well the closest sea side to cardiff is barry island, wich is home to the underclass of youth culture we call Scallies. or there's penarth, home to grumpy old pensioners.

the engine rooms and the point however are both in cardiff bay, which is not a sea side, but it is on the side of the sea. the engine rooms is quite a smart little venue actually, i've only been there once (for that average NME brit-pack tour thing) but it's quite nice, sort of reminds me of that club they used to go to in Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Wedge cheap to hire?!..
Would help if they had a PA that didn't overheat and give up as soon as the headliners approach anything near "loud" (twice in consecutive days t'other week, and it's only a year old!). hohoho.

Now, if there were some good little (ie smaller than the Wedge, 100/200 capacity would be the maximum thats needed) venues here, it'd be another matter. As it is, the only one of its type left now is the Horeseshoe and the landlord - not to mention the security...OHH, the security..! - are proper cunts and have zero interest in helping the promotion of new music there. Even if you're actually doubling the number of punters present & buying drinks there that night for them! He'd rather mis-manage, and patronise and talk down (publicly) to those putting on gigs / the bands themselves (not just the locals either - how's that for a welcome from the landlord when you come to Pompey to play a gig?! Come again soon...!). And he looks like Leo Sayer's uglier little brother, with a thoroughly fucked up attitude.

They've recently started free alternative/experimental-ish gigs in the Fawcet though, which have been deadly; they're free though (have to be, due to the layout of the place I guess) so only local-ish peeps so far, some damn good ones though. Plus Cotton Casino from Acid Mothers Temple which was fun. Bar there though, there really isn't anywhere much, and the scene here badly needs an alternative to the Horseshoe, it went noticeably downhill from the moment he took over as landlord 2/3 summers back. bah.

Others.....don't know if Havana's do gigs anymore.
Frog on the Front......pfffttt!! haha. Air Balloon/Contented Pig are no more. Don't know about the City Bar but get the idea it'd be in use by now were it any good.
Oh for a neat little pub venue somewhere to claim as our own, to put things on. The metallers/ska punkerz can have the Horseshoe, they obviously haven't clocked on, more fools them..
The smelly noel/dadrock gruel-music local bands can do their acoustic setzzz in the Edge of the Wedge, or put on their own nights together next door, and everyone can tap their feet and hope the DJ will play some OCS after, they're self-supporting and are happy in their musical rut...

damn this place sometimes. And when there's such a neat little scene bubbling away now too, in spite of everything...

it isnt. st leonards is. hastings isnt. different places.