Goodbye 2023...

 Well 2023 was certainly a year of ups & downs - mostly downs in the latter part...

I learned more about other people and how they can be a lot more complicated than they appear - and in the process I learned more about myself. Including that apparently (to quote a song written by Lemmy) "I ain't no nice guy after all" ♠

"My shine wore off as time wore on" Ain't that the truth... ♠

That episode in the summer triggered another of my periods of self doubt and lack of confidence. It left me feeling worthless and made me take a closer look at myself. Also left with with trust issues - can I ever believe anyone who says nice things to me - do they actually mean the things they say?

Another (unrelated) thing I learned: On top of OCD (which I think I have had most my life without even realising it) I have now also discovered 'Imposter Syndrome' is a thing - a thing I seem to have.

For 2024: Press 'Control/Alt/Delete' to restart...

25/11/23 Glitter Kick + Zara + The Core + Chaos UK @ Walthamstow Trades Hall

Walthamstow Trades Hall  is not the easiest venue to find but this is a really nice venue to attend as a punter or a performer. It's quite roomy, and the atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. Even though Christmas is still a month away they have the decorations up! 🎄 The staff are nice and friendly, and unlike corporate or most pub venues the drinks are reasonably priced - there really is nothing not to like here. And the bar stocks Newcastle Brown Ale - although it hasn't tasted or smelt the same since it stopped being actually brewed in Newcastle in 2005. This venue books a wide variety of musical acts including some quite big names, as well as various other literary and cultural events. Whether you want to dance, or sit at a table with a beverage and something to eat you are well catered for here.

Opening the proceedings tonight are Glitter Kick. However, following the tragic demise of their drummer Belle Star followed by their bass player deciding to leave the band they are currently performing as a duo.

However, playing with a backing track but live vocals and guitar they are still lively and entertaining.

Ex-Bexatron guitarist Greg cranks out the riffs and knows how to look cool and do the 'rock star' thing. 😎🎸

Singer Roxi has paid her dues fronting bands as well having acting experience - all of which helps to provide an entertaining show. 

Glitter Kick's songs are a mixture of rock, punk, pop, and rock 'n' roll. They have a commercial sound, but also a harder grittier edge to back things up. Even in this abbreviated duo format they are still good fun. 😁

Things take a darker turn with tonight's next act. From the streets of South London this is Zara.

 

They play Gothic and grunge tinged alt-rock. Any colour as long as it's black.

Accomplished musicians hailing from the Deptford area this is a rare outing North of the river. Their doomy sound varies in mood and temp as it draws you into their dark world.

The band Zara is more about textures and sounds than massive in your face songs, but if you are prepared to (grave)dig a little deeper there is quite a lot going on. And you might even hear a Bauhaus cover. 🦇

Next band The Core raise the tempo and energy level.

Tight, fast, tuneful, and committed - with a strong punk edge.

This is the most powerful and punchy act on the bill. They have obviously worked hard and paid their dues to get this good.

I wasn't able to take any pictures of old school punks Chaos UK for 'reasons', but Roxi from Glitter Kick managed to video a little of the action when she wasn't dancing!

This mob from the Islington area pop up fairly often in London, and occasionally further afield. The origins of the band date from 1978, and although all but one member have changed over the years they still remain rooted in the early UK punk sound before it all turned into a studded leather jacketed Mohican'd cliche where all the bands looked and sounded the same. After a long gap between the release of their debut single in 1979 Chaos UK reformed in 2014 and have since released several CDs of old and new material.

18/11/2023 The Molotovs @ The Night Owl

Out at a gig for the 4th night in a row - well what else am I gonna do? A good if crowded night at one of North London's more intimate venues. The former Bullet Bar now known as the Night Owl has maybe the best public transport links of any London music venue as it has both overground Great Northern and underground with both the Piccadilly and Victoria line running through Finsbury Park - you can actually see the venue from the GNR trains and the venue is literally right opposite the station. Needless to say, it is well served by buses too.

Madame Mutante are playing when I arrive. These gals have a rather decadent 1970's New York punk vibe. Some of them look familiar from other bands I've seen but their songs don't really grab me.

There are a lot of people here to see The Molotovs tonight. Their drummer Ice seems to have a noticeable entourage - which is interesting as siblings Matt and Issey on vox/lead vocals and bass respectively would seem to be the major force behind the band...

This is a band with a definite buzz going on - their Mod vibe with punk attitude reminds me strongly of The Jam on their first album. Which is a very good thing indeed.

Although Matt in particular seems to have a strong Mod image there is more going on than just that. There is a punk edge too - as demonstrated when I saw them play 'God Save The Queen' at a Coronation related event in South London earlier this year.

The energy level on stage is very high, but the musicianship is also excellent! This is a band who 'Mean it man'.

The Molotovs have a definite something about them that suggests they are going places - get to see them if you can because I don't think they will be playing small venues like this for much longer...

17/11/23 Zara @ The Birds Nest - Spooky Night

Friday night finds me taking the long trip down to Deptford. I don't do it that often, but I do enjoy the occasional trip on the Dave Lee Roth. I love being able to sit at the front and pretend to be the driver! 🚂

I also like it because of the way it twists tightly and ducks steeply up and down - it reminds me of going on the ghost train when I was a kid. 👻🚂 It's nice to be able to have fun on the way to a gig for a change! 😁

Kind of appropriate that I was thinking of ghost trains as the event I am going to is labeled Spooky Night - I guess tonight was the closest date the venue was available to actual Halloween. 👿👻💀🧛🦇

I miss the first couple of bands but the DLR drops me at Deptford Bridge near the Birds Nest pub in time to see Zara. They are an alt-rock band with grunge and strong Goth influences.

So naturally they are dressed in black. 🦇 The standard of musicianship is high and their songs are interesting.

Just to confirm their Gothness to anyone who might not have noticed, they drop in a long cover of the Bauhaus classic 'Bela Lugosi's Dead'.

There was another band on after Zara, but I couldn't take any pictures or anything as I was otherwise engaged... 😉

Then back to the station to catch the ghost train. 👻🚂

16/11/2023 The Answer @ Islington Assembly Hall

I've been to a few gigs in Islington over the last few months - mostly at the Hope & Anchor, but tonight in a much bigger venue. Fortunately Islington Assembly Hall is also conveniently close to Highbury & Islington station so nice and easy to get to. I'm here to see The Answer.

This band from Northern Ireland have come a long way since I first saw them early this century. Back then they were playing in the tiny Windmill pub in Brixton. Even back then they were bloody good - and seemed like nice chaps too.

Since playing small South London pubs they have released six albums to much critical aclaim, and gone on to play at venues as large as the O2 Arena in Greenwich supporting the mighty AC/DC.

The Answer spent two years on tour with AC/DC during their 'Black Ice' world tour - which must have been an amazing experience for them.

The band had quite a strong Led Zeppelin influence in their early days, but since then have evolved with their own sound and style - while strongly retaining the 'classic rock' sound and feel.

They can certainly deliver the 'Big Rock Show' when required, but have the musical skills and songs strong enough to stand up on their own.

Even in their early days playing in pubs this band came across as polished and professional, and even back then you could tell they were too good to be slogging round that circuit. And so they proved. Their debut album 'Rise' was very strong.

For the band's 6th album 'Solas' they evolved and took a different turn away from their previous sound and style. This release was still very much a 'rock' album with quality songwriting, but the sound and feel was much more modern. And then they disappeared. Completely. For several years. And everyone thought they had given up and split up....

And now suddenly they are back - with a brand new album 'Sundowners', and they are out on tour again. And guess what? They are still really good!

With most bands when you go to see them play live there are always one or two particular songs you want or expect to hear. With The Answer for me that song is always 'Come Follow Me' because of the fantastic guitar work. Tonight I don't go home disappointed.

It's not all big rock bombast - the band know how to pace things and take it down for a while with some audience participation.

The good thing about 'taking it down' is that when you take it up again it seems more exciting - a lot of heavy bands don't seem to get this.

All in all, a pretty good night of classic rock style music - without the cliches and rock star bullshit that many bands seem to think they have to have in a big rock show. The Answer are still pretty good. I wonder if they are going to 'disappear' again after this tour and album?

15/11/2023 Warrior Soul + The Fiascos @ Boston Arms Music Room

A bit of an odd show in (Nigel) Tufnell Park tonight, but it gets off to a flying start with the always excellent Fiascos. 😁

Formed from the ashes of the great Kitty Hudson - a band who I saw many times back in the day from Croydon to most the coolest venues north of the river - the lineup changed over time but the constant thing was that they always had a load of really great songs! Evolving into The Fiascos with the addition of Keef from Dead Identities on 2nd guitar/vocals they have lost none of the old band's power.

Since I first saw The Fiascos in Camden in 2016 they have carried on the same full-on in-your-face rock 'n roll onslaught and attitude from the Kitty Hudson days.

And they have the amazing Robin Guy on drums - the ultimate rock drummer showman.

Robin is probably best known as the drummer for Rachel Stamp, but as a session and live drummer he has played with some very big names.

It's been a while since I've seen Warrior Soul. The lineup seems to change every time I've seen them, but Kory always manages to put a good band together to back that rasping roar of a voice that he has.

But this for this tour something seems to have changed. The room is probably less than half full - which is unusual for a Warrior Soul show in London. Certain people I would expect to see at this gig are noticeably absent, and there seems to be somehow a different dynamic - something is missing.

Robin Guy takes to the stage towards the end of the show to help out with backing vocals. 

The band sound OK and play well enough, but the usual atmosphere seems lacking in the room. Although Kory Clarke gives his usual 'in-your-face' performance, he seems a bit more 'hippy' and less punk than in the past.

Although it's certainly not a bad show there doesn't seem as much bite or commitment as past Warrior Soul shows I've seen. And they didn't even play 'The Wasteland' - a song I was looking forward to more than usual as my life feels a bit of a wasteland at the moment.

A slightly disappointing evening I felt, but at least The Fiascos were on fine form and I really enjoyed their set.

10/11/2023 Head Hunters + The Phobics @ The Hope & Anchor

An interesting Friday night. So many good gigs to go to. Green Day playing a 'secret' show at the Electric Ballroom that everyone knew about, but of course it sold out in minutes while I was at work and I had no chance of getting a ticket. 🙄 Then the band cancelled the show at literally the last minute due to 'illness' even though they had apparently actually turned up at the venue. They had played a packed and even more 'secret' gig in a small London pub the previous night so maybe someone had picked up a lurgy in the sweaty confines of that cramped room? 😳

Meanwhile, in Islington in another small pub venue all three bands actually turn up and play. This is the monthly 'Rockaway Beach' punk club at the Hope & Anchor - always great value for money!

I don't arrive in time to see Vicious Love, but The Phobics are always worth seeing! 😁

Old school authentic punk rock from the streets of South London. Our heroes from Deptford always deliver the goods.

Catchy tunes and music you can dance to including plenty of social comment with songs like 'Gentrification', 'I Can Tell', 'Politics', and 'Whatever Comes My Way' - what's not to like?

Nice and genuine people in the band, and also plenty of songs about issues I can identify with. I seem to be seeing this band quite a lot this year.

Headlining tonight are Head Hunters. - featuring former members of Gunfire Dance and Lords of the New Church.

Some of you may recognise well known London underground rock 'n' roll scenester Jez Miller who as well as being a member of one of the later lineups of Lords of the New Church has more recently been seen playing drums in The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, but is now taking the lead vocal/guitar role in Head Hunters.

The music is pretty much what you would expect to hear from members of the first two bands mentioned, and the venue is very full of people who have come here for exactly that. They are not disappointed and I think everyone goes home happy.

Halloween 2023

Plenty of trendy clubs and bars put on Halloween events at rip-off prices, but it's perfectly possible to go out locally instead to have spooky fun. 👻 Barnet's oldest and best pub Ye Olde Mitre Inne has a band on and it's free to get in with drinks at normal pub prices - what's not to like? 🎃

The band are local outfit Mary's Exit who play a variety of mostly rock covers. 🤘 They play in this pub now and then, but tonight have a Halloween theme. 😈

I really like their spooky pumpkin lights! 🎃

Halloween tends to bring out the Goths, and they are Only Happy When It Rains - so they would have enjoyed the weather on the way home.

Not being a Goth myself although many people have only ever seen me wearing black, I was less than impressed with the weather at the bus stop. I couldn't help noticing empty black tins of K 8.4% cider floating in the gutter - so hopefully some local Goths had a good night out. 💀 I certainly did

19/10/2023 Supersuckers & Warner E Hodges Band @ Islington Academy

What a bill - these two great bands on a co-headlining tour! 🤘😈 Needless to say I have been really looking forward to this gig. 😁 I'm not the only one - this is one of those shows when it seems like everyone is there. Well nearly.

The Warner E Hodges Band always put on a great show, but maybe on this tour even they may be having to raise their game to keep pace with the Lemmy approved ♠ Supersuckers. 🤘

But as ever, Warner & Co hit the ground running.

The (p)ace is high straight from the start, and so is the bass player - in a literal rather than chemically enhanced state!

Yes, I finally managed to do the (nearly) impossible and capture the elusive Jason 'jump shot' that only the terrific Trudi Knight can normally get!

As this is a 'duel headline' tour and both bands have a 'country' side to their rock/punk thing it is probably inevitable that there will be some overlap resulting in 'guest' appearances in each others sets...

...and this is exactly what happens as Supersuckers frontman Eddie Spaghetti joins Warner & Co.

And he is joined by Supersuckers guitarist 'Metal' Marty. 🤘

It really doesn't get much more rock 'n' roll than this. 😎🎸

Although the Warner E Hodges Band are classed as a 'Country-rock' band the emphasis is very much on the ROCK and Warner will tell you that his favourite ever band are AC🗲DC. And this is very much reflected in the music his band plays tonight - including one or two particularly good AC🗲DC covers. They have also been known to do a stunningly good version of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs, but we don't get this tonight.

But that's not to say the band don't rock very hard indeed tonight because they do.

And if that wasn't enough rock 'n roll for you in one night (and to be fair that was worth the ticket price alone) then we next get "the greatest rock-n-roll band in the world, The Supersuckers". I think our Rolling Stones might take issue with that, but that's another story...

...However, I'm pretty sure the Stones have for many years not been capable of putting on a high powered performance like this. And the Rolling Stones might have the classic and very dark (dark enough to have been covered by Motorhead) 'Sympathy For The Devil' their brilliant Born With A Tail is right up there with the best ever 'Devil' songs. 😈 And with a twist of humour that Lemmy must have liked. 😉

As with their fellow country influenced co-headliners there are more guest appearances.

Warner, Jason Knight, and Ben Marsden from tonight's previous act return to join Supersuckers on the stage

Naturally as well as 'Born With A Tail' (their 'Ace Of Spades') we also get the 'hits' like 'The Evil Powers Of Rock 'N' Roll', 'Rock 'n' Roll Records (Ain't  selling this year)' , and 'Pretty Fucked Up' (which although a fan favourite I never liked has more resonance for me now)  and some newer songs which ain't bad - there's nothing not to like here.

All in all a top night both musically and socially. 😎😁😈