The Smyths at Hootananny, Brixton

A new venue for me, the Hootananny, a sprawling pub with a very good auditorium attached. I was able to watch a bit of the Crystal Palace game on a big screen while waiting for the doors to open (much later than stated on the ticket...). That actually ended up a pleasant experience as I got chatting to a Palace fan and then his mates.

The Smyths were supported by a young lady called Lola Abineri doing all original songs. If I am honest, I wish I had stayed in the pub. She wasn't bad as these types of singer go. But just nothing of any interest

I have never seen the Smyths in what I would classify as a pub venue, but suffice to say it was great. This tribute act plays how you wish the Smiths would have aged. With dignity, style and humour. The audience was the usual mixture of pensioners like me down to lots of youngsters in their twenties if not teens. This was billed as a 40th anniversary of the Queen is Dead album, and follows the usual pattern of the whole of that album, plus lots of other Smiths standards, with which the crowd all sung along. And the Smyths don't just slavishly copy the originals. They add their own twist with great versions of Its Over and finishing on How Soon is Now. 

It was a grand experience. Much better, more reliable and cheaper than seeing Mozza himself. Will definitely go again