23/10/2010 Roolettes, Cavilry & The Ten O Sevens @ Hoxton Underbelly

Subject	Roolettes, Cavilry & The Ten O Sevens @ Hoxton Underbelly
PostedDate	10/23/2010
	Camden and Holloway Road are the places I associate most with dirty rock 'n' roll bands these days - not Hoxton. However, tonight there is a rare outbreak of rock in Hoxton Square. The Underbelly is as the name suggests a basement bar, but one with a bit more class than the usual shitholes you'll find rock 'n' roll bands playing in. No real ales or Newcastle Brown or similar at the bar, but the prices aren't too steep for a London music venue. They have cider and Guinness on tap as well as the usual selection of lagers so it's better than some places. The decor leans towards plush, with comfy chairs - even 'Thrones'! Unfortunately, Cavilry catch me out by going on first and I miss part of their set.  They sound terrific tonight, and their heavy Therapy?/Wildhearts/Manics inspired rock is loud and clear through the PA - showing (as does The Gaff) that even a modest sound system can sound great in a small venue with someone who knows what they are doing behind the mixing desk. So why does it so often sound shit in the Garage/Academy/Hammersmith, etc with PA systems that cost tens of thousands of pounds (at least) and 'professional' sound engineers?  There aren't that many people at the venue early enough to catch Cavilry, but that doesn't stop them giving a solid and impressive performance. Next up is a band who are new to me. The Ten O Sevens hail from the Harlow area, but these kids most definitely ain't yer typical Essex chavs with shit taste in music and orange girlfriends. They climb on stage looking like they've just stumbled out of some timewarp from 1977. They first thing you notice is that they look exactly like The Clash. Then the minute they start playing you decide - No - they ARE The Clash! They look and sound exactly like the best Clash tribute band you can possibly imagine - only all the songs are their own. There is a long list of musical influences on their MySpace page, but the only one you can see or hear is The Clash. With maybe the slightest hint of Johnny Thunders. All that said - these boys are bloody good at what they do, and although this is one of the least original bands I have ever seen - they do have that spirit of authenticity. This is the real thing - a bunch of young kids playing the music they love with real passion. So does anyone remember the Roolettes? Rewind a few years and this Anglo-Italian punk band was playing at every dive in town, as well as blagging some very cool European tour support slots with the likes of Danko Jones, The Misfits and The Bronx. After a few lineup changes along with re-inventing themselves, the odd change of name and a set of completely new songs they eventually split when singer/drummer/bassist Jimmy moved to Germany. And the story ended there. Until now. Jimmy still lives in Germany, but they couldn't resist getting back together again to play a gig or two over there. And now they are doing the same in London. There is a tour in the pipeline, and another album on the way as well. I saw the Roolettes quite a few times first time round. They always had a few decent songs up their sleeves, but usually sounded under-rehearsed and didn't seem to realise their full potential. Now there are back - and they sound like they have been rehearsing. A lot. After a couple of songs Jimmy shouts out from behind the drums "Any requests?" - to which someone shouts back "More cowbell!". "OK" says Jimmy "You got it!" and the following song turns into a cowbell frenzy! Great stuff!  There are one or two new songs as well as a load of ones off their first album, but this sounds like a different band! It's actually exactly the same lineup which recorded and toured their first album, but now they sound tighter and meaner - this time they are serious! It's still the same old Ramones and Clash influenced rock 'n' roll, but now they sound far better than they ever did before. I'm looking forward to seeing them again when they return next year... This turned out to be a really good night - three great rock bands for only a fiver! Same price as last night's entertainment at The Gaff, and it was only £6 to see the Cut Outs in Denmark Street the previous night. All the people who moan about high ticket prices should check these places out - there's loads of great bands playing for around a fiver under their noses if only they bothered to look. Oh yes, another thing worth mentioning - Hoxton Underbelly has the best designed toilets I've ever seen in any pub/ club. The unisex washroom is unusual, but the hand driers all work, there is hot water in the taps, it's clean and doesn't smell, and one of the best and simplest features is the doors - they all open outwards as you leave so you don't have to touch any door handles with your freshly washed hands - the door handles which are also touched by all the people that didn't wash their hands...  Why is this virtually the only venue with doors which open in the right direction? Oh, and another great feature: Really useful glass holders on the walls! And no bloody annoying toilet attendants. Is this the best toilet in any London music venue?