Another night of dilemmas. Death Cigarettes were supposed to be playing at the Enterprise, presumably it is the same promoter that cancelled last month, or maybe the Enterprise doesn't do music anymore. Although I have seen Death Cigarettes several times lately I am struggling to find them anywhere with sufficient lights. They are not a static band and need quite a lot of light to catch them without motion blur. Anyway they don't play. I still have two other bands in my diary: the Johnsons at the 12 Bar and Eugene Machine. I have only seen Eugene Machine once before and am quite keen to catch them again. Their gig list doesn't offer much choice either. it would be good to see the Johnsons; I don't think they have played in London so much this year. I think there may have been some other bands I'd like to see again who were playing but i didn't write the 'i hearts' at the Purple Turtle in my diary although I want to see them again.
You will have gathered that after much deliberation I ended up at the Cobden Club where Eugene Machine gave a fine performance. In style they remind me of ACR or Cabaret Voltaire. I think they are better live than their CD and myspace suggest; Not that their recordings are bad but I think the tracks there are slightly commercial and smoother. Live they are edgey and (more) exciting. I ran into Daniel Miller Photography who had seen them at the same (Little Fish) gig as me and been equally impressed. He suggests a comparison with Clock DVA, but I although I know the name I'm not familiar with their work.
Having travelled by public transport it was a bit of an adventure to find my way home, but a useful exercise as I am often in this neck of the woods as the Paradise is just around the corner.