This was a wonderful night out, although would be on hardly anyone's radar. Small gig in an obscure venue. But it was truly enjoyable from start to finish.
Lets start with the venue - the Social in Little Portland Street. I didn't even know there was a Little Portland Street, but since there is a Great Portland Street maybe I should have realised there would be a comparator! Upstairs there is a long narrow bar. In the basement there is a small bar at the back, but still with a decent range of beers on tap, with the long music venue in front of it. Even that length of auditorium is split in two lengthwise with seating (with tables) along one side and room to stand at the other. With a decent sized stage at the end.
So I was happy to start with as I got a pint of a nice pale ale and the barman ran me through what beers they had on tap. Such a nice change from the big venues where you just get the sponsors standard low grade lager served as fast as possible by harassed bar staff.
I then wandered into the business end, found a bench seat on the right and saw Astile Doherty of the headline act scribbling away. I asked him if he was doing last minute poetry homework, but no, he was writing out a set list by hand. Anyway, had a nice little chat with the guy and then settled back to await the first act, Any Fool, without much in the way of expectation.
Frankly, if its the opening act in a small venue on a Thursday night, one can have little in the way of expectations. But Any Fool were really good - a four-piece guitar band. No stagecraft, they just played their songs, but the music was good and played well. Lead singer had a decent voice (although slightly odd facial expressions during songs that made him look like straining from constipation!). But would definitely be up for seeing them again
I had also never come across the main support, Adult Cat, before. Another four piece, and while Any Fool were surprisingly good, this outfit was even more so. Plus more audience interaction. All three guitarists took turns on vocals, and indeed swapped guitars. They felt a proper outfit. Really good set; will definitely look out for them again.
One thing that made it such a good evening for me was that all three bands were playing in a very similar style. If one is coming to see a band who play in a particular genre, it is a fair assumption that you are coming because you enjoy that style of music. So if I am coming to see one indie rock guitar band I am more likely going to enjoy some other unknown bands also playing in that genre, rather than radically different supports. Maybe its in a misguided attempt at diversity, or they feel that we should be given some sort of variety show, but I hate it when I come to see a guitar band and am then presented with, say, a rap act, or a solo singer songwriter on acoustic guitar, as supports. It happens too often.
Anyway, here we had three acts of a very similar ilk and I loved them all. I happened to bump into Another Day's lead guitarist on the way out (having a fag) and remarked on how good the supports were as well as Another Day. I said it was taking a risk having supports that were so good they might show them up. He said that listening to Adult Cat back stage he told his fellow band members they had better do a good show to avoid being upstaged, so I wasn't the only one thinking that!
Well as it happens they were not upstaged. This might be the fourth time I have seen Another Day and I felt it was the best. I would like to think that they are improving, and writing more songs of course, although it also helps that I have now heard the songs enough that I properly recognise them. But they really are good, and Louis Hillier does have his own distinctive vocal style.
And he and his brother on bass both also did their trademark backflips. Louis was measuring out the scope for this on stage - a wide enough stage, but a low ceiling which he patted a few times with understandable caution. He managed it. His brother took a safer option later on - dropping down into the audience where there was a bit more height clearance.
Astile pops up for a stint on vocals
And then Astile returns centre stage to read his poem Velvet Stone. I actually rather like it, although not personally into poetry much. The bedraggled hair betrays both that its warm, but even more the vigour with which he adds percussion in the background!
It helps that they are a nice bunch of young chaps. Indeed I feel they should play on that a bit more - bit more chat with the audience during the gig would not go amiss. I might have been tempted by their forthcoming gig in Brighton, but it coincides with a tube strike. The Brighton trains are one thing but with no tube to get me to them, well its a stretch too far. But I will definitely catch them again, and being such a family band I hope there is little chance of them breaking up before they have had the opportunity to make some more waves.
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