GIG REVIEW – Holy Coves, Sister Envy @ RNLI Open Day, Trearddur Bay

Bouncy castles, kids face painting, drunk parents and burger vans. It’s not the typical setting for real bands. So hats off to those who organised this RNLI fundraising event to include real bands rather than crowd pleasing / appeasing covers or tribute acts.

The rain smashed it down this morning and ran itself dry by the afternoon to make way for glorious sunshine at this beautiful setting. Trearddur Bay is a jewel in the encrusted crown of treasure we have along the length and breadth of North Wales.

Having ram-raided their way from Rhyl, Sister Envy are here to represent the coast. They’ve come a long way in terms of miles (56) and even further in terms of musical prowess. Having seen them a couple of years ago playing dodgy Placebo covers (see ‘Crowd pleasing / appeasing’), their own material showed nervous promise. Sister Envy [great name] were then called The Pastimes [shit name], and Rhyl promoter, Steve Rastin hailed them as the best band in North Wales. That’s a bold statement, a bit like when a football manager claims his new young, unknown signing is the next Lionel Messi. The Pastimes (Sister Envy) had a lot to live up to and only their mates and family to prove it to. Those endless hometown gigs (often on a weekday night to the proverbial three people and a dog) allowed them to master their craft. OK, so T.Bay isn’t the musical mecca but to see them  starting to fulfill their musical potential is both warming and exciting. It’s a psychedelic wash of swirling sound that envelops you, and the fact Yr Wydda Records have jumped in to lend their support will help propel Sister Envy to the next level – Holyhead, here we come! Only joking! Looking forward to seeing their name on gig flyers out there over the border and around the cities.

Of course, it’s a hard and often unrewarding slog – just ask Holy Coves, playing here on their home turf, among those friends and family. It’s rare they play on the doorstep, as much of their graft is across the towns, cities and festivals of the UK.

Now it’s my turn to make a bold statement; Holy Coves are the hardest working band in North Wales. There’s nothing bold about that, for it is true. A lot of bands can be full of gusto and full of themselves too; Holy Coves are no different on that side, but what does set them apart is their quest to help other bands too. They know it’s not a competition, there’s no winner or losers – only participants (comrades, if you like). Holy Coves are instrumental [sic] in setting up Yr Wydda Records and also Music Scene Wales to help and promote like minded musicians – to create a scene, a collective. There’s safety in numbers, and (in Wales) where the money and support is usually funneled into Cardiff and far far away from these shores, the decision was made to set up their own network – and more power to them and their quest.
Today, with the sun in the sky and a cool breeze from the surf, we were treated to the entire ‘Druids And Bards’ album and a couple of back catalogue numbers for good measure. On hearing Holy Coves songs back to back (rather than on shuffle with a ton of other bands) it’s plain to hear (and see) just how good this band is. The strength is in the songwriting, the delivery of those songs and the performance of those songs. There’s a harder edge to the produced and polished sound you get from the grooves on the vinyl release, and it bodes well for the next album which, I’m told is now a work in progress. Holy Coves finish on the excellent Droner and far from droning on, I was left wanting more.

Yr Wyddfa Records  /  Sister Envy   /  Music Scene Wales