The Stereophonics, I still have their first album 'Word Gets Around' and got lucky enough to see them in 1988 (for them possibly typically Welsh weather) at the 'V Festival' way back, it was such a soggy day people were flogging bin liners for 50p a pop to keep dry. Felt sorry for them and many other acts during the day.
Th
They kicked off with the track above when I saw them as per the set list below and they blew me away, I liked all of their tracks and had brought the album 'Word Gets Around' released in 1997 on the 'V2' Record Label (not an Indie Label I know!).
Still think they are a fantastic band, I can still listen to the 'Word Gets Around' album and not wanting to skip any of the tracks. Interestingly Kelly Jones wrote may of the songs on the back of brown paper bags whilst working on a fruit and veg stall in Cwmaman market and tracks such as the above and 'More Life In A Tramps Vest' were written during that time. The track at the link showing the video and describing the joys of working on a market stall whilst people 'fuss' over picking cauliflower and it's cost, whilst a local vagrant 'swigging' from a can of beer and singing is happily oblivious. The lyrics are really good and gritty and sum up just ordinary everyday life in an ordinary town in the UK.
They also produced the song 'Dakota' which for me works beautifully and is an instant 'anthemic concert crowd pleaser'. Kelly Jones knew as soon as he'd written it that it was a potential winner.
Festival Acts
Other acts on the bill that wet and soggy afternoon were:
James
The Charlatans
Ian Brown
Robbie Williams
Texas
PJ Harvey
There were obviously a lot more, got lucky and also saw James and The Charlatans before we got too wet and fed up.
I remember the festival well as we all went up on both the Saturday and Sunday slots. The Saturday was beautiful and warm and the bands were also awesome. I actually got to see my hero Iggy Pop as well as Green Day (who performed a fantastic set!), The Verve and Underworld. Shame the weather didn't hold out so nice for both the days!
On A Very Serious Note
I put this post up to highlight and kind of make aware that there is an awful lot of undiagnosed depression, loneliness and sadness in many people young or old, some are lucky and either get the help they need or can cope, for others the pressure becomes too much. The song 'Local Boy In The Photograph' highlights the reality.
As a band they have also had to deal with their own fair share of grief after losing their drummer Stuart Cable in 2010.
Sometimes people threaten it, others who will actually do 'it', don't talk about they just decide to end it. The song reflects that in it was based on a local boy hit by a train who decided despite being one of the 'cool kids' at school to end it, really sad and melancholic lyrics delivered in such a 'punchy song'. As soon as as I hear those words, 'There's No Mistake, I Smell That Smell, It's That Time Of Year Again' it always gets to me, it isdelivered with such passion and conviction I cried the first time I heard it and appreciated the lyrics in full, the whole album was to me spoke of 'real life', obviously this particular song tinged with sadness.
The Aftermath
I feel so much for it partially because I have witnessed it and the memory will probably scar me until the day I shuffle off this mortal coil. I feel obviously for that person, but also for the poor train driver. You can't just try and swerve out of the way in a train and the poor fella driving had no choice. It hurt me seeing it and for the person who was at that much of a low ebb things must have been literally 'rock bottom', also for the poor guy driving the train who must probably wake up every night 'seeing it again', much the same as I did.
The Stereophonics were all about their local area, things they knew, places they knew and also events that happened, perfect way to write songs to be honest, at least it all comes from the heart.
So many of our young were and still are going through such difficulties in their lives that they feel it necessary to cut it short, it shouldn't have to be that way. Even up the road from where I live a man politely knocked to ask me if I could move my car as there was to be a funeral 'send off', he further mentioned that it was for his son who had committed suicide whilst at University. I was overcome with sorrow for the poor fella. I gladly moved my car and on the day of the funeral the biggest procession of motorbikes I have ever seen rolled up to see him off, it was an honourable and wonderful send off for a young fella who was clearly well into his bikes. So sad though he must have felt he wanted to cut it all so short.
Help! We Need More Of It
Charities and Help Lines are there, the U.K. Government needs to get serious about supporting young people rather than pressuring them more with A Levels and Degrees and a constant pressure to succeed, let's be honest not every job needs someone with a degree, young people can get to wherever they want to in life, not necessarily in the what has almost become a 'rights of passage route'. Also for anyone whatever age reaching out to help lines or if you have someone who will just 'listen without prejudice' it can make all the difference.
Be aware, listen and think when it comes to your own kids, family, friends, neighbours. There is always help there, some people just need help finding it.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) Helpline: 0800 58 58 58 thecalmzone.net
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