The Punk-rock Adventure:

As has once been said: there is a time for talk; and a time for action!...

On finding an old (solid) acquiantance through the now alledgedly dubiously funded Myspace.com1, I also find his other half suffered from an altercation with a Police-officer whilst at the Gleneagles G8 Summit in Perthshire, Scotland. The officer in question plans to press charges, consequently the Hannah Bush Benefit Gigs2 have been setup!...

This particular evening's prestigious was already augmented by the fact it was staged at The Enterprise in Camden (Belsize Park end), as I have found a certain unassuming quality in venues in and around North London. To be honest, the 'prise isn't much to look at, but this is Camden!... However: finding a seat downstairs was easy-as, and as my colleague and I found the 'prise also serves something in legend, in the form of a draught beer called "Früli". Of course, once discovered, regular trips to the bar were called for.

This did not distract from the overall purpose of the evening, as I have not actively been a part of the London punk circuit and was looking forward to re-engaging with my old-associate!...

In terms of involvement: disappointment did not rear its bitter visage, as I estimated the head-count at around 50; squeezing into the throng would've been a problem for a photographer, but as I looked around me I find plenty of bigger people to lean on and tables & chairs to perch on!...

Despite arriving late3, Mark Aston did well to mark the scenery4 with his set displaying full-on talent in soulful street-singer mode. The tunes show off a sense of a somewhat impressionable solidarity, nonetheless this "fits the bill" as expertly managed as his fretboard. He proclaims to be with his band on Old Street/Shoreditch's Legion oh so "soon"...

Next to be in the firing-line is Johnny One-Lung (of The Filaments). Despite proclaiming to be "sh*t" when in acoustic venues, he doesn't leave the stage; fortunate really, as he stages this evening's "singlalong" quota!... The aptly-titled "Policemen" starts off the high-speed "one-man-plus-guitar" session: involving a certainly left-field view of the law & order system's current street team.
Citing such bands as The Firm (the one without Jimmy Page?!) as his influences, J' plays in a way that would be quite at home in a number of venues in & around this one's catchment: I feel O'Reilly's missed out big time in failing to host this evening's festivities!
Finishing his set, Mr. One-lung continued in the way he had started - with audience participation. In a "call & response" style5:
"I want you all to come in on the chorus: whenever I sing 'Hannah Bush is innocent', you sing 'F*ck the Po-lice', alright?..."
Needless to say, bright, humorous individuals decided "Free The Bush!" was another good choice of chant. Who am I to argue?...

And so; there was brief silence as we marvelled at the genius of the stage's current political-poet: then we went for another beer!

Next up on the bill, however; was the seminal King Blues. I believe intended to be a four-piece, but sans drums tonight; they play what can only be described as acoustic ska...
However, for their first number there are only two members on stage playing Ian Curtis' "Love Will Only Tear Us Apart" 6...
At this point: quite intrigued, I watch another member of the band join the stage7 for (amoungst a few others) a rendition of "The World Through Blunkett's Eyes" 8, which is shortly followed by further application of their trademark tunage and their singer grabbing a Ukelele9 !... Were we at a Fest, I'm sure much lighter-waving would have commenced... The classics involved include the awe-inspiring "Taking Over", and the great-care-must-be-taken-to-not-be-taken-seriously "Music Man". Post-ukelele: much ska-punkage was had by all. Bangin10.

Following the next beer-break (and much deep discussion of the meaning of life11), comes the man only known as Yap. On vocals for the now-departed One Minute Silence, this man knows how to spit out a speech. In an entirely spoken-word performance, he does make plain what he has to say, perhaps so only with the "right"ears will listen!...
I do heartily recommend coming to see this fella for yourselves: he makes use of a way of speaking that's occasionally known as "slam-poetry", part oratorical rap, part swelled-up rant.
I do have a sound-bite (of sorts) though:
<ahem>
Monkey TV, Monkey TV;
JONATHON ROSS, JONATHON ROSS!

Despite the difficulty (bearing in mind who's been on already); there is a somewhat break from the norm in the finisher for the evening: Tim Holehouse, of "Amoung The Missing" fame. Tim plays much in the style of Swans, Low & Nick Cave, so perhaps a wind-down could be a good idea...
Unfortunately, Tim proclaims he "doesn't have any singlaongs", but does continue to play enticing "low-low", more bass-driven tunes, despite much of the audience only really noticing he's there when he thanks them for listening! Never mind: you did good mate!...

For the completist: here follows the complete show (with approximate set-times)

dead dying done	7:00-7:20
mark aston	7:30-7:50
johnny one lung	8:00-8:30
king blues	8:40-9:10
yap	9:20-9:40
tim among the missing	09:50-10:20

1 Have a rummage through the links pages to the left if your interested on the "full" story)
2 That's right folks! There's goin to be another one!...
3 and missing Dead Dying Done: sorry!
4 and I mean the "fitties" as well as the mood!
5 So coined by those first to catalogue African Tribal Choral Singing techniques! (and who says you don't learn anything at school!)
6 A.K.A. Jamie Jazz...
7 Big Boss Itch!
8 I smell a cover version! Woo-ha-ha-haaaa!
9 I knew he could do it!
10 Itch; can I stop kissing your arse now?... :-P
11 It's NOT 42! I swear it's not!

Came across this when looking for stuff by The Firm: enjoy!
Havoc Records.com/AndItWasWritten
Also: when for Yap: The Case For Slipknot.