23/7/2010 Paddy Goes To Holyhead & Stereo Juggernaut @ The Standard

Subject	Paddy Goes To Holyhead & Stereo Juggernaut @ The Standard
PostedDate	7/23/2010
	A bit of a change of scene from my usual haunts this Friday night - I find myself in Walthamstow. There are still no real ales to be had at The Standard, but they have added quite a good selection of bottled ales since my last visit.  It's not too bad a venue, although I think the price on the door is a bit steep at £10 for only two bands when I can see four or five for around a fiver at The Gaff or 6 or 7 quid at the Purple Turtle. First band is Stereo Juggernaut. I can't really hear the bass, but apart from that they get a pretty good sound mix tonight and their pop/rock songs come across well - particularly 'Fade Away'. They manage to get quite a good turnout at a venue which is away from their usual stamping grounds. Paddy Goes To Holyhead are celebrating the 25th aniversary on the pub circuit - I think they deserve a medal just for slogging it out for this long! Their longevity is reflected in the age of their fans - quite a few of whom are here to see the band tonight. Although back in the days when I still used to buy Kerrang! I remember seeing them in the gig guide all the time, this is actually the first time I've ever seen them. I'm not too sure what to expect. Basically, they are a pub band - but a very good one. Their set mostly consists of traditional Irish drinking songs - rocked up a bit with rather a Thin Lizzy sound to the guitars at times. Not a bad night out, and not too difficult to get home from - which is just as well as I have to get up earlier than usual in the morning for a Saturday to get ready for the High Voltage festival...

PS: This well known venue has now closed.