Levelload

A last minute gig which the Brownies announced only on Friday. The evening is organised by Heart!Attack who are advertised as being from Boston and to be playing first. It soon becomes apparent that the Brownies won't be playing at 10.15 as they were told. Presumably being from abroad the promoters don't realise how saddly inadequate the London Tube is on Sundays, with the last tubes going shortly after 11pm.
On the plus side Hoxton Bar and Kitchen have free wi-fi so I can check the exact last tube options. By going a slightly roundabout route I can get a tube from Liverpool Street at 11.50 (rather than 11.30 for the central line), but Liverpool Street is a fair walk.
The Brownies consider packing up and going home, but decide to play even if the crowd have gone home. In fact they play a good set although the lights are unfashionably red.
I get to Liverpool Street in time to see the last train leaving the platform. Now I have time to kill until the night buses start (They don't start any earlier on Sundays, this is the so called integrated transport policy). When I do get a nightbus it is fairly empty and quick, fortunately. It's been a good night in spite of the amateur promoters.

It is absolutely ages since the Brownies stayed with me. They haven't played London since; in fact this is the first time I have properly seen them play. The first time I saw them was only one song before Little Fish at Northampton (Friday traffic on the M1 delayed me). The second time was here at the Buffalo Bar with Fever Fever and  Vulgarians; both these I know quite well so didn't have much attention left for the Brownies (or the excellent Fragile Lovers).
Tonight I find the Brownies to be a fine band who have generously brought me a box of Norfolk ales (each ale is in a bottle, the bottles are in the box). Although it's a little trouble to get them home on the tube, it's mainly a question of technique. They have thoughtfully put string round the parcel (not to stop me illegally drinking the contents on the tube). Now I have it under my Christmas tree as it is quite my biggest present (well at the moment its the only present under the tree). I still can't really tell the difference between twins Maxie and Stevie. With one either end of the stage with similar attire it's slightly unsettling even when sober.
I'm looking forward to their album in the spring and hopefully some London gigs. The other two band tonight are also enjoyable.