The Gate Arts and Community Centre is definitely quite a strange venue for a Throwing Muses gig – a converted 19th Century Prebytarian Church in Roath, Cardiff with many fixtures and fittings still in place. Main theatre/hall is on the first floor:
The Gate set up for the Throwing Muses, 8th November 2011
Quite small and intimate venue, capacity of around 300, I think. Great little Cafe Bar on the ground floor with many bottled real ales, so no complaints there. We took the wrong route up to the hall – ended up going up in a lift and emerging in the band’s ‘backstage’ room (behind the door to the left of the stage in the picture) amongst Kristin Hersh and the band 
The piano in the picture is not for the Muses but for their support act Teitur, a singer-songwriter from the Faroe Islands. Very laid back with long, meandering chats between his songs. Stayed sitting on a pew for his set, but there was no way I wanted to remain there for the Muses and moved to the floor. Only complaint is that the stage is very low – not easy to see over the heads, too old to push my way to the front!
Throwing Muses on stage at The Gate, Cardiff
Set list the Throwing Muses played was
Soul Soldier
Shimmer
Garoux Des Larmes
Speed and Sleep
Bright Yellow Gun
Start
Shark
Hazing
Tar Kissers
Say Goodbye
Limbo
Furious
Vicky’s Box
Bea
[Encore]
Hate My Way
Pearl
Mania
On stage for about an hour and a quarter, excellent performance which got better as it progressed, but would have liked longer 
From the sound point of view, musically all very sharp but from where I was standing Kristin’s vocals could have been a little more prominent, again particularly for the first few songs.
Kristin Hersh
Few more pictures – quality not too brilliant I’m afraid – small camera, dark venue, audience in the way!
Kristin Hersh, David Narcizo
Kristin Hersh, David Narcizo, Bernard Georges
Throwing Muses, The Gate, Cardiff, 8th November 2011
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