6/5/2023 Johnny Throttle + Desperate Fun + The Phobics @ New River Studios

New River Studios is an interesting Arts Centre venue in North London walking distance from Manor House tube station. I've played there and it was one of the most 'punk rock' venues I've ever been to, but not in a bad way. There is a decent bar and kitchen too.

Three bands for only a fiver on a Saturday night - you can't go wrong really! Well worth it just for one good band really, but we get more than that. It's not often Deptford's finest The Phobics venture this far North of the river. The River Thames that is, but here they are north of the New River - Camden or Islington is about as far North as they normally venture, but here they are in a North London venue that suits them well.

There is quite a decent turnout for a gig with virtually no promotion at a venue which is unknown to most people, but there are quite a few familiar faces in attendance - many of them musicians from other bands in the underground scene. The Phobics are always good fun and tonight is no exception. Tom Crossley is an engaging frontman and like the rest of the band have been playing punk rock on the underground scene for many years in various bands before The Phobics. Although they are very much a (South) London band there is a noticable New York rock 'n' roll influence in their sound as well - if you like the Heartbreakers and Ramones you'll probably dig The Phobics too.

The next band is less enjoyable. For some reason deliberate or otherwise they are ear-splittingly LOUD, and the sound mix is consequently shit. As is often is when a band or sound engineer seems to think sheer volume is far more important than sound quality and it just becomes impossible to actually enjoy the actual music. As a result Desperate Fun come across as far more Desperate than actual Fun.

One or two songs is all I can take as it becomes physically painful and I need to escape to protect both my hearing and my sanity. I leave the room and head for the refuge of the bar - determined not to return until the band have finished. It's a shame as they seemed decent enough musicians.

Fortunately things improve greatly for the final band of the night. I've seen Johnny Throttle a few times over the years but thought they had split up as they seemed to have disappeared a while ago. They have a punk 'in-your-face' attitude but are actually a really great rock 'n' roll band!

This is how you play rock 'n' roll.

And this is what happens!

This was a really great end to the evening - I hope we haven't seen the last of this terrific rock 'n' roll band. Two out of three bands were well worth seeing, and it was an absolute bargain at only a fiver!