retiredmartin

31st January 2023.

A six mile walk across the length of Cardiff, though I did succumb to the late night bus back to ZIP with an early departure needed the next morning.

Before my gig in the Victorian heart of Cardiff I met up with regular reader Etu, about whom I can tell you nothing on pain of death (or taster), bar the fact the “E” in Etu doesn’t stand for Ethel. Or Edmund.

We met for a pint of Bitter at the top of Cathedral Road in the Halfway Hotel, a suburban all-rounder and one of Brain’s few remaining GBG pubs.

What a lovely chap he is, positive and engaging, with a good line in anecdotes (only available to Patronised readers).

A good mixed crowd in the Halfway, lots of banter, but it’s been modernised to death in that Brain/Marston early 21st century way and the Bitter is a shadow of what it was, and of course I speak as a fan of Wolves Brewery.

Straight to the gig at the Moon Club, joining another 50 folk at most for a night of Fire Record’s best. The drinks choice here was Neck Oil (obvs), Amstel, Orchard Thieves and Inch’s. I had an excellent coffee, just to annoy the young folk who had to wait while the espresso machine whirred.

“More sad girl songs, but we shred” said Thala, the first of 3 strong acts for your £12.

Press PLAY now to hear what a Dutch United Nations War Crimes Official sounds like on her day off.

Three acts for £12 and Amber Arcades finish by 22:40, allowing me to pop in the Mad Dog Brewery tap facing the castle of a quick half of Stouty McStout Face served by a lovely young barman.

I prefer “Bitter” to “Stouty McStout Face” as a beer name, but I Mad Dog certainly had the edge on beer quality.