Sko Stirrade

My German friend Lutz is over after a long time away and much water under the bridge, or under his hull as he's taking time out from his round the world trip having worked his way from the Baltic to Canaries via Brighton marina... www.sailfornow.com. After a quiet Friday drink in the Bedford we spend Saturday canal walking from Hackney Broadway Market (become too foodie and serious) to Camden Market (too much junk food but Thin Lizzy pics at Proud good) via Chapel Market (as down to earth as ever). After sampling London brews in The Elephant and Dublin Castle we come back south for a curry courtesy of Debbie then cycle to the Brixton Windmill that den of punk rock iniquity with the band sticker covered walls and great PA. Plumped for Windmill instead of Hootenanny on the promise of Scandanavian shoe gazing with female souring vocals. First up are CULKIN from Sweden a four piece who churn out guitar laden shoe gazer fare as advertised. Simple music especially the drumming but the 3 guitarists give us a wall of sound at times great and others not so, especially all the fiddling about tuning after every song. Not much chat except telling us how far they had to drive to get here. Reminiscent of the darker repetitive side of Nirvana and gets us in the mood. Next up are a 6 piece British group called SPOTLIGHT KID who seem to have a bit of a following amongst the elderly though look youngish themselves. After seeing Savages a couple of weeks ago and reliving my 70s moments tonight we make it as far as late 80s / early 90s for some hard core shoe gazing mixed with psychedelic acid house guitar vibes. That's maybe a little strong but they were very good and could imagine them getting another place jumping. The four guitars keep the tempo up and leave lots of room for soaring breaks counterpointing the two great vocalists male and female. Thought I recognised both a couple of the faces and songs but later Google research shows I probably don't but they did sound typically late 80s including my mate Al's The Heart Throbs. They were animated and looked like they were enjoying themselves and they talked to us, the guitarist even coming out among us. Worth checking out again. Looking forward to more of the same for the last act but unfortunately YOUNG TEAM are only three and female singerless. Again, Google research later shows they are billed as a Stockholm based core of 4 piece collective with guests including one particular songstress. So have the core of the band giving us basic shoe gazing with an animated bassist but otherwise pretty, well, dull. No chat at all but, again, retuning after every song. Is this a Swedish thing? A competent set but I was hoping for much more after Spotlight Kid's launch pad - they stop playing and whilst coiling guitar leads the singer as an afterthought says "By the way we're called Young Team". Not sure why they'd travel all the way here and be so unenthusiastic but guess that's Sko Stirraders for you. Very different from the Swedish comedic pianist I saw a few weeks ago. We cycle home wondering if Spotlight Kid will make it big. Sunday down to the Zeitgest in Vauxhall to see the St Pauli fan boys and Dresden hauled back from a 2 nil lead to see a great St Pauli 3-2 victory. Lutz toddles off to Heathrow and I'm back home. Coincidentally on telly this evening a new car advert is backed by one of the great shoe gazing predecessors that is Hawkwind's Masters of the Universe...