Bedford Balham

 Having stood up Owen a few weeks ago with a fair excuse of having had a tooth extracted we decide on an evening at the Bedford music night with pizza. First up is Carley Varley (real name) who is a singer songwriter with an angsty voice and guitar. Mostly fairly depressing lyrics but I'm a sucker for this sort of thing. Not so much to Owen's liking. Next up are Rooftalk who are a German 3 piece (guitar, drums, bass / keyboard) who start off harmonising then get a bit rock then go a bit Kraut rock until they go into a couple of long numbers reminiscent of early Pink Floyd or psychedelic Beatles and turn out to be very good indeed. Difficult to know if they would be great if you could dance (we're all seated at tables) or whether they would seem a bit so so. I would give them the benefit of the doubt. They are enthusiastic and came all the way from Germany to play here so kudos for that. The bassist says that it's the first time they've played to a sitting audience and he's glad that it doesn't seem at all awkward. Which of course it does. His deadpan delivery of that line is perfect. Nevertheless he goes into an animated bass line which is great to hear and see. Last up is Tom from Broken Fires who plays acoustic and electric guitar and sings up beat and thoroughly enjoyable songs. Not sure whether his 7 piece band was meant to be here tonight but he is entertaining and a good musician. So a very enjoyable evening and for free. The MC is entertaining too. Owen and I retire to the main bar where mid way through an intellectual discussion about Artificial Intelligence we are accosted by a fairly drunk girl (well, mid 30s we find out) who harangues us about the hideous two 40 year old blokes who were trying to chat up a 16 year old who was with her boyfriend. She walks past as is no way just 16 and seemed quite happy. Anyway we have a meandering and at times incomprehensible chat with our friend who I'm sure said Hello Jim when she came up to us. Eventually Owen leaves for his taxi and I exit with him but not before he's suddenly smothered in kisses by our acquaintance. Ironic that she's been banging on about men taking advantage of women and how they come on to them inappropriately and then kisses Owen without even asking. Extricating her we say our goodbyes and get home safely (we are worried about her - the bar staff refused to serve her) and after wondering if AI could ever mimic the antics and haphazard conversation of a drunk Owen jumps in the taxi and I walk home. An interesting evening.