BIOGRAPHY

The Soda Men emerged out of the ashes of semi-legendary Cardiff country-rock outfit Six Sided Men who, in their turn, emerged out of other semi-legendary Cardiff bands like The Pier, The Third Uncles, Statues of Us and The Spasm Band. (We really should get Pete Frame to do a Family Tree!). Formed in 2002 The Soda Men have been swimming against the tide in hip-hop and indie-obsessed Cardiff by offering a curious mixture of country, rockabilly, folk, pop (and the merest hint of seventies-style glam!). The band have made friends though and the band’s debut album ‘Moon’ has been well-received by gig-goers and promoters. In 2003 they performed something of a stormer at the Radio Wales Big Buzz festival in Swansea and have since played a regular string of gigs in the South Wales area.

The band are ...

AYRES

Ayres used to be the writer and singer with eighties Cardiff legends The Third Uncles. He writes the songs, plays guitar and sings for The Soda Men and, in addition to his musical activities here he also finds time to present two shows for BBC Radio Wales. True Blues on Thursdays and Saturday Social on…you guessed it, Saturdays. He has a huge CD collection and his influences range from the Beatles and Pink Floyd to the Carter Family, punk, Jonathan Richman, Morrissey and Howlin Wolf.

Five CD choices:

1. A Bigger Bang’ The Rolling Stones. A stupendous return to form..believe the hype. It really is that good! Is it up there with ‘Let It Bleed’, ‘Beggar’s Banquet’, ‘Sticky Fingers’ and ‘Exile On Main Street’? The answer, bewilderingly, is yes. I’ve been humming these tunes all week…swaggering, loutish…these guys are still the greatest rock and roll band in the world..and Keith has seemingly morphed elegantly into Tom Waits! A lot of the songs are, apparently autobiographical and betray an unusual level of sensitivity in Mr Jagger. Maybe it’s the knighthood…
2. ‘Come On Feel The Illinoise’ Sufjan Stevens. Gorgeous and stupendous concept album taking in everything from the Beach Boys to Leonard Bernstein. Wasn’t too sure at first but it grew on me and now I just can’t do without my daily fix of tales about tall buildings, serial killers and wasps.
3. ‘Michigan’ Sufjan Stevens. Bought this as a result of the above and wasn’t disappointed. God this guy can write, sing and play. I love the banjo stuff and the last song ‘Vito’s Ordination Song’ is just drop-dead gorgeous. He’s only 23. Bastard.
4. ‘The Snow Goose’ Camel. I know…on paper it sounds horrendous..an instrumental concept album based on Paul Gallico’s book written and performed by a bunch of prog rockers in 1975. It’s even on the Decca label so how un-cool can you get?? But check it out because it’s a lovely record…I swear..some of the tunes achieve an almost Beatle-esque beauty- especially on side one. They recorded other albums where they sing but, trust me, they’re much better when they keep their mouths shut!
5. ‘Abbey Road’ The Beatles. Still the greatest album ever recorded in my book. For ‘Abbey Road’ alone Paul McCartney deserves the universe. Check out the medley from ‘Golden Slumbers’ through to ‘The End’. Pop doesn’t get much better than this.

STEWART LUCAS

Stewart first came onto the scene as a drummer with excellent eighties art-rock outfit Statues of Us. He was a member of Six Sided Men and, in addition to his Soda Men duties he also owns his own recording studio which is based in Chapter Arts Centre. Together with composer John Hardy he has contributed music to many TV programmes and feature films such as ‘Rancid Aliminium’. Stewart’s musical tastes are also wide and eclectic ranging from dance and bass and drum through to classic pop and rock. As well as drums Stewart also plays occasional guitar and keyboards.

Five CD choices:

1. ‘Cold Mountain’ Various. The stars of this film are all on here. This is a great collection of American folk music. That said, the main reason for including it is that it includes one my all time favourite tracks; The Scarlet Tide sung by Alison Krauss. Not at all representative of her normal bluegrass stuff with Union Station, this is a beautiful ballad, elegantly and simply arranged, and sung with a mixture of tenderness and emotional intensity which always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
2. ‘Rhythm Divine’ Various. A deleted double CD collection of classic feel-good disco tracks. Featuring a vast selection of 70’s musical luminaries including Donna Summer, Lipps Inc, The O’Jays, The Gap Band and so many more. With hits such as Boogie Nights, Lady Marmalade, The Hustle and Funky Nassau this is a perfect antidote to navel-gazing-indie-band-overload. The only album I would happily embarrass myself and dance to, without hesitation.
3. ‘Trouble No More’ John Mellencamp. Is it possible to love an album for its musical production? I love this album for its musical production. It is so intimate and assured of its sense of place, that I feel I am leaning on the doorframe of the studio watching the making of this album unfold before me. (This is aided somewhat by a couple of great, unflattering photos, on the inside cover, taken at the time). I’m sure the Robert Johnson version of Stones in my Passway is a classic, but I just love watching John Mellencamp doing it this way.
4. ‘Dig your own Hole’ The Chemical Brothers. This album satisfies both my secret techno and metal fetishes, a complete one off and certainly not repeated by The Chemical Brothers themselves or anyone else for that matter. Big, bold and adventurous, both upbeat and downbeat (at the same time), retro and contemporary, it’s funky and it rocks. Eclectic and exhilarating.
5. ‘Mr E’s Beautiful Blues’ The Eels. I couldn’t think of another album so I’ll give you this CD single. I’m not really an Eels fan but I love this and along with a good breakfast, should set anyone up for the day. ‘God damn right it’s a beautiful day’. Sometimes you just need to be reminded.

ANDREW THOMAS

Andy spent most of the late eighties as bass player with unique Cardiff band The Pier but, after leaving this band he went on to join the Six Sided Men. He used to be the co-owner of Soundspace Studios- the famous rehearsal rooms based in the centre of Cardiff which used to be the stamping ground of the Manic Street Preachers and the Darling Buds (as well as a whole host of other Welsh bands- famous and otherwise!). The studios have now, sadly been demolished. Andy plays bass for the Soda Men and also lends the band his considerable skills as a musical arranger. He also provides backing vocals. Sometimes.

Five CD choices:

Coming soon... a nation waits.

MIKE SLEE

Mike is far too modest to say what everybody else thinks..namely that he is probably one of the finest guitarists in Wales. Able to turn his hand to almost any style, from hard rock to folk, country, rockabilly and blues Mike is the musical cornerstone of The Soda Men and, with his trusty Telecaster, he leaves audiences open-mouthed with awe wherever he goes. An ex-member of the Six Sided Men Mike also plays with occasional South Wales bluesters The Spasm Band.

Five CD choices:

1. ‘Y Los Cubanos Postizos’ Marc Ribot. Beautiful, exotic and sometimes slightly weird guitar based (kind of loosely) on compositions by the Cuban musician Arsenio Rodriguez. Marc is absolutely my favourite guitarist (this week). His playing on Tom Waits' Raindogs is pretty perfect too.
2. ‘Marquee Moon’ Television. Just started listening to this again recently. The arrangements, particularly the interplay between Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd still sounds amazingly fresh and interesting.
3. ‘Sound Of Love’ Paul Motian Trio. I saw this group twice a couple of years ago in the Village Vanguard and was absolutely glued to the stage. Just a perfect combination of sax, guitar and drums (no bass here thank you). Bill Frisell played the most eloquent guitar lines interspersed with some frankly strange noises via some looping echo thing.. anyway this CD catches them live in the Vanguard about ten years ago with all three on fantastic form.
4. ‘A Ghost Is Born’ Wilco. A object lesson in how to re-invent yourself. Wilco kicked off their career with (I think) a pretty run of the mill alt-country album but have changed slowly and steadily through the following four CDs into something way more interesting. Working with sometime Sonic Youth producer Jim O'Rourke there's loads of inventive arrangements and playing on this album. Jeff Tweedy's song writing just gets better and better too.
5. ‘Interstellar Space’ Nels Cline. This is the John Coltrane/Rashied Ali recording re-made with guitar and percussion - which I'll admit doesn't sound promising. Nels is such an unusual and fantastically talented player (using what sounds like a billion different effects pedals on simultaneously). The infrequent subtle stuff is best though.