We arrived at the venue at about 3:30, nicely timed so that we could grab a drink before the first and arrive on the stage. They were Descendents of Cain and were quite good. I didn't see that much of them or listen that carefully, since other people that I knew were arriving and I was happily talking to them, so I shall not put up any further details, as it would be slightly unfair.
After they left the stage, Squid were on. Squid have been described to me as Britians answer to the controversial Mr. Manson. Well, they were good at what they were doing I guess, but its not what I go for, so I didn't like them that much. On the plus side they did look fantastic, with much glowing under the UV, whcih is always a good thing. I spent most of the time that Squid were on stage at the bar talking to Mobbsie, Morph, and Dave. Quite a lot of it was spent with Dave complaining about the band; its always fun to listen to such rants.
Then were Two Witches, who were great. Really strong sound, and back to the rock and punk end of the goth scene. The lead singer had very good stage prescence, and had great eyes. He could do the mad look exceptionally well. They were the first band that I had heard previously, and they were better than I was expecting. I am now very tempted to go outadn get an album of theirs, so if anyone has any suggestions about which are good then do shout.
Being hungry, myself and Mobbsie then ducked out, missing House of Usher and instead consumed some alleged cow. Hmmmm, burgers.
After we were fed and liquidised, we pootled back and just caught the very end of House of Usher. Thats okay we though, as up next were Killing Miranda. I thought that they were likeyl to be quite good, as I have the latest album (Transgression by Numbers) and its been what I have been listening to in work for the past while and its very veyr good. I also have seen them before, and they were good then too. Oh, enought babbling, on with what I am trying to talk about. The band came on wearing Ramones tops, and started with a dedication to the late Joey Ramone. Then they started to play and the place just buzzed. I *think* they started with Angelfly, and they worked the crowd fantasitcally. They went through a lot of songs, the audience sung the lead singer happy birthday, and everyone was having a fantastic time. By the time they got toward the end of the set I was grinning manically and singing along and leaping about. At the end they played Teenage Vampire, which sent the crowd wild, adn then played Somebody Put Something in my Drink, by the Ramones. The crowd left the stage elated and enthused, and most people headed to the bar to cool down and rehydrate.
The Buring Effigy were something of a come down. If they had been earlier in the evening (Like before KM) then I would have said that they were good, but they had a very very difficult act to follow, and unfortunately just didn't connect with the crowd in the same way.
Star Industry were the people I was really looking forward to. I really liked their first album and hadn't had opportunity to see them before. The were using Gotham to launch their second album into England though, and so many of the songs that they were playing were unfamiliar to me, and I believe the rest of the audience. Apart, that was, form the mad Belgian bloke standing beside me. As far as I could gather he had been following them around for quite some time, going to every single gig. He was very enthusiastic indeed, and had a flag he was busily waving around whilst pogoing to the music. They had a lot of promise in that had the crowd known the songs a bit better then they would have been much more into the whole thing. When Nineties was played the crowd erupted and that was fantastic. I got their new album, the set convinced me of that at least.
Finally the evening ended with the Inkies. They connected well with the crowd, and gave a good performance. As usual Candia ran around the stage with a lot of energy, and the other.... well.. didn't. They began with Supernature, and continued with a mix of both old and new. Atrocity, a track form their new album came across spectacularly well live. I'm only commening since if you have heard the album, then you might be somewhat suprised at this.
The evening came to a close with a cover of Paint it Black, and then a thousand goths spilled out onto the streets of London, tired but happy. More fun than you could have with any number of sheep.
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