Tea for Two (9th May 2007)
I've been going out far too much recently. Seriously, I don't think my feet or my bank balance can take it any more. So instead of telling you all about some debauched night out, I thought I'd tone things down a little bit. With some afternoon tea.
But this isn't just boring afternoon tea. This is decadent, extravagant and indulgent. This, is afternoon tea at The Ritz. Everyone in London has a list of things they want to do before they leave and retire to a country cottage. Tea at The Ritz should be right at the top.
I know, I know. Surely it's just tea and cake? Well, yes. But bloody good cake it is too. (I ate so many clotted cream scones I started to get strange looks from the waiters.) And the sandwiches are gorgeous (with the obligatory smoked salmon of course) and not a crust in sight! Though I don't really understand the importance of cutting crusts off bread. If anyone knows why a crust free slice is posher than a normal slice let me know! But trust me, after spending the afternoon here, you won't need to eat for the rest of the day.
But great as the food is, you don't really go to The Ritz for that reason. (Otherwise you'd go to the Patisserie Valerie down the road and save yourself a few quid). You go to The Ritz so you can, well, sit in The Ritz. You go so you can find out what it looks like inside (very girly in fact, all swirly 30s glamour). And you go so you can tell everyone else you know that you've been. Sad but true.
There's something very special about the service in swanky hotels. Without a doubt, the waiters here are the best there are in London. You'll feel so completely pampered, like nothing is too much trouble (it isn't by the way... it you asked them for a fish finger sandwich, you'd pay a fortune but they'd make it for you). And you just feel very very spoilt. Which is a lovely feeling every now and again. The waiters were so adorable, they prompted my best friend Cate to wonder how you'd go about asking one out. We're still not sure.
So, if like me you've been dancing too much and need to remember what real food is like (apparently kebabs aren't a food group), then hop over to the swanky part of town for an afternoon you'll never forget. But expect to book in advance (six weeks in our case!) and then enjoy. It's worth every single penny of the £35 pounds. And if you happen to work out how to get a cute waiter's phone number, even better.
I'm no music journo, but... (3rd April 2007)
Ladies and Gents, I want to introduce you to Great Bear. Meet Jack (the guy with the mic), Wizza (the one with the hair and the guitar). Mike (the well dressed blond one) and Jack jnr. (the guy on the drums).
I can't tell you all about plinky plunky chords and stuff like that, but I do know that I'm sick of listening to the same Kaiser Chief rip-off bands. (Actually, I'm sick of The Kaiser Chiefs too but that's another story). So when my friend Laurie told me to check out Stoke Newington based foursome Great Bear, I was slightly dubious... surely they'd be the same as every other band I'd heard recently? Well, they've done a great job of proving me wrong.
Tonight they're playing at the Bar Academy in Islington at the regular 'Feeling Gloomy' night which believe me is as dreary as it sounds. Getting dressed up and then paying to be miserable? Alarm bells are ringing already! Thankfully Great Bear still manage to make everybody smile! Even a couple of goths stop lurking in the corner and come out for a bit of a dance.
But then, I defy anyone to listen to this band and not want to dance. They've been together for four years now (with the welcome addition of Wizza six months ago) and they jump about on stage and have lots of fun while playing some great songs. They even throw in a little bit of obligatory stage trashing. (Of course!) because it's meant to be fun, isn't it?
They're not just silly though, they really know what they're doing. They've got proper vocals, bloody good lyrics (especially in 'Take it like a Man') and also some very funky guitar riffs in 'Mary' (my personal favourite). And the drumming? Well Jack jnr. is the only drummer I know who doesn't hide behind his kit like a musical wall-flower. Throw in a bucket load of charisma from Jack and you've got yourself a great line-up.
Later that night the boys tell me tales of Wizza and his constant parking tickets and how they all go a bit crazy after midnight (a bit like plectrum wielding werewolves). I also watched Mike drink a pint before I'd finished my cigarette! Oh, apparently Jack jnr. can't drive them to gig without going via Regent's Park no matter where they're going and he also used to be in a tribute band... but I'm not allowed to tell you which one!
So where are you likely to find the Bear? Apart from the perimeter of Regent's Park, they can often be seen at The Birdcage in Stokey. They play there a lot and it seems like a favourite place of theirs to hang out. And no doubt it's easy to stumble back home after a few too many pints of Guinness. They're also singing the praises of Hoxton Bar and Kitchen (they've got a gig coming up there soon).
You're going to be hearing a lot more from Great Bear. Their new single 'Shame' is out now and they'll be at a few festivals later in the summer. Hopefully there will be an album later in the year. But if you can't wait that long, why don't you take a listen to their latest single? I bet you'll be tapping your foot without even realising. And in a few years time, you'll get to be smug and say stuff like 'I listened to them when they were just starting out'... priceless.
Life is a Cabaret... (26th Feb 2007)
No one dresses up any more. Seriously, when was the last time you got really dressed up? (and I don't mean in that way...) Wearing a pair of sparkly heels isn't the same. Neither is wearing a suit jacket with jeans (seriously, why do guys do that?) So, in favour of glam dresses and all things gorgeous, I went in search of somewhere with a bit of class.
After a few 2 for 1 cocktails in the ever faithful Nama to compare outfits, we skipped down to the Volupte Lounge in High Holborn for a truly memorable night. This what what promised to be a really memorable evening of burlesque, jazz and a bit of cabaret thrown in for good measure. I honestly can't remember when I last had so much fun!
The bar is cool and slinky and we were welcomed by the lovely Veronica who made sure we were well looked after. A couple of Champagne cocktails later and we were ready to be shown our table in the sumptuous downstairs lounge. With Pete Warman tinkling on the baby grand in the corner, it was like we were transported to a 30s American bar.
The music was much more relaxed than we had anticipated, more soulful jazz than burlesque, but it was fantastic. Ayanna, the first act writes her own songs, but you couldn't quite tell if you'd heard them somewhere before. Hannah Warman made us all smile as did Lady Pink, who was probably the most racy act of the evening. They do all of the old classics ('Diamond's are a Girls Best Friend', anyone?) and they all looked like they were having so much fun, it was impossible not to get swept up by it. Volupte is so chilled, it's a bit like having a live show in your living room.
Apparently, there was also a fabulous woman called Lady Butterfly, who kept everyone amused with an act involving a trifle. But unfortunately, you can't smoke in the lounge itself, and I'd snuck upstairs for a cigarette and missed her. You can also get food here too, it's not cheap but it does taste good and after seeing everyone else's you won't be able to resist.
The girls are lovely, happy to have a chat after the show and after a few glasses of Vino shared some of there many performing stories with me (sorry, that's a secret!), but it's not really as 'Burlesque' as we'd been hoping for. We did go on a Wednesday though and I'm told things are much more lively on the weekend.
But if you want a classy relaxed evening, and you can't decide whether you want a show, or dinner or cocktails, then Volupte Lounge is the perfect place to go. The show is only twelve quid a pop and even with food and drinks we spent about ¢30 each all night.
Of course, you don't have to get dressed up if you don't want to, but isn't it much more fun if you do?
Ssh... It's a secret (6th Feb 2007)
HOW do the girls do it? Good vintage dresses are hard enough to find, let alone wear without looking like you've raided your Mum's wardrobe and hacked a pair of curtains to death. But this is Brick Lane. Not only do the girls here pull it off, they actually look good. Rivalled only by the pretty boys with floppy hair and tres skinny jeans. I'm in the East End at 93 Feet East. Not just any old night at the popular Shoreditch club, I'm here for the new Buttoned Down Liveshow.
Buttoned Down Disco is the creation of Dollyrocker, a guy who's managed to get quite a name for himself in London. Not bad considering when he started out four years ago he didn't see BDD going anywhere after the first night! Now he runs the friendliest club night in London. Fact. The concept behind BDD is simple: Sign up for the email alert, wait for the next invite telling you the secret venue, turn up in your dancing shoes (skinny jeans/ vintage get up optional), follow the bubbles and have a whole night of fun for a fiver! Simple!
The liveshow is different to the usual nights of silly pop tunes. For a start, it's not a secret anymore and Dollyrocker will be at 93 Feet East every month. The slant is more towards a 'diverse mix of music' and Friday night showed off the skills of headliners Coco Electrick (Imagine Dita Von Teese if she sang in a punk band). Phenol were not only really friendly, they rocked the crowd and got everyone jumping - which is the whole point of being there! Nobra was on first and she was truly original. Topless too, which I wasn't expecting! Diskoboxx was next door if you fancied jumping about to something slightly more conventional.
So what else is Dollyrocker up to this year? Expect a few visits to familiar venues such as the Forum in Camden. All for the more hardcore of you, an all-night is planned at the Key towards the end of March. Dollyrocker also has some new venues up his sleeve; the Midsummer's Eve party promises to be memorable!
As for the Liveshows, Goose will headline next month and May sees a whole host of bands from Japan. You can even see some human beat boxing from Shlomo who featured on Bjork's last album. Whatever you want Buttoned Down Disco will keep you entertained and you'll always end up being surprised. As the guys from Phenol told me 'Dollyrocker just has really good taste in music'. They're right - so why not go along, let him do his thing and dance 'til you can't feel your feet.
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