24/2/2011 Healthy Junkies @ The Bowery

Subject	Healthy Junkies @ The Bowery
PostedDate	3/6/2011
	I'm off to a 'new' venue tonight. Well not really - The Bowery is actually the former Fly on New Oxford Street. Not a bad location as it's very near the tube, Intrepid Fox, and the 12 Bar Club. Nothing has really changed at this venue since it's later days as The Fly - the bands play downstairs, and both floors have a bar. It's only a fiver to get in tonight, and the bar prices are surprisingly reasonable for the West End - cheaper than The Garage, Empire, and other corporate rip-off venues. The place seems to have a slightly arty indie style clientelle but it's OK. This is the first time I've seen Healthy Junkies. They have been described elsewhere as being like a "slightly less bonkers Queen Adreena" - this isn't that far wide of the mark. They have a slightly fragile and vulnerable looking girl singer in common, but Healthy Junkies have far less of the danger and unpredictability of Queen Adreena and there is also more of a grunge influence on display here. There's certainly nothing wrong with the standard of musicianship here - this lot know what they are doing and certainly look like they have paid their dues. They throw in a couple of covers by Nirvana and T-Rex - maybe one more than a band trying to showcase their own material in a short club set should do, unless they really don't have any other songs of their own? The band's performance is tight enough, but it lacks the drama and tension that ensures you remember a Queen Adreena show, and none of the original songs are that memorable. Healthy Junkies are worth a look if they crop up on your manor though.