Camden Crawl - Camden, London, Various Venues - 10/3/05
4/5
By: Andy Willson
For anyone old enough to remember, 'Rentaghost' was one of those programmes you'd wish were true sometimes, and tonight is definitely one of those times. Mr Claypole and co. were able to close their eyes, pinch their nose and appear anywhere they wished to be. So what are the chances of being in the Barfly to purvey the onstage frenzy of The Others or poky Dublin Castle to bawk at The Departure and then hop over to Koko to stomach Do Me Bad Things... at the same bloody time?
Frankly, no bleedin' chance whatsoever. Therefore, from 4pm, the bars of Camden are filled with the fortunate 4,000 or so wristbanded indie types all arguing over where to go and who to see but with ten venues harbouring forty+ bands, it's a bigger decision that you can begin to imagine. The biggest pilgrimage, perhaps, some of these leather-jacketed waifs will embark in their lifetimes. The only thing guaranteed will be a queue wherever your destination.
Starters is pretty straightforward because The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster are the only band playing at 6.30, so we begin our search for noise at the Electric Ballroom. Singer Guy McKnight and the boys, dressed completely in black, take to the stage and proceed to blast the paint from the walls. Assuming his usual Status Quo-type stance, Guy soon decides that the stage isn't big enough and ploughs into the baying crowd. 'Psychosis Safari' and 'Mister Mental' rock and shake like a bastard, but it's at this point that punters start to exit and move to their chosen venue. Shame; a perfect way to inaugurate an evening (and the onset of tinitus).
Our next destination is across the road to Lock 17 and East/South London art-punk wideboys (and girl) Art Brut are already in full flow. Again, it would appear that news travels fast as singer Eddie Argos springs into the crowd only to return from the side of the venue with his shirt ripped open, revealing a sprightly pot belly. Drummer Mike has no need for a stool as he plays their whole set standing up, with a constant, nagging smile on his face. After a superbly swift change, recent rockfeedback/Basement Club headliners Hard-Fi are next up and the majority of the crowd have stayed to see if they can live up to the surrounding hype; our survey says... BING. Richard Archer and his Staines massive wield us through their infectious dub/ska-based scrubbings, taking in debut 'Cash Machine' and the deserves-to-be-massive, soon-to-be-released dance chug of 'Tied Up Too Tight'.
Decisions, decisions. Bugger it: to Koko and the radiance of The Magic Numbers (sorry Tom Vek/The Black Velvets/The Cribs, etc...). 'Burger King' and their magnificent bacon double cheeseburgers © is on the way and it's at this point one begins to start flagging. Passing the queue outside the Oh! Bar where The Glitterati are due on, the brain kicks in... 'Must keep going, must keep going.'
It's fairly packed on arrival and only cans are being served, but the night is still young. We catch sight of Ed Harcourt weaving his way to the front so with a concerted effort, join him as Papa Smurf, oops, Romeo Stodart, leads his fellow cohorts towards the climactic part of the evening. This is breathtaking stuff and a complete change from what else is on offer. If you thought The Polyphonic Spree were special, then ponder once more, because what 2,000 of them can do, The Magic Numbers can equal with only four. Angela's angelic vocals harmonise so perfectly with Romeo's, there's not a dry eye in the house and the world suddenly seems a better place.
Can we make it to the Barfly to see the femo-nutters that make up Le Tigre? Nah, stop halfway for a breather and take in Secret Machines at Underworld instead. It's a cramped venue and the sound is a bit distorted, but brothers Benjamin and Brandon Curtis make the most of it. Their reliance of a solid, fervent drumbeat for each track thunders along like 'Thomas The Tank Engine' on gak, and as many UK bands head off in the opposite direction for the SxSW festival in Texas, these Austin lads make sure we know that they also have something to bring to the party. The bulk of their set is from recent LP 'Now Here Is Nowhere', but that is it for us, and it's back to the Electric Ballroom, only to find that special guests The Buzzcocks have finished.
After a couple of DJ's and a fairly lame live-set from Whitey, it's finally time to call it a night, and as the non-hardcore take to the streets of Camden, you find it better to reflect on what you did witness rather than what you missed out on. And whoever you saw and whatever your preference, there's little arguing on one point at least: there was enough to go around.
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