Ho99o9

The night after Peaches Simon and I find ourselves again out together this time another old London haunt the famous 100 Club. It's hardly salubrious but I earwig someone coming up to it saying to their friend Ooh dunnit look posh. I guess it does seeing as who's on tonight which is hardly start spangled glittery groovers. And I guess the entrance to the club looking like an old style basebent club contrasts with the punters lounging around outside sitting on the kerb of Oxford Street as if this is an all day festival rather than an evening gig. Ain't they got no stamina? Anyways it adds to the atmosphere outside. Down the stairs in side we get a drink and soon first act on which is (probably, maybe) Blue Daisy who are a drummer (this is a theme tonight) and singer (shouter) who sometimes twiddles some knobs but mainly shouts at the audience. Drummer and backing tape support the angry singer who spends a lot of the time out in the crowd either eyeballing and shouting lyrics aggressively at audience members trying to enjoy their pints, I'm surprised no one hit him but he looked pretty solid, or dancing whilst singing to the few youngsters going for it and creating 3 person mosh pits. All very entertaining. The music is pretty hard core thrash punk obviously heaving on the beats. A pretty good start to the evening and builds up some expectation for the next band...

Another drummer this time on his own save his synths and backing tapes. This is pretty hard core with a big thrashy sound reminiscent of the Beastie Boys punk rap early stuff. He seems a little bit earnest jumping between drums and synths but I guess he needs to keep himself occupied and the music's well worthwhile. After a thrashy start he, not 100% sure but think it's NAH, goes a bit trippier with a jazz tinged funkier groove that could be Rage Against the Machine or even those precursors of thrash funk Big Black. Goes down very well and he's appreciative of our appreciation. Virtual group hugs all round.

Not sure the next band are the hugging type. But the hard ones always have a soft centre. Don't they? Ho99o9 apparently pronounced horror take the stage. We have one drummer, long haired but turns out it's a wig so short haired, one of our heroes sporting a mexican wrestler face mask and wedding dress albeit one which looks like there was the mother of all inter family bust ups at the wedding, and the most norming looking guy with green hair. Which tells you something. This is hard core punk with some great big beats from the now short haired drummer and a lot of hip hop style rap shouting bouncing between the two on the mics. Obviously there's the obligatory backing tapes that one of the singers twiddles with once he's removed his mask and can see and his dress so he can move about. It's not just about the thrash though and there's some pretty catchy melodies lurking and jumping out at you just when you don't expect it. Massive drums, shouting, deep punky funkiness. Are Big Black coming into their own albeit channelling through other bands? The crowd are going for it and the resident photographer and video maker have to retreat somewhat. A continuous stream of crowd surfers jumping off the low stage to be carried hither and whither adds to the fun. One guy hangs on the overhead cable which comes away from the ceiling resulting in a shower of dust catching in the lights beautifully. Simon and I appreciate the sparkliness until we remember the age of the 100 Club and realise it's probably asbestos. I try to stop breathing in for a while just in case. Nothing can detract from the gig though. Very competent and enjoyable and I think they are pleased to be here. It's raucous but nothing too outrageous and during the animated encore I do uncharitably think that this ain't the most aggressive gig I've been to here. Having a DM footprint etched on my forehead at a Gallows gig comes to mind. I try my best tonight venturing into the mosh pit and it's by no means the tamest gig at the 100 Club. Another enjoyable night but after two in a row and having been regaled by drummers for two nights I'm snoozing on the Northern Line back home. A good one. Cheers Simon.

Probably Blue Daisy

My camera skills are getting way too crap

Half of the band, well, 2/3 if you count the drummer