One Flew Out Of The Valleys

Neil Jones on The Jaynes at Cardiff's Tabu

 November 10th, 2008

As soon as I entered the basement at the new Tabu club with Simon, The Loves' front man, playing the best DJing set I’ve ever heard, and pictures of Kerouac on the mirror pillar, I was thinking that this must be the greatest hangout the underground has ever had. If Simon had continued to play his records straight out of ‘The Outside Of Everything’s’ collection then it probably would’ve been the best night I’ve ever had, but The Jaynes take to the stage with a sparkle in their eyes to make things even better. 

The Jaynes have emerged as one of my favourite bands this year, with lyrics like “I watch you like Bill Oddie watches birds” and influences like Darren Hayman and Jonathan Richman, how can it get better? All their songs are great, all of them have a story to tell, songs like ‘Polka-Dot Princess’ and ‘Anna’ are perfect pop songs with the outsider’s edge and ‘Have you ever been to Merthyr Tydfil’ with its amazing lyrics is just pure pop magic. When they finish their set I’m left wondering how, in the same way that Lucky Delucci have, a band like this has come from the Valley’s with their dreams still intact (well, one of the lead singers is from Merthyr and the other co-singer is from Taffs Well, which is where the valleys start!).

The Screenbeats are up next but due to a severe sore throat I’ve got to catch the last train home and miss their set along with no doubt more of the best pop music I’d ever have heard, from Simon. I leave with mixed feelings, a heavy heart because I’m leaving the magic behind, but with a skip in my step because I kept some up my sleeve. The valleys will shine just a little brighter tonight as I take the journey back home into the darkened mountains with my dreams still intact, and Ivor Cutler’s Befriend a Bacterium to keep them company.

© 2008 Neil Jones

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