Slummin Angels have been booked to play this gig for ages. Only 10 days ago it was announced that Pete Doherty has headlining and the price went up from £3 to £20. It was a difficult evening for my diary, with Little Fish, The Lovebirds and the Hyenas all playing in London and Ghostcat playing in Brighton (probably too far for a weeknight). The opportunity to see Pete Doherty in a small venue and to photograph this special gig for the Slummin Angels tips the balance.
I'm not sure whether I would have had a problem getting a camera in as no-one really seemed to check, but Slummin Angels have made sure my name is down to take pictures and I get a stamp on each hand which may mean I'm a photographer (or may be a spontaneous joke by the person weilding the inkpad).
Slummin Angels are playing first support around 11pm. The stage at the Rhythm Factory is quite long and thin. Fortunately the band are around so I can find out where the two girls are going to stand (the drum kit is a big hint as to where Matt will be). The early bands have a different set up with a mike in the centre. The band before Slummin Angels have the stage re-arranged with two mikes 1 left, 1 right. This is the setup I was prepared for, and preparation is needed in a busy gig like this. I stand in the middle so that no-one is blocked by mikes or people. Due to the now expectant crowd I can't expect to be able to move around once they start. I'm well situated as it turns out and my new 30mm lens is ideal for full length pics. In this sort of gig most of the work in getting good pictures is making sure you're in a good spot  (and getting a camera into the venue). Fortunately the lights are pretty good too (a little to yellow to be ideal, but nice and bright).

There's a bit of a wait before Pete appears. I've never seen him before, and I'm not familiar with his work. I have had mixed reports about him. One friend said he has a great stage presence and the other friend said he was awful (these reports were not from the same gig). He rather reminds me of Tony Hancock (which is not a bad thing, but a bit of a surprise). He keeps emphasising that he has a set list and his stage manner is indeed compelling and natural. At someone in the crowd asks him to sing happy birthday to Natalie; he says he has a set list and Happy Birthday isn't on it. Later they shout again and he sings Happy Birthday to Natalie. Towards the end he tells a story of how he was watching Slummin Angel's set and someone came up to him saying 'hello Pete'. He didn't know him. So Pete says "the're alright" referring to Slummin Angels. The other guy says "Yes, but they're trying too hard". Pete says to the audience "You just can't win can you".
He probably plays for an hour before asking if anyone is coming tomorrow. Some people say yes. "See you tomorrow then" and leaves the stage. It is now 1.30 and we have not noticed the earthquake which 'shook Britain' at 0056. The first band were on at around 8.45. Its been a good evening and worth struggling home on 3 nightbuses

 

I'm out but catch the show later. Steve Lemaq is very taken with Slummin Angels, so much so he later makes them unsigned demo of the week for Radio 1 (next week). Here you can hear his comments, with which I agree

This is quite remarkable - I have actually got these pictures up the same day. Admittedly I don't often go to gigs in the afternoon, and when I do its even rarer to arrive home feeling fresh enough to tackle the photos. It's only a week since I first saw Slummin Angels and they have already become a firm favourite. This gig is south of the river, but being an afternoon gig, its quite a relaxed little trip for me. I think the soundman doesn't know how to operate the lights;  the rear lights are working fine, and he randomly changes their colours (they are LED lights), but there is nothing from the front, however much he twiddles with the rear lights. Otherwise it is quite a nice venue - good size stage, and I think the sound is OK (no-one complains much, so if its not ok the bands must be particularly tolerant).

The first band are just starting as I arrive and I enjoy a pint of guiness whilst pondering the strangely inadequate lighting. During the second band, Play Misty (presumably named after the Clint Eastwood film)  I try a few photos to see what can be achieved with the lights. It is possible to get few arty (technically low-key) shots. The band seem to have some good tunes.

Slummin Angels soon follow. Katherine, the bass player is well lit in the same arty way. Matt, the drummer, is lit like most drummers (barely). Jennifer , guitar and vocals, is unfortunately lit entirely from behind; with singing into the mike she can't really turn to catch the light.  Although her (impressive ) hair is beautifully rim lit, her face remains doggedly in the shadows.  I try various alternatives including flash and manage a few passable shots. I have discovered that Matt and Katherine are both 17, whilst Jennifer is all of 19. Although they do look quite young in appearance  (at my age most bands look young! ), their performance is hugely mature, brimming with confident  tunes and fluid movement. These guys are just stars waiting for an audience to find them. (I think I might have used that phrase before or worse, plagarised it from someone else, watch this space whilst I try to think of a more original punchline with the same sentiment).

 

After Slummin Angels have finished their set, they are replaced by a seriously young band, Shiva. Apparently they range in age from 12 to 15. I would guess that the drummer Audrey is probably the youngest. At this point the soundman (it would be sarcastic to call him a lighting man) finds the switch for the front lights and the place suddenly looks like a proper venue. I take a few shots of Shiva to see how the lights should be. The band are quite impressive but (unlike Slummin Angels) it is difficult to ignore their youth and make a direct comparison with older bands. Certainly they have great potential and it is nice to see them including a few covers of songs which more established bands might not dare to tackle. I have actually seen Shiva before when they played in Hoxton in a dingey bar (well actually it was so dark that I really only heard them).

 

How to spot a real rock venue:

2) A proper venue will have lights that point at the stage from the front, so that the audience can see the band, anything else is a disco.

(to be continued)

 

I was recommended to see the Slummin Angels by a friend. I took the precaution of checking them out on myspace and spent the day listening to their catchy tracks. I missed them at the Bullet Bar last week, but that may have been a blessing as the lights are so difficult (ie bad) there.

The Goodship has changed since I was there for Ghostcat last autumn;they have got a light, and it's quite a good light. It seems churlish to express anything but delight at this development, but I must offer a slight reservation that whilst those in the beam of this wonderful light are indeed starlike, those not in the beam do not exist; when people move around as they play (like Jennifer tonight) it can be difficult to get the exposure correct. I just throw in these technical details so that you can be amazed that anyone can take good photographs in these conditions. There is quite a fine balance between the impossible and a challenge, fortunately tonight falls on the side of a challenge.

I timed my arrival well, just as 'Marina and the Diamonds' were starting. They were enjoyable and colourful. The Slummin Angels were exceptionally good, I already have their next gigs in my diary.

After the Slummin Angels I was able to enjoy a pint of London Pride. Altogether an excellent evening where I was easily distracted from the cold that has laid me low for several days.