Some venues are comfortable, and some are not. It is quite a trek to get to the Rhythm Factory and this counts against it. In some ways it may be gritty Rock and Roll but there is something missing; I think it is probably soul. Actually part of the problem is that the music between bands is so loud and bounces around the fairly empty room, so everyone who wants to talk retires to the bar outside. This leaves a little crew of loners in the hall – this is not fun,this is alienation – I retire to the bar to be with society. The people out in the bar are quite comfortable, but not really involved with the gig, typically they just pop in for the band they’ve come to see. I always think a band have to struggle to have a good gig here. No Cars just about manage it in spite of one or two problems stemming from their lack of sound check.
Joana and the Wolf have a good gig. Maybe because it’s quite a long time since I last saw them, but partly because they are a band who overcome negative conditions and perhaps play better in adversity.
Some of my favourite gigs have been in adverse conditions. Last year, my gig of the year was Death Cigarettes at Proud Galleries where alienation is part of the fabric of the building (it’s where the Clash used to rehearse). One of the best gigs I ever saw was the Bank of Dresden at the St Moritz club around 1978 or perhaps 1979. They had a residency. The first week all their friends, and friends of friends and the people from the Rough Trade shop (who may also have been friends) and me filled the venue. The second week there was just me and my friend Steve. They were so angry that they put on a brilliant show for us (and themselves). They were a band full of conflicts so their edginess was a strength and ultimately a weakness.
Back to the present. Tonight I particularly enjoy Joana & the Wolf. The long thin stage give Joana plenty of space to run around and jump and things.

I've see Joana and the Wolf many times, but not previously at the Purple Turtle. It's a venue that suits them with a decent stage and lights. There are another couple of photographers I know here tonight, and Maxfield are playing later. 2 years ago I photographed Maxfield quite a lot. They are a good band but right at the edge of my taste. I recognise a lot of songs; but I'm not sure that I recognise many of the band apart from Valerie herself. Overall it is a very pleasant evening and I think some of the hundreds of pictures will be good.

Neither of these bands were on the original bill for tonight's gig. Joana & the Wolf were added last week and Bleech today or yesterday. Meanwhile I was planning to see the Genies at the Bullet Bar (not a great venue); yesterday they had to cancel and I looked at other things on tonight. I seriously considered the Johnsons at the Fox and Firkin in Lewisham, but it is a real struggle to get there without driving. It was quite late in the day whwn I realised that Bleech and Joana & the Wolf were both playing, and it became an obvious choice. It turned out that I knew the drummer in the Jarmeans? as well and ran into Paul from the Hyenas and Pedro the producer. The bands were all good as was the Guiness. I seemed to chat to a lot of people which was nice, but felt by the end that I may have been rambling on rather. Bleech disd a couple of new songs which seemed to work well. Joana & the Wolf told me their gig at the Dublin Castle, before christmas (which I missed as I was in Oxford) was particularly good. As I look forward through my diary I see that it's not uncommon for two bands I know to be playing on the same bill, such as Kaputt and the Berettas at the Barfly and Ghostcat and Kasms in Kilburn.

By Joana and the Wolf take to the stage I have had several drinks. I turn to flash to widen my margin of error and am quite happy with the pictures.

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.