J3 Bar, Islington, London
J3 Bar, Islington, London, 28th January 2003:
Tuesday was better than Monday: a nice, big, airy pub near the Angel tube station in Islington. I was, I admit, a bit scared. Loads of people were there, but I kept focused, and strummed like a bastard. When I dared to look at the audience, all I could see were people smiling and listening (not sharpening knives or aiming barstools). This was good. My trusty Atkin didn’t let me down (ie all strings and components stayed connected to the guitar!). Just two songs, I decided; no slow songs (far too much of that already!). “Force Of Nature” and “What’s Under The Stairs?” — hit and run! There were some very interesting and receptive people around (no chavs!) and the tentative offer of further gigs for both of us. Okay, London! Resistance is useless!
Quote from punter: “I came out of the bog and thought ‘What the fuck is this? The Ramones?!’”