20/4/2019 Eureka Machines @ The Borderline

These days the brilliant Eureka Machines only come down to 'that London' from their native Leeds about once a year, so I'd be mad to miss them. Well maybe mad either way but here I am back at the Borderline - for probably the last time ever. This venue had a massive refurb a couple of years ago which in my view utterly ruined it. The useful raised area near the bar that enabled a good view of the stage was removed, as was the step/raised area of the rear half of the room which also enabled a better view for people in the back half of the room. The bar was moved too - none of these things were an improvement in my opinion - they just made it into a worse music venue, And they moved the toilets too - from the back of the venue where they were easy to get to. Now you have to negotiate a long  and badly signed corridor and corner with stupidly bright and disorientating lighting that should carry a health warning for epileptics or anyone effected by flashing lights like when they warn you about flash photography on the TV news! It's like being in a sci-fi spaceship.  Incredibly stupid, no doubt very expensive, and completely unnecessary! This was a good music venue - now it's like a shit nightclub. What were they thinking? No doubt the already outrageous bar prices have been hiked up even more to pay for it - so I don't even bother trying to get a drink.

The venue might now be dreadful, but at least Eureka Machines are still fantastic!

Their unique take on rock/pop/metal is interesting and highly entertaining. The standard of musicianship is very high and the playing tight.

With a strong following and five excellent albums under their belt, but still almost entirely no media attention and virtually no radio airplay even though they sell this and other venues out every time they play on London - they stubbornly carry on recording new music and playing shows - because they love it. And so do we. The situation I have just described features in the lyrics of some of their songs too: 'The Story Of My Life', 'Do Or Die', The Light At The End Of The Tunnel', 'Champion The Underdog', 'Zero Hero', 'Good Guys Finnish Last', 'Pop Star' (Check out the brilliant video for that song showing the everyday reality of life in a struggling band), the poignant 'Eternal Machines', 'We're Going To The Future', and 'Little Victories' all tell part of the band's story...

Although the music itself is taken very seriously, These guys don't take themselves seriously at all and there is much hilarious banter from frontman Chris Catalyst. The music and the band's performance is enormous fun! I'm sure they have put a lot of work into being this good, and they really are very good indeed - I don't think you'll see a better band anywhere on the UK club circuit.

This has been a terrific night out - just as well as it might be at least a year before Eureka Machines hit London again. And they won't be able to play at The Borderline again as it's closing down this summer - only two years after it's highly expensive and unnecessary refit - what a total waste of money that was! Oh well, this venue might be gone (and it deserves to even though London doesn't deserve to lose any more music venues) but that funny little band from Leeds will carry on....

19/4/2019 Porcelain Hill @ The Amersham Arms

Back south of the river again - for a cheaper gig at the Amersham Arms this time. Well the door price is cheaper than last time, but the ale is still fucking expensive Camden or West End prices so I won't be drinking much. But it's the music I'm here for and that is top quality. After what seemed a never ending toilet tour of the UK last year Porcelain Hill are back. This band from California made a lot of new friends over here last year with their amazing live performances. They seemed to go down an absolute storm everywhere they played, and they must have had a good time too because they are back for more. But, 'It's Porcelain Hill Jim, but not as we know it'. Yes, there has been a change to the lineup in this power trio - a new bass player.

The new guy has quite a different look and stage persona, and probably more ego but is a terrific player! His predecessor was also a fantastic player and performer, but in a more Noel Redding meets Geddy Lee style. The new guy is just as good, but in a more modern way.

The main thing is - this is still a terrific band! Hendrix is an obvious inspiration, along with Stevie Ray Vaughan adding a blues influence. The songs are original and the singer/guitarist is a natural showman.

No guitars being ceremoniously set on fire or smashed - they are needed for the next gig! However, this band rock really hard! There is some blues thrown in, and they can get funky too - but this is mainly about the rock. I look forward to seeing more from this lot during the year...

18/4/2019 The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing @ The Black Heart

Needless to say this gig is sold out. The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing sell out most of their hometown shows in advance - and for good reason. This gig is also part of the band's 10th Anniversary Tour so I'm sure they could have sold out a bigger venue than this.  The Black Heart is one of Camden's smaller venues and off the beaten track even though it's only yards from World's End pub. However, virtually any London rock fan will be familiar with this place.  The upstairs room where the bands play is very small, and the bar has now been moved from the back of the room to a much smaller area at the side by the merch stand. Makes no difference to me as I stopped drinking at this venue a while ago when they hiked the ale prices up, and they only serve real ale downstairs anyway. So I'm normally in BrewDog just round the corner instead before and after shows - expensive but more bang for your buck.

The Men... are great fun as usual.- crushingly heavy metal riffs incorporated into catchy sing-a-longs that could have been written by Chas & Dave - what's not to like?

Although this steampunk band's material can be pretty heavy musically, and also quite political at times, there is also a lot of humour and irony involved. If you are a sensitive soul then prepare to be offended, but if you like metal and punk music as well as having a sense of humour then you need to check this band out - the band's guitarist is a comedian as his 'day job', or maybe it's the other way around?

The band's original material is strong and stands up well in it's own right, but they do sometimes throw in the odd cover. Tonight they throw in a great sing-a-long tune that is familiar to most people: Marc the bass player introduces the song by saying that although the song was also covered by The Fall who the band love even though "Mark E Smith was a massive cunt" it was originally by The Kinks - and then they launch into a great version of 'Victoria'. Which of course fits in the the band's fascination with the Victorian era as featured in many of their songs - like 'Steph(v)enson', 'Victorian Grindcore', 'Brunel', 'A Traditional Victorian Genltleman's Boasting Song', 'Zombie Albert' etc.

There is always a great atmosphere at this band's gigs, and this was no exception - always great value for money.