Dublin Castle, Camden, London
Dublin Castle, Camden, London – Saturday 30th November 2024
Today we’re continuing our assault on great London venues with an afternoon performance at the legendary Dublin Castle in Camden. We haven’t played one of their matinee gigs before but when we were asked by our friends ‘The Legendary Too Drunk’ to join their bill we naturally jumped at the chance. We have no idea how an afternoon gig will go but you’ve got to try these things haven’t you?
Ted arrives with Patti in the morning, we load up the few bits we’re carrying today and we say goodbye to band mascot Poppy before hitting the road.
As usual, the journey is quick and painless until we get into London, then traffic just slows down to a crawl. This we have to endure whenever we head into the big smoke, it’s just one of those things. Ted steers us along, narrowly avoiding crazy moped riders weaving in and out of the traffic, until we eventually arrive at the venue, parking just outside so we can unload the car.
The 3 of us are able to carry everything we have in one go so we grab it all and head into the venue and to the music room at the back. We drop everything off and say our hellos to the guys from ‘Too Drunk’, finding Buzz and Rusty at a table in the bar. Ted heads off to park the car.
The headline band are soundchecking so we make ourselves comfortable in the bar for a while and are joined by Eddie soon after. Ted arrives back from parking the car and we all decide to head into the music room in preparation for the first band starting off the proceedings. It runs a little late (when don’t these things?) but after 20 minutes or so ‘Clujit’ start and we get our stuff ready at the side of the stage while they work their way through their set. It’s an interesting mix of prog and rock with some occasional vocals thrown in.
By this time the crowd has swelled very healthily and we’re really pleased to see that the venue is packed. As the ‘Clujit’ guys exit the stage we set up as quickly as we can. Despite some initial on-stage sound issues we play a fantastically tight set containing mostly our original tracks, ranging from classic album cuts like “Let It Rock”, “This Thing You Call Love” and “Everybody’s Screaming” to brand newies “Until The Dance Is Over” and “Only Rock ‘N’ Roll Will See Us Through”. It’s been great and we’ve gone down really well.
After a swift pack up from us (and set up from them) ‘The Legendary Too Drunk’ take to the stage and treat us to some good old-fashioned pop and rock ‘n’ roll including a lovely cover of Jonathan Richman’s “Roadrunner”. They’re great fun.
With all this merriment becoming too much we retire back to the bar where we’re joined by Eddie’s friend Luke for a drink or 2 and Patti goes off for a look around the shops. Lots of great banter continues, it’s been a really great afternoon where we have done ourselves proud with our original songs. Eventually, Patti returns from the shops and we head off into the early evening.
Again, Ted, Patti and I are able to carry everything in one go and as we’re heading back to the car (a little bit further than when we got here) we’re stopped by 2 girls asking if they can borrow a phone to call their friend who has disappeared. Ted duly obliges and they try to call her when she suddenly appears across the other side of the road. Panic over.
That’s our good deed for the day done and we hit the road. Brilliant day out.
Lucky