An interesting venue, quite a big space at the back of a bar in Greek Street. It is free to get in before 8, and the drink is cheap up till 8. So by arriving at 7.55 I make a double saving.They don't have anything but sterile beers on offer, but the Argentinian Merlot is quite acceptable. There is a fair wait before the first band, Magna Saga who I have run into several times lately. The lights are turned out as the band appear, but I've seen them before so I know what they look like. I take a picture of myself in a mirror because I am better lit than the band. There seems to be someone videoing on behalf of the promoter who complains about the lack of light. A halogen light is produced and used to produce goulish effects by lighting Joana and the Wolf from below. At some point there is a burning smell as the light is too close to the stage. I give up and get my flash out.
There are four bands on but I miss the last act as I am rather tired after a couple of large glasses of merlot. Overall a good show, although the lights are a severe disappointment. The promoter, BAG, seems to have some more attractive bills for her future dates.

Fortunately the trend in increasingly poor lighting at Joana & the Wolf gigs is finally reversed. We're back in Hoxton, just around the corner from the Mother Bar. The Hoxton Bar & Kitchen is quite a serious venue. Some quite big bands play here. So they have strong lights and they don't fiddle with them like a petulant teenager (as seen at the Barfly). They just let the band do their stuff in full view of the audience. The contrast between the singer's microphone position and the rest of the stage can cause a problem for photography - if the singer is properly exposed the rest of the band are barely visible. If the singer charges around like Joana (actually its quite graceful, but charging nonetheless) this is quite challenging. This is however a much better problem than the total lack of light found in many London venues.The stage here is higher than many, and Joana can only do her usual run through the audience (in Wild Dogs) by jumping on a bench. Always an exciting band to see.

It may not be the best venue; it's in Hoxton so doesn't need to spend any money on basic things like lighting. The main  lighting comes from an emergency exit sign, there is additional lighting provided by the London Borough of Hackney, through the large uncurtained windows. As I have been here before I wasn't expecting to take serious photographs. Joana and the wolf seem to have played in a darker place each time I have seen them. It can't get much darker than the black hole of Hoxton.
It is a welcome relief to find two of my favourite bands playing together, in this case it's entirely random (as far as I know).
The sound is a bit loud and brash in what is essentially a room above a pub (although the pub seems to have been converted into something else). Always nice to hear some good bands, even if you can't see them.

I don't often venture South of the river, but I had heard that Project Orange had a nice atmosphere. More importantly Joana and the Wolf are playing two nights this weekend and I think I should make one of them. The Bullet bar, where they are playing on Sunday is always mediocre (although easy to get to). Things are slightly are slightly confused when JuJus gig on Sunday is re-arranged, but I decide to stick with my original plan to head south. Its actually a fairly easy drive and just a few doors down fronm the Clapham Grand. The Lights are rather odd, but just about enough for photos. Its a bit cost downstairs and if you're at the back I expect you can't see much, but I'm ok, I have my earplugs and stand pretty close to the speaker.
I'm here in time to catch Royal Treatment Plant who are lively with good tunes. I thought Joana and the Wolf might be rather cramped by the small location, but they adapt and it seems quite a big stage (bit of floor) as Joana fills it.

It's just 10 minutes to the Dublin Castle; I narrive just as Geisha are starting their set. I'd forgotten they were playing, so it's a nice surprise. I've seen them play with Little Fish a couple of times.
The Dublin Castle has imporoved their lights again. Last time I was here there was a distinct improvement, this time even better. I guess that someone has gone out and bought some bulbs.
Geisha get quite exciting. I was just taking a few gentle snaps (to make sure that the improved lights were not just a figment if my imagination) when the gutarist starts bashing his guitar against the floor. I'm not ideally positioned for photographing the spectacle but its all quite exciting.

This is quite a difficult act to follow, but Joana and the Wolf are better equipped than most in the action stakes.

Leaving the Dublin Castle Police cordens block access to Camden Town tube and my intended route up Chalk Farm Road. I follow the throng winding its way through the back streets and end up in Morrison's car park, rejoining the route outside the Barfly. It's all a bit mysterious.

The Enterprise serve a nice pint of bitter, but, hard as the barstaff try, it is a real struggle to get served. Whilst I'm waiting at the bar a diverted bus reverses into some roadworks (a hole) outside. Not wishing to lose my place in the queue I don't venture outside to join the crowd of on-lookers.

The 'No one died' night at the Enterprise has attracted a good crowd (it is a Saturday) . Joana and the Wolf are as good as when I saw them recently, although the sounddesk seems to totally collapse with one song to go. Everything but the microphone is restored and Wild Dogs is played without vocals. As Joana throws herself into the crowd and leaps about the spectacle distracts totally from the lack of vocals.

Apparently there was a big fire in Camden tonight, I missed it.

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.