Camden Rocks Festival 2018

Always one of the highlights of the year and I've been looking forward to it as usual, but to me although the 2018 bill has 250 bands it holds slightly less appeal. I always make a shortlist of bands I want to see beforehand, but my list is definitely shorter this year. There are always the inevitable time/venue clashes, but with less bands I'm interested in seeing this year than usual there are also less difficult choices to be made. Last year there were 32 bands I wanted to see - this year it was only 21. In the previous couple of years I only found time to catch 11 bands each year anyway.

Things don't get off to a great start. Last year I found virtually no queue for wristband exchange at the World's End pub - this year I arrived at around the same time to find the queue going right round the block! The first band I wanted to see was The Ramonas. I was still in the queue when they took to the stage at the Dublin Castle. They were still playing by the time I got to the venue, but even though starting at 12.00 they were the opening band the pub was already packed! It was difficult even getting in the front door of the pub, and it quickly became apparent that that getting into the back room to actually see the band was going to be impossible! I then considered heading to Dingwalls to catch The Gulps, but realised that wouldn't give me enough time to get back to the Dublin Castle to (hopefully) see Tequila Mockingbyrd.

After a walk down Parkway I went back up to the Dublin Castle to see how crowded it was looking? Getting into the pub was easier after the Ramonas finished their set - I heard they had played a set of all original songs instead of the expected Ramones covers - which is what I wanted from a Ramones 'tribute' act - so I wasn't so disappointed at missing them. If you are going to play a set of your own songs good luck to you - but use another name instead of playing under the Ramones flag as it's misleading....

Anyway, I finally managed to squeeze into the back room of the pub. Just. I'd been wanting to see this all girl power trio from Australia for a while as they struck me as a bit of a JoanOvArc from Down Under. Obviously a lot of other people had the same plan and I got jammed at the back with not much of a view. Tequila Mockingbyrd sounded great even from the back of the room and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

A good sound, some catchy songs and a lively performance - ending their set with 'I Smell Rock 'n Roll' makes me certainly want to go and see this band again - hopefully in a less crowded venue....

Next I'm off up Chalk Farm Road to The Monarch. I'll be spending quite a bit of time in this venue today. The first band I'm seeing in this pub today is The Kut - like the band I just saw at the Dublin Castle they are an all girl power trio, but a bit closer to home as they are London based. Whereas Tequila Mockingbyrd lean towards classic hard rock, these girls have more of a grunge/punk/riot grrrl attitude - although singer/guitarist Princess Maha can rip up a pretty mean and stylish hard rock guitar solo when she wants to!

This band have been working hard at building a following for several years now, and things are starting to pay off as they get a lot of people into this venue and have forthcoming album 'Valley Of Thorns' out soon as well. I've seen The Kut a few times now and they always give a spirited and energetic performance, with Maha in particular always really going for it!

Now I'm in this venue it makes sense to stay here to see a few bands without having to worry about timing clashes and rushing from one venue to another while missing parts of various band's sets. Next up in The Monarch are the infamous (once) Towers Of London.

This is a band who I saw many times back in the day, and they have certainly had their ups and downs since then. After reinventing themselves as more of an indie/pop band with a new lineup and a not very good second album they vanished for quite a while. Now, having reinvented themselves a second time they are back again, for what could be interpreted as a desperate last-chance re-boot - or sell out? They now have been signed by ex-Creation records boss Alan McGee for his new label, but all the danger and excitement seems to have vanished from this band and their new stuff sounds very bland MOR rock squarely aimed at the American market - very commercial indeed.

All the outrage and edge seems to have gone, along with most of their old fans. That said, there are still people here who have obviously come to see them, and there are a handful who know some of the old songs. The 'punk' attitude seems to have been binned in favour of a much more bland look and sound. Don't get me wrong, they aren't rubbish, and they can play - but they can't excite. Three members of the original band remain, and it's hard to recognise the now bearded Dirk Tourette who has also abandoned his trademark Les Paul guitar in favour of something rather bland looking. His brother Donny is still a decent frontman and makes more of an effort than the rest off the band to entertain. I think the days of chucking the mic-stand into the crowd are long gone though.

They do play a load of the old classic Towers crowd pleasers - which sound a lot better than the new stuff which isn't very memorable.  Now maybe they will vanish for another year or two? They seem to suddenly reappear every few years for one or two gigs then disappear again for years - they can't seem to keep any sort of momentum so I don't see how they can progress back from playing pub gigs.

I remain in The Monarch to see one of last year's Camden Rocks highlights - who I also saw in the same venue back then. There is now way I am going to miss The Amorettes! Another all girl power trio, but this time from Scotland, and seeming to share the same DNA as Tequila Mockingbyrd, Rock Goddess and JoanOvArc (who like this band both feature two sisters) this band are an amazing live act. They have come a long way in the two years since I first saw them at the Proud Gallery at Camden Rocks in 2015 and although good they seemed a bit like a female Airbourne. They have started to form their own identity now and when I saw them at the Pure Rawk Awards in 2016 and Camden Rocks the same year they were stunningly good! Last time The Amorettes played at The Monarch for Camden Rocks the doors were shut ten minutes before their stage time because the place was already full, so it's just as well I've already been in the venue for some time!

Once again the girls deliver a terrific performance. Loud, raw, and 'in your face' - this is how I like my rock music the best. This is as raw and dirty as early AC/DC and I love it! It might be raw but the playing is top notch - these girls could hold their own on any stage.

Older favourites like 'Hot And Heavy' and 'Let The Neighbours Call The Cops' are supplemented by new songs like 'Everything I learned - I learned From Rock And Roll' - a terrific number that name-checks many of my own musical heroes. No soppy ballads, no love songs (apart from to rock 'n' roll) it's just high energy ROCK all the way - once again The Amorettes are one of my highlights of the whole festival.

After staying in The Monarch to see three bands, I head a few doors up the road to Camden Assembly to stay there for another three bands in a row. Camden Assembly is the former Barfly, and it was also The Monarch before that. Confused? Try drinking two hipflasks of Drambuie - then you'll be fucking confused!

The former Barfly has had a major refurb as well as a change of name. The old paintwork has been stripped off the exterior walls to reveal old glazed tiles underneath - it looks great, and more like an old fashioned pub - from the outside anyway. Inside is very different, with lots of comfy seating downstairs and some very welcome transparency on beer prices - which as expected are overpriced so I don't partake.  After saying hello to Danny McCormack who is holding court downstairs and in good spirits I head upstairs to check out what's going on. A band new to me are just taking to the stage. There is a Japanese looking girl on guitar making an amazing racket! The band look and sound totally mental! They are Ryuketsu Blizzard.

I'm loving it, until the singer takes to the stage and starts screaming. I head back downstairs to socialise and mingle a bit. After taking some fresh air outside where I bump into Mr McCormack again doing the same thing - standing outside with a fag and a pint. I am feeling suitably mingled and head back in to ensure there is no repeat of last year's less than successful attempt to see Massive Wagons at another Camden Rocks venue...

I find that getting into the venue itself is no problem this time, but getting back into the room upstairs to actually see the band is a different matter! Some time before the band even start the room is full and once again the band have been booked into a venue far too small - and once again it's 'One-out-one-in'. I do get in eventually and Massive Wagons are bloody great, but it's too packed in there to even attempt to take any pictures. This is a band very much on the up with their classic rock influences but a modern twist and BIG tunes. One day I will go to one of this band's own shows and be able to enjoy them properly and see their whole set.....

Next it's that canny lad McCormack again, but now on the stage with The Main Grains. Fans of Danny's post-WiLDHEARTS band the Yo-Yo's are probably going to like this band too. They have the same punk 'n' roll vibe and a strong Ramones influence. They have some great tunes too.

As usual the Main Grains are great fun and the atmosphere is terrific! Lots of familiar faces from Yo-Yo's and Wildhearts gigs - and of course Danny is back in the Wildhearts now so things are really looking up for him. It inevitably brings back memories of seeing the Yo-Yo's in this same room when it was The Barfly, and also the previous 'Barfly' at The Falcon in Camden - what great days!

And after The Main Grains I stay in this venue to see a third band - they certainly did get some things right when deciding what bands were playing in what venues and when. Although there have bee the inevitable clashes it's been good to be able to stay at the same venue to see three bands in a row - twice! This time the third band is Ryan Hamilton and The Traitors.

This is the second time this year I have seen this band and The Main Grains together in the same venue - Surya in Pentonville Road last time. Again this is a great show! This outfit are an interesting mix. Well written songs with an entertaining and charismatic American frontman, plus a great band. Ryan himself is a great storyteller with a very relaxed and easy rapport with the audience. He is also very funny!

Some of the music has a distinct country feel to it, but there are also songs with a real rock 'n' roll edge - and they are all played by a band with genuine passion and enthusiasm. This is quality entertainment and Ryan seems sincerely grateful for the support shown by the fans that enables him to keep this band going - they have worked very hard to get this far. This is an act who put a big smile on your face and you walk out after the show feeling good. Things are looking up for this band: After (oddly) getting airplay on Kerrang! Radio and successful UK club tours they now have a record deal, as well as a change of name to Ryan Hamilton & the Harlequin Ghosts - still featuring the same band members. Look out for them on their autumn UK tour - playing at this same venue.

I have some time to kill after my Camden Assembly trifector and my fuel tanks are empty - it's time to head for Wetherspoons for a top-up. Well that was the plan anyway. So I arrive at the Ice Wharf for some reasonably priced ale (I won't pay normal Camden rip-off prices in the music venues) to find there is a queue to get in. After ten minutes or so I discover the want ID on the door. I'm not too worried as I am pretty obviously well over 18 years old - so they are bound to let me in?  Eventually arriving at the front of the queue I find they are demanding PHOTO ID. Of course I'm not carrying any ID at all - I never do unless I know in advance I'll need it. The only photo ID I possess is my driving licence - and I am absolutely not going to risk carrying that about on a boozy night out in town! Refused entry I sit at a nearby table to finish off the contents of my last hip flask. I randomly get into a conversation with a girl in a group who also comes from Barnet, but she seems a bit dodgy so I don't let on that I'm from there too. After a while one of the pub's security guys tell me I can't drink my own booze at their tables even though they are outside. We have a chat and actually he's pretty decent and tells me where I can sit nearby without being hassled. - some security guys are actually OK. He tells me that the ID thing at the pub is only after 7PM and it's because they often have trouble in the area. The reason for photo ID isn't age related - it's so that if it all kicks off in the pub, they already know (because they have recorded everyone's ID on entry) exactly who is in the pub - so (in theory) the culprits can be identified with CCTV. Of course, the troublemakers might have been in there before 7PM and not recorded but...

Anyway, having finished off the last of my Drambuie I head off to Dingwalls Canalside (under the famous club venue) to catch my final act of the festival.

I have been aware of and wanting to see Saint Agnes for some time - having heard their live shows are good but not really knowing anything about them.

Wow! I can see why they have been building a reputation as a hot live act! There is rather a country look to the guys in the band, but a strong Led Zeppelin influence to the sound and performance - plus a punk rock edge.

There is a real feeling of danger when this band are performing - it's a long time since I've seen anything so intense.

The band are fronted by Kitty - and you get the feeling that she might well be a very bad cat indeed
There is a strong air of tension throughout the band's set - there seems to be a whiff of evil in the air.

Saint Agnes may not the the most exciting band I've seen today (although it's been close) but they are the one who have brought the most of that element of danger that is sadly missing from so many rock bands of today - rock 'n' roll is meant to be dangerous, and here and now it is.

Saint Agnes give you the feeling that at any moment something really bad might happen - this band make it seem like Halloween has come early this year.

The band's set finishes with a long  and tense version of their spooky single 'The Witching Hour'. Saint Agnes give an extraordinary performance and it is a great way to end 2018 Camden Rocks Festival.

As usual Camden Rocks has been great, although personally I have enjoyed it less than previous years - Although there are more bands on than ever, I have found less that I actually want to see - although that means less time/venue clashes so I have been less frustrated missing bands I really wanted to see this year. I had to miss about eleven acts I would have liked to see. Last year I got to see 11 out of 32 bands I wanted to see, but this year it was only 8 out of 21 - so particularly as the ticket price has gone up again I have found it less value for money. Personally, I have little interest in seeing the big 'headline' acts - which is where I suspect most of the ticket money goes. Still, I've had a good day out and bumped into loads of friends as usual as well as seeing some great bands - so I expect I'll be back again next year....