11/5/2012 The Gasoline Queens @ The Fiddler's Elbow

Subject	The Gasoline Queens @ The Fiddler's Elbow
DateCreated	5/15/2012 1:38:00 PM
	Friday night and I'm off to Camden, but not to one of the better known music venues. This time I'm heading for the Fiddlers Elbow - more Chalk Farm than Camden really. Not one of my favourite venues to be honest - on my last visit I thought it was a bit of a dump and they didn't bother stocking real ales. Things have changed since then. Well one thing has anyway. The place is still a dump, but there are now two real ales on offer: EPA and Doombar. Both are rather weak compared to what I usually drink, but they taste decent enough. However, I'm not here for the beer (although it is a bonus) I'm here to see The Gasoline Queens.  Like the venue, they haven't changed much - but they don't really need to as they are a good rock 'n' roll band with some catchy tunes. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. They lineup is different tonight as their normal bass player isn't available for this gig and Dave has switched to bass like he did for a show at the 12 Bar Club last year. The band still play well and sound good - they are certainly appreciated by the crowd and a few people are obviously here to see them. They sound a hell of a lot like Dogs D'Amour - which isn't a criticism and I certainly don't have a problem with any band sounding like those 1980's rock 'n' roll sleazebabags. The similarity is hammered home even more by a cover of that band's 'Last Bandit', but as it's such a cracking song it's easy to forgive and it fits in perfectly. The Gasoline Queens finish their set with another cover cover and are joined by Texas Terri for a rousing cover of the Heartbreakers/Ramones classic 'Chinese Rocks'. The band play a longer set than usual as they are headlining and it's after midnight when they finish. I have to leg it quick style to catch the last tube, but it's been a worthwhile trip into town on a Friday night - only a fiver on the door, good band, and even the pub (although still a dive) managed to redeem itself with some better than expected beer.