★★☆☆☆

Help to keep FOMO alive; letting creators create: Buy Me A Coffee

The Now recently played in Cardiff, their first time in the city in four years! They could have stayed away a bit longer. Upon listening to the opening songs of their set, I knew what I was in for. I wasn’t disappointed but that’s only because I wasn’t really expecting anything.

In terms of sound, The Now were tight throughout their set with their 80s glam attitude and arena rock sensibility. The problems start to show their frizzy hair metal heads in the music itself. For a band that’s been in the scene for as long as The Now, you’d expect some kind of sound signature. Or at least some selling point.

Ironically, it felt like The Now are stuck in some rose-tinted past. It all feels like they’re trying to appeal to a past, some ghosts and old people, rather than creating an engaging sound. If Motley Crue and YungBlud had a child, it’s future would be The Now.

They did get the crowd engaged though, which is still important. Even in genres where the music is made to do that (e.g. arena rock, dance, etc.), but it was a crowd that was clearly there for them. It was a bunch of older middle aged men and women. Now there's no issue with that; it’s a sign that they’re already being left behind by an ever-evolving music scene.

More than anything I was frustrated. The musicians in the band were talented, but their solos felt empty and undeserved. Any flash or confidence felt almost fake, and I had just sat through two support acts who left a far larger impression on me.

The second support The Now had was a band called Matt Hennessy. They had nice pop song writing that put me in a bit of a Jack Johnson headspace with their versatility. From funk adjacent tracks to more conventional rock numbers. However, versatility doesn't mean originality. I found myself tired as their set went on as they played through songs with chords I'd heard a thousand times and songwriting that didn't exactly subvert my expectations.

Their flavour of Sam Fender needs a bit of time to ferment and figure itself out. But they’re all clearly performers. From the Matt Hennessy himself putting on his best pop star show to the guitarist with the kind of solos that feed off spotlight they all seemed very professional. They had great ideas, they just need time to develop.

Finally, the first band that played, and the one I enjoyed the most C.S Rain. C.S Rain are a local Cardiff based band that, I have been following for a little while and who you should be following too. Their set alone I would rate four stars.

They opened their set with a noisy, doomy intro that drew intrigue like a smoke machine before blasting into their opening song with stage presence like their lives depended on it. From low, almost painful looking squats, to high jumps like they were dancing on hot coals, and their unique double fronted dynamic kept the stage banter feeling fresh throughout. One playing a more nervous jittery eccentric, while the other is a more stoic professional.

Sonically, the band is very varied. Some songs evoking the angel-like chorus of the cure and some drawing from 90s angst and misery. All while keeping that British sound with Beatles-esque harmony. On their third song ‘Change’ was as vulnerable in its tone as it is defensive. It perfectly displays their 90s indie tonality. While a song like ‘Youths Insecurity’ shows them at their most British with beautifully jangly-Rickenbacker guitar tones and simply stellar songwriting.

The only problem I had with their set was the sound mixing. At times the lead guitarist would simply just be far too quiet, but that's a thing that can be fixed with time and more experience. An experience I hope they gain soon because their ending left me wanting more and it would be great to hear them at maximum capacity.

So, while I was left frustrated by The Now, and hopeful for Matt Hennessy, C.S Rain are still showing their potential and proving that they deserve to be known and recognised, locally for now, but who knows where that water will flow.

The Now can wait until later

Art School Girlfriend give an intimate, visually rich performance