17/11/2007 Vamps ’N’ Gypsies @ Bar Monsta

Subject	Vamps ’N’ Gypsies @ Bar Monsta
PostedDate	11/17/2007
	Saturday night at Bar Monsta. The turnout is reasonable for the first band of the night. I must have seen Vamps 'N' Gypsies at this venue quite a few times now, but I never seem to get tired of seeing them. They kick off the evening in good style with 'Big In America' -  a strong new song from their forthcoming CD. They have some catchy tunes and they are always good fun. They have now got to the stage where they have so many good songs that a lot of excellent stuff has to be left out if they are only playing a support slot of thirty minutes or so - therefore we don't get to hear 'Running After You' or 'Porn Star'. However, their last EP still gets well represented with 'Sleaze' and the terrific 'Dumped For Jesus'.  One of the things I love about this band is the sheer passion and enthusiasm with which they play - they aren't just putting on a 'performance' and lookinglike they are into it - they really are having a great time onstage! They really enjoy themselves offstage as well and it's always party time as far as they are concerned - they are one of those few bands who genuinely do have that whole 'last gang in town' thing going on.  There are a couple of other bands on after Vamps 'N' Gypsies, seemingly more of the same tired old 'sleaze' acts - all image but no tunes. I've paid my money so normally I'd still hang around and check them out anyway, but I have a party to go to back in Barnet so I don't hang around for long. I catch part of the next band's set - a rubbish singer and no memorable songs. The place is starting to empty out - at the end of one song the singer goes "How are you tonight CAMDEN?". He is met with complete silence... He can't believe it and says he can't believe "Camden Town is so fucking dead on a Friday night!".  I've heard enough and I make my exit. There are noticably less people present in the venue than when the band started their set. Amazingly, the tube is OK on the way back for once - even the dreaded Northern (or 'Misery') line is running smoothly and I'm in Barnet in around half an hour for a housewarming party thrown by some good friends. A very nice way to spend the rest of the evening and well into the small hours...

PS: This venue later became the utterly dreadful 'Camden Rock' - best avoided.
PPS: I think the pictures really are lost for this gig.

14/11/2007 The Cut Outs @ the Water Rats

Subject	The Cut Outs @ the Water Rats
PostedDate	11/15/2007
	I haven't seen The Cut Outs for a while, so it's good to renew my aquaintance with them at the Water Rats. I'm not as keen on this venue as I used to be - the bar has gone downhill and all the real ales have disappeared.  The beer used to be one of the things that made the place stand out - that and one of the stinkiest toilets in a London venue.  The Cut Outs are one of those bands it's impossible not to like - well that's what I think anyway! A pop/punk all girl power-trio - what's not to like? They have catchy tunes, bags of charisma, and they sing and play well. They also look like they thoroughly enjoy every minute of their time on stage and tear through their set with great enthusiasm. It's difficult not to compare them with JOANovARC - another terrific all girl 3 piece, but The Cut Outs are more bouncy pop/punk compared to JOANovARC's more classic rock influences. This band seem to already be building up an enthusiastic following - it's not suprising, as The Cut Outs are a lot of fun!

16/11/2007 Trash Monroe @ the Old King's Head

Subject	Trash Monroe @ the Old King’s Head
PostedDate	11/16/2007
	The Old King's Head provides another chance to see a band who are rarely seen in London - Trash Monroe in this case. I first saw this band at The Twist in Colchester and was quite impressed so I was looking forward to seeing them at what is almost my home venue. This gig is also the same night as the Goth club Blood & Velvet at this venue so there is a reasonable crowd in who are likely to like this band. However, this has the disadvantage that part of the venue's normal house PA seems to have been hijacked for the DJs to use at the back of the pub... The band fire up, and the sound isn't too bad out front - although the vocals could be a bit louder. However, the sound the band are hearing onstage is nothing like as good and singer Melany can't hear her vocals due to the lack of proper monitors. After two or three songs the band have to stop until things can be sorted out. After a fashion something is cobbled up the the band can continue with their set. Melany is a fine singer and the largely Goth crowd seem to enjoy the band's show. Trash Monroe have a strong image as well as a good sound and they make an impression. It's certainly a good way to spend a Friday night in North London.

15/11/2007 Johnny Panic @ Electrowerkz

Subject	Johnny Panic @ Electrowerkz
PostedDate	11/15/2007
	This show was supposed to take place at the Water Rats, but it got moved at very short notice to Electrowerkz - not the band's fault, but rather annoying at it's not quite as easy to get to as Kings Cross and the venue is rather shabby with poor bar facilities.  This was intended to be the band's new album release party, and I didn't realise until I got there that there were several other bands playing. The previous act was a singer who's name escapes me, although a mate reckoned he was one of the singers from Do Me Bad Things - who I assume have now split up? He had a decent enough band, but it was all a bit bland and soulless - could go far then... In spite of the short notice move to a less well known venue, Johnny Panic had a much better crowd to play to than at their recent support slot at the 100 Club - quite a few people were obviously present to see the band as opposed to the other acts. Johnny Panic played a pretty similar set to their 100 Club gig, but I didn't think the show was as good due to the more cramped confines of Electrowerkz. The atmosphere was better though due to the crowd. The band gave an excellent performance but probably couldn't give their best due to the constrictions of the venue's stage, and the sound wasn't that good either. This same audience, but in the 100 Club would have made the show a real cracker! It was still a good gig though, as the band have so many great songs, and the new ones are starting to grow on me now. The mix of old and new material worked very well - much better than the set of new songs the band played at Dingwalls earlier this year. The only shame was that the band had to leave out some really good older songs like 'You're A Fool' because they just didn't have enough time. Most the best songs from the first album did get played though. Well worth a trip to Islington on a Thursday night.  There was another band on afterwards - I noticed a 'rock' looking guitarist setting up on stage who would not look out of place in any of the current crop of 'sleaze' bands playing in London.  Also a couple of pretty girls who appeared to also be in the next band, so it looked worth sticking around to check them out.  The 'band' that took to the stage shortly afterwards consisted of the aforementioned guitarist, the girls who turned out to be backing singers/dancers, and there was a man with a 'tache in drag - he was the lead 'singer', but I suspect he was miming.  There was another 'guitarist' but I think he was miming too.  The 'rock' guitarist was virtually inaudible and looked rather sheepish. The music was rather camp pop music - as my mate remarked, it was like 'a typical night at Madame Jo-Jo's'. It was pretty dire, and made the Scissor Sisters seem really rock 'n' roll. I very quickly decided it was time to leave...

12/11/2007 Sex Pistols @ Brixton Academy

Subject	Sex Pistols @ Brixton Academy
PostedDate	11/12/2007
	I wasn't sure about going to this gig - how could they ever live up to their former glories?  However, it was the original and best lineup - how many punk bands of that era can claim that these days? Also, it looked (at the time) like being the last chance I'd ever get to see one of my favourite bands. I knew I'd always regret it if I didn't take this chance to see them so... The tickets were bloody expensive though - how could they justify that when the band only have about an hour's worth of material even if they play the entire album plus all the single B-sides? 5 nights at Brixton Academy = 25000 tickets @ £37.50 each - someone is making a lot of money out of these gigs! Already I was thinking of the classic quote - yes, you know the one! Nearly everyone I know claims to like the Pistols. No one else is going though.  I end up virtually giving away my spare ticket to a tout for a fiver in the street outside. Much as I hate those fuckers, a fiver is better than nothing - I hope he never managed to sell it - the band were due on stage any minute. I had a look at the official merch stand on the way in - £20 for a 'Never Mind The Bollocks...' T-shirt!  They can stick that up their arse!  That quote comes to mind again... Already not in the best of moods as I entered the venue I decided I'd try and get a drink before the band started. Over ten minutes later and I was still two or three people away from the bar - all just to try and get a pint of watery overpriced Carling in a poxy plastic glass.  Realising I still might not have got served in another ten minutes I decided to go without for once. Although the venue must have been either sold out or very close to it, I managed to get fairly close to the front without too much trouble over on the left hand side. I soon realised I was going to be on Glen Matlock's side rather than Steve Jones where I would have preferred, but it was a bit late to do anything about it by then. Anyway, it looked more crowded over on the other side and I had a virtually unobstructed view so I settled for where I was. Instead of a support band there appeared to be a drum & bass DJ or something of that sort. It was total shit and the crowd hated it. They were obviously getting increasingly wound up by this - which I suspect was exactly what the band wanted.  Eventually, the Sex Pistols amble onto the stage. It didn't seem right seeing the band in a large venue like this - certainly not their natural habitat. It could have been worse I guess - playing one night at Wembley or Earls's Court instead of five nights at a smaller venue. Unusually, there was no backdrop behind the stage - you could see flight cases and the back wall of the venue behind. The band launched into 'Pretty Vacant' to open the show. It didn't sound that great to be honest - but actually bad or anything, but I've heard more convincing versions of the song from bands in pubs. Half the Pistols didn't look much different than they did in the early days of the band; Paul Cook looked older but still in good shape and played tightly with a lot of energy. Glen Matlock looked virtually the same as ever - hardly a hair out of place. He made quite an effort to put an a good performance as well, although with his waistcoat and hairstyle he looked almost most like an 80's pop star than a punk rock legend (anyone remember London Cowboys?).   The other two had obviously let themselves go a bit as they reached middle age - not still lean and wirey like Mick 'n' Keef. Steve Jones had a barrel-like torso and looked (and sounded) like a middle aged man playing in a pub. He didn't play badly - he just didn't seem that bothered, although he did liven up a bit later in the set for 'Anarchy...'.  Johnny Rotten/John Lydon was in slightly better shape, and to be fair he did make quite an effort to be entertaining - prancing and running about a lot while throwing various rather affected poses. It was almost a caricature, but I thought he did a surprisingly good job of giving value for money. He also managed to slag off Malcolm Maclaren with two minutes of getting on stage - saying how he was so glad that "fucking wanker" was out of 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' or whatever shite reality TV program he was supposed to be on! The setlist was exactly as you would expect it to be - absolutely no surprises whatsoever. They played the entire 'Never Mind The Bollocks...' album, plus the obligitory 'No Fun' and 'Stepping Stone'. Of course 'God Save The Queen' was saved until late in the set - when a backdrop was finally lowered - with a Jamie Reid style punk Queen's head on a postage stanp design. Steve Jones actually started to look a bit more animated and like he was actually into it when they played 'Anarchy In The UK'. Naturally, there was an encore - to fit in with the almost pantomime atmosphere - well it is nearly panto season isn't it? The band played for just over an hour and I thought they were average at best. After getting out from a somewhat lucklustre (although to be honest I wasn't expecting much else) show I encounter the usual dodgy T-shirt vendors on the street outside. Guess what? - their shirts are half the price of the 'official' ones in the venue and they look just the same. At a tenner I nearly bought one, but I didn't really want one with '2007 TOUR' on the back and have people forever asking me if I went and how good it was.... Round the corner was another geezer selling them for only a fiver, but he only had ones left that would fit Steve Jones so I didn't bother. I arrive at Brixton tube to find the station had shut for the night at 10.00!  Not impressed - it's late at night and I have to get from South London to the extreme Northern edge and there are no more trains. There is a 'Train replacement bus service' - but all the buses are full up and drive straight past the bus stop without even stopping! Fucking shite public transport service as usual when you really need it!  I discover that there is actually a bus from Brixton that goes to Kings Cross - to my surprise one comes fairly soon and only takes about 25 minutes to get me to somwhere I can finally get the tube home from. The tube service the rest of the way home is so fucking awful that it takes over another hour to get home from Kings Cross instead of the half hour it should take.  Was it all worth it just for an hour of a legendary band giving a very mediocre performance? It was was a pretty expensive night out - over £90 for tickets, booking/post rip-off fees, and tube fare - and I didn't even have a drink all night!  Was it worth it? No - not even if tickets had been cheaper and I'd only bought one. If I'd paid a fiver to see that show in a local pub I'd have been satisfied, but that's about all I thought it was worth. I certainly wouldn't bother again in the same circumstances. Although if I hadn't bothered going I'm sure I'd always have wished I had... "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"

11/11/2007 Part 2. TAT @ The Underworld

Subject	TAT @ The Underworld
PostedDate	11/11/2007
	So after seeing several bands of varying quality in the pub upstairs earlier I head down to the Underworld. It makes a nice change to go to a couple of gigs in one day and not have to worry about rushing around catching trains or buses in an effort to get to the next venue in time! TAT are supporting The Loved Ones and there is quite a good crowd in the Underworld - not enough apparently for the management to justify opening the other bar though. TAT have a big enough following these days to ensure that plenty of people have arrived early enough to watch the support band and it is quite full in the area in front of the stage. TAT themselves provide a lively show as usual and get a great reception to their brand of tuneful pop/punk with a hint of ska. It's an energetic performance that gets the crowd bouncing. The band are on good form and nice and tight as a result of being on tour with The Loved Ones. I enjoy their show, but decide to head home after TAT's set. Normally I would have stuck around for the headliners, but I'd already seen five bands in the last few hours and I didn't think things were going to get any better so I decided to leave on a high after TAT. Just as well really as the tube was shite on the trip home and my journey took much longer than it should have done.

11/11/2007 Part 1. Honeykill @ the World's End

Subject	Honeykill @ the World’s End
PostedDate	11/11/2007
	Another two gigs in one day effort - but made much easier by one of them being in the afternoon, and both of them being in virtually the same place. It's Rememberance Sunday. I bought a poppy yesterday and somehow lost it at the gig at the Purple Turtle last night. I'm rather annoyed about not having one to wear today and can't find anyone selling them. As I walk into the tube station I pass an old soldier proudly wearing his medals - obviously on his way back from somewhere paying tribute to fallen comrades. He gives me a sideways glance in passing - my general appearance and lack of a poppy arousing what I perceive as a look of thinly disguised contempt. If only he knew... I arrive in Camden and search in vain for a poppy seller. It may not mean much to most of you reading this, but it actually means a lot to me. I get to the World's End pub and find Tish and Paivi from Honeykill 'aving a fag' outside. I was expecting the band to be starting their set shortly, but they haven't even had a chance to soundcheck yet - apparently there are three other bands playing as well. It's a different vibe to a normal gig - it's just a pub in Camden on a Sunday afternoon - no stage or anything - the bands just set up in a corner. It's very relaxed and it's a free show so anyone can casually wander in off the street. Honeykill eventually get to play well over an hour later than planned. Even then things don't work out as expected - Paivi has to sit this gig out as due to a technical problem her keyboards can't be plugged in.  Consequently, it's a raw and stripped down three piece version of Honeykill that play this show. However, they pull it off really well - powered along by Alfie the 'Italian Keith Moon' really driving things along. It's more of a 'punk rock' feel to this show without any keyboards and there seems more of an urgency about the band's performance to make up for the missing member. It works out pretty well though and Honeykill get a great reception - especially considering virtually no one in the crowd can have known who the band were. There are quite a lot of people watching the band in this pub late on a Sunday afternoon and I think they have won over quite a few new fans by the time they play their big ROCK ending to their set.  The following couple of bands seen rather dull in comparison, although a bloke covered in green make-up and looking like the Jolly Green Giant seems to have brought quite a few people along to see him. The last band of four is pretty bog standard (as in only deserving to play toilet venues) pub rock. Well known musos apparently, but possibly a bit pissed and only appearing to play for their own amusement rather than entertaining what's left of the crowd.  Still, it a free admission gig on a Sunday afternoon in a pub with decent beer - well it would have if all the good stuff wasn't 'off'.  Still, the atmosphere is pleasant so it's a nice enough way to pass the time as I'm in good company.  Then as nine o'clock rolls around it's time to head downstairs to the Underworld...