Week 15 – Wednesday 13th April – Millennium Music Hall, Cardiff – Pete & The Pirates (£8)
“Why are Pete & the Pirates called Pete & the Pirates?”
Only a fool would have fallen for Sandro’s trick question of the day.
“One of them is called Pete and the others are Pirates,” I answered confidently.
“One of them is called Pete and the others are Pirates,” I answered confidently.
“No. Because they arrrghh!” Sandro replied gleefully. I didn’t get it.
At the time we were sat in The Queens Vaults on Westgate Street, watching the first half of Spurs’ doomed attempt to overturn a 4 goal deficit against Real Madrid.
The menu for Week 15 of Gigaweek featured the aforementioned Pete & The Pirates, who, like The Sunshine Underground, were playing at the Millennium Music Hall. For the first time this year we’d be visiting the same venue for the second time in succession. It was a truly historic night.
The menu for Week 15 of Gigaweek featured the aforementioned Pete & The Pirates, who, like The Sunshine Underground, were playing at the Millennium Music Hall. For the first time this year we’d be visiting the same venue for the second time in succession. It was a truly historic night.
We arrived in time to catch the last couple of songs from a local band called My Very Best, who were playing to an invisible audience. On closer inspection, there were human beings present but sadly they were all standing at the other end of the room, leaving an audience sized vacuum in front of the stage. It must have been encouraging for the band.
After buying a couple of beers, Sandro and I took up a position slightly closer, but with enough distance for us not to make a spectacle of ourselves (we didn’t want anyone thinking we were fans or something).
Unfortunately, the toe-trodder from our last gig was nowhere to be seen. Presumably, she was busy standing two feet in front of wherever P. Mushy was.
Unfortunately, the toe-trodder from our last gig was nowhere to be seen. Presumably, she was busy standing two feet in front of wherever P. Mushy was.
-------
“Is this the first time that we’ve seen The Wendys and Buster Douglas at a gig this year?” Sandro asked me, which was strange because I’d seen neither The Wendys (long-suffering mother of Salazar and K-May) nor Buster Douglas (her boyfriend), so I asked him if he’d taken his medication. He hadn’t.
“They’re behind you,” he replied, and he was right. Like us, they’d been watching the football and were going to give the second supporting band a chance before deciding whether or not to return to the pub for the second half.
“They’re behind you,” he replied, and he was right. Like us, they’d been watching the football and were going to give the second supporting band a chance before deciding whether or not to return to the pub for the second half.
Next on stage were another band of local boys, inventively named OK, giving ample opportunity for a lesser man to make a terrible joke or two. They were facing an uphill battle to get us on-side. We’d earlier glimpsed their ginger curly haired lead singer wandering around in a cardigan that disgusted Sandro to his very core. I liked it.
Their opening song was pretty encouraging (although it should be noted that all present were embarrassed by the jumping antics of curly ginger cardy guy).
Seemingly unimpressed, The Wendys and Buster Douglas decided to return to the pub.
Seemingly unimpressed, The Wendys and Buster Douglas decided to return to the pub.
Ok encouraged the majority of the crowd to move closer to the stage early on, and both the singer and guitarist were very chatty between songs. In my opinion that was a good thing, but those of a more cynical disposition may have found them annoying. Sandro found them extremely irritating; I thought they were OK. I was right in at least one sense.
Clearly enjoying themselves and trying hard to work a fairly sparse crowd, they asked the audience to cheer them off once too often, before disappearing to a chorus of boos (from Sandro).
Clearly enjoying themselves and trying hard to work a fairly sparse crowd, they asked the audience to cheer them off once too often, before disappearing to a chorus of boos (from Sandro).
-------
Following a quick trip to the little boy’s room, Sandro returned wondering if it should be renamed the big black man’s room. I decided that might be considered racist, so probably not.
He was referring of course, to the men who can often be found in club toilets, sitting on stools and offering a range of chewing gums, lollipops and, more importantly, deodorants.
He was referring of course, to the men who can often be found in club toilets, sitting on stools and offering a range of chewing gums, lollipops and, more importantly, deodorants.
“No spray no lay,” you may have heard such a person say, before expecting you to pay a pound for the privilege of using a hand towel.
“I think people may be uncomfortable with the idea of going to the big black man’s room,” I said racistly.
“If they are racist maybe,” Sandro replied.
“Maybe the racist ones are those who only allow black people to do the job,” I said wisely.
“Maybe. I’m yet to see anyone who isn’t black in that coveted role, hence my idea for the new name. Besides, who's comfortable with the idea of going to the little boy's room?” Sandro asked.
“Paedophiles perhaps?” I suggested.
“Paedophiles perhaps?” I suggested.
“Undoubtedly. How about: the big black boy’s room? Everyone’s happy then,” Sandro said enthusiastically.
“Except the racists, who may feel unwelcome,” I said. “And women.”
“Don’t worry, they’ve got their own room,” Sandro said.
“Who, the racists?” I asked.
“No, women,” he replied.
“So that’s why I never see them. I wonder if they have big black women in there,” I was tempted to say, but didn’t, for fear of being considered even more racist.
“No, women,” he replied.
“So that’s why I never see them. I wonder if they have big black women in there,” I was tempted to say, but didn’t, for fear of being considered even more racist.
“If they don’t, then there’s a gap in the market that I’m tempted to exploit,” Sandro would undoubtedly have replied, being a big black woman himself.
Whether the powers that be (who name toilets) should consider the feelings of racists and paedophiles, was not discussed, as Reading’s finest arrived just in time to disturb us.
Whether the powers that be (who name toilets) should consider the feelings of racists and paedophiles, was not discussed, as Reading’s finest arrived just in time to disturb us.
-------
Pete & the Pirates, took to the stage to whoops and cheers from the packed audience of at least 3 dozen.
“They must be the least cool-looking band I’ve ever seen,” Sandro declared generously.
“Looking cool and being cool are two very different things,” I replied knowingly. “Take me for instance: I may not look cool to the untrained eye, yet my friends know me as Iceman.”
“They must be the least cool-looking band I’ve ever seen,” Sandro declared generously.
“Looking cool and being cool are two very different things,” I replied knowingly. “Take me for instance: I may not look cool to the untrained eye, yet my friends know me as Iceman.”
“True,” Sandro replied, “but that’s because you were stripped naked and thrown into an ice bath in school. They also call you Señor Cocktail Sausage.”
I ignored Sandro’s facetious comments and looked back to the band. The lead singer, who we naturally assumed was called Pete, drew the crowd in close to the stage and politely shook hands with a few members of the front row. He introduced himself as Tom, to our mutual bewilderment.
It turns out that two of the other members of the band are called Pete, but amazingly, none of them are actually pirates.
It turns out that two of the other members of the band are called Pete, but amazingly, none of them are actually pirates.
Tom told the audience that he and his fellow pirates always looked forward to playing in Wales as he and the drummer have a Welsh Dad.
“They must be brothers,” Sandro deduced.
“Or sisters,” I added sensibly.
“They must be brothers,” Sandro deduced.
“Or sisters,” I added sensibly.
Sandro’s declaration that they weren’t as cool-looking as You Me At Six was influenced by their fashion sense.
The singer wore a blue jumper that would have embarrassed even the most shameless of jumper fans (our friend J-Mo). Elsewhere, one of the Petes was a tall bespectacled bassist who looked enough like Danny Wallace for me to remark as much, and the other Pete was a guitarist and vocalist who donned a specs and baseball cap combo that had Sandro gagging on his cravat.
Meanwhile, the other guitarist wore a green and white hooped top almost fit for a real pirate. Regardless of what the drummer was or wasn’t wearing, I was left with countless ideas for my own wardrobe.
The singer wore a blue jumper that would have embarrassed even the most shameless of jumper fans (our friend J-Mo). Elsewhere, one of the Petes was a tall bespectacled bassist who looked enough like Danny Wallace for me to remark as much, and the other Pete was a guitarist and vocalist who donned a specs and baseball cap combo that had Sandro gagging on his cravat.
Meanwhile, the other guitarist wore a green and white hooped top almost fit for a real pirate. Regardless of what the drummer was or wasn’t wearing, I was left with countless ideas for my own wardrobe.
-------
The Pirate and the Petes played a riveting set, to a small but enthusiastic audience. There was a healthy mixture of songs from their debut album, Little Death, and promising new material which will no doubt be included on upcoming album, One Thousand Pictures.
Stepping off stage looking for further interaction, front-man Tom criticized the flimsy barricade that separated the stage from the front row.
“It’s as though they’re trying to protect us from you. You’re not going to hurt us are you? Why would you? Why would anyone?” he joked.
Stepping off stage looking for further interaction, front-man Tom criticized the flimsy barricade that separated the stage from the front row.
“It’s as though they’re trying to protect us from you. You’re not going to hurt us are you? Why would you? Why would anyone?” he joked.
“Because of that jumper!” Sandro called out in disgust.
“What’s wrong with this jumper?” Tom replied in good humour, although there was genuine pain in his eyes. “It was in the cupboard when I moved into my house.”
Even his jumper didn't spoil the show though. Mixing clever and light hearted lyrics with jangly guitar riffs, it was an exhibition of classic indie pop. There were the tunes that made their debut album so much fun, such as 'Knots', 'Bright Lights' and the perfect 'Mr Understanding' all featuring, and other highlights like the slightly heavier 'Blood Gets Thin', 'Jennifer' and new song 'Cool Black Kitty', a song about a cat, which tells you all you need to know about how seriously they take themselves. Very.
Most recent single 'Come to the Bar' further increased my expectations of their next album and prompted me to go to the bar, but the highlight of all highlights may have been upcoming single 'United', which amazed my ears so much they started flapping. Hopefully 'United' will get some decent airplay and attract the larger audience their music merits.
After a fine gig, there was just enough time before last orders for us to finish our evening with a first trip to Bogiez, the new incarnation of old Cardiff favourite Barfly. Pitching itself as a Rock and Metal bar and nightclub, and therefore playing heavier stuff than Barfly generally did, paradoxically it was a lot lighter and less dingy than the fly ever was, although to be fair, so are most cupboards.
I'm sad to say, we won’t be going back in a hurry.
At closing time, one of the bar staff became inexplicably impatient with me and positioned his beardy face inches in front of my non-beardy face, all but forcing me to down the remainder of my pint, which was at least half full.
The cheek of the man. I’d only bought it an hour before.
At closing time, one of the bar staff became inexplicably impatient with me and positioned his beardy face inches in front of my non-beardy face, all but forcing me to down the remainder of my pint, which was at least half full.
The cheek of the man. I’d only bought it an hour before.
-------
April
2-8 - The Sunshine Underground - ✓
9-15 - Pete & The Pirates - ✓
16-22 - Metronomy
23-29 - Beady Eye
2-8 - The Sunshine Underground - ✓
9-15 - Pete & The Pirates - ✓
16-22 - Metronomy
23-29 - Beady Eye
Ryan of Brum's Interesting fact Number 1 - I saw OK a few months back at a gig notable for the fact that I witnessed my first three way gay kiss. I didn't know where to look...so I looked straight at it and got a semi on.
ReplyDeleteRyan of Brum's Interesting fact Number 2 - Pete and the Pirates are Liam of Brum's favorite indie band. He uses them as a palate cleanser between listening to Avenge Sevenfold, Cageface and the like.