Grab Promotions 1st Birthday Bash

Thursday 23rd November

One year on and Greg is still vigorously putting out gigs you shouldn’t miss on a regular
basis, promoting welsh bands Kerrang Magazine have gone head over heels for such as
Midasuno, Dopamine and The Blackout as well as U.S rising metal stars Suicide Silence.
Every gig is its own and this is no exception, an all welsh line up. Openers Said Mike, a
five-piece band from Ponty who seem to be regulars in this part of town. Alex and co-band
mate Adam from The Guns who are to put on an acoustic set with another later acoustic
performance from Neil Starr, from Caerphilly's own Dopamine. Kids in Glass Houses will
also hit the stage plus talked about headliners Midasuno.

Outside the crowd seem eager and cant wait to be let in and have been patient enough to
wait in the rain while the police remove a car parked outside the front door, a real
inconvenience. As soon as they do open no time is wasted, get your drink and wait for the
entertainment to begin.

Said Mike take to the stage, a little tension maybe, the singer looks like someone’s shoved
a guitar in his hands and pushed him onstage for the first time, although all this is cast aside
as soon as they start playing their pacey yet melodic style rock with very catchy licks.
Honestly their not the kind of band I would usually listen to but I can’t help but bob my head
to some of their tracks. The synth’s give an extra appeal to their music, perhaps making it
more pop friendly but still rock n roll and even so give out a good performance.  Check out
their tracks ‘Head down, check it out’ and ‘The Alleyways’ to get a good sense of what their
about. ***

All is rushed to set up for the next band, not a moment to spare, a table placed center stage,
a can of carling o' and don’t forget the fags. Alex sparks up before briefing the crowd with a
crack of laughter that he's totally unprepared. But it proves to be a very pleasant and amusing
set, He cracks jokes with the audience while they decide what to play, even gets them
involved when front men from Said Mike and KIGH are supposed to join them on stage, and
when they do, its a one off experience watching Alex trying to organize and put together a
song. This is exactly what an intimate and acoustic show should be about, not a worry in the
world, just you and the fans. ****

Kids in Glass Houses take their mark, within a blink of an eye and the first note struck their
already bouncing around the stage like crazed lunatics who mean business, your going to
listen to them whether you like it or not. There’s such an energetic burst and sound
throughout their whole set, particularly in the singer Aled and guitarist Iain who's either
shaking his ass, hurling his guitar in all directions or screaming his heart out to the audience.
They like to show off what they got live.  They sound compelling and on form tonight. A well
deserved cheer from the audience as they leave the stage. ***

A single chair is propped on stage, Neil Starr from Dopamine is about to start his acoustic
set when again a joke is made about Brixton academy, trying to get everyone to sit down
and make it more enjoyable so everyone can see (in a slope style way if you haven’t been
there). Silence throughout the club as he starts, all eyes are peeled on Neil and what looks
to be a promising and distinctive set. He asks the audience for requests and plays numerous
songs, his voice is perfect for all,one of the last being a cover of The Blackout in which the
crowd are either clung to every word or secretly singing along, very hypnotizing. If there was
one word to describe Neil’s set it would have to be 'Magical'. ****

It’s getting late, people have missed the last bus home or have left for that reason. Headliners
Midasuno take the stage quite happily. Loyal fans make their way to the front where there’s a
n instant connection between them and the band, something you probably wouldn’t get with
bigger bands which they could do with. They have a great sense of energy in a very enjoyable
way that plays off well to the crowd and gets them very much more into their music or
depending how you want it, such songs like 'A Machine; The Rhythm Thief' or
‘The Law of Tooth and Fang’ would make you want to jump around and scream along.
Although a slight technical problem at the start that doesn’t stop them playing their best.
Lead singer Scott also roams around to interact with the audience, letting them sing along or
incidentally jumping on the photographer. From what I’ve heard of previous performances this
band definitely lives up to their name and extremely well. *****