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KILLING FOR COMPANY
Liberty Stadium, Swansea 1 June 2007

It's somehow fitting that the first band to play a major concert at Swansea's new Liberty Stadium were a local band. It is however also tremendously brave when the band who takes that honour are making their live debut and opening for rock legends The Who as well!

Killing For Company, a new five piece outfit formed by ex-Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable took to the massive stage at the unearthly hour of 6.15pm and for those lucky enough to be inside the arena produced a powerful seven song set of crunching, 70s rooted, classic hard rock. Well received, especially by the early assemblers at the front, this band wear their influences proudly and despite a sound mix typical of being the opening act turned in a tight and certainly enthusiastically delivered debut performance.

The four song opening salvo which included the new single "Enemies" demonstrated their power with plenty of no-nonsense crunch and an attitude that is pure rock 'n' roll. Superbly fronted by Greg Jones, who as well as possessing a great set of pipes had the confidence to really challenge the crowd to get going, they set about not just playing but providing a great visual live experience as well, using the stage (and the photographers pit!) to effect with guitarists pulling all the requisite shapes. The sound improved gradually as the set progressed and was pretty clear by the time they played the excellent "Secrets Of Empty Bottles". The first and only 'softer' track performed, it had the impact of many a great rock ballad of the 80s.

Already guaranteed some attention thanks to Cable's profile, it'll be interesting to see if "Enemies" breaks through to a wider audience upon release. If for some strange reason it doesn't, then set closer "Say About Me" may well become their first major seller. For me it's the bands' stand out track of the seven played, a superb heavier number which enable Jones to successfully bully the front rows to sing and left a lasting and positive impression on a band that will surely become Wales' next major rock act.

Review by Bill Leslie