29/3/2009 Maleficent & The Dogbones @ The Fly

Subject	Maleficent & The Dogbones @ The Fly
PostedDate	3/29/2009
	I'm back at The Fly for the second time in a week, but tonight it's a very different vibe and the place is full of Goths. Maleficent are the first band. They are actually putting the night on themselves to promote their new album 'Demize'. Their music is a bit 'Goth' and too electronic for my tastes, but I'm hoping their live show will sound more guitar based and in your face - plus it's free to get in and the Dogbones are playing too so here I am. Although the music itself doesn't do that much for me, I certainly prefer the more raw and organic sound of the band live. I also appreciate the effort that Maleficent have put in to making this a very dramatic and 'in your face' show - it's certainly a gripping performance. It's not quite my cup of tea musically, but I'm certainly glad I saw this show. The final band of the evening are the Dogbones This was more to my liking musically - very raw and primal. The band features Crispin and Nomi from Queen Adreena - with Crispin taking a more prominent role without the amazing Katie Jane Garside getting most the attention as in his 'day job' band. Crispin also shares lead vocals in this band as well as letting rip on guitar. Nomi takes lead vocals on some songs, and swaps guitar/bass duties with Crispin on some songs too. Along with the twin drummer tribal attack this makes the band really stand out as quite unique - there is certainly no one else out there like the Dogbones! This is a particularly strong performance from the band tonight - very heavy and distorted sounding guitars mixed with a punk and 'in your face' edge. This is the best show I've seen from the Dogbones - their performance probably spurred on by playing to a full room and an audience who were really up for it.

PS: This venue is now closed.

28/3/2009 GinKinta & Love and a .45 @ the 12 Bar Club

Subject	GinKinta & Love and a .45 @ the 12 Bar Club
PostedDate	3/28/2009
	I find myself at the 12 Bar Club again for another late night.  The first band I'm here to see is GinKinta. They are a new all girl 3 piece grunge band from south London featuring ex-Candyheads and In So Far 6 stringer Hanna on bass duties. They play well and give a good account of themselves at this intimate club show. Last band of the night are Love and a .45. They go on after midnight - ensuring I have no chance of catching the last tube home.  However, it's worth staying on into the 'Night Bus Zone' to see this lot as they are always good fun! There has been a line-up change since I last saw the band, but the new bass player seems to be fitting in well. Oh well, at least I have time for a few more beers and it's not too cold for standing waiting for the night bus - which arrives quite quickly for once.

25/3/2009 Disarm & Drugdealer*Cheerleader @ The Fly

Subject	Disarm & Drugdealer*Cheerleader @ The Fly
PostedDate	3/25/2009
	Yes, at last - another blog!  If I appear to have been a bit quiet on the blogging front recently there have been reasons. I've had a lot on my plate the last couple of months or so and haven't been out to gigs much, so there hasn't been much to report. That's changing now, although I still don't have much spare time for doing this sort of thing.  The last few gigs I've been haven't got blogged yet because I haven't really had the time to sort through all the pictures and write the bloody things. Also, I couldn't really be arsed to be honest - other things are more important right now.  Anyhow, back to the 25th of March. This was always going to be a good night - a decent venue and Pure Rawk have booked three bands full of sleazebags!  I didn't arrive at The Fly until 'Towers Of Glagow' AKA Peep Show (OK - they are from Edinburgh really but that doesn't scan as well) had nearly finished their set - possibly by design as I was less than impressed when I saw them at the Bull & Gate a while back. I caught the last couple of songs, which included their only memorable one from last time 'The Stand' - I remembered it because it sounds just like a Tigertailz song. I'll leave it to you to decide if that a good or bad thing.  They finished with a Billy Idol cover - stealing the following band's thunder as they often do the same. I didn't get myself together in time to take any pictures of them, so I've included one above courtesy of Mademoiselle S Photography - which is no doubt better than I'd have managed anyway! Disarm were on good form. They always put on a ferocious performance. This band are really in their element playing in a small sweaty club and never disappoint. Tonight they were playing to a full room and feeding off the energy of a really 'up for it' crowd - which just makes Disarm play their sleazy pop/punk/glam racket even harder and even faster than normal. Frontman Brad has changed his image a bit recently and is looking a bit like Danny McCormack at times tonight.  Drugdealer*Cheerleader are another band that always make the effort to put on a good show. Hilda is an excellent frontman and really throws himself into each performance - always trying to draw you into the show. On top of that there is a girl backing singer, as well as the usual cheerleader or two to get the crowd going. Plus they once again have the 'human air conditioner' Laney74 filling in on bass duties on this tour (probably the 100th band he's played with here and in the US in the last 12 months) as the band are still 'between bass players'. Tonight's set is a mixture of stuff from the band's latest album 'Enjoy The Time You Waste', plus some really early songs that haven't been played live for ages - if ever, and some brand new tunes for the band's next album as well. This is certainly a band who always go the extra mile to give an audience top value for money. We were told that the venue would be open until midnight, but both the bars actually shut long before then - don't you just hate it when that happens! A few of us weren't ready to go home, or to stop drinking, so we adjourned to the nearby 12 Bar Club. Unfortunately it wasn't a 'rock' night at the club, but the bar was well stocked with suitable beverages so we stayed there in spite of the dubious acoustic entertainment in the other room - I had to wander in there and take a look when I heard a familiar song though. I was shocked to discover a solo acoustic act playing 'Highway To Hell' to a small audience of people who were actually seated - the first time I'd ever seen anyone sitting down for live music in this venue!  I was so shocked I had to stagger back to the front bar and sit down with another beer.  It was a good way to wind down after the excitement of the earlier show at The Fly though. To follow: (but maybe not straight away) Imperial Vipers, Livid, Ginkinta, Love & a .45, Maleficent, Kitty Hudson, The Erotics, Dogbones, Danko Jones, Cherry Brakewells, Eyelash, Supersuckers, Nashville Pussy, Terrorvision, and AC/DC plus more. Stay tuned for more rock 'n' roll...

PS: This venue closed, then reopened as 'The Bowery'. I think it has shut again since...

21/3/2009 A classical interlude...

Subject	A classical interlude...
PostedDate	3/21/2009
	Yes, classical. So why was I attending a concert of classical music instead of a rock gig? Like myself, music meant everything to my late father - only a very different kind of music. He was a trained singer and for many years sang in the choir of the London Philharmonic Orchectra. Eventually, age took it's inevitable toll on his voice and he reluctantly bowed out of his place in the choir. He missed it enormously, for the social side of it as well as the music itself. Not wanting to give up on performing music altogether he decided to take up playing the violin for the first time in his life. This he did, and he joined the East London Late Starters Orchestra (ELLSO). He enjoyed this greatly and it became an important part of his life up until very close to the end - again for the social side as much as the music. As some of you know, my father died last month - which is why I haven't been out and about as much as usual so far this year. My dad seems to have made quite an impression in his time with the orchestra, and they wanted to dedicate their end-of-term concert to his memory - he performed with them for the last time at their previous concert in December. I was invited to attend this rather special tribute, so along with my sister and her family I made my way down to St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch where the ELLSO concerts take place. Ironically, my father's name was also Leonard. The event seemed even more ironic to me personally as I am often in the area for concerts of a very different type of music at nearby venues - it seemed very odd walking through those familiar East London streets (dressed rather differently than my normal more rock 'n' roll attire) to such a sombre event. St Leonards Church is a very old and historic building. Many of the plaques and inscriptions on the walls date from the 1700's and some actors from Shakespear's time are apparently buried there. The church is mentioned in the line "When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch" from the well known nursery rhyme 'Oranges and Lemons'. The place is well worth a visit if you ever get the chance. The atmosphere and the acoustics are rather special. I found the whole event very moving as I imagined my father taking his usual place amidst the orchestra as he did so many times over the past few years. Although classical music isn't my thing and I only recognised three of the twelve pieces that were played I was very moved by what I heard. The power of a full orchestra in such surroundings is really something. The selection of music was quite varied, featuring pieces by Handel, Puccini, Bizet, Purcell, Elgar, Beethoven, Schubert, and Gershwin amongst others. There was a bit of a 'meet & greet' afterwards where I was lucky enough to meet many of the people who played in the orchestra with my father - I was very touched to see how fondly he was regarded by them. Several people tried to convince me to take up an instrument and join them! Maybe in 20 years or so when I am getting too old to heave heavy amplifiers in and out of cars and vans at gigs... I found the whole experience very involving and the people very nice - I can see why my dad enjoyed being involved with the orchestra so much and how much it all meant to him. I may even attend their next concert...

19/3/2009 Cherry Brakewells & Voodoo Six @ The Scala

Subject	Cherry Brakewells & Voodoo Six @ The Scala
PostedDate	3/19/2009
	This is the first Unholy club night at the Scala I've been able to get to. I was really looking forward to it as a couple of my favourite bands are on the bill. Things don't get off to a very good start for me. On arrival I have to queue outside for about 15 minutes - even though the queue isn't very long. There are four bands on in total, but because of the club later they start ridiculously early and as a result I end up missing Shush completely. Apparently there was hardly anyone in the venue when they went on and they had to play to almost no one.  Things have picked up quite a bit by the time Cherry Brakewells take to the stage - a few minutes late due to technical issues. The band's fan club seems to be out in force tonight, and they are treated to a great show.  I've never seen this band play to so many people, but they really rise to the occasion and play a blinder. The crowd love 'em! This band were terrific the first time I saw them, but they are getting even better as they play more gigs. Last on the bill are Voodoo Six. This band have upped their profile considerably over the last year with their debut album release, lots of touring, and quite a bit of radio play. In spite of all this, I am not to only one to notice that when they start their set they are playing to less people than the Cherry Brakewells. To be fair, it soon fills up quite a bit although the room isn't packed. The band turn in a polished and professional performance - all that time on the road has really paid off. The band certainly seem to have built up a decent following, but like the previous time I saw them none of their songs really reach out and grab me. After the bands finish The Scala turns into a club until 6 in the morning. There are numerous DJs on various floors playing a wide variety of rock music. When I look back in the main room (where the bands played) a little later a wrestling ring has been errected for some sort of demo wrestling show or something. This has about as much interest to me as watching paint dry so I leave them to it. If I didn't have anything planned for the following day (Saturday) I'd have been tempted to stay for the musical part of the club night - although I was less than impressed by the selection of beer on offer at the bar - and even less impressed by the prices at over £4 a pint.  I have to say the service at the bar was very quick though.  A club that stays open until 6 (around when the tube starts running again) is very tempting, but on this occasion I was actually sensible enough to leave in time to catch the tube home for once.