Paul’s London Log: 03/02/10

The launch of our new, and very appropriately, 'all singing, all dancing' Artrocker website has brought forward my new London Log entry (at last I have a name for it, temporarily at least) and as such, and as a tribute to my age and early years of sci-fi TV viewing I will call this 'Paul's London Log, Supplemental'.

Running a regular gig guide in our weekly Artrocker radio show I endeavour to pick out those events that should be of interest to the discerning (and outgoing) Artrocker with a diary to fill, and the desire to take part in what Tom and myself used to call the community rather than the scene. A couple of weeks back my own 'other commitments' meant I had to miss out on a couple of essential shows on consecutive nights, which both brought back to the live scene bands demanding our attention and support. It was with disdain and disappointment that I heard that So So Modern's gig in Brighton had only about half a dozen attendees..... so called 'London-by-the-Sea' hold your heads in shame. How short your memories are and and how poor your support of the scene is. We all know how hard it is to shift one's ass out the door during this miserable winter full of discontent and pointless TV but we all have to make a stand. My thinking is thus; a band comes all the way around the world to play in my town, I should put myself out just a little to acknowledge and support their action. Believe me, striking towns and venues and even countries off tour circuit destinations is more common than you realise so enjoy it while we have it

I didn't hear such horror stories about SSM's London show fortunately but would love to hear what their performance was like. At the very same venue, but the previous night, Blood Red Shoes returned to live action with a low key gig in advance of their 'official' return in March at The Garage. Previously a blindingly powerful live duo, I'd also love to hear from those of you who went.

Both gigs were at the infeasibly hip venue The Lexington. It's a popular and cool venue and with good reason, but against all odds. For a start, it isn't in the Shoreditch Triangle, a patch of London where seemingly innocuous buildings sporadically disappear and reappear as minimal and arty pseudo bohemian hang outs, which are (for the time being) happy, while the punters come, to put a band or two on at the end of the room. Like the Luminaire in 2008, The Lexington's reputation is made on quality drinking, a quality venue space and the best of lineups. Venues move in and out of favour as quickly as bands do at The NME and knowing on which spot the scene will land next is part of the fun of going gigging. The ugliness and endless duplication of an already saturated gig scene at the end of 2009 has delivered several new hang-outs, good ones too, and they are only the ones I know about! Moving North and East from Shoreditch there are new hip havens such as the uber cool pub The Stags Head and the tiny Hobby Horse, and then there's a venue so far east it must be hoping for some Olympic overspill, The Victoria. There, No-Wave superhero James Chance is even doing to be playing soon! I'm thinking of starting a venue league table.

Venues move in and out of favour but it is also possible for some to to always be mentioned with a grimace. When the bands are so obviously a sideshow to the Djs, or to the adjoining restaurant or even to simply the bar. I recently experienced gig punters being turned away from a Shoreditch venue for being 'all boys'. I recall it being a cheesy 80's club policy to get girls into venues to have such policies. At the same venue, the bar policy was also dubious, with the 'reasonably' priced draught beer conveniently never being available at busy times but jaw droppingly expensive cans and bottles always being readily available.

As an Artrocker gig envoy I am also trawling the larger, but less well known venues of London to find a cool and unusual gaff to stage an event for our forthcoming 100^th edition of the magazine. The number of excellent un-used Town Halls is astonishing but the number of over-priced warehouse spaces in East London less surprising, and perhaps my 'large venue of the week' will have to go to The Coronet at Elephant and Castle. It was there that it was revealed to me why such a cool and newly refurbished and well supremely 'kitted out' large venue was still going to struggle to 'happen' in London. Large 'entertainment groups' like Live Nation or The Mama group, even HMV, have decided that the way they can extract even more money from the live scene is to vertically integrate and promote bands, tours and events ONLY at the venues that they control. This limits which bands or tours independent venues are likely to be able promote in much the same way that independent films only receive very limited cinematic releases.

It is a veritable minefield being a conscientious 'indie kid' these days. First and foremost you have to 'get out there' and be supportive of the scene, but secondly, if you want to dig a little deeper, then there are always good, exciting alternatives lurking and happening in The London underground. I assume that, like me, that is why you are here.