Camden Rocks Festival 2019 - Day 2

So, onto the second day of the first ever two day Camden Rocks Festival. I couldn't see the infamous SoapGirls yesterday at one of the other venues so when the festival starts at noon I make my way to Dingwalls. The previous time I had tried to see these South African sisters was also at Camden Rocks when they were booked into the far too small Black Heart. It was virtually impossible to get in and far too crowded for comfort so I was forced to give up, although I liked what I briefly heard. This time they have more sensibly been placed in the much larger Dingwalls, but that venue is pretty full as well even at this early hour! The SoapGirls started off as more of a pop duo, but these days they have added a drummer and taken on a far more confrontational and punk attitude and sound. Which is at complete odds with their appearance. They don't wear very much at all and look like barely dressed showgirls. I can't imagine why many of their fans seem to be middle aged men.... I decide against trying to get near the front and entering what I perceive as the 'Perv Zone' and enjoy the show from a safe distance.

The SoapGirls don't sound anything like they look - I'll leave it to others to decide if that's a good or bad thing. There is no doubt their outrageous and OTT image is the reason they always draw large crowds at their shows, but if you close your eyes and listen to the music guess what? Yes, they can actually play. OK, some of the lead guitar playing isn't the best although the rhythm playing is fine. But make no mistake, this is a proper band and The SoapGirls make a heavy and ferocious racket. They have some decent tuneful songs, and they also have a very strong 'take no shit' agenda. You can leave any patronising or misogynistic attitudes at the door - give them any shit and these girls give as good as they get. I like the music and attitude, but the frequent 'Don't let anybody put you down' style rants soon sound a bit predictable and repetitive even though I agree with the sentiments. The SoapGirls are fun, entertaining, and throw everything into their uninhibited performance. And they sound great too!

Sunday's Camden Rocks certainly got off to a good start. Next band on my list today is Rews. I wanted to see this act at last years festival but unfortunately timings didn't allow, and one member of the band has changed since then. However, they are playing twice today - at different venues, but at least that doubles my chances of catching them. But first I have to find the venue! I'd never heard of Dr Martens Boot Room before and it was quite difficult to find. By the time I'd tracked them down I had missed most of Rews set. Fortunately it was worth the effort to catch them - even if I only caught the last couple of songs. As I'd (correctly) assumed the venue would be tiny I was expecting just an acoustic duo, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the girls playing electric guitar and bass, and also backed by a drummer.

Rews have been called a female 'Royal Blood', but I found them brighter and more cheerful sounding with a relaxed and friendly feel. I very much enjoyed what little I caught of their set, but all too soon it was over. Although they were due to be playing back at Dingwalls in an hour's time where I'd just left The SoapGirls I couldn't make it as it clashed with JoanOvArc - who were always going to be one of the highlights of the day for me. But again, first I had to find the venue...

So, off for a recce of the Stables Market area to find the elusive Gabeto venue - a place I'd never heard of before, and where The Quireboys apparently played their acoustic show last night. I eventually discover it is actually the venue previously known as 'Cuban' - and ironically I have actually seen JoanOvArc there before! After musicians from other bands standing in for a couple of members over the past year or so this gig is the 'Official' debut of the new permanent JoanOvArc lineup. There has been a bit of a game of 'Musical Chairs' going on recently in several all girl bands (more on this later) and founder member Sam Walker who together with sister Shelley started the band in 2004 has taken indefinite leave from the band - don't worry - she's fine! Her place on bass guitar is now filled by the very capable Keira Kenworthy - who is also bassist in in Syteria - more on them later too... Rhythm guitarist Laura Ozholl has now taken over most the lead vocals, and Ellie Daymond is now confirmed as the band's new drummer as the fantastic Debbie Wildish has moved on to do other things. This now leaves lead guitarist Shelley Walker as the only original member of the band.

They might have been ringing the changes, but I can tell you JoanOvArcare still a terrific live band. The standard of musicianship is top-notch and these girls can hold their own on any stage large or small. They have built up an impressive catalogue of songs, and interestingly some of their older material has recently re-appeared in their live set - including some songs like 'Down By The River' and 'Slipping Away' that haven't been heard since the band's early days. Some of these 'lost' JoanOvArc songs from the past appear on their new more polished and commercial self titled second album - recorded before the recent lineup changes - making an interesting comparison to some early recordings of these songs the band put out on CDs themselves in their early days. There is already a third album in the pipeline. I get the feeling the latest album was a 'clearing of the decks' of early material by the old lineup of the band, so it will be interesting to see what the new version of the band comes up with and which direction they take...

Although JoanOvArc have recorded a few slower quieter songs over the years, and experimented with some very 'pop' commercial sounding ones as well, the focus when they play live has always been on the harder rocking numbers - although they can make a crowd dance as well. And when these girls rock, they really ROCK! They really tear it up with songs like  'Live Rock n Roll', 'Seeds Of Summer', 'White Trash' and 'Girls Wanna Rock'. This is a band who are really in their element playing at festivals - especially if it's a ROCK crowd. They certainly get the attention of the people standing outside at the back of the venue, and although they have a very strong repertoire of their own when they finish with 'Free Bird' it's probably the best version you will ever hear - apart from by the band who wrote it of course - and even the people out the back who have no idea who this band is are bopping about enthusiastically! Once again, JoanOvArc's Camden Rocks set is a triumph!

My next port of call is Camden Assembly - previously known to many at The Barfly, and The Monarch before that - not to be confused with the current 'Monarch' and former Wetherspoons pub a few doors down the road. Confusing innit? This place has gone rather upmarket under it's new name and is very different inside although the floor layout is the same and the upstairs toilets are still shit. Fortunately, I am not here to admire the decor - although I do like the way they have stripped off all the layers of old paint on the outside of the building to reveal the very attractive original glazed tile finish. I am here to see the dark and dangerous Saint Agnes.

I first saw this band at Camden Rocks Festival last year. I'd been aware of them for a while through word of mouth, but hadn't managed to catch live them up until then. They were easily one of the best things I saw at last year's festival, and this year the same applies. It's good to see them at a bigger venue this time, but it's still too small as this band can now sell out the main venue at Dingwalls on their own. They have progressed in other ways too and have since released their first album Welcome To Silvertown - it's very good, and many of the songs you will hear in their set appear on it. Saint Agnes are undoubtedly one of the most electrifying live acts on the London scene with their scary Satanic mix of blues, hard rock, punk, and Goth. This mob have a real edge to them. There are many bands out there who walk the walk and talk the talk, but deep down you know they are just faking it. Saint Agnes mean it and there is a genuine feeling this is a truly dangerous act - they aren't fucking around.

Rock 'n' roll is meant to be dangerous, but often isn't these days. It is at Saint Agnes shows. Singer Kitty is genuinely compelling - like a black cat you ignore her at your peril. It's not necessary to dress in black to be scary.

If you are a fan of Jack White you'll probably dig the guitar playing, and if you like Led Zeppelin you will probably also enjoy the very dark blues based feel and the 'space' they leave in their songs - you will be left in no doubt this is 'The Devil's music'. Not for nothing does Kitty often say at their gigs 'Welcome to the coven'. This is not a band for the faint-hearted.

Next I find myself searching out another band I've been wanting to see for a while but who very rarely appear in the UK - The Last Internationalle. First I have to find yet another 'new' Camden Rocks venue. 'The Fireball Stage at FEST' turns out to be the former Proud Gallery - a well known Camden venue in the Stables Market area that closed down not long ago.

This is another band who are taking no prisoners. The Last Internationalle hail from New York and are a vibrant mixture of pop, punk, rock, and soul - with a political edge.

Singer/bassist Delila Paz is a captivating and charismatic performer with an amazingly soulful voice.

There are only three people in the band and there is a lot of space in their musical arrangements, but there is also dynamics and a lot of power when needed - this is a hard hitting outfit!

Although I'm not very familiar with their material, this is an engaging performance that leaves me wanting to see the band again.

Up until now it seems to have been all about the girls today, but that's something I'll never have a problem with. But now it's time for a bunch of male ne'er-do-wells to provide the glamour. Well sort of. These former 1990's glamsters have more of a ruff-n-ready gypo Quireboys type image these days, but Last Great Dreamers still have the pop/rock chops and catchy sing-a-long tunes to grab your attention

This is a really great band, but for the second time they have been put in one of Camden Rocks Festival's more remote venues. Last time they were booked into the Fiddler's Elbow right up in Chalk Farm - the festival's most Northerly venue. This time they are down at the Lyttelton Arms - the festival's most Southerly venue down by Mornington Crescent. This pub is better known as a popular watering hole for music fans on their way to Koko just over the road. However, 11 or 12 bands appear to have been booked into this venue to play at the festival today. Somehow this gig appears to have gone under the radar of most festival goers as when I arrive the pub is nearly empty with only a handful of people present - nearly all of whom I recognise as fans or friends & family of the band. This is very different to when they played at the Fiddlers Elbow and attracted a noticably larger crowd who were obviously fans on the band from back in the day. Where were all those people today? Who knows.... Anyway, the band are pros and not but off by such things as this. They launch into their set with the enthusiasm of a band playing to a full venue. All the people who couldn't find the venue or just couldn't be arsed to walk all the way to the bottom of the High Street miss out on a really great set of well played and catchy glamtastic rock/powerpop numbers like 'Dope School' 'Ashtray Eyes', 'White Light', 'Oblivion Kids', and excellent songs from their new album like 'New Situation', and the title track '13th Floor Renegades'. If you weren't there you missed out on a tight and punchy set blasted though by a very polished and professional band.

The festival is starting to wind down now and I can only catch a couple more bands. I trudge back up the High Street. The next band have apparently been switched at the last minute from Music & Beans (another venue I'd never heard of) to Camden Eye - a small Victorian pub formerly known as the Halfway House opposite Camden Town Tube station. I eventually find the place the band are supposed to be playing up some tight and twisty creaking staircases - I'd hate to have to lug band equipment up to the top floor. There's no bar up there either - a most unsuitable place for a rock 'n' roll band to be playing. I find The Garage Flowers still setting their gear up and it's some time before they actually start playing.

Half the band (the rhythm section) has changed since I first discovered them in Barnet after a tip-off from Dave Renegade a couple of years or so ago. They are basically a Camden based rock 'n' roll band with a punky New York edge. Maybe this last minute change of venue and associated stress and hassle has thrown them a bit as they don't seem as together as the previous times I've seen them. Things are obviously running very late, and unfortunately I have to rush off before I hear my favourite song of theirs 'Nothings Gonna Get Me Down Today' - which I think is great song with genuine hit potential. If I leave it any longer I run the risk of either not getting into The Dublin Castle or missing the start of the last band of the festival.

Fortunately, The Dublin Castle is only a few minutes walk away like most of the other venues at Camden Rocks and I arrive in time to catch my last band at this year's Camden Rocks. Syteria are the band formed by Girlschool lead guitarist Jackie Chambers to keep her busy and fill her 'day job' band's downtime. This plan seems to be going quite well as Syteria now have their excellent debut album Rant-O-Bot released and another album on the way. But this is a band who love to get out and play. As they are based in Leeds they don't get down to 'that London' very often, but when they do they are well worth seeing! They are quite a different animal than Girlschool with their NWoBHM origins. Although there is a strong hard rock influence and they can be quite heavy, there is a Glam Rock side to them, as well as a gritty edge due to Jackie's background playing in punk bands before joining Girlschool - you never know, you just might find a Ramones cover mixed in with Syteria's original songs!

The band play well, have good stage presence, some catchy songs, and look like they are having fun. The more eagle-eyed readers amongst you might have noticed the bass player looks familiar? It's Keira Kenworthy who is also the new bassist in JoanOvArc - who also played at Camden Rocks yesterday. And in another NWoBHM connection, her dad used to be in Raven!

Syteria are a great way to end the 2019 Camden Rocks Festival and look like they are loving playing to good sized crowd in a legendary Camden venue!

Well it's been a great weekend of varied live rock music at some of Camden's best venues. I've really enjoyed all the bands I've seen today, but even with the new 2 day 200 band festival I don't feel I've got as good value for money as I usually do in the 1 day Camden Rocks Festivals of the past: Today I only managed to catch 8 of the 21 bands I was hoping to see - I normally manage to see up to 11 bands in one day. So, my apologies to The Kut, Ash, Healthy Junkies, A, Janus Stark, The Wonder Stuff, Federal Charm, The Gulps, Bad Touch, Skarlett Riot, Pollypikpocketz, Black Rose, and Dragster - all of whom I would have liked to see but didn't manage to see today. Maybe next year?