> Reviews > Reviews 2006 > The Camden Crawl

Review by Ivan.

A manic marathon evening of band watching in the capital

Easter Monday in Camden and you would have no idea a festival was on its way - no fences being built, stages being erected, no bloody Portaloos, and no natives battening down the hatches for the impending arrival of life's flotsam and jetsom. Actually most of it was already there hanging round the lock. I saw one flyer in a music shop advertising some band i never heard of doing a signing and thats about it. Actually its quite a civilized way to do a festival, travel down by train with just an overnight bag, check in to your local hotel, check out your room mate, if you have one, then after showering head to the arena. After qeuing up for our wrist band , free double CD and programme it was time to start.

First tick in the box were The Deliah's from Switzerland, who looked good on the programme , they did but we went to be rocked and to be honest they were far too bland. A few months touring with Zodiac Mindwarp would have sorted em. Far too clinical and wishy washy - but thats the Swiss for you. I looked at Graham and it was in his eyes - lets move on mate. So we left the Dublin Castle knowing we would have fuck all chance of getting back in for Supergrass, but I for one had to move on.

Next to Camden Lock for The Maccabees - the alcohol was kicking in and the fuse was lit. This band - god i hate comparisons but they are from Brighton and a young bunch of Arctic / Hard Fi / XTC / Billy Bragg complete fucking ace lads. Highlight was the song Latchmere - about the local leisure centre, "stay in your lane " is one chorus but "Latchmeres got a wave machine" as another chorus is sheer brilliance. A thousand times better than the Kaisers and i wish this band well. I climbed on to the stage for a dive (surprise surprise - ed) after spending a few minutes next to a girl that wanted to show the band her breasts, she knew all the lyrics so presume she has seen 'em loads of time and thus its a fair bet the band had seen her assets before anyway. Just remember - stay in your lanes evryone because Latchmere's got a wave machine. Next i think it was straight to the Camden Underworld which was strangely quiet, Humanzi were on and fuck were it loud, BRMC in a more moody metal phase, remember Shorty commenting on the size or lack of the guitar player - the singer and fellow strummer reminded me of Shane McGowan. The band seemed a bit political, certainly a Download proposition, and would like to hear morefrom them.

So finally to Wolfmother, a good Darkness but then anything can be. Reminds me of the Mars Volta - the alcohol was taking effect and so was the desire to go air borne. A cracking racket from an Aussie 3 piece, a singer, guitarist with St Vitus dance, it turned out to be an excellent finale. I think i did 4 stage dives for this one . On the last one i picked myself up and there was Graham stood lager in hand - there was nowhere else i would rather have been, I limped out, the side of my head hurt (Never? -ed) but sacrificies have to be made, and fuck knows the bands do.

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