This was a great value three band line-up on a Friday night, featuring two bands I've lost count of how many times I've seen, plus one band I've not seen before, We arrived just before The Phobics came on, but I missed their first song while getting a couple of Loud Speakers from the upstairs bar.
When I did get back into the room Tom was singing about Living With A Handsome Violin if my notes are anything to go by, I'd guess they aren't, but they do have a lot of new songs in the set and this was a low slung garage rocker.
Cyanide Kool Aid wasn't Moyni's drink of choice for the night, no matter how much Tom might have suggested otherwise, it was however good and catchy with a slinky short solo from Jeff who was even grinning by the end of the song.
Won't Let Go amped things up a good bit as they flew through it at breakneck speed. Charlie led them into I Want You as Moyni and Jeff seemed to click into gear.
Tom then revved up his Brand New Jag and took it for a spin round Islington trying to avoid all the cameras, they had much joking about before the start of Democracy (Sick Of The 21st century) that is as bitter a look at our failed government as it needs to be.
Tom announced the next song as being for Syd Barrett wherever he is, it has a slightly frazzled psychedelic edge to it before they claimed to be living in a Dreamworld that was followed by another new song with a taut edginess to it.
As usual they dedicated Don't Lay Flowers On My Grave to Johnny Thunders as this wry slightly sad song brought there short sharp set to a close.
After the break on came No Feelings a five piece loose an Louche punky rock band who revolve around Ian Opg, who opened with Underground that was loose and a little rough around the edges. Woke Up One Morning seemed to be the next song but unlike Hendrix they didn't find themselves dead but down at the Hope And Anchor trying to hold it together.
I Wanna be Your Dog was played pretty damn well, it got lots of us going and with them especially the neat guitar solo. Refugee had some incisive lyrics about not wanting to be treated like a Refugee while hoping to make the world a better place as Sarah seemed to be getting more into it.
They then took aim at the bland songs in the Top 40 and who would want to hear that tripe, rather than ramshackle punk bands playing in basements. The next two songs kept well within the bands sound but I'm not about to guess what my notes say, but by this point in the set I was hoping they might cover either Strychnine or Lover Under Will as the singer sounded like she could really make a good job of those Blood And Roses classics.
|
Better Days Gone By took us back to the good old days when you could get stoned in a venue, or just go out and have loads of fun with fewer worries about pics showing up online. They then rampaged through 20th Century Boy that got everyone singing along with them before they closed with Selfie that took aim at the endless need to take more pics of yourself that brought there nicely wayward set to a close.
Finally it was time to see Healthy Junkies once more, as they've now been one of London's hardest working bands for the last 15 years and in keeping with this night my notes are not great, so no idea what Nina an the boys opened with but it was damn good. Don't You had a great short solo from Phil HoneyJones as they really seemed to come together.
As always Nina was getting a bit Self-Conscious but needn't have worried as half the audience were singing along with them by this point. Was the next song called Save Me I doubt it but like always they were tight, everyone was having loads of fun by this point.
As usual when they sing This Is Not A Suicide I always hope it will remain ever thus, this was a great full on version as Phil's guitar solo was super taut. Sound Of My Guitar was played like the monster hit it should have been. Not sure who Don't Talk could have been aimed at, as everyone seemed to be paying attention to the grunge attacking our ears.
Next up may have been Desire as it flew by us and everyone danced along it was great fun no matter what song it was, Jules Got A Job was as wry as it ever is, as she's given in and got a day job poor love.
Lion In A Circus went down a storm as it should for a song that now has its own T-Shirt, before they closed with a brilliant run through Theft that left most of us wanting more, but as Nina had managed to help destroy the drum kit during the instrumental breakdown that wasn't possible, as they left the stage with the guitars still feeding back and everyone smiling at the end of another great nights music.
|
