As much as I enjoy grass-roots/local events, they always seem to come with their own added chaos.
Having previously visited the Burr Street car park (!) to watch The Knockouts, upon finishing, an announcement of "Thanks very much, see you next year" was made with no follow on to the fact that the festival was to continue in the shape of a free gig later that evening in another location!
Regardless of the double page spread in the local 'Luton At Large' magazine, most people I spoke to had no idea what was happening, although with such little press in the other 3 different local newspapers I'm not entirely surprised! Even last years event totally passed me by, and I only live a few streets away, so that tells you the scope of the promotion!
Regardless, I headed down to
Charlie Browns, Geordies Nightclub, no wait, it's now called Bar32 for another slice of chaos, with having to use a very poorly maintained DJ console. I know for a fact that this particular type of set-up is very expensive, so why clubs/pubs don't maintain their equipment I have no idea.
Anyway, having written sets of an average of 30 minutes to start at 19.00pm, thinking this would be easily adequate time to play in-between bands, seems that the wasn't gonna happen. The mere fact that no microphones were available for the bands kind of put the jinx on a start time of 19.30pm ever happening. Even the two photographers assigned to the gig left, as with no announcements being made, nobody really had a clue what was happening.
In the end, the
Arndales came onstage fifty minutes later than planned and played a great set, and I totally recommended them and hope to see them live again very soon.
Next fuck up was the second band, Lupo, whom didn't even turn up. This totally infuriates me at the best of times, especially as they'd played the night before at another local venue. So once again, I was having to adlib until another band arrived and again with no announcements, most of the small crowd that had built up left as it looked like night had ended. Eventually,
Flexiboy Chris made an appearance, but only ended up playing a two song set. A few more friends turned up, but by then it didn't really make any difference.
In the end, and eventually back on track, leave it up to last band
Giant Haystacks to inject some life into the night with another great set, plus bringing in a few more supporters, but then I've never not been entertained by them, and looking forward to their next appearance at Cerberfest this coming weekend. Unfortunately, I was so tired, having previously attended the Hyde Park all-dayer gig we left towards the end of their set.
So many thanks to Shop33 for giving me the DJ slot, and to all those that participated in the live events. I'm sorry to come across so negative, but this event should of been such much more and could of reached so many more people if only the proper promotion was in place! Perhaps next year will be third time lucky!!
Setlists
The Knockouts - Test Signal/Alabama Man
The Cramps - New Kind Of Kick
Gestalt - X Killer
Click Click - Burn
Inca Babies - Big Jugular
Bloody Dead & Sexy - One By One
Frankenstein - Thunderjug
The KVB - Shadows
Deadbolt - She Walks With The Dead
44 Double D - 3 Poison Kisses
Deep Eynde - 13th Floor
Eight Ball Grifter - Spit on My Grave
Empress Of Fur - Johnny Voodoo
The Immaculate Deceptions - We Eat Your Flesh, We Drink Your Blood
The Amazing Snakeheads - Flatlining
Frustration - Your Body
Drenge - Nothing
The Arndales
Officers - Disarm
The Black Angels - You On The Run
Loop - The Nail Will Burn out
Spacemen 3 - Revolution
You The Living - Naked
The Oscillation - From Tomorrow
Lorelle Meets the Obsolete - What's Holding You
Killing Joke - Labyrinth Dub (Dynamics Of Geometry Dub)
Killing Joke - Tomorrow's World (Urban Primitive Dub)
Nirvana - Love Buzz
PINS - I Want It All
Babes In Toyland - Bluebell
Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons - Orgasmic Pizza
Mudhoney - Sweet Thing (Ain't Sweet No More)
Flexiboys
Public Image Limited - Deeper Water
Gallon Drunk - Push The Boat Out
Blackfoot & The Voola - Headbone
Rezurex - Dia De Las Muetros
Psycho Charger - Psycho Charger
Cult of the Psychic Fetus - Devil Woman on 199
Deadolt - Who Whacked Polly?
Giant Haystacks
