As Raphael was on his way out to DJ (Feliz aniversario Michell e Fubah!) at a birthday party, I slunk in from Topman’s opening CTRL night curated by METRONOMY. It was a rather well turned out crowd, dressed in a way that those big guns at Topshop/Man would be proud; it was an event that they could marvel at their cleverly executed marketing strategies to see the very neatly eclectic and nattily groomed lads and lasses who filled the gig room at the Hoxton Bar & Grill. (I, in fact, was also incidentally in Topshop; sporting a black panelled body con skirt that I’ve taken to wearing at every opportunity with anything and everything in my wardrobe, and that night it was coupled with amongst other things, my favourite asymmetric Ann Sofie Back cardigan).
Anyway, the gig room was absolutely rammed. So, taking a deep breath and squaring my shoulders to forge through the crowd, I ended up meekly apologising to all the people whose drinks I accidentally knocked as I squeezed past them, ducking my head and weaving like Beyoncé. Even having mad weaving skillz such as I, it was still a struggle to get in and out of the obviously fashionable event.
By the time I arrived and found a little space where I could comfortably obscure someone else’s view of the stage (unfortunately I was standing in front of a short girl - okay, I was wearing my beloved four inch platform Opening Ceremony wedge boots; I was probably actually her height to begin with), I had unfortunately missed Koko Van Napoo but skidded in time to catch Your Twenties. Who were accompanied by, to my surprise, Joseph Mount (curator of the night) of Metronomy fame on the drum kit - I didn’t realise that he had joined Your Twenties to drum to Gabriel Stebbing’s (keyboards/bass in Metronomy) vocals and guitar. Apparently not though as Gabe explained; Joe had kindly stepped in as their usual drummer had traded this gig to go to America with a band that was breaking up anyway (burrrn!). Your Twenties glided through their tightly harmonised set, charmingly nostalgic yet gently modern in their Metronomy tinged take on Beatles flavoured indie pop. Kamerakino then stepped up with their brand of jangly, quaintly noir gypsy throw down.
I exited after that as I had a cameo to make at the bar I regularly haunt. It was their first karaoke night and I promised I would stop by. It was brief but intense, and as I was walking away one of the owners came running out after me yelling “Christel you’re on! They’ve got Britney! Quick!” WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY (but I did it of course. And it was beyond fun).
