Best gig I ever saw

This was Olly's treat to me after putting up with him, sorry, putting him up, over the last few weeks. And more to come, apparently. Despite Ramsay's out of character vitriolic and sustained outburst disrespecting the headliners and in particular their very, who as it turns out, charming singer Olly and I are looking forward to the gig. As it's the Garage we decide to eat at Pho rather than the Georgian place nearby as Olly wants to leave north London alive. It's my 3rd time at Pho in 10 days but I'm now banned from there cos the next day I smell like dogs, apparently. Thanks Lily-Rose. We get into the gig by 7.30 and it's already packed and we've missed the first band. We're not sure whether the music on at the moment is the band tuning up or some awful ambient prog rock. It's the latter but soon enough Knifeworld are on stage and they immediately hit us hard with a great set of psychedelic fuelled rock and roll. It's a very old school festival anarchic psyche punk style with a brilliant guitarist who owns the stage and struts around very reminiscent of Nik Turner. They increase the intensity at times squaring the circle of jazzy free form Gong and proto metal Sabbath. Great stuff. It's like 1977 never happened. The guitarist is ably supported by a throng of musicians with the usual drum and bass and keyboards with 3 sax players one of whom has a bassoon sideline. I'm sure this is the first time I've ever seen one at a gig and definitely at one with such a mix of ageing hippies ageing punks and young Cardiacs fanboys and girls. Didn't I mention it? This is sort of a Cardiacs tribute night and Olly is relishing me joining the cult. I've joined Olly. I've joined. The only (from what I can remember) time I saw the Cardiacs was as Stonehenge 1984 and to be honest that's somewhat hazy. I can only just remember them playing at all and certainly couldn't give you the set list. Well, as the corny saying goes, if you remember Stonehenge you weren't at Stonehenge. Anyways, Knifeworld finish to tremendous applause and we await the next with bated breath.

Spratleys Japs, or according to the screen behind, Tim Smith's Spratleys Japs, are a little lower in numbers that the support but despite the singer, who Ramsay is not a fan of, losing her voice, they go into another set of full on space rock oddity reaching out from mid 70s anarchic hippy jazz through the ratcheting up of 1977 punk and out into the genre busting psyche with everything that music has become. And back. The singer is very charismatic and they deliver a great set which by the end gets the mosh pit started. Albeit quite a polite one and definitely with the oldest average age I've ever had the pleasure to take part in. After they finish nearly everyone who's been on stage reappears in white and they take us through a few Cardiacs numbers which delights the crowd no end. They leave us wanting more with a suspect prog rock ending of guitar and bass hypnotic sound crash. Oh god, I wonder if I'd like the Enid? I wonder if they're on Spotify. It's an excellent way the end the night, the punters are well happy and love is in the air. Peace and love man type love, not valentines type. After this we get chatting to a woman who talks so fast we can't keep up then her husband, number 2 apparently. They're up from Brighton. Seem to be a lot who's come a long way - I was chatting to a Welshman who'd come up from Southampton and had to get the last train home.

The Cardiacs main driver Tim Smith is around, he's suffered a terrible condition following a stroke but as he's here it's good he's out and presumably enjoying himself. The DJ is Steve Davis, yes, that Steve Davis. Interesting Steve Davis. The one who'd wind up Alex Higgens by taking so long on every shot. And it worked. Snooker legend. Anyways he's here spinning the wax, well CDs actually, and looks well into the heavy psychy dance music he's playing. Every time someone comes over to chat or for a photo he seems genuinely surprised. It happens every 30 seconds. I had a quick chat but not sure he liked it. The other DJ is the guitarist from Knifeworld. After a while we decide to head off as we were both out last night and Olly's got a long drive up north tomorrow. It's midnight so the tube is it's usual lively self with some woman hitting on a young guy in full dinner jacket rigmarole and some bloke walking up and down offering Quality Street. Quite a few grab one - they're so trusting. I was worried he was a mad Cardiacs fan who was doling out choccies laced with some mind bending drug. Turn on, tune in, drop out.

Knifeworld - he isn't some weird insect honest...

A better one of him and you can spot the bassoon

Just about see all the band - due to lighting people at the sides are near invisible to cameras

Spratleys Japs with two in the shadows

In full flow

The big finale - I should probably recognise the singer?

A very ghostly Steve Davis

By the way, it's not the best gig I've ever seen but thought I'd steal Ramsay's phrase as he says the headliners are the worst band he's ever seen. That may mean that he slightly disliked them.

Rare Groove Disco Deep House and a slice of Soul

Not sure if a disco, as I still think of anything without a live band, qualifies for a full blown blog but as we were treated to three legendary DJs a few lines seem to be in order. Arriving just past the witching hour (as some would have it) it's officially Saturday and we're all set for a night of feverish dancing. Debbie and myself drop coats in the cloak room as it's gonna be hot in there. The Electric is pretty full by now and the legendary Norman Jay set is in full swing pumping out a great mix of disco funk soul and what I believe is referred to as Rare Groove. That's funky soul to me and you I think. Anyways the dance floor is throbbing and everyone has a smile on their face. We find and lose Simon and Jules (a theme for the night) and find and keep Colin and Greg. It's a great party atmosphere and clutching plastic beakers of gin and tonic we're waltzing in a winter wonderland. Well, grooving in a sweaty club. The Electric is the reincarnated Fridge which I patronised every so often back in the day (it's a trek from north London when you still had to use night buses) and I don't think I've been here for 20 years or so. It seems smaller than I remember and I can't recall the balconies but that's probably my memory rather than the place itself changing. The bar is pretty free, as are the toilets, which may be a sign that many of the punters have taken something a little stronger than the pro plus that I did to keep me up. Anyways back to the music. Norman finishes his set and then who I assume is the legendary Studio 54 DJ Nicky Siano takes the stage starting with an odd choice of Queen's Don't Stop Me Now. Not their most obvious disco track. Nicky spends a good deal of his time energetically twiddling knobs and dials which flummoxes me and Colin as it sounds like he's just putting records on the decks - or more likely pressed the play button on his pre-recorded mix tape. I guess you got to look like you're earning your money up there. It's an eclectic set ranging from pop, disco, soul, funk and the jazzier side of funk. That'll be jazz funk then Jim. It has moments where the energy drops but overall it keeps us on our toes and the other punters seem to love him especially for the Hi NRG moments. After that we slide into a more laid back throbby psychedelic meaty beaty big and bouncy vibe as our last legendary DJ takes the decks. Marshall Jeffers takes us on a bit of a journey from gospel disco funk through Chicago House to out and out big drops hands up freaking out smiley tunes. By this time the crowd have thinned out a bit which surprises me but the ones left are taking full advantage of the spaces left to dance in. Some of the stuff is an acquired taste I guess and by 3 o'clock Debs and I are flagging somewhat so we say our goodbyes to Colin and Greg, failing to find Simon and Jules, again, and make our way back to Brixton tube. A taxi would have been a lot quicker and given we got one at Balham anyway not expensive but it's not often we take advantage of the witching hour (as others would have it) party tube train so we thought we'd enjoy the experience. So a great night all in all even if we didn't last til 5am. I don't think we ever really thought that we would...