Bands shine in acoustic setting (From Western Telegraph)

Bands shine in acoustic setting

Candlelight, tinselly twirls, soft focus spots and moody atmospherics provided an intimate setting at the Queens Hall Acoustic Room, for Sickofantic's third unplugged gig.

For this hugely popular occasion, the festive frolics were provided by four, normally electrically charged, bands who took up the annual post-Christmas challenge of entertaining a sell-out crowd, without a Marshall stack to hide behind.

Playing unplugged and sitting immediately eliminates all strutting, snarling and posturing and lays bare the bones of the songs; it's not for the faint hearted.

With yet another new singer, the surprise of the night was to see those electronic techno terrorists KALD taking part.

As smooth as silk they glided over their set, gleamingly polished, if slightly bland, and as always, chilled to a shiver. Heavy on strumming, Clarity's cocktail of soft focus pop lacked the customary fizz of their hardwired set, but without them the night would have lacked Pembrokeshire's leading pop princess and a classic band who normally rock.

However, of the four bands plying their acoustic trade, playing unplugged came most naturally to Persona B and to Supernauts.

Both outfits brought to this mellow stage sizable tunes and palpable energy.

Well suited to the intimate setting, they were able to tune in with ease to the more personal touch that the evening required and they enjoyed it.

Persona B's performance glinted with mischievous glee and Supernauts' positively swelled with sumptuous melodies. All the bands entered into the spirit of the evening's relaxed atmosphere and none of us was in a hurry to leave.

But the last word must surely go to Aled, of Supernauts, when he said: "It's really cosy here, lovely. It's been a joy to play here tonight."