Sleaford Mods

So my journey is not worth noting, except that I pop into Andrew and Lucienne's for a swift couple and a natter en route, but Cameron drives from Brum to Manchester meeting Olly goes watch ManU draw with Wolves (damn, I said I wouldn't mention that) and then they train down to London meeting me outside the Roundhouse and we enter to catch the last half of Consumer Electronics who are an ageing industrial noise band with to my ears no discernible musical value and pitying the bar staff working in the main room we retire to the bar outside and bump into Simon and Jules who are similarly unimpressed with the band. After another round it's safe to go back into the gig space and in a bit the Sleaford Mods are on. We trundle through the crowd squeezing in about half way down so at least we haven't got a pillar in our way. They start well and get the crowd going but to be honest it seems a bit predictable and not that exciting. Except for the pint that sails over from the front and luckily (for me) lands just short (unluckily for Olly and Cameron). Maybe it's the Roundhouse as I've never liked it and always thought that it lacks atmosphere for some reason unless you're right at the front. Following this musing Simon and I realise the three northerners have moved further in and we've lost them. Soon Simon and I are split but soon enough all five of us meet right in the mosh. It does seems much better down here and the hard beats of the band and shouty vocals get everyone moshing about like mad. I guess atmosphere is nine tenths of the law of gigging. There are old favourites and new ones - a few slower and it gets quite funky dancey in a rave style with our tunester nodding his head as usual with one hand in pocket the other with a bottle of beer. Our main geezer is giving it all as usual with his funny quirky movements and ending songs with a raspberry straight outta the Two Ronnies phantom sketch. We end with a proper full on mosh and then we're told how great we are for coming to see them and they are us and we are them. Exit stage left leaving us elated and standing in a beer soaked dance floor where Olly proudly parades his Calvin Kleins which he has in his pocket (he's travelling light). We wander out into the night and walk back towards Camden stopping off at the legendary Hawley Arms complete with Amy tributes outside where we are offered a table by some young folk leaving (do we really look that old) and down a few listening to the decent juke box (OK, sounds from the bar) and chat. Then it's the epic Northern / Victoria / Northern line journey back home just in time for 2am. Sunday the visitors have to leave at 10am so I lend Cameron a T shirt (his is beer soaked) and drive them through the biblical rain to the station. Then Debs and I celebrate our 12 year anniversary by going to South Ken for tapas, wine and on to the V&A for Kahlo and modern life and as the sun is out stroll through Hyde Park to Kensington tube. Lovely. No pics due to me not being able to find the camera icon on my phone and not wanting to put my glasses on in the mosh pit.