One Night Only - Dingwalls

It's so nice to have One Night Only gigging again. I was really sceptical about their new stuff but it's all really grown on me and I can't stop singing it now.

I went to see them at Dingwalls on Thursday. We queued up for ages like losers and then it really didn't matter because for the first time ever we didn't try to get to the front but stood up on a second level....it was a good idea at the time but meant I got shit photos and the atmosphere wasn't as good up there. The crowd were shit. London normally really goes for it but I didn't recognise half the people there and it showed a lot of them weren't proper fans. Having said that we did see a few familiar faces which was so lovely and met a few fans that I've spoken to online. I also saw my mate Dougie who I forgot was a good friend of Andy Burrows, ex-Razorlight, now of I Am Arrows who were supporting and really really good.

One Night Only were great, a couple of the slower songs didn't go down as well but I think that's because people weren't hyped up to begin with. After the gig we acted like complete idiots and got our photos taken with George...which is always so weird because he knows us but I'm not going to stop now. I said, "can we be losers and have a photo?" he said, "are you ashamed to have your photo taken with me?" and I said, "no, obviously not!". He then asked how my fella was and asked about the wedding (I don't know how he knows I'm getting married), we had a little chat then gave me a hug goodbye. It was really sweet.

Photos.

One Night Only - Bush Hall

They've been away for what feels like an age and on Monday One Night Only were finally back in London! I first started following ONO in 2008 and I was in a really happy place back then, my job was good, we'd just moved back down to London and I was getting to see them play every couple of weeks which was just crazy. I loved those few months and although they always felt like a guilty pleasure to me, because they were so young and their music was just light and fun, it was sad when suddenly it all stopped and they started to record their new stuff.

Their new album is out in August and I'd only heard a couple of the new tracks which didn't really blow me away but after seeing them on Monday in Shepherds Bush I can safely say the new stuff sounds much better live than it does recorded.

Now two years ago we'd have been queueing outside the venue from 10am like proper weirdos. We arrived closer to 5pm this week and were shocked to see that the queue was pretty long and made up of quite a few blokes rather than the 14 year old girls we'd normally expect. The venue itself was odd. Bush Hall was lovely but had carpet in it which seemed to make the whole place a rather too well insulated sauna! There were two support acts. First up was Drive Like I Do who I really really liked and would definitely go and see again. Second was Leah Mason who plays the guitar unbelievably well but just wasn't doing it for me. Her set went on forever and was crazy dull.

ONO finally took to the stage and played a really good mix of old and new stuff. I wasn't too keen on the new arrangement on some of the older tracks and the drums were quite overbearing but the show was so much fun and when they played Just For Tonight the place just exploded! I did miss seeing Sam at the drum kit (he was always such a doll) and Dan had been styled into some kind of dandy with a rosary a look I've not seen for a few years now but his "stylist" is obviously trying to bring back. George, Mark and Jack all looked the same though and watching them was really great.

I grabbed a tour t-shirt designed by Zoe Jervoise and then we headed outside which is when it got really weird. There were paparazzi waiting for George and when he came out they were running to get a picture! Plus he had a bodyguard! Having met George a million and one times this just seemed so surreal to us but the weirdness must of rubbed off because I regressed into the fangirl I once was and got a photo with him. It was sweet of him to say hi and ask how I was before I grabbed him for the piccie though.

So that's it for a little while longer, there are murmurs of an October tour so I hope they're true.

Say You Don't Want It

The new One Night Only video premiered today. The single is called Say You Don't Want It and I quite like it. The lyrics are rather repetitive and I don't like the weird guitar bit in the middle but it is catchy and I'm looking forward to hearing more. The video looks great although Emma Watson's acting isn't really doing it for me. The bit with the dogs ruins it too in my opinion.

Catch them on tour in July.

Camden Crawl

Last weekend saw my beloved Camden host its beloved Crawl. We had weekend passes and so did our friends so my flat was like a hostel with two bodies on the sofa bed and a body at the bottom of our bed. Cosy. But I tried to be a good hostess, I made tea and toast on Saturday morning. Sunday I was tired and grumpy so everyone had to fend for themselves. Sorry guys.

The problem with Camden Crawl is you think it's going to be a whole day long event but actually you get your map at 11am and then have to find something to do until the bands start playing at 6pm. Sure there are things going on during the day but they're not promoted like the main acts so I'm sure we missed a few hidden gems. Thank fuck for the Halwey Arms is all I can say. Lovely Dougie treated us like rockstars (Halstars ;)) and gave us some free drinks and let us queue jump lots the whole weekend. Thank you Dougie. The Halwey had loads of live music throughout the day and I managed to catch Sam McCarthy's set both nights, featuring Dee Plume (wearing and amazing Kiss jacket) on Saturday. We also trotted around aimlessly and managed to bump into George Craig which was quite random but a nice surprise.

We were adamant we wanted to see General Fiasco at Dublin Castle as our first proper gig on Friday and so got there about an hour and a half early. We were first in the queue at the doors and then 10 minutes before the gig starts they tell us all to get out as the queue will start outside. Bastards. This meant the people at the back were now at the front and by the time we got outside we were right at the back. We managed to finally get in and caught the last 3 songs. Luckily GF were playing Saturday at the much bigger Electric Ballroom and so we managed to catch them there. They were great and I'm looking forward to seeing them back in London on the 6th May.

Next up we went to see Skint & Demoralised. I'd only ever heard one song and was really surprised, Matt Abbott is much better live and we managed to catch him on the Myspace Bus too, although we were outside.
Skint & Demoralised

I think we'll go and see him when he hits Camden next, I'm now following him on Twitter and find his rhyming tweets hilarious. I know I'm a loser and I have been told off already for liking S&D. The only other band I saw was Daniel P Carter's band Hexes. Oh my god they were too good and if you like a bit of hardcore I'd give them a listen.

So that's it really. Throw in a few badges, some humous and chips, a lot of cider, a Subway, late night McDonalds, running down Camden High Street (twice, don't ask), getting asked for id at KOKO and probably a million other random things and you have my Camden Crawl weekend. I'm sure I could have seen more bands and made the more of it but we had a laugh and the sun was out so it was all good.