10/8/2011 Stereo Juggernaut @ The Wheelbarrow

Subject	Stereo Juggernaut @ The Wheelbarrow
PostedDate	9/1/2011
	I'm off to a new venue in Camden tonight. Well sort of. The Wheelbarrow is actually the pub formerly known as Tommy Flynn's. A very small and intimate venue for live music, but apart from the lack of real ale on tap quite a nice place I always thought. I was a bit concerned when it seemed that the same people had taken it over as took over the Flowerpot/Bullet Bar (formerly The Verge) in Kentish town as they had turned that place into somewhere I no longer enjoyed going.  It was free admission every night they had bands on, but the bar no longer had any sort of beer on tap - overpriced cans or bottles only.  I don't mind paying a reasonable amount on the door to get into a venue if there is a decent  bar, but they turned the Bullet Bar into a place I would go to and not buy a single drink as they didn't serve anything I liked.  Not a good business plan really.  So I was worried they might be doing the same thing at the Wheelbarrow. I was pleasantly surprised. No real ales, but otherwise a reasonable selection of beers on tap - and bottles of Newcastle Brown - much the same as it was when it was Tommy Flynn's. Prices not too bad (for London) either. There used to be a modest charge on the door when they had bands playing at Tommy Flynn's, but now it's free admission. I find this can be a double edged sword - it's good for getting a crowd in to see the bands, but it means all the local dross from the streets of Camden who would have been deterred by a door charge and security can now wander in as well - all the local drunks, druggies and other lowlife - so the ladies need to watch their handbags as things like that and mobile phones, etc are far more likely to go missing.  Another change is that the stage has been moved from by the window at the front to nearer the back. I think this is an improvement as it could get a bit crowded at the front before and was often difficult to get a good view of the bands. Oh yes, I came here to see a band. That band is Stereo Juggernaut and tonight they are playing their last gig with popular bass player Tish. As usual the band draw quite a good crowd of regular followers to see their electro/pop/rock show. The standard of musicianship is high and the band's sound is very commercial, but they are actually far more of a ROCK band live than their recorded stuff online would suggest.  I'm a bit disappointed my favourite song 'Don't Fade Away' has been missing from their set recently, but apart from that it's a strong performance from the band - they stand head and shoulders above the acts before and after them tonight. It's been a worthwhile trip out tonight, and a surprisingly good turnout to see Stereo Juggernaut on a Wednesday night in the middle of the holiday/festival season - it's encouraging that there are still bands out there who can draw a crowd without being hyped up by the industry/radio/media mafia.