Joe Pasquale Discusses Monty Python Musical Spamalot

Monty Python’s Spamalot gallops to Cardiff in March as part of its 2015 UK tour featuring comedian Joe Pasquale reprising his much loved role of King Arthur alongside Todd Carty as Patsy.

Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a kind-of new musical with a book by Eric Idle and an entirely new score for the new production, (well, almost) created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features fantastic tunes more magical than a Camelot convention, including He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

Ahead of the show’s forthcoming visit to Cardiff's New Theatre, Andy Howells recently chatted to Joe Pasquale.

Can you tell us about the role you’re playing in Spamalot?
I'm playing King Arthur which is one of the best things I've ever done. I love the part and I love the show.  I grew up watching Monty Python so it’s my generation!

How did you get into comedy originally?
I was always such a fan growing up and watching comedy on the telly, Tommy Cooper, Norman Wisdom, Eric and Ernie, Bob Monkhouse, were all great comics I grew up with. Then when I got the chance to go out on stage I was never scared, it was just a case of showing off. I had two older sisters and a younger brother, I was the one in the middle who had to find his own entertainment and I think that had a bearing on trying to get noticed.

When you got into comedy and started getting noticed what that like was for you?
I only ever wanted to get up on stage, I never thought of it as a long-term career or making money from it, it was just a way of showing off  and that’s what you do on stage - show off!
When it came together I started enjoying it more than I thought I would. Then it becomes your job and you have mortgage payments and things like that. It becomes more than a job and you've got to keep working. There's pressure as well, not a pressure to be funny but a pressure to find work. I had a great friend and mentor in Bob Monkhouse. He helped me out a lot in the early days and in particular my first appearance on the Royal Variety Show, he just looked after me all the time - a genius and a gentleman.

You enjoy your work?
I love what I do, to go out and do an Eric Idle script any comic of any generation these days would give their right arm to do this show. Its two hours of non-stop laughter.

What’s Todd Carty like to work with?
I love working with Todd, he’s deaf as a post in one ear so I have to make sure I'm on the right side of him when I talk to him. We’d both done the show before but not together, it’s lovely because we’ve formed a little partnership in the show. I do most of the talking between the two of us as he only has about eight lines but he makes every single one count. I can’t look at his eyes on stage without starting to laugh.

How would you sum up Spamalot?
Its just funny. It hasn’t dated, it changes on a nightly basis depending on whose in the news and what situation were in. Everything is carved and created around where we are. Its always bang up to date on topical stuff as well.

How long are you carrying on with Spamalot for?
Its open ended at the moment so who knows?

Have you got any other projects lined up for this year?
I’m going back on the road for a stand up tour in August but anything after that I’m not quite sure yet. I enjoy my acting but I like to keep my hand in with stand up as well.

Do you prefer that to TV work?
No, I don’t do anything for too long I don’t do much telly, stand up or stage work, I do a bit of voice over work. Its an eclectic career I have which was more by accident than design and I’m lucky enough to do a job that I love so I never get stuck  in anything for too long.

• Spamalot plays Cardiff New Theatre from March 2 to 7. Visit newtheatrecardiff.co.uk or call box office on 029 2087 8889 for ticket details.
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on February 20, 2015

Meet The Band: The Dunwells

The Dunwells are currently undertaking a UK tour which sees the band perform at Bristol's Louisiana this week before finishing up in their hometown of Leeds on 28th Feb with a gig at The Wardrobe.

The four-piece, made up of brothers Joseph and David Dunwell and friends Robert Clayton and Adam Taylor, released the Show Me Emotion EP in September last year. Produced by Steve Harris (Kodaline, Kaiser Chiefs) the EP features an incredibly emotional set of songs, with heartfelt lyrics and four part harmonies to melt even the hardest of hearts.

They were drawn together by their shared love of bands like Bon Iver, Elbow and Damien Rice and they've been making music together since they first met in school.  With one album under their belt and several rounds of successful touring in the US and UK, the current tour coincides with a brand new single. Andy Howells recently caught up with Joseph Dunwell from the band:

Who are you and how did you come together?
We are The Dunwells, we have been a band since 2009, Dave And I are brother's, Rob and Dave were best friends at school, me and Adam went to music college together in Leeds and have been friends ever since.

Where are you from?
We all come from Leeds apart from Adam who is from Doncaster.

How would you describe your music style?
I would describe our music as Up beat, melodic, rock.

What’s been your best live experience?
There have been so many, we feel so lucky to be doing what we do as a Job, it's incredible. Playing Red Rocks in Colorado has to be up there. We also got to play our First Arena support show in the UK this year. We played our home town Leeds. It was Nuts.

You have a new single and album coming soon can you tell us more about that?
Yeah the album should be out later this year, but we are having fun releasing little EP's and bundles of music. Last year we had the Show Me Emotion EP that got such a great response and really soon we will be releasing another EP called. Lucky Ones which is also our next single. Lucky Ones has been a song that we have been working on for nearly a year to get it exactly the way we want, I really think we have done exactly that. We can't wait for you to hear it! It's a song to give hope to others, to look at the now and to realise and appreciate what we have.

Are you enjoying the tour?
Like you wouldn't believe, it's why we do this Job. Standing on stage playing your own songs. That always been the dream, now we are in it, now we are living it. We finish the tour with a show in Leeds to a home crowd.

What can people expect from your forthcoming Bristol gig?
Lots and lots of new material, including our new single Lucky Ones. We have been working really hard in creating the sound and working on the live shows, Its a sound we are now proud to say is "The Dunwells" We just want the shows to be full of energy and for people to enjoy themselves. We spent the last few weeks in rehearsals working on the set.

Will you be coming to Wales sometime in the future?
We have played once in Wales when we first started out, it was in Cardiff I remember the place being so beautiful we would definitely love to come back. Hopefully we can make it happen on the next tour.

Where can people hear your music?
You can listen to all of our material on Spotify and it's available to buy on iTunes and Amazon,
We also sell our music at our shows. You can Follow us on @thedunwells for more info or find us on Snapchat The Dunwells

• Catch The Dunwells at The Louisiana in Bristol on February 21.
• A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on February 20, 2015.
• The Dunwells Official Website

In Concert: 10cc, St David's Hall, Cardiff, 2015

On completion of a meal at a restaurant on Tuesday evening, I was asked by the waiter what I was going to be doing for the rest of the evening. “I’m off to St David’s Hall to see 10cc” I responded. I was met with a rather blank look, “is that a bike?” he replied.

Thankfully when I got to St David’s Hall there were many other people in attendance that actually knew who 10cc were. Fronted by founder member Graham Gouldman the current touring band consisted of three further key members who have had associations with 10cc since the 1970s, guitarist Rick Fenn, drummer Paul Burgess and percussionist Mike Stevens. The line up was completed with the inclusion of guitarist Mick Wilson.

The first half of the show was made up of a complete run through of 10cc’s 1975 album Sheet Music featuring live recreations of tracks Wall Street Shuffle, The Worst Band in the World and Silly Love. One of the many highlights of the first half was an all singing and dancing video contribution from another 10cc founder member Kevin Godley leading the band for a rendition of Somewhere in Hollywood.

The second half of the show consisted of back to back 10cc hits. The Things We Do For Love, I’m Mandy Fly Me, and The Dean and I were all featured, but the atmosphere rose to a peak as the audience showed their appreciation for Number One hits I’m Not In Love and Dreadlock Holiday with the adjusted lyric “I don’t like Cardiff, I love it!”

The real highlight came with the encore, an a Capella version of 10cc’s debut hit Donna and an out of your seats and dance version of Rubber Bullets all resulting in an entertaining evening from one of the best bands from the 1970s. Here's to the next time!

• This Review by Andy Howells appeared on The South Wales Argus website on February 18, 2015.
• Andy Howells' Interview with Graham Gouldman of 10cc

CD REVIEW: Beautiful Guitars by Mark Nevin

When Mark Nevin sings the words “We had a band, we made a record, we saw the world, we touched the sun” on the title track of his latest release Beautiful Guitars he’s clearly recalling his days as a member of Fairground Attraction. Mark hasn’t forgotten his roots as a member of the fondly remembered folk-rock outfit of the late 80s as intricately arranged numbers such as Love = Love = Love, Lets Make Hay and Dangerous recall.

No doubt the albums highlight is Mark’s own bluesy vocals, making him sounding occasionally like Bob Dylan and don't miss a new and fun arrangement of Perfect, Fairground Attraction’s most enduring song.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on February 13, 2015

CD REVIEW: Texas 25 by Texas

Its 25 years since Texas entered the UK charts with their debut hit I Don't Want a Lover and this latest release celebrates their quarter century with four new tracks and re workings of the bands greatest hit highlights with NYC soul outfit Truth and Soul.

Long-term fans of Texas will know of the bands soulful tendencies, this album sits new songs such as Start a Family alongside stripped back live versions of Halo and Say What You Want.

Texas 25 defines the band as they are in 2015 and is an enjoyable release particularly for fans of a more stripped back rawer live sound.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on February 13, 2015

On Stage: The Royal Bed, Newport Riverfront, 2015

A classical story steeped in passion, tension and unbound love. No, I’m not talking Fifty Shades of Grey, more fifty layers of passion and how it can affect us inwardly and outwardly with devastating effects. The real rub here is Theatr Pena’s The Royal Bed, Sion Eirian’s adaptation of Saunders Lewis play Siwan is set here in Wales, nearly 800 years ago.

An uneasy truce exists between a divided Wales and England and at the court of the charismatic Prince of North Wales a catastrophe is about to unfold and dreams of a united Wales will crumble. At the centre of the drama is Siwan, the illegitimate daughter of King John and passionate, outspoken and politically astute wife of Llywelyn the Great.

The cold stark setting of The Royal Bed transported a packed Riverfront studio on Thursday evening, back to Medieval Wales in order to tell the story of Siwan’s adulterous affair with the young Marcher Lord, Gwilyn Brewys, and the terrible revenge exacted by Llywelyn when discovering the lovers in the royal bed.

Eiry Thomas wonderfully depicts Siwan from carefree lover to the real power behind the throne despite been incarcerated for her actions, a joy to watch in such a demanding role. Hannah O Leary as self-assured chambermaid Alis also has some very powerful moments from recounting her brief but passionate marriage to describing Gwilym’s execution.

There are also two very strong male lead performances from Francois Pandolfo as Siwan’s lover Gwilym who displays unbound love up until his final moments and Russell Gomer as the brooding and occasionally dark Llywelyn.

With atmospheric music from Buddug Verona James and Delyth Jenkins, The Royal Bed opens up the beauty of Welsh Culture to the masses. A Valentine’s gift to Wales, embrace it as it embarks on its tour. Visit theatrpena.co.uk for details.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus on February 13, 2015.
• Theatr Pena director Erica Eirian discusses The Royal Bed.

10cc Revisit Sheet Music Album For 2015 Tour - Graham Gouldman Interview

After the exceptional success of their festival shows in the summer of 2014, which included the 65,000-capacity British Summer Time in Hyde Park and a 23-date UK theatre tour through October-November, the legendary 10cc are back with 19 major shows including a return to Cardiff’s St David’s Hall On February 17.

The band will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their highly inventive and creative album Sheet Music, and as a special treat for fans, the band are to perform the whole album in its entirety, including the Top 10 hits The Wall Street Shuffle and Silly Love, with a special video contribution from 10cc co-founder Kevin Godley.

The second half of the evening will feature all the usual 10cc classics, including Dreadlock Holiday, Rubber Bullets, I’m Not in Love, The Dean and I, and I’m Mandy Fly Me, making these shows a must-see for old and new fans alike.

Released in 1974 and produced by the band, Sheet Music reached No 9 in the UK charts and entered the Top 100 in the US. It remains a master class in the composition of popular music and typifies the eclecticism and breathless invention that characterised the band’s earlier work – soft and fuzzed art-rock guitar, immaculate harmonies and elements of spoof and parody.

Led by 10cc co-founder and recent Rock N Roll hall of fame inductee Graham Gouldman, the current live band has been together for over a decade. Andy Howells recently chatted to Graham about the tour.

How did you get into song writing?
Out of necessity in a funny sort of way. I sort of dabbled with song writing but the Beatles inspired me to take it more seriously and also the band I was in at the time we wanted to make a record. We went to the usual sources to try and find material and couldn’t find anything and I thought "I’ll write something" and so I did.

What was it like when you got your first taste of success?
Amazing, if you can imagine what it was like for a 19 year old to write such a big hit for the Yardbirds For Your Love.

Was it difficult breaking into finding success as a musician?
No. Things just happen. 10cc kind of just happened. You can do what you want but if the public don’t like it you’re not going to be successful at it. You just do your best and I've been very fortunate that I've been able to make a living as a songwriter and a musician as well.

Working with three other songwriters within 10cc in the form of Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Crème was there ever any trouble getting a satisfactory level of material on albums?
We never had any problems with things like that. In fact whoever wrote a song the others would adopt the songs as their own and try and make them better. We never rejected each others songs. We did change partners quite a lot. 

In this tour we’re going to be performing the Sheet Music album in its entirety. What’s interesting about that album is because I've obviously been listening to it a lot and looking at the credits and everything is how we swapped writing partners. I think that’s why its my favourite 10cc album and it seems to be the favourite of many other people as well since we announced the tour. I'm very pleased about that. its never been performed live.

What’s it like revisiting the songs after all this time?
I know the album is just slightly over 40 years old but I never think of their age I just think of them as songs it is quite awesome it is 40 years I can believe it. The fact is they’re great songs they are interesting they've got lots of things going on in them although it’s a challenge to perform them the way I want to do them its very satisfying.

It does seem incredible its 40 years one of my earliest memories of 10cc is seeing you perform Rubber Bullets on Top of the Pops.
It’s a great song. We’re doing Sheet Music in the first half and we’ll be doing the greatest his and more in the second half.

What was it like reaching number one?
We’ve been very lucky. We had three number ones with three different singers which prove that the strength of the band was with all the members.

What was the inspiration of I'm Not in Love?
We didn't want to write a love song there are enough love songs in the world and I have to say Eric came up with the perfect title, kind of like an anti-love song, or is it?

Joe Brown recently covered that on his ukulele album.
He did and Diana Krall has done a very good version of it. To be able to do it on a ukulele was quite a feat and it sounded good.

Looking forward to the tour, there’s a contribution from Kevin Godley?
A visual contribution. He’s going to be performing one of the songs a classic song from the Sheet Music album

Are you all still in regular contact?
Kevin and I have been in regular contact over the years, we've never lost contact with one another. I originally wanted him to come on tour with us but that wasn't possible but he said “I’ll make a video contribution.” What its lead on to, because of the way were going to present the show and Kevin's appearance means that our whole visual side of the show is going to be upgraded quite drastically. Normally we have lights, backdrops and things but this is going to take it to a different level.

Beyond the 10cc tour, do you have any other projects lined up?
I’m doing something called Heart Full of Songs which is me and two other musicians in a sort of semi acoustic evening. It’s much more intimate where I get to sing a lot of the songs I wrote pre 10cc and post 10cc and talk about the songs as well which is nice. I've done it for two years and I’m hoping to do it again.

Please bring Heart Full of Songs to Wales.
Id love to, I've never done it in Wales. We've done it all over the country but I’ll make a point of telling my agent that we must go to Wales!

• For ticket information visit stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call 029 2087 8444
• Visit 10cc's official website for more news on the band and Graham Gouldman.
• A shortened version of this interview by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on February 13, 2015.