Whilst checking the bill I noticed that the Favours, who are down from Hull, sounded great. More like headliners than 8pm on a Sunday night; and so they proved in the flesh. Monocle Rose have been drummerless since …well a very long time. I think this may be their first gig of the year. There’s an awful lot of bands on tonight, too many really. There are a couple between Monocle Rose and Ghostcat, both names start with black and are OK. But it’s all too much, by Ghostcat start I have had quite a lot to drink and know I am going to have to catch the nightbus. Ghostcat are not even the headline band. Fortunately the nightbus is relatively fast tonight.
It’s really good to see Ghostcat again, even though the lighting man seems to have found a switch which makes the lights flicker like a broken old tv. It’s difficult to describe how bad an effect this is for the viewing public. Ghostcat are fun but my faculties are not at their best after 5 hours in pubs.

Tonight I am considering two gigs in Clerkenwell/Faringdon. Ghostcat are playing the Betsy Trottwood and Little Death appearing at the Wilmington Arms. The venues are just a couple of minutes apart, but both seem a bit vague about times. In the end I am delayed at a birthday party in East London, so according to the advertised times have missed both. As I am in the car and can pass this way on my journey home I stop to investigate Ghostcat who have intimated that they are playing at 9.30, but their wording implies (to the seasoned gig-goer) that it may be later. I arrive around 10.15 to find some of the band in the street mingling with smokers; they haven't played yet. This really is a minute venue. Not good for photographs at all, but the small cellar is certainly intimate and in some ways I like it. It's hot, cramped and sweaty like a gig should be. Difficult to see the band even if you're tall. I manage to find a corner at the front where I can see and get a couple of snaps. Ali cautions against over indulgence in whiskey having had too much upstairs. Her jumping is restricted by the very low ceiling but she still packs the set with action. I manage get away without any serious head injuries.

When you look at the floor you can tell you are in Hoxton, everyone is wearing pointy shoes. Some are so pointy they must be uncomfortable to wear. I've just bought a pair of DM's with steel toe-caps from e-bay (£20) so that's about as not-pointed as you can get, but for a crowded gig you can imagine whose feet are safer.

I arrive in time to see a solo artist playing the piano and singing. She apologies for being nervous; she seems to be doing doing ok to me. Unfortunately I don't remember what she's called. There's only a small gap before Ghostcat follow. It's always good to see the band, but I think tonight's not one of their best shows; maybe it's the quiet crowd, maybe they are on a little early, and the lights are unbeliveably red; it seems that of the 4 lights, the bulbs have gone in 2 of them leaving 1 red pointing centre stage and a blue pointing into a gap. Poor lights always spoil a show for me, even if I weren't photographing.

There seem to be a lot of people and instruments in the next band (although only 1 each I think). I tend to find this type of band too complex for my taste. Most of my favourite bands are quite conventional - Drums, Bass, 1 guitar and vocals, which gives a total of 3 people if the vocals are not a seperate person. Extra guitars and keyboards usually seem to muddy rather than add to a strong sound. I do admit that extra instuments like a violin or trumpet can be added without distracting from the tune. Generally I like simple powerful tunes played with passion as you may have guessed if you've checked out the bands that I see most often.

The 229 is a new venue to me. Right next to Great Portland Street tube. There are actually 2 venues a big hall (apparently razorlight played there) and a smaller but still good sized hall. It has a certain air of a students union and (i'm not sure whther you will see it the pictures) the stage is actually built round the cigarette machine. Tonight Ghostcat are playing the small hall, but its bigger than the barfly. Not quite the warmth of the Enterprise last week, but the bar is well staffed and it is easy to get a drink. Good show from Ghostcat as always.

Also playing were a band called Mancini who apparently are featured in a TV program on C4. I'm told its some sort of contest. Collegues in the office seem to be familiar with the program and indeed to have views on Mancini. Whilst the gig was quite well attended, the venue is hardly large; it seems odd that so many people are prepared to watch the weekly antics of a band and even to vote for them, yet the live gig in the centre of London on a Saturday night is not sold out. Maybe I'm being harsh here. When I used to go and see bands in the early 80's I would often hear them played on John Peel and rush to see them at small London venues. It was rare that I had difficulty getting in. Mancini seemed quite good, but not as good as Ghostcat who I haven't seen   for agggges.

I've never taken pictures here; when I visited here previously the band I'd come to see had carelessly lost their drummer and did not play.

I arrive in time for a pint of guiness and catch 'the Dash' who are punky and enthusiastic. The drummer is very animated and wild. If they play somewhere convenient with lights I may pop down and photograph them.

If they had lights this would be a good venue. If the wall was painted black, flash pictures would be acceptable. As it is, the good ship doesn't look like a proper venue. Nice atmosphere though.

Tonight Ali announces that she is drunk; two months ago she was tee-total; now she's not. I never noticed that she was particularly inhibited in her performances when she was sober, but maybe there is a slightly manic edge to tonight's show. Lots of jumping in the air, which I always enjoy, and energetic songs played as well as ever. Great evening.

Unfortunately Ghostcat played at 7.30. Obviously wildblanket is much too cool to turn up to a gig before 8  so I missed them play. Fortunately the gig was free. They've built a stage since I was last here, but still no lights. Saw 586 who were quite fun, probably more fun if we'd been able see their antics. Ironically I enjoyed a band of boys in dodgey t-shirts who were called "The Mourning After". Saw a couple of Soho Dolls. I realise that any plan to report on celebrity sightings will fail miserably as I don't recognise people who are famous. It took me several minutes to recognise the Soho Dolls, and I've photographed them several times.  Ha well sounds like a bit of a disaster missing the band I'd gone to see, but I was relaxed about it and actually rather enjoyed the evening. (No pictures tonight)

A new venue to me. A pleasant bar near the Old Blue Last. Reasonably sized space downstairs. No lights. The slight downside of the venue is that you can clearly hear the band upstairs in the street-level bar so actually going downstairs to see the band is not essential. Obviously it was necessary to see Ghostcat, but the other two bands I half listened to from upstairs. Everywhere seems very clean nowadays, it takes a bit of getting used to this smoking ban. The band generously bought me a guiness, so that was a good start to the evening.

Mama Shamone @ the Old Blue Last 17:00

Fortunately Mama Shamone were playing early (5pm) so apart from the slight strangeness of light coming through the windows (difficult colour balance) it was great as it meant I could catch two other brilliant bands playing later in the evening.

Reverse Engineering @ the George Tavern 18:00

Unfortunately Reverse Engineering weren't playing till 9.30. so I chatted and watched their sound check but had to rush off before they played. The venue seemed very pleasant with a feeling of community, bit like the Klinker. I did have time to see 1 band and a good poet.

Ghostcat @ the Barfly  22:00

Ali seems to manage to jump higher everytime I see the band. Unfortunately the Barfly continues to waste a whole load of expensive lights so crucial parts of Ghostcats performance are hidden from the audience (and you dear readers) by the cleverness of the lighting man. Maybe he'd do the lights properly if the band gave him a tip. Otherwise a great performance to end the bank holiday.

As its a couple of weeks since I last saw Ghostcat, I was beginning to think that maybe they couldn't be as good as I remembered and was kind of expecting to be disappointed. I was so wrong, another hugely energetic set. Who could fail to be stirred by this band live.

22.5.07 22:00, comment