to the stage. Despite this feeling being present throughout the night, this is where I absolutely get the sense that this is what rock and roll is all about. Mosh pits which take up most of the floor rage for almost the entirety of the time the band are on stage. Witnessed from the back of the room, the glare of stage lights and haze of artificial smoke, the musicians frenetic movements silhouetted against them, gives a brilliant aesthetic to proceedings.
Casper impressively belts and screams, alongside powerful riff’s and breakneck rhythms, as in the spirit of punk, the metaphorical barrier between stage and audience collapses as he ventures into the crowd to interact with his captive audience! I repeat, this is what rock and roll is about! Hell, The Darkness are playing on the other side of town tonight, and I can pretty confidently say that anyone here, who possesses the magical ability to be in two places at once, would concede that Telgate are probably neck-and-neck with them in giving their crowds a great show! More than any of that though, what makes this spectacular is that Telgate achieve their aim of making a crowd feel liberated.
Of making people who are perhaps queer or autistic, or in my case both, feel like there’s a space within Cardiff’s rock music scene where they don’t have to mask or hide behind their walls! It’s a show that emanates the kind of unashamed acceptance and defiance that acts like Bowie, Queen or Against Me! have championed! I think a friend of mine put it best - “Look, Kiss were full of shit! God didn’t give rock n’ roll to you. The gays did…you’re welcome by the way”.
More vitally than that though, for the purposes of tonight, I’m sure its not just the audience who feel liberated but Casper and his circle of friends. At least that’s what I can deduct from his painfully funny closing jibe of “right, I’ve got the money to get my tits off. Now fuck off!”. And so, we fucked off. Still, this was one of those rare nights where every act leaves an impression on you, so much so that I will be following all of their future career moves with a sense of excitement!
More vitally than that though, for the purposes of tonight, I’m sure its not just the audience who feel liberated but Casper and his circle of friends. At least that’s what I can deduct from his painfully funny closing jibe of “right, I’ve got the money to get my tits off. Now fuck off!”. And so, we fucked off. Still, this was one of those rare nights where every act leaves an impression on you, so much so that I will be following all of their future career moves with a sense of excitement!
Finally, I only hope that – at least until the day LGBTQ+ people are no longer discriminated against, or made to risk waiting an eternity to receive health-care - that moments of community togetherness on such a significant platform as this are more common! It is these moments, after all, that give a sense of purpose and belonging to our sacred spaces! 10/10
No comments:
Post a Comment