Difference between revisions of "Cable 35"

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Sunday 02 Dec 2007
'''Cable 35''' is a Maltese rock group that was formed in August 2006. The band’s name comes from a guitar lead (cable) and a bus number (35) that that used regularly to get to their rehearsal space in Mqabba. The band performs as a trio comprising guitarist [[Jeffrey Zerafa]], bassist [[Kriz Zahra]], and drummer [[Chris Mallia]]. Zerafa and Zahra share the singing on most of their songs.


THE KIDS ARE UNITED!
==History==
They first appeared in public at the [[2006 Battle of the Bands]] contest, where they placed third, securing not only a couple of precious prizes, but also the attention of a new audience, and that of their more experienced peers. One of the prizes gave them the opportunity to enter a recording studio and experience a proper recording session. Another prize gave took them to Liverpool in the UK for a gig along with the bands that placed second and first in that year's contest.


Prior to October of last year, I had no idea that Cable 35 even existed, let alone who they were or what they played! I’m not too sure if they themselves knew at the time; they had after all, only recently formed the band and managed to squeeze in a couple of rehearsals before an impending Battle of the Bands contest. With the odds seemingly against them, they still managed to finish in third place, securing not only a couple of precious prizes, but also the attention of a new audience – yours truly included - and that of their more experienced peers! Coming in third was no downer either. As is often the case with such competitions, it’s the bigger picture that counts and it gave Cable 35 the opportunity to enter a recording studio and experience a proper recording session. Better still it offered them a chance to prove themselves onstage – not only locally, which they have since done countless times – but in the UK, more precisely Liverpool!
During their visit to the UK to perform in Liverpool, they also visited Birmingham, and performed a total of 7 gigs, including an appearance at the legendary [[Cavern Club]]. During this visit to the UK, they formed a friendship with the UK punk band Reluctant Heroes.


I’m meeting the band to hear about their recent adventures, including the release of their debut EP and their gigs in the UK this past summer. As I wait, I jot down a few notes, thinking about whether they ever got round to listening to the various vintage punk albums I gave them to expand their taste of punk beyond the Green Day’s and the Blink 182’s they are sound so enamoured of and influenced by!
The work ethic in the Cable 35 environ is driven primarily towards having fun. However,producer [[David Vella]], who recorded their their debut EP, in 2007 appropriately titled [[My First EP]] at [[Temple Studios]], was reported telling Michael Bugeja that, “they are very focused and hungry to learn more and get better!”  <ref>Bugeja, Michael. '[[The Kids Are United!]]' in ''The Sunday Times'' - 7 December 2007</ref> They demonstrated how grounded and fun loving they are at the launch of their debut EP by inviting [[BNI]], their favourite Maltese band, to play after them.


“Cable 35 was formed in August 2006. The band members were all born normally in hospital”. Now this is not something I’m making up – this is actually lifted off the band’s online bio. I just used it to illustrate how Cable 35 may seem like they don’t take themselves too seriously. In fact if I had to pick a few other sentences off their bio’s – such as bassist Kriz’s “By time he realised that the bass guitar gave him more satisfaction than his girlfriend” or drummer Chris’s “The neighbours’ complaints encouraged him to continue playing the drums and inventing psychologically annoying drum beats”, it pretty much seems that the work ethic in the Cable 35 environ is pure and simple – they’re in it to have fun first and foremost, anything else is a bonus! This is not necessarily true, at least not entirely. They are indeed great lads and fun to be around, but underneath it all, as producer David Vella, who recorded their debut release at Temple Studios, commented to me recently, “they are very focused and hungry to learn more and get better!”
Early 2008 ''Wasted Away'' was released followed by ''Animal Rules'' later in May. Recording sessions for Hygiene EP took place in October. On March 14, 2009, Cable35 released the single ''Mary'' and ''Hygiene EP''.


Surrounded by curious onlookers in a Hamrun café, many of whom are probably wondering why I am huddled with three teenage kids around a pocket cassette recorder, the band feeds me bits of info left right and centre. “The band’s name comes from the guitar lead (cable) and the bus number (35) that we had to regularly catch to get to our rehearsal space in Mqabba”! “Chris was originally a guitarist but switched to drums when we kicked out our previous drummer”! “I just bought a van today”! Now this last bit may not be essential to this article but it will prove to be a great asset for the band! Lugging equipment around from garage to gig and back is no fun when you have no wheels - no wonder they’re thrilled! But more than anything, right now they are especially even more radiant following the gig to launch their debut EP, appropriately titled My First EP.  
Cable35 have played a number of gigs around Europe over the past couple of years playing Liverpool and Birmingham, England in 2007, Copenhagen Demark in 2008, Italy, Belgium and England on the Hygiene Tour in May and June 2009 and Birmingham in 2010. ''Harry'' accompanied by the ''Harry video'' (directed and filmed by the band) was the next single to be released in 2010 followed by ''Boogie Man'' in November 2010. Cable 35 toured Europe in 2011, playing in Italy, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and the UK.


Packaged in decidedly eye-catching shocking pink (probably in homage to the Pistols’ equally fluorescent debut outing) the EP features six songs brimming with melodies that are hard to forget. The songs are connected on some level, but each one seems to point away from the ‘punk’ epicentre in different directions, feeding off a pop inclination that makes me curious as to what has been firing the lads’ imaginations! “The first track (Wasted Away) has been there longer than the others” they tell me, “but we’ve been listening to loads of stuff; ska, indie, reggae, grunge, the albums you gave us (aha!), and we want to take our sound to another level”. This is something they are all agreed upon – a good sign that they are on the same frequency even if they’re all bringing in diverse elements to the band’s sound. The most obvious divergence here is on Animal Rules, which is definitely more elaborate than the rest of the EP. “We still love the happy punk stuff but we also want to explore another side – one that also allows elements from other genres, but we won’t give up our punk roots”. The first single off the EP, A Beautiful Story, is doing pretty well on the radios as we speak, and the next one should bring them an even bigger audience.  
==Radio Airplay==
The first single off the EP, ''A Beautiful Story'', received considerable airplay in Malta, and introduced them to an ever-growing audience.  


In between recording, they flew to the UK, performing 7 gigs in Birmingham and Liverpool, including the legendary Cavern Club. The experience has taught them a lot, and frankly they’re keen to go back. Shacking up with UK punk band Reluctant Heroes, the three of them have loads of stories to tell - meeting Shrek on the plane (!), shooting videos of their antics, tying up their drummer with masking tape – ahem, we’ll hold it right there! Fun aside, however, they are quick to add that their trip abroad has been a learning experience, but they’ve remained grounded enough to acknowledge there’s still a long way to go. Grounded enough, in fact, to go on first before BNI at their own CD launch gig? “Yeah, we chose to go on first! BNI is the better band, we respect that - plus we could perform first and party all night. Fantastic!” Never mind, there will be other gigs to headline soon enough; in fact they’re playing the V5 Bar at the Valletta Waterfront on 07 December. My First EP is available from all leading record shops or at any of their gigs. Log on to www.myspace.com/cable35band for more info!
==Gigs==
 
* [[My First EP]] launch at [[Poxx Bar]] in Paceville on Friday 9 November 2007; followed by [[BNI]]. <ref>Bugeja, Michael. '[[My First EP Launch]]' in ''The Sunday Times'' - 4 November 2007</ref>
* On 7 December 2007 they played at the V5 Bar at the Valletta Waterfront.
 
* They appeared at [[The Farsons Great Beer Festival 2010]] in [[Ta' Qali]] on Friday 30 July 2010.
 
==References==
<references />
 
==External Links==
* [http://www.myspace.com/cable35band Cable 35 on MySpace]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cable35/61520649870 Cable 35 page on Facebook]
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39640507782 Cable 35 group on Facebook]
 
[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Malta]]

Latest revision as of 00:41, 17 August 2017

Cable 35 is a Maltese rock group that was formed in August 2006. The band’s name comes from a guitar lead (cable) and a bus number (35) that that used regularly to get to their rehearsal space in Mqabba. The band performs as a trio comprising guitarist Jeffrey Zerafa, bassist Kriz Zahra, and drummer Chris Mallia. Zerafa and Zahra share the singing on most of their songs.

History

They first appeared in public at the 2006 Battle of the Bands contest, where they placed third, securing not only a couple of precious prizes, but also the attention of a new audience, and that of their more experienced peers. One of the prizes gave them the opportunity to enter a recording studio and experience a proper recording session. Another prize gave took them to Liverpool in the UK for a gig along with the bands that placed second and first in that year's contest.

During their visit to the UK to perform in Liverpool, they also visited Birmingham, and performed a total of 7 gigs, including an appearance at the legendary Cavern Club. During this visit to the UK, they formed a friendship with the UK punk band Reluctant Heroes.

The work ethic in the Cable 35 environ is driven primarily towards having fun. However,producer David Vella, who recorded their their debut EP, in 2007 appropriately titled My First EP at Temple Studios, was reported telling Michael Bugeja that, “they are very focused and hungry to learn more and get better!” [1] They demonstrated how grounded and fun loving they are at the launch of their debut EP by inviting BNI, their favourite Maltese band, to play after them.

Early 2008 Wasted Away was released followed by Animal Rules later in May. Recording sessions for Hygiene EP took place in October. On March 14, 2009, Cable35 released the single Mary and Hygiene EP.

Cable35 have played a number of gigs around Europe over the past couple of years playing Liverpool and Birmingham, England in 2007, Copenhagen Demark in 2008, Italy, Belgium and England on the Hygiene Tour in May and June 2009 and Birmingham in 2010. Harry accompanied by the Harry video (directed and filmed by the band) was the next single to be released in 2010 followed by Boogie Man in November 2010. Cable 35 toured Europe in 2011, playing in Italy, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and the UK.

Radio Airplay

The first single off the EP, A Beautiful Story, received considerable airplay in Malta, and introduced them to an ever-growing audience.

Gigs

  • On 7 December 2007 they played at the V5 Bar at the Valletta Waterfront.

References

  1. Bugeja, Michael. 'The Kids Are United!' in The Sunday Times - 7 December 2007
  2. Bugeja, Michael. 'My First EP Launch' in The Sunday Times - 4 November 2007

External Links