From punk to indie, influences of Wrexham four-piece band
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In the spotlight this week is Wrexham-based four-piece, Paidamentro. The alternative band - influenced by the classic 70s punk scene, post punk, ska and indie - is made up of Cian Roberts - lead vocals/lead guitar; Patric Randles - vocals/rhythm guitar; Ryan Hampson - drums; Seren Weston - interim guest bass player.
Paidamentro at Tyn Y Capel in Wrexham. Photo: J. A. Roberts/Paidamentro
Is there a story behind the band name?
CR: Yes. At my uncle Neil's house on his 60th birthday, trying to come up with a name.
He was a massive punk fan back in the day but his suggestions of 'The Sprouts' and 'Cabbages' didn't quite fit. Aunti Mari (a fluent Welsh speaker) came up with 'Paid a mentro' (meaning 'don't you dare', in Welsh), which is pretty tame for punk, but we liked it. We took out the spaces between words and became Paidamentro.
Your musical influences, did you grow up around music?
CR: Me mam! Mum and dad - I loved jiggling about as a baby to bands like Madness and The Fratelli's and Toy Dolls' version of Nellie the Elephant! I've grown up at home listening to great alternative music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. People like Taylor Swift inspire me… not to perform commercial rubbish that's constantly overplayed everywhere.
PR: Started playing guitar in school with Matt Nicholls. Now I'm inspired by great bands I've seen live, like Stiff Little Fingers, James, Supergrass, Buzzcocks, Greenday, Blur and Oasis.
RH: When I was young, I used to play Tony Hawk [gaming] and the punk soundtrack really influenced me!
SW: I grew up with 90s indie like The Stone Roses, Hole and Nirvana.
Cian Roberts and Patric Randlesof Paidamentro. Photo: J. A. Roberts/Paidamentro
Who do you admire in the industry?
PR: Carl Barat from The Libertines - his raw energy on stage.
CR: Robert Smith [The Cure] and Ian McCulloch [Echo and the Bunnymen]. I really enjoyed seeing Stiff Little Fingers, I managed to get wedged in a crowd of brilliant, sweaty middle-aged blokes who kept me levitated off the ground for at least 10 seconds!
SW: Electric Wizard and The Cure.
RH: Technicians because they go through a lot of s**t and nobody knows who they are.
Are you self-taught?
PR: Mostly self-taught but more recently I have had some professional tutoring in a local studio.
SW: Yes - I've been teaching myself bass since I was about 11-years-old.
RH: I started playing drums with a tutor in 2018 but soon dropped it. In 2020, since we were all stuck at home, I picked the drums back up and taught myself most of what I know. I refined it in high school with a few lessons.
CR: I started playing the same riff for seven months in school until I realised I was in the wrong key. Then I got some proper lessons, starting around covid time. I am self-taught in jumping around on stage but I'm still working on how to not smack my teeth on the microphone!
Read more: Wrexham band members grew up with parents' love of music
Ryan Hampson of Paidamentro. Photo: J. A. Roberts/Paidamentro
What do you enjoy about performing?
RH: The exchange of energy between the band and the crowd. There's also an aspect of feeling the 'loudness' in a live performance which you can feel in your body that just isn't creatable through a pair of headphones.
SW: It gives me a rush to show people my passion and I love to see people enjoying something I created.
PR: The privilege of playing in front of a live audience and sharing our music. The adrenaline!
CR: I like hearing the audience enjoying our songs, even though most of the time I can't see them through my sunglasses.
Read more: 1980's Wrexham band Terminal gets French kiss of life
Is performing a full-time job?
RH: Currently no, but music is in my head 24/7. I'm constantly writing or expanding on songs and listening to other artists. To be able to perform for a living would be a dream come true.
CR: I wish… it would be great to get paid for making a noise and to jump around for a living wearing sunglasses.
PR: I hope it will! I'm going to uni to complete a performance and guitar technique degree in September.
SW: I'd like it to be full-time, which I hope will become a reality for me as I progress to university.
Where can people catch you live in the coming months?
Friday, August 22, Saith Seren (@Wrexfest).
Saturday, August 30, The Saddle, Chester (with High Coven, and The Barflies).
Cian Roberts, Ryan Hampson and Patric Randles of Paidamentro. Photo: J. A. Roberts/Paidamentro
Favourite song (yours or anyone else's)?
CR: Pests! [our song] … Whenever you see little insects running around your house… remember, there's bigger pests out there!
SW: Sunglasses, by Black Country, New Road.
PR: Can't Stand Me Now, by The Libertines. I love their passion for their music, especially when they are on stage.
RH: One Night in '99, by Biting Elbows. It reflects my early exposure to music.
Read more: Next Big Thing: self taught musicians of metalcore band Gloom49
Thoughts on the Wrexham/North Wales music scene?
RH: Really promising young musicians, helped by the support of Colleg Cambria. Exceptionally great songwriters, performers and creative minds for their age.
CR: Too many tribute bands. Wrexham and North Wales could be buzzing with more opportunities and exposure for up-and-coming local bands. We all need to pioneer a new scene in Wrexham to rival the likes of punk, post-punk and Britpop! And, we need more Paidamentro gigs!
PR: We see new and upcoming bands in Wrexham regularly and I admire how these bands join together and gather inspiration from both upcoming and well-known bands.
SW: A lot of young people like us making a career out of something special and I find it so fascinating to see different bands and how they perform.
Anything else we should know?
We'd love people to come and support us wherever we play - come and enjoy, listen and sing along. We're incredibly charismatic, energetic and full of fun, not to mention being extremely talented and good-looking… obviously!
• Find Paidamentro on: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Soundcloud.
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