John Kennedy introduces Anna Calvi

I had a suspicion that the Old Queen's Head would be a rubbish venue and was considering going to see Orphans and Vandals at the Slaughtered Lamb (who I think I originally saw on the same bill as Anna Calvi). I know the Slaughtered Lamb has hardly any lights so in the end I choose the adventure of a new venue.
It was better than I expected; quite a decent sized room with potentially good lights, although thick yellow filters meant that shooting black and white was the only option. The crowd seemed rather studenty (ie young) Anna and her band gave a strong perfomance and the crowd appreciated it. I was not surprised to read in a magazine article that Anna counted Jimi Hendrix amongst her influences.

These bands are featured in Issue 2 of ‘Fashion Style Music’ and tonight is a launch party for the issue. Apparently the magazine can be obtained under the counter somewhere in Camden. It is not available in Borders in Oxford Street where I tried to buy it. It’s difficult to see how they can afford to produce it if it’s so difficult to buy. Whatever their commercial credentials, they do seem to have some musical taste; they have chosen Ana Calvi and Bleech who both perform top sets to good audience reaction. The third band tonight are called ‘European Lust’. I thought the might be French, but research reveals them to be Spanish. Their best songs remind me of the Libertines. I’m not sure whether they are very good or very bad; I am sure they are not mediocre. Their Myspace doesn’t really help. They have one really good song but some others seem less definite one way or another. It’s very uncommon for me to be undecided (about a band), maybe that makes them special anyway. It’s been an excellent evening , the lights are slightly better than last time I was here, but broadly useless.

It's the first time I've been to the Wilmington Arms. I nearly went there last year, but ended up at the Betsy Trottwood just down the road. The venue is in a room to the side of the main pub with a small bar of its own. You can't get proper beer in there but the main pub has some nice guest ales and you can carry them through (It was also quicker than queueing to get served in the gig room tonight). The floor area is fairly small, probably about the size of the Hope and Anchor, but the actual stage is really quite large, not very high, but big. And they have lights which are encouragingly on, with no silly flashing; they are a bit yellow and rather than having the band look as if they have jaundice I opt for Black and White pictures. The gig is fairly full, which is a bit of a surprise on a cold tuesday night when the venue is miles from a tube station (that's a slight exaggeration really it's only Kilometers).

After a bit of a rush I get there at 11.10 just as the previous band finish their set. The lights here are less impressive. They are fairly static but mostly from behind with Anna in a particularly red spot. I rushed off to catch the last tube without time to speak to Anna.
I’ve enjoyed both gigs tonight but 1 gig will be enough tomorrow.

Proper beer has returned to the Water Rats. I can't remember the last time the Spitfire pumpclip wasn't turned to the wall. Suddenly the Water Rats is a much better venue. Anna Calvi seems to bring good karma to venues, all the little niggles which occur at various venues seem to disappear when she plays. I don't think it can really be down to her, but the way she takes the trouble to put her stage time and venue details on myspace makes the evening immediately relaxed. Tonight I know that I don't have to rush down for 7pm to be sure of catching the band, and I know I have plenty of time to get down to the Metro for Bleech headlining. Amongst all the special bands I have enjoyed this year I am still finding Anna Calvi particularly special. And the Spitfire was worth waiting for too.