Psicle: New Year Old Pub

Bruce arrives New Year's Eve ready for the Big Not Locked Down Party Night. After hellos and a substantial meal we (me, Debbie, Bruce) cycle up to the Windmill (where else on NYE) where after blagging our way past the strict Covid entry rules and having heat tests where we meet Pete and Wendy who had an even more eventful Covid Entry Test Experience including showing a positive test result. Once inside all evidence that we are in the middle of a pan(ic)demic are thankfully lost. We seat ourselves next to the Old Regulars table and get a few looks from the young uns who are obviously wondering if we are old regulars, the artistes parents or ageing hipsters. The latter is of course correct which the young uns will see once we start grooving as you will see a little later on. The line up has changed since first announced but who cares. First up is a single woman, well, single on stage, she may be in a relationship for all I know, who sings to backing tracks and then picks up her guitar and ends her short set on a high. Sarah Meth has one of those winsome voices that I'm a sucker for especially with a downbeat guitar and she makes me long for another chance to see Katie Crutchfield. It's a great way to start the evening - a nice slow burner.

Next up are the main band of the night KEG. They are a 7 piece who have bags of energy and get the crowd jumping like it's the last party of a year when we've all been locked up inside. Umm, yeah. The front singer looks like he should be playing rugby league (according to Bruce who knows these northern references) but sings like a proper hard hitting indie band vocalist. There's a long haired exuberant keyboardist who shares singing. Two guitarists, bass and drums keep the sound together. And a great trombonist who gives the sound a playful fast punky folk infused vibe to the band. KEG are high energy loud brash and brilliant. They meander off into bits of what sound improvised but which is great but when they come together they are all just so on the mark with no dropped beats or notes it's so impressive. They are a lot like the present day Squid with their jerky sound and shouted vocals. Plus that trombone. But they certainly aren't a Squid wannabe and in some ways their weirder side is, well, weirder and exuberant than a lot of other stuff around at the moment. They want the audience to party and are quite happy to have their monitor speakers tumbled over by those falling on the stage. So if the harder edge of Talking Heads and Devo with the deeper side of The Fall with a sprinkling of Hawkwind quarky strangeness is what charms you then go see KEG. The kids love them!

The last act is going to bring us into the new year and of course Debbie's birthday. It's a drag artist called Ash Kenazi who has fabulously high hair and it turns out a very skimpy bikini. They serenade us and play the violin in a cabaret type performance whilst strutting about including into the audience. Half way through we have the big countdown, which hasn't always been recognised at the Windmill, and everyone jumps around hugging and kissing and saying Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Debs. Our group's excitement shows that we are indeed closer to the hip young things than the Old Regulars. A stint in the garden follows the excitement and then back inside but the promised karaoke and disco have only a few takers and as it's now the early hours we part company with Pete and Wendy whilst me Debbie and Bruce negotiate an uneventful ride home. Post script to Ash is that it turns out that they are the drummer in Happyness who are a very downbeat shoegazing band I've seen a few times and very good they are too. Probably just as well Ash was counting us down into 2022 rather then their band.

The new year brings presents for Debbie then we three cycle to the south bank to people and skateboarder watch before coming back for dinner and to watch a dodgy film. Oh, we took some good pictures at the still derelict Cricketers pub at the Oval. Next day me Chris and Bruce go see Dulwich Hamlet who lose once again in front of Bruce. Then Bruce flees London for the relatively Covid free East Midlands. Great weekend.

OK - as it's a new year you are treated to a few snaps of punters rather than just the bands...