Indie All Dayer at the Dublin Castle

I don't always make the best life choices. A beautiful day in London. And I chose to spend it in a windowless room in the back of a pub. The pub being the famous Dublin Castle.

I had come to see a slate of indie bands, none of which I had heard of. To be fair this was in part because they came from all over the country, so not on what I might describe as the London circuit.

I have to confess I was a little disappointed by the day. First, the audience. It was distinctly elderly. Now that may sound hypocritical coming from someone about to hit 64, but my issue is that one might have hoped for a group of people, like me, wanting to see some new bands. But this elderly audience was not a constant audience throughout. Most only came for one band or other. The implication being that they were the parents or family friends of the bands playing. And weren't interested in any others. There were precious few attendees under 30, which in part I put down to the fact that these acts were travelling from around the country and their young mates that might have come locally were less keen than the parents to pay for the travel.

This also meant that the size of the audience ebbed and flowed during the day, not necessarily in proportion to the quality of the band.

Anyway, a case in point were openers Flair. From Glasgow. That's quite a trip for someone just to support a band. They didn't really look a rock band, with a fat hairy lead singer, but did sound like one. He had a good voice and they sounded fine, but nothing special.

Next up were a definite step up - Fools Arcade. Northern five piece. Sounded really good. Fine vocals, catchy songs, but they looked a little like the boat has sailed. Little too old to make it. And one does hope coming to these events to see the next big thing. It won't be them, however good the lead singer's voice. (also the somewhat advanced age of these bands had a knock on effect on the audience. If I am correct in it being largely parents and their friends, well these parents are going to be more pensioners tan middle aged!

Could make similar observations on the next act too, if anything rather more middle aged themselves. Sunset Ruins were clearly most popular act of day so far but not quite sure why except they were probably more local. Playing cockney geezers. Nothing like quality of vocals of previous two acts though.

Broken Colours from High Wycombe were both best band so far and worst supported. A 4 piece with a great sounding lead singer. They did cover of a song by 3 Doors Down which rather defeats the object of a cover, ie pick something so obscure no one knows it's a cover. (To my knowledge while 3 Doors Down were successful in the States they are unknowns here) . Audience size for them was down to about 20 something 

So far I would have described the acts as perfectly competent. None were exciting, but none were awful. But next act, Buzzkill Joy were indescribably awful. But I will try to describe them.

 A trio, the guitarist apparently a stand in, but that did not really matter. Lead singer was basically talking or screaming. Dressed in black oversized tracksuit to hide his obese shape. The audience was largely indifferent and at the back of the room, except for a massively overexcited dozen or so girls mostly dressed in black leather and lace, plus three guys, who gathered at the stage and indeed at times leapt onto the stage. It was really a private party and had nothing to do with music. If I describe the three blokes you may get a feel for the group - one was about 60, bald with a grey beard all the way down his paunch, one was a young man in a skirt and tights and the third a chap with long ginger hair carrying a pink animal bag and drinking out of a horn. You may guess that what I am describing is a band solely for outsiders. To anyone else they would just be awful. And as soon as the band finished this group all disappeared too. They had nothing to do with a music festival

At this point I was in two minds whether or not to call it quits and enjoy late afternoon sunshine. Fortunately I didn't because Skal, the next act were the best band by far of the whole day. And the lead singer best front man. Not the best looking young man, not the best voice but that alone isn't what makes a great front man. He just had the most natural swagger, most natural interaction with the crowd. Great indie sound. The most enthusiastic audience. Only band so far I could imagine making it. From Winsford, so from that very successful Manc/Liverpool conurbation.

I quite liked the Glasshouse from Hull. Another worthwhile band. A good listen, but rather a small audience again. Lead guitarist absolutely dripping sweat in front of me. Good vocals, but the guy just didn't have the natural style of the lead singer from Skal. Audience interaction felt forced although he  might have been better released from his guitar like his predecessor.

Nothing Rhymes with Orange were on next, and they were possibly the best supported band of the night. Based in Bristol so not so far to come. Best looking band of the night, but it is not a beauty contest. They were good, lead singer both handsome with winning smile and strong voice. Had a very enthusiastic following, although mostly elderly as if family. But....?

 I think my but is that their songs just didn't flow. Put too many different ideas in each one.  

Sunbeam from Whitby were a good fun band, strong vocals, personality, had the flow in their songs that Nothing Rhymes with Orange didn't. I liked them but not enough to seek them out again. Only act I think I would seek out were Skal, so hope they venture down again. (Sorry, didn't like them enough to go up to Liverpool to see them!)

 

Tender Youth, Hampton Ponds, Good Delusions and Hazy Waters at the New Cross Inn

I was at a loose end on a Bank Holiday Monday so thought I would try out this gig at New Cross Inn with four bands totally unknown to me. 

I have complained before about these low level gigs giving opening times that bear no relation to reality. But I was especially sore about this one. My ticket clearly said 6-9pm. Which did seem rather early, but I put this down to being a Bank Holiday Monday. So in reliance, I felt it was too early to eat beforehand given it would take me over an hour to get to New Cross. Instead if it finished at 9 I should be home about 10 - late but acceptable for dinner.

Even though I arrived at 6:30 that was still way too early. I just arrived in the midst of sound checks. It was nearly 8 before a band started playing and by 9:30 the main act still hadn't come on. Upshot was that I started cooking at midnight. Starving. Grr!

Although a pain to get to (Bus, two tubes and overground) I quite liked the feel of the venue - good wide stage, big bar at the back.

And I liked the opening act, Tender Youth. Who despite the name were not especially youthful. As the lead singer told me in perfect English, they were Danish and had moved from Copenhagen to New Cross (presumably on cost grounds rather than its bright lights). I am sure there is much more of an indie music scene in London than in Copenhagen. 

What I liked about them was that they were a bit different. They employed an electric violin. They looked (but didn't sound) a bit eighties New Romantics. Lead singer had a good strong voice. 

I might have liked the next act, Hampton Ponds, too. If I had heard them properly. But the balance on sound was all off. And in particular there was nothing audible from the lead singer's mic until halfway through the penultimate song. And then it disappeared again in the middle of the last one. So pretty hard to judge a band on hearing only very loud drums and bass. They did a cover of Turning Japanese which I could only just discern from the lead guitar part.

Sadly the trio Good Delusions didn't sound good enough to me. A bit too unsure what they were, playing both punk covers and some of their own rap.

And by the time Hazy Waters came on I was starving. A little pre-gig research suggested they were shoegaze genre but they were a little loud for that. And the lead singer had just a bit too much confidence in her vocals. Strong voice, but not 100% in key. I gave them a few songs before I headed for the exit with dreams of sustenance...