Courtesy of Organ

18th February 2006 - Shhhhhh @ Ginglik - Shepherds Bush, London

London toilet gigs don't you just love'em, no really, this really really was in a toilet! Don't be doing like us and wondering around the edges of Shepherds Bush Green, delving in to rancid glue-sniffer infested shopping mall and those Australian pubs wondering where the hell the venue is - it's over there in the middle of the green, in the one time public toilet, it's almost mocking you as it watches you search - you have to go around the side and ring the door bell to be let in by the suspicious man who only opens the door a slight crack while he eyes you up and down. Asking the policewoman for assistance when she asks what you're doing and then replying by informing her that we were looking for what she heard as a drugdealer was not good, "A Drugdealer and a cheerleader, are you taking the piss, do you want to come to the station?". If only she had detained us like she threatened to, we'd have missed the dreadful experience that was the middle band, a good kicking in the Police cell couldn't have been any worse than the never ending half hour experience that was that band - and do we really think Plod should be allowed to ask us if "we're taking the piss"? . Where are the music police when you need them anyway? There was once a (blindin') North London gig promoter who eventually got so worn down in to a pit of frothing cynicism that he would 'confiscate' the instruments of bands who didn't impress him. He eventually had to leave town in a fog of outraged violent bands - his 'interesting' line in instrument re-distribution and creative stage-rage (even better than his white van rage, yeah, you know who I mean - mad and blindin' mate) would have been appreciated tonight. The middle band on, name long forgotten (they don't deserve a name check!), are really the kind of band that get small London gigs and promoters such a bad reputation. The kind that just stops people turning up for any thing else besides the band they already know (arrive one minute before, leave one minute after safe in the knowledge that the other bands will be crap or at least offer no crossover potential what-so-ever - come on promoters, quality control and thought-out cross pollination purleeeeeze). Dreadful bland band with the onstage vibe of bank clerks who hadn't had time to go home and get changed out of their cheap suits or their daytime attitudes. Dreadful, bland and there's no excuse for it, that bass player did not deserve that nice new Rickenbacker, they should not have been here cluttering up time and space and the promoter needs his/her ears fixing.

Thankfully the band that must not be named were sandwiched between two bands who are worth your time and so in line with our new arrangement with the tooth fairy there will be no more negative talk. What a nice toilet, a rather decent sized tardis of a toilet converted in to a venue/night club, a not bad venue and nothing like a toilet (the toilets weren't that impressive though!). LAST PARTY were on when we finally found the place, West London infectious melodic indie guitar punk(ish) pop is what they dish out, good enough to send me off surfing to find out a little bit more (and find myself blinded by their dayglo green hand grenade website).

DRUGDEALER CHEERLEADER time then, it's simple really, they're a glam metal rock 'n roll band - no messing, street wise, Jack Daniels slinging, love em or hate 'em, glam rock n' roll car crash of a band in the finest/dumbest good/bad tradition. Another band in a long line of Crue Cult Dolls bands you all know and probably love/hate (and blackout in red rooms with). Siren blazing window shaking bad language using microphone swinging glam rock and roll - cornball riffs, cornball lyrics, extra cornball sauce on top of the cornball. Hey, they rock! It's happening now - they've got the London glamster scenesters behind them, the self-styled streetdealers and cheerleaders (and an impressive travelling fan following as well, all the way from places like Leeds for a London toilet gig). There's some kind of line up mutation going on right now, up to a five piece for the first time, stand-in bass player (old one bitching away, it's always a soap opera with London glam rock, no one ever leaves quietly if they leave alive). Melody and energy, maximum power - New York Dolls, The Crue, The Cult, Social Distortion, Wolfsbane, LA Guns, Poison, Ramones, Sonic Boom Boys - yeah they're like all the others and just that bit different enough to register in their own bad hair and converse wearing way. On the run from various bands you may have encountered around town - Waterbratz, Glitterbug.... They have a very confident man called Hilda up front, they've got these addictive 80's pop-metal hooks, It's Happening Now is their stand-out song. Some of the others may be just a little bit too dumb for their own good - but hey, when did anyone ever say you were actually meant to think about this stuff (this is not chin stroking music). Drugdealer Cheerleader rawk, they're the antidote to whatever problem you've got today, they're totally real and defiantly honest and you either get it and want it and know what to do about it or else it isn't for you and no one gives a flying drum stick what you want or think. It is happening now, I had a great time, so did everyone else packed in here. You got a problem with that?

(Sean O)

Further reading in the April paper edition of Organ..........