I used to visit the Klinker regularly and also I used to see Plakka play a lot. Whilst the old Klinker at the Sussex Arms was not easy to get to, and was really just a grotty room at the back of a pub, it had a certainty which is missing nowadays. Hugh has a number of different venues he runs the Klinker at across North London. This includes 2 nights at the Cross Kings, but most of them are just too remote from west London.
And Plakka haven't played so many gigs lately, so it's not really surprising that I haven't seen so much of them. I was just thinking I don't remember photographing them at Barden's Boudoir in October, then I remembered I didn't. I was in Newcastle and Claude did the Wildblanket thing that night.
Tonight is quite fortuitous; the gig is pretty last minute, but I have planned to see Magna Saga just down the road at the Water Rats. Then Magna Saga phone to say that they aren't playing (something to do with the promoter) so I can leave home a little later.
The Klinker also features a worm woman who reads prose for half an hour, virtually all of which is worm-centric. As we often ask at the Klinker 'Is it Art or is it madness?' The jury is still out. Hugh also reads some of his writings and a woman plays a flute in unusual ways. All this makes Plakka look fairly normal. The lights are odd and provide some opportunities for arty effects.

Popped down to the Barfly to see Plakka who were playing at the civilised hour of 5.30. When I arrived at 5.00 I discovered Death Cigarettes who were very lively (showed no signs of death at all). Later I run into Magna Saga who I have now run into 4 times in a month when they've been on with other bands I've been to see.
There are no lights downstairs at the barfly, although light leaking through the curtained windows is reasonably effective until arround 7.30. Upstairs there is some sort of minimalist lighting, quite similar to emergency lights.

I had a slightly negative view of Westbourne Studios from the night Reverse E played there. That night there was an interminal srting of acoustic acts before Reverse E eventually took the stage at 11pm.
Tonight I have hassled the band to give me every ounze of information about the evening. (I know more than some of Plakka about when they are playing).There are actually only 3 bands tonight. I arrive in time for Kyla La Grange who are not fully acoustic and have a couple of charming songs. The middle band are less interesting, but having arrived realistic expectations of hanging around before Plakka play, I am prepared to wait.
Plakka do a good set and the lights are good. I am in the car so its not long before I'm home.

I hop on the Northern Line and easily make it to Plakka's gig at Tommy Flynns in Camden Town. Tommy Flynns is a real surprise; I was expecting a typical Camden pub with a minimal investment in a bit of a PA, just enough so it could put on gigs. In fact they have a stage and good sound and lights and I am shocked. Rather than lounging around with a pint of Guiness, as I had intended, I am inspired to take some pictures. And Plakka with their singer restored are very good.
They seem to have adapted to losing their keyboards much quicker than they did to losing drums. The result is maybe more conventional but also more focused. Only last week I was espousing a view that some bands have too many members and lose both focus and edge as a result. So perhaps I am just seeing this effect because I'm looking for evidence to support my proposition, but there is a chance that I am right. Just to avoid any confusion my remarks about 'too many people' in bands is not aimed at anyone in particular, just a general theory. When you have seen what the two people in Little Fish can achieve it is difficult to contemplate a band of six or more.
Somewhere earlier I was saying I enjoyed Plakka.....We sat and had some drinks afterwards, watching a good blues band who largely (or maybe wholly) did covers. I have a vague recollection of 'Who do you love' going on for a long time. Pleasant entertainment.

Plakka have carelessly lost their lead singer tonight, whilst Severine Deveraux have gained a drummer. There is no connection between the two events. Apparently Bobby, Plakka's lead singer is on a train to Bristol; whilst I wouldn't say that he wasn't missed,the remaining members coped with the situation and put on a (largely instrumental) enjoyable performance.

In case you don't follow these pages intently, let me summarise the relationship between Severine Deveraux and Plakka: Severine used to be the drummer in Plakka, whilst Joe the bass player has been known to stand in on bass for Plakka - noteably when they supported the Bluetones in Sheffield while Jimmy and I were stuck on the M1 for 5 hours).

Severine resigned as she found drumming unfulfilling, and formed her own surf band with Joe. Now, around a year on, they have a set of songs and an ep out. Their new drummer seems an exciting addition; athough he has only had time to learn a couple of song so far, those are very good (particularly Monsters).

Plakka were supposed to be on around 9, but the promoter swapped things around (as Plakka had brought the most people). I only just caught the last tube after their set started well after 11.

Our attention was caught by Budda Cakes:

Bit of a late start due to the Rugby final being shown on a TV in the room. The basement at Ryan's is slightly less hot in the autumn (but most people didn't need scarves).

I am nearly deterred from making the 2.5 hour trip to the wilds of Suffolk by an extremely poor weather forecast. Fortuneately most of the downpour does not reach this far east.

The event is a big party in a field, like a mini festival. Some fine local ales are on offer, and the burgers are reportedly good. Tents have been set up so we are not afraid of rain. The afternoon bands sound fine although we do not see much of them; Like most of the party-goers we sit in the open (at times it is nearly sunny) and allow the sounds from the music tent to drift past us.

More people are driven into the music marquee by rain soon before Plakka play so they benefit from a real audience. There are reasonable lights, although at the beginning of their set the daylight is seeping through canvas which makes colour balance an impossible issue for me (being colour blind). By the end of the set the daylight has gone. As you can see the lights are covered by strong gels, the yellow being particularly prominent and quite heavy red.

Plakka have Kezza the trumpet player on holiday, but for this special trip they have Severine guesting on drums.

A Sunny evening in Stoke Newington