23/2/2023 Electrics @ The Good Mixer

 Thursday night is the new 'Friday Night' - Part 3.

The problem with Thursday nights is it's a struggle after a full day at work to get home, grab something to eat, shit/shave/shower and then travel to gigs in town early enough to catch the first band on the bill. 

Consequently tonight I arrive in Camden just as Feed The Wolf are finishing their set - so I can't really tell you anything about them. 😐

Fortunately I am in plenty of time to see ⚡Electrics⚡. However, tonight it's 'Electrics, but not as we know them Jim'  as for reasons unknown bassist Jenny couldn't make the gig and instead we have Dale on bass. He's a good bass player, but not as easy on the eye as Jenny. 😉

But this is a town with more than one Lane in it and tonight instead of Jenny Lane we have Nat Lane - on sax instead of bass. That's two personnel changes from last time I saw the band so the lineup appears to be fairly fluid depending on which musicians are available.

So the band sound as well as look a little different tonight - it's all good though and frontman Al is still cranking out the dirty riffs and cheeky sarcastic charm.

There is a certain punk 'don't give a fuck' attitude here. This is what you need to play rock 'n' roll - I see a lot of bands who can play rock & roll songs, but still can't play rock 'n' roll. It's not about playing the right notes - it's about playing with the right spirit - and not many bands can. Or can even understand that.

And a definite stage presence. Some people look like they belong on a stage, while others who can play really well look like they still belong playing in their bedroom. This lot have earned their place on the stage and are deserving of your attention.

And they play "Dirty jagged rock 'n' roll". ©

11/2/2023 Girlschool @ The Underworld

Daffodils in early Febuary WTF? Actually they have been out for weeks...🙈😟

Stopped for a livener or two at BrewDog before the show. I like the transparency shown in the big information board. It's an expensive bar (but where isn't in Camden?) but if you choose carefully you can get a lot of 'bang for your buck' - especially if you are in a hurry 'cos you are on your way to a show where you know the bar will be shit and overpriced for pissy beer.

Thanks to BrewDog I missed Alcatraz. I'm sure they were good, but to be honest the Underworld isn't a venue I like to spend any more time in than I have to these days. How times have changed...

Girlschool shows are always fun, and this one is no exception. However, there is a bit of a change for tonight's gig. Kim hasn't been well on this current tour, and as a backup reserve the band have brought in Niky from Czech hard rock band The Agony. She fits in perfectly and looks totally at home taking on lead vocals and rhythm guitar duties on some songs.

But we needn't have worried - Kim is still here too and seems to be getting over her recent health issues. The band are on good form and tear though a load of the old classics like 'Demolition Boys', 'Hit And Run', and 'C'mon Let's Go'  - mixed in with more recent material from the last few albums like 'Guilty As Sin' and 'Take It Like A Band' (with Niky on lead vocals). Then it's back to the older stuff like 'Nothing To Lose' and 'Kick It Down' - featuring one of my favourite guitar riffs!

Girlschool throw in a cover of 'Bomber' in tribute to their friends Lemmy and Motörhead, as well as their well known cover of 'Race With The Devil'. The band look like they are thoroughly enjoying themselves, and returning ex-Rock Godess bassist Tracey Lamb seems well at home.

The band aren't content to sit back and rely on past glories to keep them going - they are now also playing some brand new songs from their forthcoming album entitled 'WTForty Five?'. New songs 'It Is What It Is' and 'Are You Ready' show Girlschool have lost none of their energy  and raw punky edge.

The set finishes with 'Emergency', and then the well deserved encore of 'Take It All Away' and ZZ Top's 'Tush'. Even at '45WTF?' 😉 Girlschool are still a force to be reckoned with!

I don't hang around in the less than hospitable confines of The Underworld after the band finish - security and management's attitude of 'We've got your ticket and beer money now fuck off' discourages me from buying that last overpriced beer I would have once enjoyed in this venue and makes it harder for bands to make some much needed money at the merch stall. So BrewDog get my beer money instead.