31/12/2010 New Year's Eve: Rachel Stamp @ Water Rats/Decadence @ Intrepid Fox

Subject	New Year's Eve: Rachel Stamp @ Water Rats/Decadence @ Intrepid Fox
DateCreated	1/2/2011 1:10:00 PM
PostedDate	1/2/2011 5:14:00 AM
	New Year's Eve - what to do? There was a really good cover band playing in my local, and unlike most places (even those with no live music) it was free to get in - and the beer was really good. So I got on the train to Kings Cross and went to the Water Rats instead. Good move? I wasn't sure at first.  The real ale pumps are back in use at this venue, but the 'Spitfire' ale didn't taste like it should have. I decided to try the Bass instead, but it was off - not a good start to the year's biggest party night...  Glampunk sleazesters Rachel Stamp were playing a rare show at this small venue, but in spite of the steep £20 door price (I already had a much cheaper ticket) there was a very weird crowd in the place and an odd vibe. The band had obviously drawn quite a few of their own fans, but the venue wasn't full and the remainder of the crowd seemed to be made up of random New Year's Eve party types who had no idea who the band even were.  This was only the second time I'd seen this band. The first was at WitchFest in Croydon a few years ago, and to be honest I didn't think they were very good even though they had a few songs I liked. I'm glad to say the band were much better this time.  There was certainly nothing wrong with the standard of musicianship. Bass wielding frontman David Ryder-Prangley shows some punk attitude with his fixed steely stares out into the darkness, while keyboardist Shaheena Dax makes as big an impression with her eyes as she does her keyboard skills.  Will Crewdson is a competent guitar wrangler, but the whole band have to compete against journeyman drummer Robin Guy (playing in a band of his own for once) as he showboats and gurns his way through the show. Arguably the best rock drummer in the UK, he is not the most restrained of performers with any band he plays with - although I think he toned things down a little when I saw him play with Tigertailz earlier this month. However, now he's playing with his own band he can go as over the top as he likes. However well the rest of the band play, you still find yourself watching the drummer most of the time! Just before midnight the band introduce a 'special guest' vocalist to assist with 'Black Cherry' - the bloke from My Passion. The set is pretty much a greatest hits set as expected. It couldn't be much else really as the band don't seem to have any new songs and they released a 'Best of...' called 'Now I'm Nailed To Your Bedroom Wall I've only Got Myself To Blame' less than a year ago. However, they have some catchy tunes and they get quite a few people down the front and dancing - even some of the 'randoms'. In spite of the strange crowd and mixed vibe it turns out to be a good gig after all and worth the 20 minute train journey - in spite of it being late as every single train I've been on since the cold weather started has been - sort it out Fist Crapital Connect!  It's well after midnight when the band finish and we are into 2011. The tube is running all night, and it's free - so it's a bit early to just go home. The streets of Kings Cross aren't too busy considering what night it is - however, things are different in the West End. It's mental battling through the crowds to the Intrepid Fox. It's 'Amateur Night' and all the 'once a year' drinkers are out in force, shouting, falling, and puking everywhere.  The Intrepid Fox is a haven of normality and a great refuge from all the idiots on the streets. This is the second year running I've been there for New Year. It's a Decadence club night upstairs so there are plenty of familiar faces and good music well into the small hours.  We eventually fall out of there around 5.30 in the morning - and find the tube still running. I think it's actually a better service at that time than it normally is late at night - if only it could always be like that! Fortunately by then, most the amateur drinkers are face down in a river of piss/vomit in an alley, or in casualty, or police cells by then - so the journey home is uneventful.