Khagool play it cool

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Khagool
Twig & the Buffalo

@ Callaghan’s, Cardiff,

29 July 2005

Reviewed by Guy Salvador

The best things in life are free they say, and tonight is proof that this is at least sometimes, true. Khagool & Twig & the Buffalo for free! Well, I think they charged if you came in after 10 o’clock, but that’s a minor detail. Can’t fault the good people of Callaghan’s, good to see another venue in Cardiff regularly putting on gigs, they also do a Thursday, unsigned slot, of which I will endeavour to frequent in the near future & hopefully bring you news of some of the other musical marvels that are stirring in South Wales. Tonight we have surely 2 of the best. Starting with “Twig & the Buffalo! A Titanic sounding duo whose sound dragged me from the back of the venue, where I was happily engaged in the fine art of drinking copious amounts of Grolsch. I had to have a closer look. Looking at the link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/music/pages/artists_twigandbuffalo.shtml

It amazed me to find out that these guys are based a couple of miles down the road from us, how haven’t I heard of them before? I must be losing touch! On this performance, accepting the sound & vision difficulties this type of venue offers, no stage, dodgy little PA, this was an impressive performance. I won’t attempt to dissect their sound, as it would be an injustice to do that as I was distracted for the majority of their set but, would recommend you catch them as I will again in the near future.

On to Khagool, those of you that regularly read “Guy Salvadors” reviews will be aware that I have spoken very highly of Khagool in the past & was very much looking forward to see them play a full set at their own show. They have been supporting & had to play shortened sets the other couple of times I have seen them. As I mentioned above, there were obvious limitations with the set up @ Callaghans but this did not distract Khagool one bit as they delivered the most complete & surprisingly energetic show I have seen for a long time. Their growing group of avid supporters played no small part in this, especially tonight as it was gone 11.30 when Khagool hit the stage, starting with the excellent “Take me on a journey” & everyone was well pissed & up for it! Khagool’s recorded sound is a complex blend of atmospherics, sound & psychedelic shapes, live even with a very limited sound set up as is available tonight they still manage to get their excellent songs like, for particular mention, “Alpha Beta” & my personal favourite “No use” across. The track “Bring it on” following these two was just what the doctor ordered with its “crazed” chant chorus, great stuff. “Sonic Dojo” which I think is a newer one followed by the equally “crazed! “THC”. By this time the crowd were in a frenzy, I’d had a few pints of beer spilled over me, but did’nt care! Last song of the set was “Sitting man” which has a fairground quality to it, again, very clever writing. Even an encore tonight “Shape of things to come” I think very tongue in cheek introduced by “singer / guitarist “Ropey” as “For those about to rock”!

I can’t really heap any more plaudits on this band than I have already done over the past few month’s, I believe, they are a couple of high profile support shows, to give them some exposure, away from becoming a major success & with “Guto” from Super Furry Animals in the audience tonight I would hope this could be sooner rather than later!