Another double header. I'm expecting both venues to be poor, but they are only 5 minutes apart and I know Slummin Angels are on early, whilst Joana and the Wolf are headlining. The Legion is free entry and not an inspiring venue. But Katherine buys me a drink so i'm happy. I wnt to the Macbeth last year, or maybe it was the year before, and wasn't impressed. But it does have quite a good feel and tonight there are some lights. I run into one of the band outside where they are having a cigarette and they are good enough to get me in on the list. I buy my own beer this time. It's extraordinarily good value to see Slummin Angels and Joana & the Wolf, and have two pints of guiness all for a total outlay of £3. I can't really add much to my previous comments about either band. They are both good otherwise I wouldn't have been to see both several times. Next week both are playing on the same night again, but much further apart.It will be a shame to miss one of them; it may come down to choosing between venues as both bands are excellent and both of them play quite a lot of gigs.

As the Grand has proper lights and uses them I will have a rest from Black and White tonight. It's a bit whistlestop as I drive to this pleasant venue south of the river. Hanging around drinking isn't an option, so I arrive about 15 minutes before Slummin Angels take to the stage and leave fairly soon afterwards in pursuit of an early night. Slummin Angels seem comfortable on the big stage. I enjoy the evening and the early night.

I've noticed that my blogs of late have become rather similar. There are only so many ways that I can say that the lights are rubbish and Little Fish are wonderful. So tonight I have decided to return to the popular theme of pointed shoes and the Hoxton look. The middle band tonight look like they are straight out of Hoxton. The lead-singer has pointed shoes, extremely skinny jeans and sings in a mockney accent. The lead guitar has (I think) black converse, skinny jeans and a cardi. Both look very hoxton. At least one other member of the band has a cardi. But the band are exposed as coming from suburbia when you notice that the rest of the band (3) are wearing white trainers. They all come from Guilford. They are actually quite good and I have only not mentioned their name because I can't remember it. My comments on fashionable trends amongst bands are not meant as a searing indictment, merely as a (witty?) anecdote. After last year's campaign against stripey t-shirts, this year I think I will target white trainers. I did actually take a couple of pictures of the band and if there is any demand I could post them - but mainly I was enjoying a pint of guiness whilst marvelling at the inept use of disco lights at a rock venue.

Slummin Angels do not wear white trainers. Katherine plays bass in bare feet which is very cool (although a little dangerous). Its hardly anytime since I saw Slummin Angels on Friday, but it's good to see them again. As the lights are odd and I've photographed the band here before I thought I'd turn to Black & White again. Strangely its taken me a long while to appreciate that B&W can offer more latitude when the lighting is poor. I've been scanning a few old prints from around 1980 and been enjoying the B & W. So I have designated June Black and White month.

Last time at the Standard it was to see Spit Like This, and the headline band were a Kiss tribute act. Tonight almost ends before it has begun as the Victoria Line is suspended past Seven Sisters. I have little knowledge of bus routes in the area and TFL are recommending going to Liverpool Street to catch the overland. Fortunately Slummin Angels are headlining so there is time for the service to resume.
The Standard is quite a decent venue with stage and lights, and guiness at less than £3 per pint.On the negative side there seems to be a trainee lighting person who is practising on Slummin Angels. The first band are allowed plain (yellow) lights that light the band. Unfortunately the trainee lighting person seems to have no talent at all. This lighting reminds me of Space Invaders (an early cpmputer game played in pubs in the late 80s). As he doesn't know the bands songs his flashing of the lights is essentially random.The band are good anyway.

The Slummin Angels are good tonight, they've been in the studio during the week; the Bull & Gate has both enough room to move around the stage and plenty of light. The crowd could be a bit bigger but its a decent size and doesn't lack enthusiasm. I have got to know their newer songs now and am enjoying them as much as their older stuff. I had planned to rush off for an early night, but end up chatting with the band until I have to watch the last tube times.

A return to the Rhythm Factory for Slummin Angels. Last time they were here it was when they played with Pete Doherty. He is apparently in prison now for being persistently late (according to the BBC). This hardly seems a useful way to spend my taxes, or yours.
The venue is quieter, more so because most of the bands are late replacements for others that have dropped out. There has not been much time to rally fans. The first band on are Magna Saga who were on the bill last Saturday in the Motherbar. They are friends of Slummin Angels. They are a three-piece who are quite heavy sounding, but sound better here.
Next on are Axe Kid who are some sort of decendents of Axe Girl, a band I saw here last year, maybe playing with Ghostcat. They are a bit whacky, but their show is quite active so I am drawn to take a few pictures.
Slummin Angels are in good form and they do a strong set with no obvious problems. The lights are all pointing at the middle of the stage, so Matt is well lit. Both Jen and Katherine are not in proper light which is a bit disappointing. As they are due to play the Bull & Gate next week I can be sanguine about the lights tonight.

There's no rush, when I get there Slummin Angels are chatting upstairs. There is an acoustic woman playing; she seems to play for a long time. Long enough for me to drink most of a pint of Guiness, and I'm a very moderate drinker. Eventually Slummin Angels take to the stage. Whilst they are good, they are effectively following Little Fish which is not an easy thing to do. They (well Jen) have some strap/cable falling off problems with her guitars, but carries on like a true professional as she clings to what seems like an enormous guitar, having lost the strap. Generally it must be said that how a band handle adversity says a lot about their likelihood of success. Things weren't that bad for Slummin Angels, but they look like they will survive.