With Take That performing at the Principality Stadium, a mere stone’s throw from the Tramshed, there is truly a ’90s feel to the evening. The traffic chaos caused by a huge event in the city centre has not affected the attendance at the Tramshed, though, as three bands, Drowning Pool, Spineshank and Silly Goose, buoyed by their weekend performances at Download Festival, roll into the Welsh Capital.
Drowning Pool – Spineshank – Silly Goose
Tramshed Cardiff – 16 June 2026
Words And Photography: Paul Hutchings
By the time Spineshank hit the stage, it is 95% full in the venue, and the temperature is high. It is amazing that Nu-Metal remains so close to many, although there is a high percentage of those on the barrier at least who were still in nappies when Drowning Pool and Spineshank put out Sinner and Strictly Diesel respectively.
It is a highly charged evening, with a raging pit from the start, adding to the intensity.
Drowning Pool
Following a ferociously powerful performance by Spineshank was a huge challenge, and for me, Drowning Pool were not quite able to match the sheer drive of their regular tour buddies.
There is not a lot wrong with their delivery, although I am not the only one who found Ryan McCoombs more appealing in Soil. He has certainly got enough heft to carry songs like Sinner, Sermon and the inevitable chaos of the set’s closing anthem, Bodies, and his presence dominates the stage.
But there’s something a little lighter in the Drowning Pool sound that leaves them a little behind. Maybe it is only that their sound is less heavy than Spineshank, or maybe they are just a little less energised.
A cover of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell gets the entire venue screaming along but feels a little cheap, even if it is now a staple of the live set.
Regardless of my views, the crowd is having a wonderful time. The pit continues to whirl with intensity, even if it has slowed a bit, and the surfers slow slightly, giving the security in the pit a bit of a breather.
Few genres elicit more sing-along anthems than the Nu-Metal category, and the crowd is fully engaged. It is a celebration throughout the evening, and although Drowning Pool cannot top their peers, they certainly bring it.
Spineshank
Spineshank are a band who I have never really got involved with. Possibly because their emergence coincided with a genre that did not really connect with me, but their performance tonight is scarily impressive.
That is in large part due to the dominance of signer Jonny Santos, whose presence is imposing from start to finish. Opener Asthmatic is pulverising in its delivery, sparking wild scenes in the pit and the first of a wave of crowd surfers.
Encouraged by Santos, they keep coming throughout the set, causing the togs to scatter at the start, and security to race back and fore for most of the set.
They sound a bit repetitive to these untrained ears, but there are big riffs, thunderous drums and Santos is the ideal ringleader, cajoling, encouraging, and even calming at times.
We have a song lit by phone light only, a wall of death and a left vs right sing-along. It is powerful stuff, and Dead To Me pulls out all the stops for a grand finale that leaves the entire room gasping for a much-needed breather.
Silly Goose
I will admit I had never heard of Silly Goose until the day of the show. But the Atlanta outfit, whose aggressive mix of rap and Nu-Metal is causing waves across the scene, make sure those new to them certainly remembered who they were afterwards.
It is a high-octane start, with an instant crowd surf from singer Jackson Foster raising the roof and the temperature.
Possibly the most energetic band of the night, Silly Goose’s set leads to a huge queue at their merch stand afterwards. For a band that apparently spends time playing in diners and car parks, there is evidently an appetite for their sound.
Keep your ears open. They may well be appearing in your face again very soon.
