Telefon Tel Aviv

Rainy afternoon with Telefon Tel Aviv Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen filled with men and devotion or devotion of men in the evening. Failed to mention it was 16th June 2009. Honestly, I do not think the first row was deserved, myself being nothing like a fan, more a curious music explorer. Flattering myself. So, as previously mentioned, audience of masculinity with Grave with no Name and Banjo or Freakout to introduce the audience to the world of music, to prevent the primal scream of being exposed to the main act. As a rule. Yes, dearest readers, I still feel the idea of a supporting act is, to some extent, difficult to grasp. Although I realise it is inevitable. So Grave with No Name shall remain so, this is where ready-made music goes. Banjo or Freakout, quite a pleasurable act, give me drums and rhythm and I am biased, so, forgive me, but I enjoyed. Back to the main act, electronic - solid. Vocals straight from 'I have heard it before' shelf, which does not make them unwelcome, quite the contrary, they were greeted with awe. But somehow not missed in instrumental, oh irony, instrumental pieces. With Bruce Sprinsteen's cover Telefon Tel Aviv finished the gig, most probably hoping to be able to offer more, but electronic music is a moody queen, slave to pre-programming. Applause. Applause.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Curious about last year's revelation I went to Madame Jojo's in the darkest heart of Soho on Tuesday 9th June. It was the beginning of the famous tube strike so I went there a little bit reluctantly, not quite certain how, but most importantly, what time I am going to get home on a Tuesday night. But, firstly, Pocket Books and Betty and the Werewolves, both extremely pleasurable. Especially the guitarist of the latter, a long-haired, talented girl. Last but not least, Pains of Being Pure at Heart - a good band but the gig was significantly lacking momentum, steady, low impact. Quite the opposite of the quite recent Dan Deacon. Lovely, but I left early, recommending still.

Dan Deacon

I realise that it was an exceptional performance. Euphoric London was raving, following the rules, hands in the air, forming a circle with Dan Deacon - a contemporary Moses parting the sea of crowd, bringing out the tribal and communal in the people of London. Who attended the gig and who, in all probability, were under the influence of alcohol as well. Due to unforeseen circumstances, on 5th June 2009 in ULU I could not intoxicate myself with beer or any other alcoholic drink, preferably vodka with redbull. Nil, zero, sober. Looking longingly at the longest beer queue ever I could not enter the mind-numbing and thoughtless shaking, rubbing against fellow sweaty music lovers and leave with one thought in my mind 'the best gig ever!', as many of you, dearest readers, did. I was excluded, but also wondering if alcohol would have helped. For, my dearest readers, bitter heart, rebellious soul, 1001 masses in catholic churches and all night raves in the underground dodginess of Polish venues made me absolutely immune to any form of crowd manipulation. Even tongue in cheek, as in the case of Dan Deacon. Not even an equipped with a flashing green skull shaman who seemed to control the seemingly untamed London audience can conquer me these days, which I am not proud of as I like to consider it a sign of aging.

To sum up, a highly recommended live performance.

Future Islands

After Teeth Mountain on 5th June came Future Islands. The venue was already teeming with anticipation of the main act, but Future Islands, a mere three piece, caught the attention of the audience. I was particularly fascinated by the lead singer's gestures and, under normal circumstances, derided signing and singing. So the gentleman of Future Islands was like an actor who puts his heart and soul into each and every line, painful to see, mainly because exaggerated. Strangely enough, my heart sank, forgetting all my bitterness, I let myself follow his jerky movements and amazing voice without questioning the obvious pathos of such a bit too heartfelt performance.

Teeth Mountain

It takes a lot of courage to come on stage, play music from the laptop and play the keyboard from time to time, with one hand. I would imagine it is some form of djing. So 5th June at ULU found me well, giving me hope that with enough confidence I will make it on stage with software and my tiny little keyboard. Just like Teeth Mountain. Yes, dearest readers, I do have ambitions.

Gang Gang Dance

One could write a novel about misfortunes of a gang of gang dance covering last year, but let us concentrate on the night of 1st June 2009 in Dingwalls of below mentioned Camden canals locks and taverns. When they started playing, I had tears in my eyes, which does not happen to a hardened soul owner as myself, they touched me right on the spot, at the very beginning. I immediately forgot about the inevitable facts that Dingwalls was packed, no air con, after a sunny day, people were sweaty and, for reasons known to the band or it could be a metaphor relating to some of the mishaps, the gig featured artificial smoke. Swearing to myself, did we really need artificial smoke that night? And then it all came together, the smoke, Gang Gang Dance, the trance, the place. They were absolutely magnificent in their entirety. Needless to say, Liz Bougatsos is mesmerising and I would have spent all night watching her dance and sing if it was not for some technical difficulties experienced by Brian Degraw whose keyboard broke and then the amp. He was so angry, his anger was immense, dominating over my fascination with the lady. Despite the difficulties and temperature and a member or fan or friend or lover dancing on stage, Gang Gang Dance made people rave and applaud. You do not get this in London. And Alexis of below mentioned chit of jip helped with the keyboard and random drumming so Gang Gang Dance finished with style. I am writing this in my private mine of empathy, dearest readers, and you thought it was long caved-in.

About

So we went up north, to Camden of locks and taverns and Dingwalls on 1st June 2009 to experience what I hoped to be moving, pure and true. But before that, a band featuring the star of hip and chop, Alexis Taylor with his high-pitch vocals but most of all, a great band. Extremely pleasurable and soaked with talented musicians. And readers will know by now that there is nothing I value more than honesty and skills and talent and sincerity and what not. Demanding I am. About were an act of jamming, modern, nothing like jazz whose charm I never understood. Blind to jazz I am. Dear readers will forgive me. Anyway, there were concerns which I did not share that About would overshadow Gang Gang Dance.

Baddies

So on the most beautiful first day of June 2009, first we went to Pure Groove to see a random band which turned out to be Baddies. I understand they may be appealing. Not for me, dear readers, and not in the light of the event about to happen exactly the same day, only later and darker.