10/9/2007 Fables Last Stand @ the Macbeth, Hoxton.

Subject	Fables Last Stand @ the Macbeth, Hoxton.
PostedDate	9/10/2007 2:22:00 PM
	The Macbeth in Hoxton is a bit of a dive - not the shabbiest 'toilet' venue I've been to (but close) - that dubious honour goes to the Spread Eagle in nearby Shoreditch. Most of London's seediest 'rock & roll toilet' venues seem to be in the East End rather than Camden these days. That said, some of the most exciting gigs I've been to have been in this sort of place. The Macbeth however, is one of those pubs where you get the impression that whoever is in charge of the place just doesn't really care, and maybe the brewery are deliberately letting it run down? Unfortunately, I arrive too late to see opening act Men & Gods - they were a last minute addition to the bill and by the time I found out they were playing it was too late to get there in time. I think they managed to play more than three songs on this occasion - unlike when I saw them at Bar Monsta recently.  This is the sixth date on their current tour for Fables Last Stand and they are in good form.  The turnout in this pub in the East End of London on a Monday night isn't that great, but that doesn't put the boys off from turning in a good show - well as far as you can put on a good show on a stage this small. In spite of these confines, the sound is loud and surprisingly clear out front as the band launch into their anthem 'Get Ready For Noise'. Things have been picking up for the band recently, with a song on the cover CD of 'Classic Rock' magazine, plus airplay on TotalRock and the Xfm Rock Show - and Mike Fraser who has worked with AC/DC is set to produce their next single.  The modest crowd seem to really enjoy it, and I certainly thought it was worth the trip - even though the selection of beer behind the bar was pretty poor, the band made up for it. The band are back at another East End venue next Sunday - let hope a few more people turn up for that one...