Written by IM Community Reviewer: Sarah Kemp
It was a wet, rainy November night, more reason to get cosy in the Cavern for my first visit. I’ve lived in Exeter for years and been to plenty of gigs at the Phoenix, Bomba and the Lemon Grove, but somehow the Cavern had always escaped me. That changed the second I stepped inside.
A warm greeting from the lady in the cloakroom set the tone immediately. £1.50 to look after my drenched umbrella and coat felt like a steal. I told her it was my first visit, she pointed me towards the bar and loos (though truthfully, nothing is far away in a venue this intimate). And intimate is exactly the right word.
This was a quieter night at the Cavern. Afterall, it was a busy night for the Southwest music scene, the gig clashed with a couple of other local events (Lack of Afro at the Phoenix and The Stylistics in Torquay) and the torrential rain probably didn’t help either! But I think the venue’s scale worked in its favour, creating a cosy, close-up kind of atmosphere.
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Kaedan Swim
First up was Portsmouth’s Kaedan Swim, who usually plays with The Targets. Their website promises “the spirit of indie punk” and unforgettable live experiences, but tonight, Kaedan was flying solo. Not that it mattered one bit.
He had a powerful voice, strong stage presence and, while I’m no guitar expert, he struck me as a seriously skilled player. Many of the tracks were his own, and I found myself moving along to them despite hearing them for the first time. His lyrics were imaginative. There was one track I remember specifically about a nightclub that “sounded like drilling”, another featuring a woman named Johnny.
Kaedan mentioned his love for Secret Affair, which made perfect sense. I’m a punk and mod revival fan myself, and his sound landed right in that sweet spot. Playing to a crowd of around twenty people can’t be easy, but he gave it his all. Applause after each song proved the audience appreciated every minute. He even took a moment to thank the sound engineer too. If you get the chance to see him (with or without The Targets), go.
During the changeover, the Cavern filled the room with ska, always a crowd-pleaser. Not a coincidental choice – The Chords are rooted in the 1970s mod revival, and the fans reflected that history: smartly dressed Gabicci and Fred Perry tops everywhere, and one standout in a striped jacket, Levi’s and desert boots who would’ve won a best-dressed competition hands down. I chatted to a woman fashioning a Fred Perry who had even travelled from Swindon to see them.
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The ChordsUK
Then it was time for the main event.
The ChordsUK is fronted by Chris Pope; singer, writer and guitarist, and a key part of the original late-70s/early-80s Chords lineup. He answered an NME advert back in 1978, helped shape the band’s sound, wrote the songs that defined their early success (“Maybe Tomorrow” and “Now It’s Gone”), secured a record deal with Polydor and appeared on Top of the Pops multiple times.
He joked about once performing on the show “sandwiched between The Nolans and Motörhead”, which got a well-earned laugh from the room.
Because original vocalist Billy Hassett now lives permanently in Japan, Chris reached out to him and the two agreed the songs deserved to live on. The ChordsUK were born.
Tonight’s tour promised tracks from their 1980 debut So Far Away, written almost entirely by Chris. By the time the set started, the room had grown to around fifty people. When Chris asked who owned the album, about a third of the room raised their hands, myself included.
He encouraged the audience to step forward so he could see us properly. A few of us stayed further back, making the most of the space to dance. Another benefit of a smaller Cavern crowd.
They played “So Far Away” early in the set despite it being the final track on the album’s B-side and it landed beautifully. The band looked like they were genuinely enjoying themselves. Engagement was high, singalongs were strong, and when they tore through their cover of “Hold On, I’m Comin’” (also on the record), the crowd loved every second.
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But the highlight?
Their closer: The British Way of Life. Released in July 1980 and still an absolute classic. If you haven’t listened to it, you should. It still hits.
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You can find the band’s upcoming dates at:
The Targets UK
The Chords UK
