9/10/2008 The Cut Outs in town and a cover band locally...

Subject	The Cut Outs in town and a cover band locally...
PostedDate	10/9/2008
	Another '2 gigs in one night' attempt, only this one is a bit more challenging as the venues are miles apart instead of all being in Camden! Two very different sorts of bands and crowds too. First I head down Holloway Road to Nambucca - not too shabby a place as far as pub gigs go, for that it what it is in spite of it's 'club' name. I'm there to see the Cut Outs - they are always good fun!  Guitarist Stevie has changed her image and is now rocking the 'Joan Jett' look. The girls turn in an excellent performance as usual, and I'm sure they win over some of the fans of the other bands as well as keeping their regular fans happy. Unfortunately, like last time I have to rush off as soon as they finish as I have another gig to get to.... A few stops on the Northern Line and I find myself in Whetstone at the former Bull & Butcher pub. In a very interesting development for the local music scene this well known pub has been taken over and totally refurbished - in fact the changes have been so radical that the place is completely unrecognisable inside! A lot of money has obviously been spent on transforming what was a run-of-the-mill North London boozer into a smart modern music venue. The place is now called the Real Music Club and a well known local music promoter has been brought in to book 'name' acts - most of whom are well known on the blues/rock circuit. However, for tonight the management has booked a top cover band who have had a strong local following for over ten years. I thought this was a risky undertaking for a Thursday night - especially as there is a charge on the door. People aren't used to paying to see cover bands, and the usual cover band audience don't like going out mid-week. I am pleased to see when I arrive that the place is actually quite busy! The door charge is only £2 - pretty reasonable, and a lot less than the management originally wanted to charge. I think they have done very well to get such a good crowd in on a rainy Thursday night in October. The venue itself is very impressive. There is a large room at the back with a big stage and a large PA system with proper monitors - it looks like being a very good place to play from a band's point of view. The whole setup looks very professional and puts most of Camden's famous venues to shame. I'm not too keen on the bar though - no real ales or Newcastle Brown on offer. It's cheaper than Camden or West End prices though, so it's not all bad. A look at the posters on the wall shows that some world famous names have been booked to play as well as some very well known names on the pub and club rock circuit. Another local promoter is also organising a monthly showcase night for local bands to help up and coming new talent get seen. Acts from further afield will be appearing as well, but bands from North London and Hertfordshire are being sought in particular. Tonight's band is the Fabulous Feedback Band. They have been playing in Barnet for over ten years and have always been very popular in local venues. However, all the decent places locally have either shut or stopped having bands so this lot haven't been seen much locally in recent times, although they are always playing in the top West End pub and club (cover band) venues. Judging by the success of this midweek show, the band will be back playing here on a regular basis from now on. In fact I hear later that they have already been booked again for next month, but on a Friday night. The material the band cover has changed over the years, and their fanbase has changed with it. Most of the classic rock has gone from their set these days - to be replaced almost exclusively by songs straight from the Virgin Radio/Xfm playlists. Many of the bands earlier fans have drifted away because of this, but they have been replaced by a new set of indie loving fans so the band still draw a crowd. They do throw the older fans the odd rock morsel though - and the band look like they enjoy going back to their roots when they do so.  What sets the Fabulous Feedback Band apart from other cover bands is that they are so much fun! Other bands play well, but still just look like they are going through the motions - but this lot always look like they are having the time of their lives! They have far more stage presence and charisma than most cover bands and their enthusiasm is infectious. They are thoroughly entertaining!  All in all it's a very encouraging start for this new North London venue - I think it has the potential to do well once people can be persuaded to go somewhere that isn't Camden. It's only a few stops away from there on the Northern Line and the venue is only a couple of minutes walk round the corner from Totteridge & Whetstone tube station so maybe people can be persuaded to make the trip. And of course it's nice for us who live in the area to finally have a decent venue to go to locally!

PS: Both the venues mentioned in this post have since shut. In fact Nambucca has shut twice.