28/12/2007 Vamps 'N' Gypsies @ the Old King's Head

Subject	Vamps ’N’ Gypsies @ the Old King’s Head
PostedDate	12/27/2007
	A Friday night, but it's in that dead week between Christmas and New Year - no one goes out, nothing's happening.  I'm off work for eleven whole days - I did all the traditional family stuff over Christmas Day and Boxing Day - I don't want to stay in for a whole week when I don't have to get up for work in the morning. Fortunately, someone has realised that there are some people who do want to go out and have some fun.  Even more fortunately (for me anyway) something good is happening at what is probably my favourite pub venue - Vamps 'N' Gypsies are playing! There seems to be sod all entertainment on this week unless you are prepared to put up with the crap that's on TV this time of year, so I'm particularly pleased that one of the most entertaining bands I know is on at the Old King's Head. This is one of the bands I never seem to get tired of seeing - and they never seem to get tired of gigging! They look good, they sound good, they have a load of great songs, and they play them very well. On top of all that, they are fun!  This band always look like they are having a great time. It's not an act - they really are having a great time - they just seem to love what they do so much that it's all they live for. The whole 'last gang in town' thing has become a bit of a cliche, but they really are like that - best mates who like nothing more than going out and getting hammered together and playing rock 'n' roll. It's infectious stuff and it rubs off - you see a band having a good time and you have a good time too. It also helps that they have tunes catchy enough to get stuck in your head - this is something that sets them apart from nearly all the other bands on this scene - unlike virtually all the so called 'sleaze' bands, this band actually have songs you remember. Other bands get so wrapped up with image and ego that minor details like quality songs get overlooked.  Vamps 'N' Gypsies don't care much about egos, looking 'cool' or having 'attitude' - they just want to play great songs, and have fun doing it. As far as I'm concerned it's this band that has the right attitude - it's all about the music and having a good time. There's no 'scene' bullshit here - they don't pretend to be original, nor are they trying to re-create the 80's. Vamps 'N' Gypsies may be influenced by music from the 70's and 80's, but unlike many bands they aren't living in the past - they realise that great music is timeless and people will remember a good song more than what a band looks like. They do look like a rock band, but it's their tunes you will remember most. As they are the only band playing tonight their set is a bit longer than normal, but they subscribe to the 'aways leave 'em wanting more' school of thought and they have some cracking songs they don't even play tonight - obviously they are keen to showcase the newer songs featured on their forthcoming CD. However, they are persuaded to go back for an encore and someone requests 'Unloved' - which they duly play. It's the first song they wrote together, but still one of their best - a great song to finish with.

This pub venue turned into 'The Gaff' and was really cool for the couple of years it was open.