Gus and Trepan Records seem to have no trouble filling the Paradise; this is not the first packed gig I have been to here. This time Johnny Burrell from Razorlight is playing a set, so I suppose it should be no surprise it is packed. Unfortunately I didn't realise he was a big star, and rather than fighting to take pictures at the front (in the rather dubious lights) I am at the back enjoying a pint of Spitfire.

I thought I deserved a drink after spending much of the Carnival of Souls set acting as a sort of photographer bouncer, holding back the surging crowd who threatened to overturn the keyboards fragiley balanced on the front of the smallish stage. This is achieved by placing a foot firmly against the base of the stage and leaning slightly back. Here my experience photographing in the pogoing days of 1978 come in handy.

The lighting is pointing at the ground in front of the stage and the band is occasionally lit by a projector. This is a trend largely confined to west london although I have seen a couple of other cases.