It's ages since I saw the Lovebirds; I think they took a long break from gigs and when they did play they clashed with Little Fish playing. When I saw they were playing at the Dublin Castle it seemed a good opportunity to catch up with them. Also on the bill were a band called Molloy who I seem to remember at last year's Indy awards winning an award. They are a quality band who are enjoyable without becoming instant favourites (but then I'm trying to cut down on instant favourites as I already have too many favourites to catch everyone). Surprisingly low on the bill, but convienient for me to fit in with another pint of London Pride before the Lovebirds. The lights are excellent again, although the lovebirds manage to stand in the wrong place and generally block the best angles for photographs with a strange positioning of microphone stands. I remember why I liked the Lovebirds, they have some really good songs and perform with excitement.

It takes me nearly as long to reach Clapham Junction as it took me to get home from Bristol. I always seem to be stressed on Fridays and end up nrunning late; and always, like tonight, arrive in perfect time. This is a nice venue, an ex-cinema and ex-bingo hall with proper lights. I mean proper as in on a par with the Academy, miles better than the Barfly or even the Bull & Gate. Everyone is relaxed, even though the drinks are ar nightclub prices it seems a top venue.

The second support band are on when I arrive, quite good in their own way, but not really to my taste. There are acouple of other photographers there; One seems more casual than me with just some sort of Canon with a 50mm lens. The other has two Canons, both with massive zooms. He looks more like a weight lifter than a photographer. He has a quaint style of ducking as he moves around, as if he may block someones view, or there might be a sniper in the balcony trying to pick him off. Ironically he isn't as tall as the stage so the ducking is a unneccessary (and no sniper in the balcony tonight, although one can never be too careful in south london). I think he's probably a professional photographer, but not one who usually shoots bands. He doesn't seem to anticipate pictures, just watches and takes the occasional shot from the wrong side of the stage (shooting through the smoke).

The first support band were called the Truth and were quite fresh to me. I'm hopeless at pigeon-holing bands into gendres but the remind me (slightly) of The Pop Group. Sort of dub style. I took a copy of their demo cd and am enjoying it.

The Lovebirds are splendid. It's been a while since I saw them. This large stage really suits them, Lucy prances and dances from back to front and side to side. Last time I saw them was at the 12 bar where moving your elbows is a challenge when there is a 4 piece on the minute stage. An excellent night.

A good evening at the 12 Bar. Earlier Redbeat did a good set and handed sicks of redbeat rock out at the end (so I know who they were). Lovebirds have good songs (as I remarked last week when I saw them do an acoustic set in Crystal Palace) and when they are delivered with the power of a full band they really are impressive. They also sound good on myspace so check them out there (I particularly like the remix of Champagne you'll find there). You can click on the little link above that says 'reference' - clever isn't it. 

On the negative side Lovebirds played very late (not their fault) and I missed the last tube by 5 minutes. It was a long but largely uneventful nightbus home. Ironically it took me longer to get home from Tottenham Court Road than it did last week from far off Crystal Palace.

A wet night in crystal palace. Bit of a trek to get here (in the car) but it makes a change from the tube to Camden. I saw the Lovebirds a couple of weeks ago when they played with the Johnsons. On that occasion they caught my ear, and afterwards listening to their tunes on myspace I thought they were definitely worth seeing again. Their gig calender looks fairly sparce, so I decided to venture south to see them in what I assume is their native habitat. The Alma is just a pub (with a noise limiter). The band play in a little alcove which is pretty dark and for the first part of this acoustic set the crowd (well I think most of them are just people out for a Friday night drink) try to talk over the band. The second half has a drummer and are faster songs. The crowd can no longer talk over the band and the noise limiter cuts out twice. I think the band deserved a little more respect from the crowd, but then when a band is playing in a dark corner of pub, not many people can visualise them playing the bigger venues that this band surely will.

Also playing this Pushing Pussy Records night were The Lovebirds