Just got back from a walk with the feisty urban75 walk club, this time in north Norfolk. It was f-f-freezing, but a whole load of fun.

Here's how not to put on waterproof trousers in a gale force wind:

Labels: urban75, walks

It took a whole load of work to put this one on, but the Offline Rock'n'Roll special at the Albert was a whole heap of fun!



It was the first time I'd put on a live band at the Albert and also the debut of my new PA which sounded fantastic (big thanks to Rich for the help setting it up).



The place was packed all night with no less than *8* different DJs playing big band, western swing, rock and roll and jive.



We hooked up a big projector screen, covered a wall with leopard skin material and posted up 50s posters everywhere for a full on retro experience!

It was a great night!

Check out more photos and details of forthcoming free Offline gigs here: Offline club.

Next one is at JAMM with 20 Samba drummers and some great bands!

Labels: offline

Formerly the Coach and Horses, Brixton's Living Bar was suddenly closed down yesterday.



It hasn't enjoyed the greatest of reputations with some locals, but it's a striking building and I hope it reopens as a pub soon.



Lost pubs of Brixton

Labels: brixton, photos

Been a bit slow updating my blog recently, so here's a bumper pack:

Sex Pistols at Brixton


It was fun but a bit odd. Johnny was brilliant - part pantomime dame, part Olivier's Richard III, part Norman Wisdom, part sneering punk and a total showman throughout.

Steve Jones looked like an over inflated inner tube, Paul Cook was lean and committed and Glen Matlock looked like he'd just stumbled in from a pub gig somewhere.



The band were tight and it was LOUD. Johnny looked fit, tanned and healthy, sang the songs with gusto, running through a wide variety of hilarious facial expressions and movements.

Viewed as a gig it was a bit strange, but as a piece of theatre it was well worth the money. And if nothing else, you can always bore people in the future by saying: "I saw the Pistols."

Fireworks, Brockwell Park



With t'local yoot relentlessly bombarding the 'hood with bazooka-style fireworks over the preceding three months, I have to admit that my appetite for going up the park to watch the display had diminished somewhat.



Thankfully, we have a great view from our balcony, so I grabbed a few shots.

Halloween



For Halloween, I went to a great party at a local squat/arts venue and saw a friend's Ramones tribute band.



Normally, I hate any kind of tribute band but this lot are my mates and they have a girl singer so it was fun to watch.

Talking of gigs, on Saturday I'm putting on a Rock'n'Roll/Big Band special at the Albert with 4 hot rocking ladies on the decks and the fantastic Hightown Crows playing live. Come on down - its free!

Saturday 17th Nov ROCK'N'ROLL SPECIAL, BRIXTON

Labels: brixton, offline, photos

It's taken me ages to get around to posting these pics up but here's some shots of the very last days of this much loved music venue.

My own band headlined there once, although it's fair to see it probably wasn't a stand-out moment in the venue's prestigious rollcall of bands.



Hammersmith Palais

Labels: london, photos