360 and pals LIVE In 2009

The first gig of the year took place at Proud Galleries in Camden, I can still recall the walk from the tube station to the Lock, on a freezing cold evening when I saw just one person on my way to the gig. Camden a ghost town? It really was that night, but forty or so brave souls showed up to see Krakatoa play a set that soon warmed the crowd up.

Fast forward three and a half months to a beautiful spring day in April. 360 Degree Music are hosting the Camden Crawl at Tommy Flynn’s, a hostelry situated between Mornington Crescent and Camden stations. Actually, it’s the Camden Trawl, as the venue is not officially part of the Crawl, but that doesn’t stop us from having bigger crowds than many of the official venues.

Thirteen bands play in twelve hours, everyone goes on at the scheduled time, there are only three minor skirmishes, no ones head gets busted, and stars of the day are Krakatoa, (yes it’s them again, and this time they are headlining this extravaganza); The Supernovas, (a storming set that wins the best reception of the day on their North London home turf); Rum Shebeen, (proving once again what a great band they are, but why only one single in three years?); a wonderful debut set by Savants; Reader’s Wives’ London debut, which is a totally assured, singalong affair; a rollicking, Beatlesque, Motown meets the modern age set by Inwits; and a sparse solo performance from Paul Liddell, which wins plaudits from journalist Gavin Martin.

Stroll On’s remarkable residency at central London’s The Social provided several highlights of the year, with The Metros’ penultimate gig in March, which drew a sellout crowd by 9.30; Mozzy Green’s beautiful intensity enrapturing the audience in April, and an astonishing aural barrage/sonic symphony from Screaming Tea Party in June. Later in the year, Gringo Star ,The Supernovas and Yves Klein Blue gave garland winning performances on a glorious night in November.

Also in November, Reader’s Wives returned to London with storming sets at two packed-to-the-rafters gigs at Peter Parker’s in old Tin Pan Alley, and Tommy Flynn’s (I see a theme developing here…). The same week bore witness to three shows from Sweden’s psychsters Mono Stereo, who played a fine show at Kentish Town’s Flowerpot, and an absolute stormer supporting Violens at Proud Galleries.

Upon returning to Dublin, Reader’s Wives played a launch show, in support of their ‘Secrecy & Sex’ EP, at Dublin’s stunning Odessa Club. Contraceptives were dispatched into the crowd from the stage, people drank and danced, and a jolly good time was had by all. Support band Mozzy Green were disappointed with their own performance, but they were the only ones, and they received a warm reception from a very warm and appreciative audience (that’s Dublin for ya!).

Talking of Dublin, Krakatoa and The Supernovas both visited the fair city in July for their debut Irish shows, both winning many fans and compliments. Both bands also followed their return to London with single launches, Krakatoa selling out the Legion on a warm July night, and The Supernovas repeating the feat in a sweaty night at The Social at the beginning of August.

Oh, did I mention that Krakatoa played 18 gigs in 18 nights, supporting Alabama 3 on a trek that took in the length and breadth of the country. And Gaoler’s Daughter and The Supernovas playing high profile support slots with Babyshambles?

2009’s live activity ends with a show at the Stroll On Christmas party, at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on Monday 22^nd December. Krakatoa, The Supernovas and Inwits will all play – IT’S GONNA GO OFF!

St. Patricks Day

I got twenty four minutes before I run out of power on my internet typewriter. I hope my spelling has been getting better and I know my grammar leaves a lot to be desired- this is because I spent my childhood doodling and day dreaming about Top Gun. But I am trying (can you start a sentence with but…?). Any ways, as long as it looks nice on the page I don’t really care if it stands up next to …standards or not.

So we are playing a gig at the Windmill, Brixton on St. Patrick’s Day, 17th March 2009. I am excited. Too excited. Because over in New Orleans, on the same day and at the same actual time, my friend is debuting a documentary he co-made about a band called Lil’ Band O’ Gold who are a bunch of musicians, hailing from  South Louisiana. As we have yet to do a gig with drums this year, due to geography, the price of train fares and fierce loyalty and my friend’s documentary being the culmination of a hell of a lot of blood sweat and tears, I believe some serious cosmic magic is gonna happen. If you have ever read Bill Drummond’s book 45 you will understand what I mean. He managed Echo and The Bunnymen and Teardrop Explodes and formed The KLF. He once burnt a million quid too.

The energy caused by this cosmic correlation, plus Irish Luck, a gallon of new songs and even more Guinness than usual (not too much mind- the real consumption will happen after the gig…nothing worse than forgetting your own name in the middle of a gig- trust me I’ve been there enough times to know) will evidently channel itself into everyone involved causing an all over creative drive which will bless the rest of our lives. I honestly believe this to be true.

So, be sure to come to this gig so you can be blessed- you won’t regret it.

Cheers,

Dave

Leg!

My leg hurts and I don’t know why. It feels like something is growing in there- a maggot perhaps.

It wakes me up in the morning and it gives me an excuse to drink in the evening.

I am hobbling about like an old Major with gout.

It clicks if it stays still for too long but aches like crazy. Like crazy when I walk.

I went to the Doctor after nights of drunken stupor followed by mornings of agony and afternoons filled, oh so filled, with gripe!

And what did the doctor say?

Get an X-Ray.

And take these three times a day. He’s baffled. The doctor is baffled and I’m supposed to get an X-Ray? That will take all day…come to think of it…I spent an hour in the bank today, waiting to take money out and then an hour in the supermarket waiting to give them money and then another bloody hour in the doctors to be told he is baffled. Now I am expected to wait even longer to get an X-Ray?

Balls.

Balls.

Balls.

I’ll simply bash the other one to balance it out and stop all this bloody waiting.

Good day.

Rum Shebeen / D.A