18/12/2009 A bizarre night in a local pub

Subject	A bizarre night in a local pub
PostedDate	12/18/2009
	A rare local Friday night out for me. There was a time not so long ago when I used to be out nearly every Friday and Saturday night seeing bands in local pubs, but over the last five years the local music scene has died on it's arse so I tend to head further into town in search of live music these days. There is nowhere left locally for original bands to play any more (although there was a brief flicker of life in nearby Whetstone a year or so ago). Most of Barnet's music pubs have either closed down or just stopped having live music, although there are a handful of pubs that put cover bands on now and then. This is one of them, and unfortunately an example of how not to do it.  At the back of the pub there is a purpose built stage and plenty of room. However, for reasons best known to themselves the management of the pub decide not to use it and make the band set up in a cramped and totally unsuitable place by the front door instead. There isn't even room for the band's modest PA and half of it is propped up on the seating in front of where they are standing - it looks ridiculous! The lighting is non-existant! It's hard to see much of the band in the shadows and it all seems a bit of a joke. And they wonder why nobody comes?  If they made a bit more of an effort with the beer that would encourage people to visit more often as well - a single unused real ale pump is a folorn sight...  Of course some form of advertising for live music might help as well - I only knew about this because I got an e-mail from a band member. It's a shame 'cos although it's only a cover band they are really good - excellent musicians who are obviously really enjoying themselves and not just doing it for the money. Well known local character 'Big Steve' spent many years fronting his old blues rock covers outfit Texas Flyers - they were always popular round here, until they split up recently. Another popular local band is 'Three' - featuring well known local muso Dave Cox on guitar/vox. However, they have almost stopped playing completely due to lack of decent local paying gigs. So now Steve and Dave's bands have combined forces to make 'Four'. The result is a great sounding rock covers band with a good frontman with plenty of charisma.  Unfortunately hardly anyone knows about them or tonight's gig apart from a few of their friends. After the band launch into their second set in near total darkness things take on a bizarre twist. A regular at the pub and friend of the band decides to shed some light on the procedings - he disappears out the door and comes back a few minutes later with armfuls of cabling and lighting equipment - which he then starts to set up all round the band while they are playing! This bloke is all over the place plugging in cables and hanging lights from anywhere he can. There are cables all over the floor - a 'Health & Safety' nightmare that would have any normal workplace shut down immediately, before anyone tripped over them and injured themselves - or spilt a drink and electocuted themselves! Eventually, the band are quite well illuminated - by which time they are finishing their set! And then our intrepid lighting man has to spend half an hour or so packing all his stuff away again. What a strange night.  It was always going to be an anti-climax after last night anyway! It makes a nice change to be able to walk home after seeing a band though, instead of doing battle with London's erratic late night public transport.

PS: This pub has now shut for the last time.