Gig Goin’- The Rogues: Clwb Ifwr Bach Cardiff 28/6/24

The Rogues made a triumphant return to the Capital on Friday with a double celebration. Originally planned as an EP launch show for their debut, 1963 – Live At Rockfield Studios, the night turned even more special when news broke earlier that the release had reached No. 3 in the Official UK Charts for physical releases. This promised to be a landmark night for the band and their ever-growing legion of fans.

The night began with Ruby Kelly, cousin of Joe, who proved the Kelly family is rich in musical talent with a stunning solo performance. Her voice is truly remarkable, and her new single, “The Roots,” was a highlight for me.

Next up was Danny Mellin, originally from Oxford but currently based in Sheffield. A good friend of the band, he delivered a set full of Indie anthems. From the opening of recent single “Ordinary Day (Ordinary Town)” to the Sam Fender-esque “See You Around,” and crowd favorites like “His Favourite Sweatshirt” and “Beaten Up Nikes,” Danny and his band were the perfect warm-up act. Danny is half Welsh and surely won over the audience on his first visit to Cardiff.

The anticipation in the room was palpable before the main event. The band took to the stage to shouts of “Rogue Army.” They began with an extended intro to the lead track from the EP, 1963, made even better by lead singer Andrew’s delayed arrival. This set the tone for the rest of the set, as you sensed this was going to be special. The band’s second single and perfect summer song, “Skinny Dipping,” got the singalong going early. They followed this by ripping through “California No Show,” with guitarist Rhod taking the lead, superbly intertwining with Andrew on the chorus.

Next were another two tracks from the EP: “Talking to the Moon,” delivered with more gusto than usual, and “Oh Gena,” which showcased the band’s funkier sensibilities. A rousing version of personal favorite “How Many Years” followed, then the new song “She Wants Me Dead.” I saw this song performed acoustically recently, but the full band version is incredible. The pace slowed slightly for another new song, “Underside,” first performed last time the band played Clwb Ifwr Bach, supporting The Bracknell in February. The energy was soon brought back with “Slap Bang” and another new song, “Foolin’ Around.”

The band finished with third single “Nice To Say Hello” and the epic closer “Fortune Favours The Bold,” which sounds like it could have been written by The Ramones—a bona fide punk classic in waiting. They returned for an encore with debut single “Lizzy” and the usual closer, “Chemical Dream,” giving one last chance for a singalong.

This was a phenomenal performance, the best I’ve seen from The Rogues. They delivered a high-energy show, with the songs turned up to 12. The band oozed confidence, demonstrated by guitarist Alex leading audience participation. The new songs show no signs of letting up, offering a nice mix of styles from rock to stadium anthems. Most bands would love to have just one or two songs of this quality, but The Rogues show they have the potential to be around for a very long time. The last band I remember having this level of consistency was Oasis in 1994/95.

The Rogues keep raising the bar with each milestone, and there really is no limit to what they can achieve. They deserve all their success, and I am so pleased for them that their hard work is paying off. We are witnessing something special with this band, and it’s a privilege to follow their journey.

Written by Stephen Howell