The Moshville Times - Gig Review: Those Damn Crows / James and the Cold Gun / Valhalla Awaits – Arena Abertawe, Swansea (25th February 2023)

Part of a 31.3 billion City and Waterfront Digital District project, Arena Abertawe opened its doors just under a year ago. The 3500-capacity venue cost £135 million and it’s an impressive structure. As darkness falls on Wales’ second city, the lights sparkle. There’s one name that is dominating the outside though – Those Damn Crows. The excited crowd shiver in the low temperatures, but the queue winds far into the distance. The chatter is all about whether singer Shane Greenhall will make it through the set. He’s carrying a chest infection and the band cancelled the in-store appearance to ensure their frontman makes the show. As we’ll find out later, there’s no stopping the lad.

The building may be spanking new, but there’s a disorganised chaos about getting our media access. Sent around several parts of the building, it takes multiple people and some frantic walkie talkie action to secure the es. I arrive at the photo pit with mere minutes to spare. There’s also a distinct absence of decent lighting for the first two bands. A bland crimpled white curtain provides no real backdrop, and the absence of front lighting means the bands are bathed in the tog’s nightmare – dismal red lighting. A few lessons still to learn perhaps, but otherwise, apart from the extortionate beer prices, nothing else to complain about.

It seems fitting that local boys Valhalla Awaits begin the evening. The Swansea outfit have been around the circuit for a few years and have bags of experience. They don’t quite have the songs that the headliners have, hence the fact that they are opening this show and tour, but there is a metal-edged punch to their sound, and a confidence honed from enough road trips. They may not have the songs that attach to the memory as instantly as they might, but Valhalla Awaits do a sterling job in warming up the filling arena floor who are still thawing out from the cold outside. Andrew Hunt’s soulful vocals have been heard in the South Wales area for several years, both with Buffalo Summer and a stint with Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. He looks comfortably at home on a stage of this size, his mass of curls shaking in time to the riffs that pour forth.

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They don’t have a huge volume of work to choose from, but the set its well balanced. Opening with “Door of No Return” it’s instant guitar hero action on stage from Rhys Carter and Chris Green, whilst drummer “Snoz” Lawrence assaults his kit with almost indecent force. They roll through tracks drawn from last year’s Reckoning EP and 2020’s Condemned, before rounding off a good start to the evening with oldie “Diggin’ the Grave”. They may not have the same gravitas as others, but they are an enjoyable watch with tight musicianship and in Hunt they retain one of the best vocalists in the region. He’s pleased to be on home turf, and engages with energy and wit. His reference to the poor lighting is telling; “shall we get some candles?” he asks. A headline gig at Merthyr Tydfil’s Redhouse beckons on April 1^st.

Fresh from a short Welsh tour, Cardiff’s James and the Cold Gun are currently kicking up a stir with their powerful brand of stoner post-punk crossover style. They take the stage to the Kate Bush song they take their name from, bathed in pink lighting and play a robust set which divides opinion. Many of the now swollen audience seem to be patiently waiting for the headliners, watching with mild curiosity or reading phones. For those who can want to provide the band their full attention, they get a high energy set which draws from their 2022 release “False Start”. A seven-song set makes it a challenge to get their messages across, but it’s evident that their sound, a mix of The Stooges and Queens of the Stone Age, works as well in this cavernous arena as it does in the numerous sweaty bars that the band have gigged with unrelenting energy around in recent years.

In James Joseph, they possess an enigmatic frontman, whose tall frame marks him out in contrast to the rest of the band. He’s a bundle of livewire energy, as are the rest of the outfit, who outdo him at the other side of the stage with boundless leaps and jumps. Joseph’s narrative between songs is often lost in the buzz of chatter in the arena, but like Andrew Hunt before him, he’s very grateful for their opportunity with the Crows, and congratulates them on their number 3 placed album. Finishing with “Long Way Home”, the band certainly get a decent reception which sees them leave with more fans than they started with.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll certainly have heard the name Those Damn Crows. Whether you’ve seen them or not is another thing, but that is likely to change very soon. The Bridgend quintet have been slowly building their reputation, which has now mushroomed into an explosion of attention. Their new album Inhale/Exhale has crashed into the UK charts at number three, and the band has sold out virtually every date on their week-long UK tour. The buzz is astonishing, but well-deserved. Tonight, the Crows return to their homeland, their first headline arena show and if the fans had been lining the streets scattering petals for the returning heroes, you wouldn’t have been surprised.

The lights drop, and the curtain is lit by the cover of Inhale/Exhale in various forms. The silhouettes of the band can be seen through the curtain, Greenhall, flanked by guitarists Ian “Shiner” Thomas and David Winchurch and bassist Lloyd Wood as the opening to “Fill the Void” begins. The curtain falls, the screams from the front row erupt, and the band are kicking into the start of a 15-song set that is well sculpted and paced.

Greenhall is the inevitable focus of attention, his energetic movement sees the togs cha and down the pit. He’s up and down, from one step to another, a big beam on his face. He waves to the crowd, and makes you feel like he knows everyone in the packed scrum behind the barrier. His voice seems fine, his energy levels high, although one would imagine that the adrenaline will pull him 50% of the way.

Stuck seemingly miles back, in front of the huge Those Damn Crows banner is drummer Ronnie Huxford. He’s a solid timekeeper, the engine room of the band and despite his apparent exile, he’s still beaming as Wood and Greenhall make regular jumps from the drum riser. It may be Greenhall who takes the spotlight, but it’s the overall songs that make the Crows the band that they are, and live, they crank up their melodic radio friendly anthems, the riffs fall harder and several fans are seen head banging. This may be classic rock territory, but the Crows still pack a punch that attracts a wider than perhaps anticipated audience. They’ve put time and energy into the lighting, which from the balcony, is fantastic. The band are lit in an array of swirling lights. It works fantastically well.

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They pace the set wisely, after “Fill the Void”, and fellow new track “Wake Up”, and it’s tracks predominantly from sophomore record Point of No Return for the main body of the set. “Sin on Skin” still bristles, whilst the crowd work hard on the singalong “Who Did It”. There are riffs aplenty, with “Send the Reaper” allowing Thomas and Winchurch to unleash.

“Rock N Roll Ain’t Dead”, only one of two from debut Murder and the Motive, sees Greenhall do his customary race around the venue. He’s on one balcony, then another, high fiving fans and kissing children. If you held an election today, Shane Greenhall would be First Minister in the morning, such is his popularity. Smiles everywhere, and especially on stage when he announces for the third time that the band are still pinching themselves about the reception, the tour and the album placing. “This is one of the best days of my life” he says. You believe it probably is.

The final five songs see the band play five straight from the new record. They are greeted like old favourites. The raucous “Takedown” and “Man on Fire” keep the energy high, whilst the semi-ballad “This Time I’m Ready” sees Greenhall strap on a guitar to add more heft. It’s an emotive song, full of personal memories and meaning, and there’s a few tears around the venue. The Crows save the biggest anthem until last. “See You Again” is their tribute to the Crow family, and the entire arena bounces along, word perfect. It’s a spine-tingling couple of moments, and cements the fact that this band are on the verge of greatness. They finish with their customary “We are… Those! Damn! Crows!” Before leaving to an ovation that threatens the integrity of the venue.

I first saw Those Damn Crows in 2017 at HRH in Pwllheli, on a tiny stage playing to about 60 people. Tonight is the result of hard graft, blood, sweat and likely a few tears. Few bands deserve the success as much as they do. The sky is the limit for them now. Watch them fly.

Photos by Paul Hutchings