Callum Crumlish was posted to the Old Blue Last, one of the first live music venues in East London and now one of the few remaining.
There aren’t many music pubs left in East London, and of those that still exist, The Old Blue Last is one of the very few which can legitimately lay claim to ‘legendary’ status.
Back in February of 2014 Kylie Minogue hosted a secret show here, with dancers and a light show — and Ms. Minogue was by no means the first A-lister to play at this venue. Down the years the Old Blue has hosted the Arctic Monkeys, The Horrors, State Champs, Amy Winehouse, Gallows, Andrew WK, Lily Allen – the list goes on.
But the Old Blue is also home to a much longer list of unknowns – bands who haven’t made it yet, bands who never will, and some bands who should never have bothered.
Having visited the Old Blue at an amateur band’s gig (security wasn’t present, the bar was fairly easy to get to, nothing was gated off, and curfew did not exist), and having also seen it sold out by American pop punks, State Champs (security hounded every corner of the room, there were gates at every exit, the bar was a mess, and everyone had to be out by midnight), it is astonishing to think that both experiences took place in one and the same venue.
The worn furniture and linings of the room add to the ‘cool’ atmosphere, coupled with the holes in the ceilings — allegedly made by members of the Arctic Monkey and Gallows. But whoever’s on stage, it feels like a place where legendary events have taken place. And, despite being over 300 years old, it still holds up quite well.
Not that you would know from the outside. At first glance, The Old Blue Last seems like your generic pub. And inside, with chairs dotting the outskirts of the room and a second floor with a stage — we’ve seen it all before. However, the reason we have seen this all before is because Old Blue was one of the first pubs to establish itself as a music venue: it set the tone for others to follow.
The Old Blue Last makes for a good pub, and a great music venue. It gives musicians and acts the freedom to do and act naturally – a rare treat for the audience and a rare feat for a music venue. My reviews of two new bands you’ve probably never heard of – but you should, you should – show how much London’s music scene is enriched by a venue which gives bands proper room to play in.
Make Room for Honey Moon
On a not-so-warm April evening, London’s Honey Moon claim the Old Blue’s stage as their own, as they transport each member of the crowd into their delightfully psychedelic jams.
As melodic chord progressions surround beautiful choruses, soft snare beats motion each song through to its subtle conclusion. Honey Moon are a real Summer band. There are hints of Zeppelin in the guitar work, and their earnest lyrics seemed to resonate with the inhabitants of the Old Blue Last. The entire set seemed to send the crowd into a docile state, where nothing was being said or shouted. Instead there was an all-encompassing communal sway, consisting of raised open palms and smiles.
In one fell swoop, this four piece took control of this venue, and did not let go until their set was over. They demanded attention, and kept hold of it.
This summer, London will surely want to wed the four ‘hippies’ (Jack, Zach, Sam and Peter), who are the Honey Moon-ers.
You can check out their music and upcoming gigs below.
https://www.facebook.com/honeymoonuk
https://soundcloud.com/honeymoonuk
A Good Bruising
I feared they might be an obnoxious metal band or even an X-Factor casualty, but thankfully the band called Bruising is neither of these.
Bruising turns out to mean flowery lyrics and melodies, accompanied by relentless hard-hitting drums. Singer Naomi’s vocals meld perfectly with the high-pitched guitars that scream happiness at you until you’re black and blue. It’s this sort of cyanide-injected ecstatic-aggression that makes this Leeds band such an unforgettable act.
Opening song ‘Thinking About Death’ utilises the prominence of the drums with the tone of Naomi’s voice in order to give you the gist of what they’re about. But then the light trills between each verse help to make this band unique – such attention to detail is normally found only in classical sonatas or rarefied electro.
Bruising somehow blend a feminine tone with raw, unmodified guitars and intricate solos; and all of this comes together in a sound that’s bigger than the sum of its parts. This band is a marvel.
Check out Bruising’s music and upcoming gigs below.
https://www.facebook.com/bruisingmusic
https://soundcloud.com/bruising