29/1/2019 Jelly @ The Monarch

I'm back at The Monarch for the second time in a few days - it's turning into one of Camden's better known venues. Unfortunately the beer is expensive here these days and this pub no longer bothers to serve real ale, so it's not a great place to drink as far as I'm concerned, but otherwise it's not a bad little venue. Unfortunately I miss the first band the splendidly named Inglourious Thundercunts - it's always a struggle to get into town early enough on a Tuesday night after a day at work to catch support bands. A shame as I've been wanting to see this band for a while.

Randy Savages are another band who keep cropping up in support slots and I don't get to the gig early enough to see them. Tonight is much the same and I arrive at the end of their set.

They are noisy, but don't make much of an impression on me apart from that in the short amount of time I see them.

I'm here to see Jelly. Although I have seen them many times and have always liked this band, it's quite a while since I've seen them and things have changed - one of those things being the singer. Again. To be honest I'm starting to lose track a bit. Like the band's previous frontmen this guy can certainly sing, but I'm not as convinced by his stage presence.

The band's setlist has also changed a lot - so much so that I hardly recognise any of the songs they play tonight and they only play one or two songs from their excellent first album Troubadour, Wizard, The Queen and The Machine. I obviously have some catching up to do!

As always the band's performance of pop/rock/alt is slick, polished, and professional. - but I feel like I am seeing a new band for the first time. I shall have to make an effort to try and see them more regularly again, but other factors have led to a big decrease in the amount of gigs I have been to over the past couple of years....

26/1/2019 Camden Rocks all-dayer @ The Monarch

A strong 10 band bill at The Monarch in Camden. Formerly a Wetherspoons pub with one of their generic names, but now renamed as 'The Monarch' which used to be the name of the pub a few doors up the road before it became 'The Barfly' and now 'Camden Assembly'. Confused? Well then I won't even mention the other Camden pub which was 'The Barfly' before that... Anyway, this all day event is staged by Camden Rocks who also put on the big multi-venue festival in the summer. And I also won't mention that 'Camden Rock' used to be a completely different and unrelated venue down the road - but the less said about that place the better... So, welcome to the land of confusion. Unfortunately it being a Saturday I have other so called 'real life' (it's over-rated folks) things to take care of before heading down to Camden so I miss the first 4 bands. I arrive in time to catch some of the set by The Vulz.

I've been aware of the band for a while but it's the first time I have managed to see them. I am impressed. They play old school style 1st generation UK punk rock. They are rather good - tuneful, lively with catchy songs and stage presence, plus a charismatic frontman.

Next up are Jay Vee & the Cardinal Sins. This 3 piece are completely new to me but very good.

They play old school dirty rock 'n' roll and are are dripping in attitude. Stripped down raw and basic - just how rock 'n' roll should be - no frills and in your face.

Unfortunately the momentum isn't maintained by the next act. This is Brain Ape. Grungy but with a good bass player they fail to maintain my attention at all. It's heartfelt, but lacking that certain something.

Fortunately, things take an upturn with The Gulps. This band are a lot more interesting and lively. They have punk as well as 60's/70's rock influences and manage to grasp the true spirit of rock & roll excitement and rebellion. They are very lively without being sloppy or careless. Some decent tunes and great stage presence - well worth seeing again.

Up next are the main band I've come to see. I've seen Last Great Dreamers a few times now and been very impressed, but they seem to struggle a little tonight. I don't know why - maybe it's the on-stage sound mix or something, but they just don't seem to quite have their usual polished and professional performance on this occasion. They are still great - but not as great as they usually are.

I'm not sure if it's the crowd or the atmosphere 'cos both those things seem OK to me, but something isn't quite clicking with this band on this occasion. They play fine, appear to give a good performance, and have some cracking songs - probably the best of any band on the bill. Don't get me wrong, they are still good and I enjoy their set but I've seen them better. It's just a bit weird as they are usually so good. All the same, they are still one of the best acts on the bill with their brand of catchy tuneful sing-along pop/rock.

The night ends with the biggest surprise on the bill. Although they are the headliners I'd never heard of White Eskimo.  Apparently they are from Manchester and seem to have brought a crowd with them. So onto the stage get this bunch of kids in really sharp suits and haircuts. You get the impression there is money behind these lads - the whole image and the bussed in fans screams 'Pop stars'. I'm thinking 'I'm probably not going to like this and will be heading home soon', but I've paid my money on the door so I figure it's worth sticking around for a song or two and giving them a chance - it can't be any worse than when I saw Keane at the Dublin Castle!

So then they start playing. WOW! In spite of their appearance, this is no clean cut sanitized pop group - they fucking ROCK! And they rock very hard indeed. Not in a punk or heavy metal way, but in a way I imagine the Beatles must have in their very early days as a greasy dirty leather jacketed rock 'n' roll band. They are really tight and well drilled, but they don't hold back - they play it like they mean it (man). The sound is basic stripped down rock & roll with a strong 60's influence, but they play loud, fast, and hard. And the songs are good too. This band sounds absolutely nothing like they look. And they sound great! Why have I never heard of them before?

White Eskimo give us a terrific end to this Camden Rocks all-dayer, but four out of the previous five bands were excellent too - great value for money for only around a tenner.

15/1/2019 Dorja, Lilith & The Knight, & Indya @ The Unicorn

An interesting night at one of my favourite Camden venues. First on is Indya - a band/artist who has been around for several years in one form or another but I haven't seen until now. A strange mixture of someone who seems more suited to auditioning for Pop Idol or The Voice than playing in a grotty rock toilet. She has personality and seems to genuinely like her rock music, although she seems more desperate to be a pop star.

Her backing band are a proper rock 'n roll outfit and are very good. Indya are worth checking out if they head your way and their singer certainly throws herself wholeheartedly into the performance even if it does seem a bit full of 'rock-by-numbers' box ticking cliche at times.

Next up are Lilith and the Knight. I've been trying to get to see this band since being given a promo CD some time ago, but things (like over officious security at The Crowndale at Camden Rocks Festival) have always conspired against me. So now I finally get to see them and.... WOW!

Basically this is a metal band, and a pretty good one technically - although apart from the singer who really looks the business they look like an indie hipster outfit - all that's missing is the beards! They sound good though, if not that heavy. The vocals are much better than I was expecting and I'm very pleasantly surprised - proper actual singing instead of the more fashionable and generic grunting and screaming found in metal these days. This lady also has real stage presence and is very good at fronting a band. It looks like a lot of work has gone into her performance - very polished and professional.

I am suitably impressed and will definitely be checking this band out again. They don't seem to play very often but they are definitely going on my 'Ones to watch' list...

Tonight's headliners are Dorja. I've been aware of this band for a while but this is the first time I've actually seen them.

Unlike the previous band this lot are less heavy and more commercial with more of a classic rock sound - but none the worse for it. I think the bass player looks familiar from somewhere.

Then I realise it is Becky Baldwin, who I saw at Big Red a while ago playing with iDestroy. I did her a disservice by thinking she was only standing in with Dorja tonight, but actually she is a full time member of the band. Sorry Becky!

This multinational band are very polished and professional and play in many countries around the World.

Dorja have some good songs and are lively performers - certainly worth catching if they are heading to your town.

Another great value for money night at The Unicorn with free admission, cheap bar prices, and excellent music! I'm really glad I finally managed to see Lilith and the Knight too - well worth the wait.

14/1/2019 Chantel McGregor @ The 100 Club

Blues Week at The 100 Club. I can't afford to go every night to see all the artists I'm interested in, so I end up just going the night Chantel McGregor is playing. Good choice! This lady has been building a strong reputation on the UK blues scene for a few years now - collecting some top musical qualifications and prizes along the way.  She is from Bradford - not the sort of place you expect to hear blues blasting out from, but Chantel is placing Yorkshire firmly of the blues map!

Her guitarist and singer/songwriter style these days seems to be heading in more of a rock direction than just pure blues, but there is plenty of variety in the set she plays with her regular band tonight. Her set includes an acoustic section, before she swaps back to electric guitar to rock it up a bit - and she can shred with the best of them!

Chantel is a one woman Northern Powerhouse! In spite of her formidable prowess on the guitar, she comes across as modest and self deprecating. She exudes a very likeable and down-to-earth personality in her between songs banter with her strong Yorkshire accent - she has a natural charm that draws you in even when she isn't playing guitar.

Chantel's guitar playing is something special. Not only is she technically very gifted, but she also has a very obvious deep love for the guitar - and you can tell she absolutely loves playing. There is a great sense of fun in her performance - something not common with people who play the blues. She has a gift which wins you over even if you aren't familiar with her music and makes you want to go and see her again. And I'm sure I will.

5/1/2019 Duncan Reid and the Big Heads @ The New Cross Inn

First gig of the year. Another trip south of the river - what could go wrong? Fortunately nothing much did this time. Duncan Reid and the Big Heads are playing at the New Cross Inn.

A great band in a good pub venue - if you ignore the bar prices which seem unreasonably high in what is a poor area,  but this isn't the only music venue in the area guilty of this... That aside, this is a good place to see bands.

And this is a very good band indeed. Great catchy pop/punk songs and a dynamic performance - what's not to like?

Tonight's show is a bit of a first for this band - it's the first time the three musicians at the front of the stage have all gone 'wireless'. What could go wrong? Knowing this lot - plenty! But amazingly nothing seems to. Hang on - where's singer/bassist Duncan gone? He's over by the front door!

Now he's on a table! Guitar wireless systems might seem like a gimmick to some, but they do give you a great sense of freedom as a performer - and it's also nice not to be constantly tripping over or getting tangled up in guitar leads! They add a lot more potential for just having fun too - and isn't that what rock 'n' roll is about?

Big Heads gigs are always loads of fun anyway, but tonight is even more fun than usual.

 

All in all it's an excellent night out down in south London - I'll have to think about heading south of the river more often now there is a decent (if not always reliable) train service.

And this time I actually manage to get the train home without much trouble, even if the trip takes well over an hour.