Second night in a row at a gig. I plan to do two today - 4 gigs in three days feels pretty devoted!
This was a line up of miscellaneous indie acts, none of whom I had ever heard of, so had no idea what to expect. What I certainly didn't expect was to arrive at time of doors open to find the first act announcing he had just two more songs. His audience was 10 (all at the back of the room), which from look of photo below seems rather sad. But given he was set off to start quarter of an hour before the advertised time on the tickets for the gig opening, he was lucky to get that!
Dublin Castle is not a slick professional operation. But it does put on a lot of good music. Apology for quality of photos - my camera is still awaiting repair, and the lighting at the Dublin Castle is appalling for photos. (In contrast, for a small venue the sound is very good. And if you had to choose one or the other, well....)
Anyway, this solo artist playing to an empty room was called Nick Shane. From Dundee. Singer songwriter. Frankly left zero impression on me.
Second act was Oswald Slain, and I expected from the name to be more of the same, ie bloke strumming guitar. I could not have been more wrong! Not a solo artist called Oswald, but a full band. Named after Lee Harvey Oswald, who was assassinated of course, hence Oswald Slain. And they were terrific, despite the unpromising look of a hairy tubby guy and a miscellany of musicians. But once they started playing I really warmed to them. Musically they were very good, lead singer's vocals were good as supplemented by the girl next to him also on guitar. Lovely buxom lady on drums (nice to see a female drummer!).
Just sounded great, but with added bonus of nice unassuming sense of humour between songs. Got to love a band who finish on a song called Happiness is Overrated. Probably most proficient act of the night. Why so early on the bill then? I think because they were from Bristol and had to get home!
Third band also from Bristol, Belle Dame. Good but rather different kettle of fish.
For one thing, they didn't feel like a band, but rather a duo - the guys below - plus a couple of session musicians. Which the guy on the left below pretty much admitted in the sense that he said they were playing London for the first time with this line up having added the drummer and bass guitarist. The two "old members" had some rapport, and both played guitar and did vocals with equal competence. And they did have a distinctive style. Not a band I would choose to go and see, but if they appeared on a bill of a gig I was attending I wouldn't be unhappy.
Penultimate act were the Ariston, and this just felt and looked a more professional outfit. They even had a guy help them set up and videoed their set. They were certainly by far the most photogenic band of the night, hence the greater number of photos! They just looked really cool. Very indie guitar band, good enough, but anything special? Honestly don't know. I think you need to listen to songs multiple times before you can determine whether they have good hooks or not. So at this stage, I would just describe them as competent. "By this stage" I mean my stage in listening not so much their stage in musical development. Strong vocals at least.
The good looking lad in the white sweatshirt came up to thank me for coming (its a small gig and I am at the front) and we had a little chat, from which I prised out of him that they have a headline gig at Dingwalls in July. So if I am free I will test them out properly. He also said they had been asked to fill in this gig at the last moment, so in truth they might really have been the headline act in terms of merit and following.
Final act was a local Camden band called Ace Persona. they did feel a bit of a comedown from the previous act, in part just a question of my taste in music. I don't like rap, and they introduced quite a bit in their songs. Also vocalist had quite a flat voice, and generally there was a real dip in energy from The Ariston.
And on the way out I recognised a bloke at the bar - easily recognised by the fuzzy hair and extremely hippy garb. It was Woody from the band Garcia that I had seen (and met) a few weeks earlier. So had a chat, and he said he was doing a free gig at the Camden Eye again at 4pm tomorrow. Well as I have another gig at the Dublin Castle in the evening, why not do both I thought. So I will! 😃
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