It started with a request by Paulie for a photo of the old footbridge in Brixton on the urban75 bulletin boards.

The request was met by such head scratching that posters began to fear that he'd dreamt the entire thing up because no one seemed to recall the bridge existing.

Despite the lack of forthcoming photographic proof, Paulie continued to describe the old bridge:

The bridge was pretty much on top of the pedestrian crossing which was always there (and which most people opted for). I think it survived until the mid 70s. It was a girder monstrosity with big planks laid across for the steps and bridge span - they flexed a fair bit when a bus went underneath.

To give a more accurate placing - it ran between Tunstall Road and the tube with the stairs at right angles on the south side.



Happily, the poster 'haushoch' came to the rescue, unearthing a photo showing a section of the footbridge from 'London Anders Reisen' published in 1980 by Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag GmBH.

The photo was by Michael Kadereit, and the books were guides for tourists who didn't want to visit the typical tourist spots, but wanted a real insight into the place they were visiting.

More: The Mystery of the Brixton Road footbridge

Labels: brixton

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Let us commemorate October 17, 1814: the London Beer Flood.

Close to where Centre Point now stands on Tottenham Court Road, was the Meux and Company Brewery (aka the Horseshoe Brewery).

On October 17, 1814, the hoops broke on one of their huge beer fermenting vats, sending about 82,400 gallons of beer gushing in all directions. The force caused other vats to break, creating a beery tsunami of some 323,000 gallons to cascade along the narrow streets.

Basements flooded, two houses were destroyed, and nine people died from drowning - or in the case of one opportunistic individual, alcohol poisoning.

A court later ruled the accident an "act of God." 

Source

Labels: beer

Offline reverberated to some lively sounds last night. I'm too hungover to go into any detail, so here's a few photos. Lots more here.

Labels: brixton, offline

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We managed to blag our way into an invite-only Cherry Red party tonight at Dingwalls in Camden. And there was free beer!

On the bill was JimBob (from Carter USM) and Atilla the Stockbroker, with my old muckers The Monochrome Set (I played on their Dante's Casino album) returning to play their first gig for a very, very long time.







They band were fucking great. I mean, really really good. They sounded fresher, punkier and more aggressive than on record. Bid was pissed and really funny, Lester Square's guitar playing was as sharp as ever and the band seemed to have a whole load of fun on stage.

It's a real shame that they're unlikely to play again live - they've just turned down a big festival gig in LA.

But how's this for a bizarre twist?: Iggy Pop has done a cover of "He's Frank" and it appears on the Heroes TV show:

Labels: monochrome set, music

From working at gigs and clubs in a wide variety of capacities, I've begun to work out the 'hierarchy of cool' in the eyes of punters.

Starting from the coolest, here's my listing:

1. The band (so long as they're good of course). If you're strutting around with a guitar, drums or anything else vaguely musical, you're still the coolest folks in the venue. You'll have no problem striking up conversations with attractive and interesting people, with some folks keen to learn more about you, your motivations, and your aspirations. And quite possibly what lurks inside your y-fronts/panties/g-string/shaped cardboard pants.
2. The Compere. You're oiling the wheels of entertainment, so they owe you. Expect people to come up and chat with you - and perhaps even flirt wildly if they liked the jokes.
3. DJs. If you've got the dancefloor jumping, they'll be loving you. Get the right song on the decks and you can expect random kisses, free drugs and drinks.
4. Promoter. You're giving people a great time, so you can usually expect to feel a bit of love, and perhaps foxy advances from artists desperate for a place on the bill.
5. Doorstaff. You have the power to let people in on the guestlist, and if the club's crap people will invariably start talking to you.
6. Barstaff. You're serving up the pints so you deserve the respect of the masses. People have to talk to you, so there's lots of chances to strike up conversations.
7. Bouncer. Wielding enormous power over drunken folks trying to get in, doormen can expect all sorts of amorous advances, but they lose points by being stuck outside in the cold all night while the fun's going on inside.
8. Table clearer/glass washer. You're an important cog in the wheel of good times, and after a few beers, people might just appreciate that.
9. Flyer monkeys. You might be out in the street but there's always a suggestion that you might actually be directly involved in the club and thus be a bit cool. And  it's a great way to meet people if you're chatty.
10. Cloakroom attendant. It's a grim life in the cloakroom. You get to see people come in and you get to see people leave. And very little else.
11. Soundman/roadie. Yep, you really are at the bottom of the pile, registering with the masses as a lowly artisan tasked with fiddling about with sliders in the background - or being shouted at when some drunken buffoon decides that the bass guitar needs to be lifted higher than the entire band and oceans of Phil Spector-like reverb added to the entire mix.

Labels: music

We had a fantastic night at the Albert on Friday. Here's some photos from the night - click here for more!













Don't forget - we've got an ENORMOUS  club night this Thursday - 40 drummers, TransSiberian March band, Shazia Mirza, DJs, comedy and the astonishing Dr Joel!

Info here.

Labels: brixton, music, offline

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We had a hoot at the Kilburn Luminaire on Saturday with 'Go-Go A-Peel' a show out on by our favourite 60s all-girl dance troupe, The Actionettes.

The Action Men, Theoretical Girl and The DeBretts were also on stage - check out some of the photos from the night below:











The Actionettes present Go-Go A-Peel - photos

Labels: actionettes, music

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I've lost count of the amount of times I've wasted long days sat in waiting for this shower of shit to turn up with a promised "next day" delivery, only for the lying fuckers to later claim that they tried to deliver it.

Today was no different. I was in all day. I even kept the house quiet so we could hear their delicate pitter patter on the door, but there was not a noise all day. The bell did not ring, no matter what fantasy version of events the driver has spun and no note was left.

But how's this for an extra stroke of genius? They say on their awful website that they'll deliver up until 8pm at night, but their customer service helpline closes at 7pm - so you've no one to complain to when it looks like your package is not going to turn up! Fantastic!

Still, at least they've given me the option of collecting it personally. From Wimbledon - a mere one hour and 17 minutes away by pubic transport.

The wankers.

Rant over.

*goes for a lie down

Labels: citylink

I've just about recovered from Friday night's mad punk rock special at the Albert in Brixton. Two great bands, lots to drink and a happy, mosh-pit loving crowd. Terrific fun!









On Saturday, I went along to the Luminaire in Kilburn to see an Actionettes Go-Go Special featuring the fabulous deBretts and Theoretical Girl. Expect some pics soon!

Oh - and don't forget - there's a ruddy fantastic Offline coming up this Friday with Shazia Mirza, The Severed Limb - the incredible skiffle kids from Essex - and the wild circus/ska craziness of Danny Fontaine and the Horns of Fury. It'll be at the Albert, and - as ever - free all night!

More info: Offline club

Labels: brixton, offline, punk

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Born in Swardeston in Norfolk in 1865, Cavell served as a matron in the Berkendael Institute in Brussels, Belgium, which was taken over by the Germans in WW1.

In violation of military law, Cavell was accused of helping hundreds of Allied soldiers to escape to the neutral Netherlands, and was executed by firing squad on October 12, 1915.

The night before her execution she said the words now inscribed on her statue, "Patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone."

The statue in her honour stands opposite the National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin's Place, near Trafalgar Square, London.



Read her story here: Edith Cavell - celebrated WW1 nurse and humanitarian

Labels: london

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Running along a 5.5m stretch of the abandoned Brecon and Merthyr Railway, the Brecon Mountain Railway currently operates from Pant along the full length of the Taf Fechan Reservoir past Pontsticill and on to Dolygaer.

We took a trip along the line recently. Here's some pics:
 
 

 

 

 

Labels: railways

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There's a great free exhibition of rock photos by Keith Morris at Proud Galleries, 32 John Adam St, WC2  (back of The Strand).

There's excellent archive photos of the Damned, John Cale, a disarmingly youthful-looking Elvis Costello, the Stones, The Who, Tom Petty, Led Zep and others, but it's the Nick Drake collection that really stands out.

There's a host of unused photos from album cover shoots and you can really see that Drake was every bit as shy, uncomfortable and as troubled as his music suggests.

It's well worth a visit.

Labels: music, photos

Just come back out from an excellent Brixton night out to discover the area around my front door taped off, and police everywhere.

It seems a 23yr old was stabbed to death. It's so tragic, and it makes me fucking angry.

Here's the taped off scene:

Labels: brixton

On Saturday we popped down to Ninian Park for what will probably be our last cross-Severn derby with Bristol City - next season we should have moved across Sloper Road and settled in our shiny new stadium.

I'm going to miss the old Ninian Park though - in particular, I'm going to really miss standing on the terracing, which as far as I'm concerned is how football should always be watched.

Such is progress, this will be the last season that I'll be allowed to stand on the terraces. And that's rubbish.







More photos
Full match report

Labels: cardiff, cardiff city, football

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Back in 1997, Brighton & Hove Albion were deep in financial trouble, courtesy of dodgy directors and iffy land deals, and with the prospect of the club going under for good, a "Fans United" day was organised.

This involved inviting fans from other teams to come down to show solidarity with the club's plight at their home game against fellow strugglers Hartlepool United.

Thousands of fans turned up with their colours, and it was a great day out - with the Brighton players responding to the terrace love by thumping Hartlepool 5-0.

Sadly, Brighton's problems have now become almost everyday for many clubs as big money continues to infest the game I love.

Here's a photo as we made our way to the game in proper football weather.

Labels: brighton, football

Thanks to a freebie ticket from IanW, I got to check out the comeback kids Swervedriver at the Scala at Kings Cross. First off, let me beef about the venue itself. The huge, slow moving queue outside was ridiculous, with some punters taking over half an hour to get in. Sort it out Scala!

Described as "one of the long-lost shoegazing bands" or even an "English Nirvana," the Oxford boys made a fairly roaring racket, with little in the way of communication to the crowd.

I rather enjoyed it in a nostalgic kind of way, and there's enough contemporary mileage in the sound to give the band prospects on the festie circuit. I imagine they'd do well Stateside too.

 
 
 

Labels: gigs, scala, swervedriver

Now, this is class!

Labels: urban75

Ouch! My head! Last night was fantastic at JAMM with a great line up of acts. Here's some pics:

Labels: offline, photos

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