The Beginning

Back in the heady days of the year 2000, Tim and Meilyr met in a pub (the mackie, for locals!), on a "Live Music Society" (LMS) pub crawl. Little did they know what was in store. In fact Tim couldn't even pronounce Meilyr's name, and hence avoided anything other than a lifted eyebrow and "alright?" when they passed each other in the corridors of the Engineering Department at Cardiff University. Nearly two years passed before an unavoidable lunchtime queue conversation occurred, whereupon, having nothing better to do, Tim and Meilyr discussed music, Del Amitri and an Acapella choir in particular. Over lunch, a 'jam' was agreed upon, and much Del Amitri was played later that week. Mutually impressed with the other's ability to sing/play depressing yet somehow beautiful music, a loose gigging and jamming partnership was formed...

The Bands

Over 2002-2003, performances of Meilyr's songs (and Tim's one and only song) featured on Xpress Radio, Moloko's Vodka Bar, Seren Las, and various living rooms. After saving the LMS acoustic night from mediocrity at Moloko's, Tim was asked to get a band together to perform at "The BIG PIE", an annual showcase of LMS bands. Flattered but daunted by the predominantly heavy metal line-up, Tim scratched together a group called "Short Straw", consisting of: Ben Sparks (Tim's twin, all the way from Oxford Uni) on vocals, Tim Sparks on guitars and vocals, Dave Allchin on drums, Meilyr Wyn on keyboards and vocals, and Aled Jones (Myrddin) on bass and vocals. By this time, Tim and Meilyr had accumulated a creditable set of original songs. Sandwiched between some death metal and punk-ska, Short Straw were a qualified success in the cavernous interior Cardiff Universities Great Hall, and went on to headline at the Toucan Club, minus Ben's vocals and with a guest appearance from Polly Sutton on violin.
However, Short Straw seemed to have exhausted itself with only two gigs. The band fizzled out as various members finished degree courses and got married... Tim released a home-recorded EP called "First Light of Dawn" with his few songs, and, that was that for a while. Aled Jones moved from the band and the bass and formed an excellent Welsh-speaking band called "Manna". Dave Allchin moved on from Cardiff to new pastures.
2004 saw Meilyr quit a PhD, and Tim start one. Collaborations were sporadic, as before. Tim was gigging here and there with Steffan Hess on guitar and vocals, and Lydia Whittaker on violin. Meilyr was gigging with various female singers, and Spanish percussionist extraordinaire Javier Mateo Franco, also an ex-PhD student. When Steffan flew off to Brazil for 6 months, Meilyr filled the gap, and brought Javier along with him. So when Aled and Manna asked for a support band for the Cardiff leg of their Welsh tour, the nameless band was Tim, Meilyr, Lydia and Javier. A gig at the 'Rumi Festival' was the launch for the foursome, and Sarah Fry joined on flute and all things whistley very soon after that. The initial choice of name was "Walking Wounded", which lasted for about a year, until another group by the same name kindly asked us to cease and desist - for fear of confusion. After multiple discussions and votes and undecided decisions, the new name "Laughter of the Crowd" was chosen...

Why "Laughter of the Crowd"?

Coming soon...

Why "Walking Wounded"? (previous name)
(from Tim)

After the Rumi festival gig, we needed a name if we were gonna keep doing gigs! At that point, Javier had just broken his leg, Meilyr had cracked a rib, I had R.S.I. and various others had varying ailments. Lydia quipped "We're all the Walking Wounded" and it stuck, for good or for ill...
Most of our songs tend to be about life, and trying to make sense of it, usually with a bit of struggle. A lot of them tend to be on the melancholy side of things! Usually I try and get a bit of hope in there as well. Ever since we named the band, it's struck me that everyone I know is damaged in some way: emotionally, physically, spiritually, we're all carrying scars and wounds, from the past, present, our childhood or current state. In that sense, we're all very much "Walking Wounded". Life is a journey, and a tough one at times. I wanted our music to be an affirmation of that.
This world is wounded, no-one can deny that, just watch the news. But I believe there's hope! I seriously believe that one day we'll be strong and whole, as we were meant to be. But, try as I might, I can't seem to heal my wounds! We need a doctor... or a saviour...
Our songs tend to be trying to make sense of damaged hearts, lives and minds - maybe sharing the hope we've found at that point, or sharing the frustrations. They're meant to be honest! But we're not all doom and gloom - there's definitely something more than this! We're walking wounded, but at least we're walking... The journey isn't over yet!

Jesus said:
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

"But you, O Sovereign LORD,
    deal well with me for your name's sake;
    out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is wounded within me.

I fade away like an evening shadow;
    I am shaken off like a locust.

My knees give way from fasting;
    my body is thin and gaunt.

I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they shake their heads.

Help me, O LORD my God;
    save me in accordance with your love.

Let them know that it is your hand,
    that you, O LORD, have done it."

Psalm 109:21-27