Global Parasite BANNED

Global Parasite - the anarchist hardcore band from Colwyn Bay have had their latest track Seven Seven banned by the student radio station, University Radio Bath (1449 AM URB). The show in question is Protest Beats (the irony eh!).

DJ, Sam was non too happy and she contacted the band to say this;

"Ello guys I have some bad news lol. Really sorry but I'm not gonna be able to play seven seven tonight. I'm beyond pissed off about it as I spent most of yesterday defending the song and trying to persuade our station manager and program controller to let me play it, but I lost. I literally had the constitution thrown in my face and had points highlighted that apparently conflict with the message of the song. one in particular that I found quite comical was that the song could be construed as 'offensive in the context it is portrayed'. I don't know how many times I told them that the song could not possibly be construed as offensive and that it is our right as citizens of the UK to demand a public inquiry and know what really happened. if the government have nothing to hide they have nothing to lose do they. I also offered to play a disclaimer, something I've never had to do before lol but I feel that I'm going to have to at some point soon as they're clearly listening to what I'm playing now.

But anyways, I can assure you I'll be mentioning this in the show tonight and I'll play the track you sent me last week"

Matt from the band added; 'Further to this we've just been told that her position as head of music next year is now jeopardised after this incident. What the fuck indeed!'

What do you think?

ALBUM REVIEW - Genod Droog – Ni Oedd Y Genod Droog

Tremadog hip-hop band Genod Droog, release their debut album ‘Ni Oedd y Genod Droog’ courtesy of Conwy label Slacyr on 2nd August 2008.

Now, I had long dismissed Welsh hip-hop as a bit of a joke, as much as I tried, I simply could not get my head round the band Pep Le Pew, in my (fake) 2001AD eyes they were laughable, I simply did not understand my ignorance… Pep Le Pew did all the usual Welsh TV, Radio and gig circuit, gaining plaudits along the way until eventually morphing into Genod Droog.

Lo and behold ‘Ni Oedd Y Genod Droog’ hit the streets in 2008 after the outfit spent two years working on it at Blaen-y-Cae; a recording studio situated among the Welsh pyramids and magic mushroom farms of Garndolbenmaen.

Genod Droog, loosely translated means Bad Girls, with a play on the Welsh word ‘drwg’ – meaning ‘bad’ and pronounced droog. This was inspired by the unruly gang of ‘droogs’ in Stanley Kubrick’s infamous 1971 film, A Clockwork Orange, which in turn was based on Anthony Burgess’s dark novel of the same name published in 1962. The Super Furry Animals also referred to the name on their ‘Moog Droog’ EP (Ankst, 1995), which is a play on the Welsh slang for smoking weed (mwg drwg = bad smoke).

As a result of Genod Droog’s energetic performances, their fresh sound and their fun attitude the group became an instant success. In October 2006 they played at The Barfly in Camden, as part of the BBC Electric Proms; and in July 2007 they were the main band at Sesiwn Fawr festival in Dolgellau. The inevitable crowning of their achievements came at the BBC Radio Cymru Rock and Pop Awards in 2007 – Best Live Band and Radio Cymru listeners’ Most Popular Group – and they made regular appearances on S4C’s rock programme, Bandit, during the period.

With ‘Ni Oedd y Genod Droog’ out in the public domain, this mix of melodies, rap and uplifting anthemic dance music was contagiously catchy, and I rate it as one of the finest Welsh language releases ever! The unpredictable nature of their theatrical live shows added excitement, and they managed to create such an impression in a short period of time.

The NME wrote: “If they’re to overcome the maelstrom of hype they’ve generated from the word go, they’re going to have to subvert a few preconceptions… Well, breathe easy…it’s as bold, brilliant and bonkers a pop debut as you’re likely to hear”.

As is with many bands after releasing their debut album, all the effort, the hype and energy expended seemed to take it out of them. Within months of its release Genod Droog announced their disbandment after performing at the Noise Festival, Cardiff. They stated they had come to the end of their journey, feeling that there was no more to achieve as a Welsh-medium group.

Former Kentucky AFC drummer, Gethin Evans went on to play with Yucatan. Vocalist / rapper, Ed Holden soon became world renowned beat-box artist Mr Phormula and Dyl Mei went in the direction of broadcasting and producing for Radio Cymru.

Gwyl Gardd Goll Festival 2008

The beautiful grounds of Glynllifon Park, near Caernarfon, came alive with the sounds of Wales as the Gwyl Gardd Goll Festival with an eclectic lineup of homegrown talent.

Headliner Spotlight: Euros Childs

Topping the bill was none other than Euros Childs, the former frontman of cult band Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. Known for his distinctive blend of whimsical folk and pop melodies, Euros delivered a captivating performance that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of Welsh indie music.

A Diverse Lineup of Welsh Talent

The festival showcased a vibrant mix of artists and bands, including:

• Derwyddon Dr Gonzo, who energized the crowd with their lively ska-infused rock.

• Folk singer-songwriter Gwyneth Glyn, whose heartfelt melodies resonated deeply with the audience.

• Indie-rockers Y Rei, led by Aron Elias, adding a fresh alternative edge.

• Rock-pop fusion from Yucatan, providing catchy and dynamic tunes.

• Experimental noise rock from Denbigh’s Johnny Horizontal (pic below), offering a bold soundscape.

• The mellow indie pop stylings of Sweet Baboo (Stephen Black), adding a laid-back vibe to the day.

• The enchanting harp and vocals of Georgia Ruth Williams, opening the festival with serene beauty.

• Welsh rock-pop group Yr Ods, rounding out the rich sonic palette.

More Than Just Music

Beyond the performances, festival-goers enjoyed a full cultural experience with local food stalls, including Blas ar Fwyd, offering delicious Welsh fare. Organized by the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society), the festival was as much a celebration of Welsh culture and language as it was of music.

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The Gwyl Gardd Goll Festival of 2008 remains a cherished moment in the Welsh music calendar, blending diverse sounds, cultural pride, and community spirit amidst the stunning backdrop of Glynllifon Park.

If you’ve got memories, photos, or stories from the festival, I’d love to hear them!

Speaker's Corner closes

Stuntface playing one of many great nights at the venue

Speaker’s Corner – the venue at top of Penrhyn Road, Colwyn Bay opened in 2006 and hosts weekly (sometimes more) gigs and provides a great hang out for the town’s scenesters. 

It's on the premises of an old shoe shop, and what is essentially a juice bar, has bizarrely become a regular fixture on the North Wales coast gig circuit... until it now, as it's closed.

Matt from Global Parasite today said; 'This is a massive loss to not only Colwyn Bay but North Wales as a whole. This is no secret and we feel sorry for the manager, staff, bands and promoters who spent so much time and effort making what became a literal "cultural epicentre" of North Wales, but, the power was cut due to the owners doing something as simple as not paying the electric. The staff lost their jobs, bands lost somewhere to play, artists lost somewhere to put the work, people lost somewhere to hang out. Fucking shit. We don't care if it isn't our place to say anything. Because we are. I'm sure everyone agrees, this is a great loss.'

[Footnote: - Gog operations were moved to the Pier in Colwyn Bay, but didn't really continue the popularity of Speakers Corner - the venue Reopened spring 2009, and was later run by Holly Kift and Jase Dicken. Rumour has it Paul Weller played a few songs at an open mic night there.]

The Crud Cast Radio Show

CrudCast, in its purest form, is more than a playlist—it’s a grab-bag of sonic bliss from a world most people never visit. The 30 March 2008 edition is a perfect example of this. From sweaty basement punk to electronic twitch-pop and Welsh-language psychedelia, it swings between moods and genres with reckless delight.

There’s power in not knowing what’s coming next. There’s honesty in the raw recordings. And there’s a kind of twisted poetry in a show where Flotation Toy Warning and Kunt & The Gang exist on the same setlist.

STREAMS – We Like To Fight
CARPET – Ummmmm
MURMERS OF TENSION – Power of Bagsy
4STICKS – Sunset Angel
GLOBAL PARASITE – Fight Resist
GAFBUCK – Dyna Digon Cont Bach
SCEPTRE OF JOHNNY R – Emotronic Smash
SKEP – Security Aberystwyth
PREMONITIONS – Curse of Pantammas
ALIEN MATTER – Kelly and Steve (Walton version)
FLOTATION TOY WARNING – Popstar Researching Oblivion
KUNT & THE GANG – Have A Wank
SEINDORFF – Adar
CITIZEN FISH – Getting Used To it
JACK SHARP - Halleluiah

Noctophyle, Stuntface, Global Parasite @ Dudley Arms, Rhyl

I guess you’d call this a low key gig. Low key as in it’s not a Punk in Drublic promotion and therefore lacks that power of the internet and flyposting medium. Let’s face it, if you don’t frequent The Dudley, you’re not gonna see the posters on display by the bar, and if you don’t read the link2wales forum, you would never have known tonight’s gig was on.

Take Instant Agony’s vocalist Hocky; he was on a daytrip to Rhyl from his native Birkenhead, perusing the record shops of the locale, thought he’d have a pint at his old stomping ground and found some of his old buddies setting up for a gig.

Low key, means low in numbers, probably half of the usual crowd – most will be saving their pennies for the forthcoming punk onslaught in Blackpool. The punk girls far outnumbered the punk boys tonight and it gave them the opportunity for a bit of pogo-moshing without fear of being crushed by some 14 stone tattooed beer monster!

They’ve played countless gigs in their short existence, picked up some very favourable reviews along the way and I’ve somehow managed to miss every performance so far. So I was well pleased when a text from Global Parasite came through this afternoon to announce they had been added to the bill. And I was pretty pissed off to arrive there as they were playing their penultimate song! What I did see and hear was fast churning punk rock being sweated out in a screaming frenzy not too disimilar to The Cox; there again two-thirds of GP were The Cox.

Stuntface (top pic) are a very busy band these days as Wayne attempts to continue the cause he holds so dear to him. The number of gigs they play is as relentless as the way they play them. With a new LP ‘Pain Is Only Temporary, Glory Lasts Forever’ in the offing (their 3rd), The Dudley’s intimate setting allowed them further opportunity to target the audience with outstanding and invigorating tunes such as ‘TV Told You So’ and ‘Every Dog Has His Day.’ And on the dog subject, when guitarist Harry Kari broke a string, his replacement guitar was the same colour as a dog’s dick!

With everyone chin wagging in the beer err… yard, it looked as if Holland’s Noctophyle (pic above) would be playing to me and Stuntface, which wouldn’t have been very nice on their 3rd visit to the UK, but the live room was nicely filled by the end of the opening song. This is hardcore psychobilly – and very fucking loud – imagine The Cramps but with 2 punk guitarists, no twiddly bits, with a Stray Cats singer and Sham 69 solos…! Hard to imagine eh..! But this is sleazy rock’n’roll that turns into speedcore then back into the Cosmo Jones Beat Machine.

Image wise, you’ve gone from the sweat, scum and shit that is Stuntface to the clean-cut smoothness of Noctophyle – but that’s as far as cleanliness goes – this is dirty knicker wetting spunk rock. Good enough to wish they were ours to keep as our own. In fact I might just convert the garage to house them.

Lead singer-bassist Freddel carries a great charisma on stage; this is not your typical run of the mill 3 chord same old same old bollocks – its a wall of guitars that’s tremendously exciting and makes you wanna rock and roll!

What a fucking superb band.

Parking Non‑Stop & Ectogram at Klangbad Festival 2007

 

Bangor Experimentalists at Klangbad: 

Two boundary-pushing bands from Bangor—Parking Non‑Stop and Ectogram—took the stage at the Klangbad Festival in Scheer, Germany, a celebrated haven for experimental and avant-garde music founded by Hans‑Joachim Irmler of krautrock pioneers Faust.

Parking Non‑Stop, an ambient sound-art collective inspired by psychogeography and field recordings, delivered an atmospheric set that bridged electronic textures with spoken word and environmental audio. Their appearance at the festival marked their international debut and was a catalyst for future collaboration with Irmler's Klangbad label, leading to the release of their debut album Species Corridor in 2008.

Joining them were Ectogram, a band equally rooted in Bangor’s thriving underground scene. Known for their fusion of noise rock, psychedelia, and improvisation, Ectogram brought a heavier, more distorted energy to the festival. Their set underlined the band’s commitment to sonic experimentation and their place within the broader European avant-rock landscape.

The Klangbad Festival 2007, held from 3–5 August, showcased a diverse lineup of leftfield musicians from across Europe. Set in the idyllic town of Scheer on the banks of the Danube, the event was a celebration of musical freedom, far removed from commercial constraints. Both Parking Non‑Stop and Ectogram exemplified the exploratory spirit Klangbad is known for.

A festival CD compilation released later in the year features tracks from both bands, preserving a moment when two distinct voices from North Wales found an international platform among like-minded experimentalists.