28/9/2007 Local pub rock on a Friday night

Subject	Local pub rock on a Friday night
PostedDate	9/28/2007
	A rare local night out for me - there is very little happening in Barnet these days as far as live music is concerned. Well, very little quality live music anyway, so it's always good when the Fabulous Feedback Band play. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen very often these days - and this is probably the band's last appearance at this venue. Again. The Bell & Buck isn't very well set up as a music venue, but it's the best we have round here these days. It's quite a decent size, and laid out fairly well - apart from the really stupidly positioned pool table which causes a major obstruction when the place is busy, and kills the atmosphere when bands are playing.  The management can't seem to see this and do something about this easily remedied problem.  The place is pretty full - a rarity for this pub. They don't like paying out good money for the best bands who will fill the place, but moan when the cheaper but dull bands they tend to book don't draw a crowd. You get what you pay for... The Fabulous Feedback Band aren't cheap, but they are worth it as: 1. They are very good. 2. They create a great atmosphere and fill the place with people spending lots of money at the bar. I don't enjoy this band's sets as much these days as nearly all the classic rock material has been ditched in favour of currently popular inoffensive middle of the road indie stuff as heard all day on Xfm and Virgin Radio.  They actually do this very well, but it's not really my sort of thing - although I'd still rather hear that than yet another tired old blues/rock band playing exactly the same songs as all the other tired old blues/rock bands. This band are always lively and entertaining though, and they usually still throw in the odd rock classic to keep their older fans happy.  The band have those very rare qualities in cover bands - charisma and stage presence. You know it's going to be a good night out 'cos the band are always fun, even if they aren't playing all your favourite songs. They are one of very few cover bands I'll bother going to see as they are genuinely entertaining and always look like they are having a great time. They are also excellent musicians and make it all look so easy and natural. Unfortunately, on this occasion the management put a stop to things just as the band are starting to let rip with the rock stuff at the end of their set - 'Highway To Hell' is all we get before they are told 'no more encores'.

This pub has since closed....