10/2/2008 Torn Asunder - last band ever to play @ the Marquee...

Subject	Torn Asunder - last band ever to play @ the Marquee...
PostedDate	2/9/2008
	So, yet again the (once) world famous club is shutting down only a few months after re-opening in a new location.  This is the third 'Marquee' in a row that has only been open a few months before closing - each one making a smaller splash than the last, and in successively smaller and less suitable venues - what (if anything) next? - the 'Marquee' opening in a small pub?  Initial impressions on arriving at this latest (and last?) venue in Upper St Martins's Lane in the west end are actually quite favourable - there is a very large and comfortable bar area. Video screens show live performances of some of the famous bands playing at previous Marquee's: Stones, Small Faces, Who, Hendrix, etc - it's a shame the sound is turned off.  Unfortunately, the selection of beers is piss-poor unless you only drink lager.  £4 a pint?  You're having a laugh!  The decor pays tribute to the original Marquee in Oxford Street with the red and white striped 'tent' theme, and there are many 'rock heritage' photos on the walls of the many famous artists of the 60's and 70's who played at the Marquee. Or at least there were lots of photos on the walls on my last visit - the walls are now bare. Couldn't they at least have waited until after the last night before starting to strip the venue?  After some good first impressions you go down the open spiral staircase (with the small PA mixer directly underneath to catch any spilt beer) to the much smaller room where the bands play.  The house PA is more suited to a small pub venue than somwhere trading on the name of a world famous rock club. The stage is very low - it has to be, otherwise the taller performers will hit their heads on the ducting over the stage - something they are in danger of doing anyway if they carelessly jump into the air.  This is my third visit to this venue, and each time the bar downstairs has been shut - is this any way to run a rock venue? Actually, the Underworld is nearly as bad in this respect...  This latest incarnation of the Marquee is going out not with a bang but a wimper - the first band is pretty dreadful and will remain nameless (not to protect the guilty, but because my alcohol addled memory has mercifully blanked out much of the horror).  The sound they make is just a horrible noise and there is nothing much that is discernable as an actual song - just a lot of screaming.  I hope the 'singer' got some good therapy out of his 'performance', because I certainly felt in need of therapy after suffering his band's set!  I doubt even the late John Peel could have loved this lot, although I'm sure their mothers do. They showed a childish lack of respect for the venue by trashing the house drum kit at the end of their set - also showing a lack of respect for the following band who also had to use the same kit. If I was a promoter I certainly wouldn't consider booking them just because of that - never mind their woefull perfomance. Maybe they deserve to be 'named and shamed', but my terrible memory shows them more mercy than they deserve... The second band are noticably better, although anything would seem better after the previous act. This lot get a bit of a groove going and have a decent bass player who puts a lot into the show. Unfortunately, I can't remember their name either. So, onto a little bit of rock history being made - the final band (ever?) to play at the world famous Marquee club. Fortunately, they are much better than the previous two bands tonight. Torn Asunder play well and have some good songs - particularly their catchy and bouncy recent charity single 'Love To Look At You'. Apart from the 'rock star' bass player this lot look very much a 'pub band'. However, I'd far rather see Torn Asunder in my local pub than the bands they normally book. Although they play their own material, they do throw in a good cover of Ozzy's 'Crazy Train' which is a bonus.  And so once more the Marquee fades away into history. I don't think this particular venue will be missed. Not just because it falls far short of it's legendary name and like the previous two shortlived 'Marquee's' in Leicester Square and Islington fails to justify it's famous name, but also because hardly anyone knew it was even open before they could miss it. No one even remotely famous played here in the few months it was open, and there was never realistically the slightest chance that Marquee legends like Metallica, Kiss, Aerosmith, Motorhead, G'N'R, ever would - they'd just take one look at the stage, PA, ect and walk out laughing. Anyone who ever went to the famous venues in Wardour Street or Charing Cross Road would know what rock fans (and bands) expect from the Marquee club, and this place is sorely lacking... A rock 'n' roll toilet. A member of a band I came here to see a few months ago expressed the view that the place wouldn't survive more than a few months (and at £4 a pint I'm not sure it deserves to) but apparently the venue is being shut because they are knocking the building down. Stringfellow's next door is being demolished too - Lemmy won't be pleased! I don't think Lemmy will miss this 'Marquee' though - I doubt he even know's it exists - and nor do most the Marquee's former patrons... I'm sure Peter 'loadsamoney' Stringfellow will make sure his club will rise again, but as for the Marquee - it's name has now has been so de-valued by successive venues that I'm not sure anyone even cares anymore... Another west end venue goes 'dark'...

9/2/2008 The Great Fire of Camden, a gig (not) and another gig...

Subject	The Great Fire of Camden, a gig (not) and another gig...
PostedDate	2/9/2008
	Some nights just don't go according to plan... Plan A: (I didn't have a plan B) Go to bar Bar Monsta in Camden to see Drugdealer*Cheerleader and Disarm. I arrive in Camden to find it in chaos - flashing blue lights and police everywhere! Nothing unusual for Camden Town (or most parts of London) on a Saturday night though. Kentish Town Road has been cordonned off - again, nothing that unusal - another car crash or murder? I walk up to the police tape across the road outside the tube station and ask a copper what's going on? He says there's a fire. I ask how long the road is going to be closed? 'All night' is the answer.  I can actually see Bar Monsta only a few yards down the road so I point out that I only want to go just down there. I'm told it's not possible.  I can see no signs of life outside the venue and it's impossible to tell if there is anyone inside or not. I can't see any other way of approaching the place as the road is obviously closed at both ends. It's looks like either the show is off or I'm not getting to it anyway. I feel really sorry for Mick the promoter - first the American headline band pull out of the gig (and the whole tour) at very short notice due to not getting their visas sorted out, then after most the gigs are salvaged after much hard work by the promoters the London show gets hit by this!  I consider my options for the night... I have a look in the World's End to see if there is anyone I know in there - there isn't. I have another look towards Bar Monsta and see some girls I recognise from various gigs trying to get past the police - they are obviously trying to get to the same gig as me. They aren't getting past the rozzers either. I decide on a short walk to the Dublin Castle to see if there is anyone interesting playing there. I arrive to find the place packed, and the signs outside have no familiar names on the bill so I decide against that idea. As I walk back down Parkway the police decide to close that road as well - even though I'd only walked up it a couple of minutes before!  Nothing is simple tonight. I manage to duck under the police tape when the copper is distracted and get back to the tube station. The police seem to be closing more roads by the minute and it seems like a good idea to get out of Camden. I don't want to just go home after going to the trouble of getting into town from the outskirts, so I decide to have a look in the Intrepid Fox as there are normally people I know in there. Halfway to the West End on the tube I suddenly remember that Shush are playing in Kings Cross - by then I am on the wrong branch of the dreaded Northern Line and have to switch trains to get back to Kings Cross. As I said, nothing is simple tonight... After a fashion I find myself at the Cross Kings (formerly the Backpackers pub) up the road from Kings Cross station. I wasn't previously aware of live music or the change of name at this pub, but it's good to see another place for bands to play. Apparently Bugbear are booking the bands, and as they also book bands for the Hope & Anchor and Dublin Castle there should be some decent bands coming up - The Dogbones are playing there in March. I actually arrive at the venue before all of the band - Milena is still on her way! She soon turns up, and a few minutes later the band take to the stage. This pub doesn't seem like it's used to having rock bands performing and it seems to mainly hang onto it's previous tourist clientelle, but at least there is a decent crowd in even if they aren't sure what to expect. As it turns out, they seem to like Shush. The band are well received as they normally are by unfamiliar audiences, and the only cover of their set Blondie's 'Call Me' goes down particularly well.  It's all turned out quite well in the end after the unfortunate events in Camden - I still got to see a good band, met a mate in the pub, and enjoyed some excellent beer - I couldn't have done the latter in Bar Monsta.  (sorry Mick!) I can report that they serve a nice pint of London Pride at the Cross Kings at a reasonable price (for a London music venue anyway) so it wasn't a bad evening in the end. PS: It wasn't until the next day that I found out how bad the fire in Camden had been - although I had been quite close to it I never saw any flames or anything and I'd never have known there was a fire at the time unless a policeman told me. At least nodody got hurt. All the celebs will be as gutted as the Hawley Arms is - I hope they don't start invading 'our' rock haunts instead... Kate Moss, Amy Whininghouse, and Potty Pete in Bar Monsta? Oh the horror!

PS: The Great Fire of Camden resulted in the loss of the former Caernarvon Castle pub - once a nice little music venue but by then closed and turned into a boutique. The remains were demolished. It also resulted in the famous Hawley Arms being totally gutted. Amazingly, the pub has since been completely rebuilt and is now open again - it must have been well insured!

8/2/2008 Pure Rawk Awards @ the Marquee

Subject	Pure Rawk Awards @ the Marquee
PostedDate	2/8/2008
	This is a night I've been looking forward to for a a while - it's also the only time I've seen a decent crowd watching the bands in the current shortlived incarnation of the famous Marquee club. It's the Pure Rawk Awards - Pure Rawk being a fanzine and promotion company that consistantly books bands Iwant to see - something not many promoters seem to do.  It's a good turnout, with many of the usual suspects present.  One of the bands I was looking forward to seeing was Zen Motel who were going to be 'Special Guests'. However, they had to cancel their performance as they found out this morning that they are without a drummer.  Still, Lee and Alex from the band are present - never ones to miss any excuse to party!  Disarm take to the stage first with their raucous punk fuelled Glam assault - suited and booted for the occasion! These boy take no prisoners and always give a spirited performance. It's a good night for the northern lads as they pick up the 'New Breed' and 'Best Stunt' awards as well. There follows a brief but rather good two song acoustic set (his first ever) by Richie from Kitty Hudson who has just won the 'Frontperson Of The Year' award. Kitty Hudson also win 'Band Of The Year'.  Patchwork Grace also have good reason to celebrate, having won 'EP/single Of The Year', 'Album Of The Year', and guitarist Crip wins 'Axe Hero Of The Year'. The band get to play a full set tonight, but although their performance is good the sound mix is poor and doesn't do the band justice.  It's a shame the poor sound tonight doesn't let the band show what a good live band they really are as they were definitely better the couple of times I've seen them previously. Patchwork Grace seem like a breath of fresh air to me and their album is definitely one of my favourites from the past year - a very strong offering for such a new and young band. 'Label Of The Year' goes to Trashpit, while 'Gig/tour Of The Year' goes to the hardworking Riot Promotions for the excellent Trashstock tour - the London show being a highlight for me in 2007.  Last band to play are King Lizard - who's set I miss entirely due to being engrossed in conversation upstairs. It has to be said that the downstairs room the bands play in at this venue leaves a lot to be desired (as does the bar - the downstairs one isn't even open although it's crowded down there) but the bands and the people present make it a really good night.

PS: This venue is now closed - it didn't last long as 'The Marquee'...

7/2/2008 Men & Gods @ Metro

Subject	Men & Gods @ Metro
PostedDate	2/7/2008
	I'm at Metro for the second Thursday night in a row - this time to see promising newish band Men & Gods. It's probably the best performance I've seen from them to date, although beset by technical problems due to a malfunctioning guitar amp - leading to some jamming while things are sorted out. However, this sort of thing can be a good test of quality musicians and as they jam to fill some time in they show themselves to be a class above many bands who would just stand about looking helpless or frustrated and not knowing what to do. One of the other bands amps is patched in and soon Men & Gods are back in business. As I said, it's a good performance and the sound mix is good and clear - it's a shame this happens at this sparsely attended small club gig instead of one of the bigger better attended shows like at the Purple Turtle. Still, it makes a change to hear the band sound more as they are supposed to with the keyboards clearly audible for once. Led Zeppelin are the most obvious influence on this band, with frontman Marc Eden (currently the smartest dressed man in rock?) almost seeming like Jimmy Page and Robert Plant rolled into one, but without blatantly imitating either of them. This is definitely a class act, and maybe with the current resurge of interest in this style of music due to a certain older British band reforming for a recent show maybe their time is coming...

PS: This venue has now been demolished along with several others nearby to make way for London's Crossrail project.