Friday night....
Friday night was spent at home, finally having a proper dinner for the first time this week. Peep Show's on the tele, a re-run, but stil hilarious. The laughs are short lived mind you as I need to be in Camden for a gig at 12:30am. That mean's leaving my house at 11:30pm just as the pubs are kicking out. I share a 45min bus journey with some of North London's drunkest people....one of them, sitting opposite me, throws up where she thinks nobody can see her. She may be unable to control the eruptions of alcohol gushing backwards from her stomach, but 5 minutes later and she's perfectly focused on skinning up a spliff with the ease of someone perfectly sober. Remarkable.
The 10 minute walk from the Camden bus stop to the venue is one of the most depressing I will ever take. Every other person I pass is either a dealer trying to flog me some dodgy gear or a policeman grappling with another Friday night casualty. Alot of people tell me this is what makes London so colourful, but I'm afraid at 12:15am on a cold March early morning with me feeling tired and miserable, I just can't see it this way.
Step inside the venue and I'm in a different world. There's not one person in here not having a good time and my spirits are instantly lifted. I clock a couple of friends who get me a beer and introduce me to a couple of bands who have played earlier in the evening and we all head upstairs to watch Man Like Me, the band that are the reason for me out and about tonight in the first place. Man Like Me are 2 producers and a vocalist, totally infectious electro with some of the sharpest lyrics about the grime and shit of everyday life - yet their wry take on it all is at times truly hilarious. Watching the 3 of them dance about the stage like Madness while the crowd climb atop of each other's shoulders and bounce around the venue, invading the stage 3 times, is wholly uplifting and the thought of the journey here couldn't be further from my mind.
Gig over in what feels like the blink of an eyelide, I head home. The walk back to the bus stop is uneventful, the dealers and the cops are still there in force yet I manage to phase it all out, thinking only of Oxford's game against Burton Albion the next day. A win would help cement a play off place, wouldn't that be nice?
Comments
that 134 is an adventure, Camden is a hole, and home is where the heart is! x
So the game was a draw, then? They need more points - come on Jim! Is it too late to get to number one? I'm a stats freak, but have lost track of how long we have to get on top. :-) - Jenny May
Hey,
Great to see so many artists getting involved.
Check out my new album 'Stay Tuned', which is the follow up to
my debut album 'Excalibur'.
Phil MC
Hi were The Plane Station
hope u like our music
cheers
I must say Steve, I find this site more than helpful. I am one of Birmingham Uk's top Rising Artists and even with a top Birmingham Manager, it is always not easy to reach top A&Rs, I am confident that at least here they can see my profile, listen to my Demo songs and see my press reviews and who knows I may even be the first person to get signed on the site.
Kind Regards
Stine Richard
Man, I gotta check out Man Like Me! Feel free to stop by and say hello. Hope you dig the tunes :)
Cheers!
Shannon
Hey Steve,
Thanks for adding Anthill - Is that what you're supposed to say on Vox?
Your North London story brings back memories of being there about 6 years ago. After a night of weed and poppers I woke up to get some breakfast and being from Canada looked the wrong way when crossing the street and was hit by a cab. I was lucky not to be killed. As soon as the cab driver realized I was ok he demanded 20lbs to pay for his broken mirror. I settled on 10lbs and went on my way.
Anthill has been invited to play the London City showcase in June. I'm trying to justify the large expense of bringing a band over to play this showcase. I'm sure it'd be fun, but money is tight for indie bands. I'd appreciate your input on this decision. Have a listen to our songs if you get a chance and also let me know what you think.
All the best
Mark
http://www.anthill.ca