SETTLEFISH

SETTLEFISH AND CAMPAIGN FOR REAL TIME at Notting Hill Arts Club

I nearly came in my pants when I realised Settlefish were playing for free just across the road.

Me and my ex Mike arrive at Notthing Hill Arts Club after a long and strenous search. It's just a bloody door hidden amongst HSBC and Subway. Once again I find myself in an basement venue; I guess this is the thing in London. I remark that the walls look amazing, only to realise that there are about 6 projectors in the bar which are simultaniously projecting graffiti/banksy type etchings onto the walls. How funky. I spot Settlefish and nearly wet myself.

Campaign for Real Time, who I first thought was the cause of the gig due to their ambigious charity name set up on stage with something like 6 members. I'm disheartened by one member who is standing in the audience basically doing a LinkinPark and screaming/rapping over some otherwise alright music. He soons returns to his role as back up singer and harmony is restored. There are problems with speakers and continious distortion reverberates around the room periodically. I'm not put off by this. My ears are probably distroyed from Union night the previous day. Back the the band; they have a humble New York type improvisation/blues feel which is a nice contrast to all the electro clash I've been hearing lately.

Well, what can I say? Being a fan of Settlefish for over a year, loving these guys to pieces and the place they come from; ITALIA! I just knew I'd love whatever they gave me. Classics from Plural of the Choir were played; Second Week of Summer, Ice in the Origin, Barnacle Beach..and its these moments that were wonderful. A handful of us knew the words and basically went spastic during the 'hopscotch round the yard' bit. I overdid the dancing, and photo taking, but my efforts were appreciated by a signed poster and sweet conversations with the little italy boys. The new stuff was great too, they seem to be progressing really well; sticking with their sound but becoming better musicians.

BLURT & YEBOROBO

BLURT AND YEBOROBO at Madame Jojo's.

After starting the night off with SELEXT vodka and diet coke at the humble abode with Si, we decide to stumble to the tube and get our asses to the MJ. I take my first walk down sex alley, and am quite giddy...which did not ditract from the fact that I had suede boots on, a dress and a long black coat...I almost fitted in perfectly! Except, may I add..the boots were only ankle long. Thank you thank you very much. The doorman checks my bag, and of all the things to enquire about, its the rape alarm that intrigues him. Only because it wasn't out of the wrapper; so he unwraps it like its going to contain a few grams of coke..and realises yes, it does what it says on the packet.

We head downstairs and its toilet time. Si tells me that there is a man who washes your hands for you, obviously in exchange for money. We conclude that he ought to be paying for the privalege of the view.

The stage is above something that resembles an empty swimming pool; with rustic spikey iron railings for effect. Yeborobo are first to play. We are quite confused by the Kiss-esque make up. This can't be good. They are also sporting some tunics and a smock. Oh dear we both exclaim.

The intro is apparently the demo button on Si's brother's old Yamaha keyboard. This obviously brings back some lovely warm memories. Bless. So we dance for a bit; comedy value and all that jazz. Then the music starts. And I am impressed. The singer is a bit on the crazy side, the bassist is a girl who likes to scream and the others are all doing quite a good job. It's a mix of danceyrock with a twang of electro and a dash of that demo button. Best moment is their cover of Satisfaction where the singer employs a lowy member of the audience to hold a strobe light, and jumps into the swimming pool head first, writhers around humping/wrestling with people; sticks his ass into Si's groin and grabs me by the ankles until I am forced to hold onto the railings for support. And for this last performance, I totally rate them as excellent.

Blurt are apparently quite established. A lot of the audience know song names and lyrics so me and Si feel like we ought to hear some damn good music. How wrong! Overall, the sound was quite jazzy, lounge music your father would dance to, with one leg raised. If only they were twice as fast, it could verge on Minor Threat aceness as the singer does have a knack for the social commentary scruff voice. Sadly, it just didn't work for us. Sorry!