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It’s a while till I’m back at the B+G, someone managed to mislay the middle of the week, most
unfortunate. Fast Food open things up with abundant optimism, bass lines like rubber bands and
vocals looking to nail a hook. Kauai come from Manchester but have attracted a respectable
audience. They take the stage with considerable confidence and put in a crafted display of
promising pop talent, sharp dressers to boot. Bargain have been about for a while, but this is
my first chance to see them. There’s a lot of atmospheric noise generated topped off with a Bob
Mould vocal, they’re not bad.
Bull + Gate bastion of pasty, shuffling, drippy nose guitar bands? Well not always. Zimbarema
play what would look like hollowed out pumpkins, some sort of thumb piano action. It ‘s the sort
of African roots style music that saw Andy Kershaws move to Radio 3. There’s not a big crowd ,
but they all seem compelled to dance, I’m even seen to nod vaguely in time.
Inspired to seek out new musical territory, I tuned in to Radio 3 on my drive home, what do I
get? A live broadcast of noisy guitar types Trans – am. It’ s been an odd week.
It’s not all sex, drugs and Rock’n’Roll being a music promoter you know. There, just thought I’d
get that one off me chest. I’m late, again! This is getting more like being on report at school,
forced to sign in to scupper a chain smoking and Tipex thinners sess behind the bike shed. Then
its off home for a peek at a bootleg video before your Mum gets home from the Bingo, Animal Farm
and not George Orwells version. Still enough of what Phil used to get up to in his school days,
where was I? Oh yeah late for The International Language Of Mime and the B&G; is bloody heaving
for a Monday night.
Red Jetson have just finished their set as well so I’m double late! “Sack
the slack bastard” I hear you cry! “But I was in the office working hard on the B&G; website, I
lost track of the time, it wont happen again, honest” I protest (fingers crossed) innocently.
Theres a lovely new Montague Arms page on the way. And it wasn’t all my fault, bleedin’ Arse had
rearranged a Worthless cup game with ManUre and Holloway Road was jammed. Anyway I did see The
Shards, Meninblack, shades of Symposium, very energetic stuff.
Mostar were the headliners and by this time the B&G; was nearly full, Monday night bonanza! Theres a bit of a Seventeen Seconds
Cure sounding guitar sound going on and a bit of a PJ Harvey feel to their set. It’s their first
gig and they even get an encore. In a rare twist of fate I don’t get another gig to go to until
Friday, three nights without a gig to go to! Time to dust down the PS2 and see if I can finally
get past level three on Medal Of Honour.
Without to much digression I should point out that due to a person splattered under a train at
New Cross Gate I didn’t arrive at the Montague Arms until late. So forgive me if my recollection
of the evenings events are a little tainted. Two hours stuck on a crowded train adjacent to
Millwall FC with a carriage full of ‘Blitz Spirited’ commuters all smiling and joking as if
this was one big adventure. Now I know what its like to be part of the TV audience for Noels
House Party.
I finally arrive at The Monty having been fleeced by a black cab driver for £13 to be driven
very slowly from London Bridge to New Cross! I sink a very large Jack Daniels in record time.
Mower are on stage shouting and wailing all out of tune. They are short notice replacements
for Squarehip, unavailable tonight because of a sudden move of house, Hope they find it soon.
Your Highness are second and make a solid Pixie’s inspired racket.
Finally McFly play some up beat and powerful Supergrass/Muse type stuff. I later pass out after a glass of Ricard and
spend an uncomfortable night on some-ones floor in Peckham. What did I say about it not all
being sex, drugs and Rock’n’Roll!
My night off, so its up to Kentish Town for a gig! Not the B&G; but to The Forum to see The
Mighty New Fall. I pop into the B&G; for a pre-gig bevy and hear how Friday nights gig thanks to
The Howard Brown Super Sound was completely sold out and that The Candys enticed the whole of
the music industry along, including The Dandy Warhols. One Kentish Town bound Scud missile and
we could have changed, err no I’ll end that sentence there I think.
I check out a bit of The Agents before I pop next door, lively sounding techno pop. An hour and a bit later and I’m
back to catch the end of Miss Black America, a fizzing energy packed whirlwind of a band, lots
of sweat, fast guitars and CD sales. JUB Noise hammer us with some heavy sub bass, repetitive
bleeps and techno screeches for about twenty five minutes before a technical hitch brings the
set to an early climax. I play my new Fall CD between the bands a then stagger off towards East
London a very happy man.
Another short notice cancellation this time by The Hot Spring Healers leaves Sunday’s easy
listening line up somewhat depleted. “Sorry we got to help Squarehip find a missing house” or
something.
It’s the calm after the storm, it’s an empty ship after the shipwreck and I’m Robinson Cruesoe.
Deserted on a deserted Island with Corman and The Wall Chasers. The Wall Chasers had press
ganged a few strays but Cormans press ganging technique obviously leaves a lot to be desired.
You need proper wooden baseball bats for a successful press ganging, not inflatable ones from
the local joke shop!
Sometimes you need to take your commitments a little more seriously if you want to be taken
seriously yourself. Rescue comes in the form of the last District line train to Upminster.
No studded dog collars, wallets on a chain or huge pigeon street flares and no one asks to
have the b+g stamp on their forehead. Joe’s Comforters play a bass heavy blues in the Birthday
party tradition, it’s their farewell gig and they make the most of it. Idiot Bear step in at a
week’s notice for Japan’s Peach, it’s classic melodic rock. Then we hit some real heavy stuff.
Tixe take the notion of a power trio to an ultimate extreme. We’re talking New York’s
underground at its Swans era dissonant peak. Seeking to tie noise and wistful melody to some
dance inspired rhythms Resist sound is toughing up and growing more focused. Still the classic
backs to the audience stance.
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