24/5/2024 The Warner E. Hodges Band @ The Camden Club

Another great show from Runnin' Blue promotions

An interesting night in Camden. This was my first visit to The Camden Club and I have to say it was a strange experience. 😕 I actually walked right past the place without even realising it was there - even though I was looking for it. 🙄  Walking back down the road I noticed a bar set back from the pavement facing out onto the street. There was a rather pushy man standing behind the bar and he tried to sell me an overpriced beer - I had found The Camden Club! I'd already checked the drinks menu online and seen the prices, so I declined his offer and went into the club. (I later found out the pushy bloke behind the bar was actually the owner of the club!) Even going into the venue was strange as the entrance wasn't immediately apparent.  A door at the side of the bar led to the actual music venue - up some stairs, then down some more stairs into the room containing the stage. 😕 There was another bar in the music room.

I found out a bit later than there was a special 'deal' on beers for the day bringing the price of a pint down to a reasonable (for Camden) price - so I relented and did have a beer or two. I suspect I wasn't the only one who thought the price of a pint was outrageous and refused to pay it - I guess the owner realised he wasn't selling  much beer unless he lowered the price. The toilets were weird too - when they could eventually be found. I must say it seemed a very strange place and appeared to have been 'designed' in a very haphazard and random manner. The owner seemed to be running the place almost singlehandedly, from from what I had read in online reviews had a bit of a reputation for being a bit strange and rude to customers, but to be fair he seemed friendly enough to me and I had no problems with him once I realised who he was.

Opening the evening's entertainment The Conny Bloom Band. Conny rose to fame as a member of Sweden's Electric Boys and has also toured with Silver Ginger 5 as well as joining the last lineup of the 'rebirthed' Hanoi Rocks.

Joining Conny on bass is Jason Knight - who seems to have recently acquired a new bass with eight strings. Yes EIGHT STRINGS. On a BASS! WTF?!!! 😲 I always thought just 5 strings on a bass guitar was excessive, but what do I know? Still, Jason seems to make a pretty meaty sound with his new weapon.

Conny is mainly showcasing his own solo material, but it's no surprise that he throws in the odd Electric Boys song or too - and drops the news that there is new Electric Boys stuff in the pipeline...

Although this 3 piece band appears to have been put together just for this tour the onstage chemistry seems good and everybody is having fun!

And if Jason hasn't already had enough fun for one evening...

The room is pretty full for the headline act - London shows for The Warner E Hodges Band tend to sell out. Although Warner made his name as a guitarist in country/punk/rock band Jason & the Scorchers his current band leans away from country and punk and more towards straight up hard rock - Warner's favourite band is AC/DC and you are pretty sure you will always hear at least one of their songs mixed into the setlist along with his own original material - except there isn't actually a setlist at all and Warner makes it up as he goes along - reading the room, or just playing whatever he feels like playing - so the band have to learn a lot of songs by heart before every tour!

For tonight's main act Jason has switched back to a more sensible 4 strings and his usual weapon of choice a Thunderbird bass.

Ex-Main Grains,  Grand Theft Audio and The Spangles guitarist Ben Marsden does a great job on guitar backing up Warner, but is an excellent guitarist in his own right and can rip out a mean solo with the best of 'em. 🎸

Regular Warner E Hodges Band drummer John Powney seems to have gone missing and new guy Shane Dixon has taken his place on the drum stool - he does a pretty decent job. Maybe the change of drummer could explain Black Sabbath's classic 'War Pigs' not being played on this tour as John Powney's performance was always particularly amazing on that song.

Warner has put together a really good band for when he tours the UK and Europe. In fact Warner likes this UK band enough to have recorded two studio albums in the USA and a live album recorded in the UK with them. In spite of the somewhat weird venue this is a very enjoyable evening of top quality rock music played by a fine band of musicians who work really well together. Before I leave after the show I buy the band's latest album and am given a free signed poster to take home - great souvenirs of a terrific night's entertainment!

18/5/2024 Denizens + ? + Cato Street Conspiracy + Loudmouth @ Hope & Anchor

Saturday night and I'm back at the Hope & Anchor for the second time in two weeks. And why not as it's usually a very reasonable ticket price along with bar prices to match? Tonight's punk themed show kicks off with Northern oiks Loudmouth.

Just what it says on the tin, but decent musicians making a tight and punchy punk style racket. Well done lads.

Next up are Cato Street Conspiracy. I'm a bit confused - I think I may have mixed them up with a band I've seen in the past managed by an old friend of mine (hello Joe) called Caffeine Conspiracy who were a bit like The Wildhearts. This is not that band.

Good solid sound from these guys - heavy with a punk edge, but not a lot of stage presence.

Next (nearly) was the headliners. Denizens are definitely worthy of that title tonight. A bit more attitude than the previous band

More aggressive vocals, but without taking the easy but all too common route these days of resorting the screaming or shouting. I hate all that fashionable fake 'anger' and 'emotion' from so many modern rock vocalists, but this sounds more genuine and convincing.

Denizens do more than any of the other bands tonight to get your attention bring you into their world without resorting to unnecessary drama. They are worthy of your attention.

Oh yes, there was actually another band on just before the headliners. I didn't get any pictures of them as I was otherwise engaged. 😉

10/5/2024 Anoraks + Seizure Salad + Glitter Kick + No Feelings @ The Hope & Anchor

Another good value for money Friday night at the Hope & Anchor - only £7 advance or £10 on the door to see 4 bands. And still people moan about gig tickets being too expensive! They are obviously going to the wrong gigs. 🙄

The theme of tonight's show is 'Female Fronted Punk', but there is some 'artistic license' applied with the first band of the evening The Anoraks.

They are an old school East End punk band formed back in the last century - and they've never stopped since.

Bev the drummer takes lead vocals on some songs - sort of justifying the 'Female Fronted' title - even though she is at the back  of the stage, but mostly they are fronted by guitarist Gary Minall.

Although they are a punk band after all this time together they can play pretty well and are capable of holding their own on large stages with big name bands at events like the Rebellion Festival.

There have been a few lineup changes over the years, but over that 25+ years the band has evolved into a tight and punchy sounding unit.

With a really solid sound The Anoraks mean business and I don't envy any band that has to go on after them.

However, that doesn't seem to faze the weird and wacky Seizure Salad who have come all the way from Exeter to entertain us.

And we are indeed entertained by their punk and Riot Grrrl antics. They give a spirited performance and look like they are having a lot of fun!

All too soon Seizure Salad have finished their set and it's time for Glitter Kick 🤩

There have been changes since I last saw this band in February. A new and maybe permanent rhythm section has been installed to take over from those who been standing in after the tragic and unexpected loss of drummer Belle Star, and subsequent departure of Adam the bassist.

The core of the band is singer Roxi and guitarist Greg, but the new guys seem more than competent enough and fit in as if they have been there for a while.

Glitter Kick are polished and professional with a bunch of catchy and commercial pop/rock songs - with Roxi and Greg always holding your attention.

Roxi manages to look completely different for every show - apart from one thing - she loves her big boots!

Even if you have never seen Glitter Kick before and don't know any of their songs, you can still be sure of one thing - you won't be allowed to get bored!

Glitter Kick mix things up - pop, rock, glam, and a hint of punk. Pretty much something in there somewhere for anyone who likes guitar based music.

No Feelings name their band after a Sex Pistols song and try to pass themselves off as a 'punk' band, but are by far the least punk band on tonight's bill. Although they are supposedly the 'headline' band they are the least interesting or exciting band of the night.

Unlike the other bands tonight all playing their own original material No Feelings set seems to consist entirely of covers - albeit mostly punk classics. Although the singer does a decent enough job, the only punk thing about this band is the bass player - I'm guessing it's his band as apart from the singer the rest of the band seems to change every time I see them.

Although reasonably competent musicians, this is the sort of band you will find in countless local pubs in every town and city in the land every Saturday night. And I come down to Islington or Camden to get away from this sort of thing.

Still, four bands for around a tenner on a Friday night in one of London's cooler little venues is not to be sneezed at, and the price of a pint is much more reasonable than most music venues too - well worth jumping on the train to Highbury & Islington for!

3/5/2024 King Salami and the Cumberland Three @ Signature Brew Haggerston

It's nearly a year since I last saw King Salami and the Cumberland Three - and that's been far too long!

Last time I saw them was at the Hope & Anchor, but now they are playing at the larger Signature Brew in Haggerston - also quite easy to get to on the Overground train. When I last saw them they had a new guitarist replacing the excellent 'Captain Not Sensible'. The new guy then was still pretty good, but now he too has been replaced. Fortunately the newest bloke is also a pretty good rock 'n' roll player.

Not content with playing some of the best old school rock 'n' roll to be found, their singer also has the best headgear! I am pleased to report that the sausage boys are still a damn fine rock 'n' roll band, and as well as being fine musicians they are also highly entertaining! 'The King' himself is a great frontman with a good line in banter. The often sausage themed songs are also good fun and get people dancing. There is nothing not to like here.

The venue itself is also better than many, although the toilet facilities leave something to be desired... No real ales at the bar unfortunately even though the venue is owned by a brewery. 😕  However, there is a reasonable selection of beers at the bar of varying strengths - although they aren't cheap considering the brewery are cutting out the middleman. Still, it's not a bad place to go and see a band on a Friday night.