22/3/2024 Chord Buddies @ The Dublin Castle

Monday night at the Dublin Castle - yes some people love their live music enough to even go out on a Monday night! If there is a band I like I'll go out any night of the week to see them, and I'm not alone in that. In fact there are people in this room who have come all the way from Norway to see one of the bands playing tonight. But first there is a band playing who I have never heard of. Apparently they are called RAMcache - which sounds a bit cold and clinical...

They are billed as being a bit 'punk', but they seem a bit too earnest and serious for that. They are tight and well rehearsed, but just just dressing in black doesn't make you look like a rock 'n' roll band though. They play well enough, but that doesn't on it's own make you sound like one either. I guess in their heads they do, and maybe that's enough? After all, they are there because they want be - it's certainly not for the money as first band on at the Dublin Castle on a Monday night....

Anyway, good luck to 'em and I'm sure they enjoyed playing at the legendary Dublin Castle even if they didn't look like they were having much fun.

Fortunately the next band were more fun, and looked like they were having more fun too! If I had come all the way from Norway like they have then I'd be determined to have fun too!

This is The Chord Buddies - and they play rock 'n' roll. With a strong 1977 style punky edge. Playing in London, and particularly Camden with it's rich mix of punk and rock 'n' roll history is a big deal to them.

So these guys make sure they are going to have a good time playing their good-time music while they are in London Town.

This is actually The Chord Buddies second visit to London in a year or so - so they must like it here. And we like seeing and hearing them too.

Rock 'n' roll is pretty easy to play, but not so easy to play well. It's not about technique and endless study and rehearsal - it's about the spirit with which you play it. These guys totally get that. Many bands play rock 'n' roll note-perfectly, but with zero fun or excitement - great musicians but deadly dull. This is not one of those bands.

The Chord Buddies know that rock 'n' roll is meant to be fun. And they play it with passion - they mean it maaan. And they know their rock 'n' roll history too - their own songs are good, but that doesn't stop them throwing in a cover of the Bo Diddley classic 'Pills' - although more in the style of the New York Dolls - but there's nothing wrong with that!

The band have also brought a crowd of friends and family over from Norway, and they are determined to enjoy themselves too - leading to some crazy dancing! And all too soon the show is over.

It's been fun! It looks like everybody had a good time - including the band. I have a feeling they will be back in the UK before too long...