Living away from home surely has its positive sides. One of these is the fact that if you like music, and you DO like music, and you move to London chances are you will go and see some gigs. The truth is that you will have lots of choices, lots of bands to see, lots of places to go and so little time.
Obviously music taste is different for each and every one of us, and different venues host different gigs, but these are the ones that, historically speaking, you can’t afford to miss
1 – 100 Club
100 Oxford Street, W1
Maximo Park @ 100 Club - Courtesy of aguichard on Flickr
Originally a restaurant, it has been a venue for live jazz music since 1942. In 1964 it changed its name into 100 Club, and hosted the best Blues, R&B and Beat acts around. If The Who and The Kinks don’t ring any bells to you, well, I’m sorry.
The 100 Club hosted the first punk festival. 1976, 20th and 21st of September. Monday and Tuesday, of course. Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Siouxie and the Banshees and others. It all began here.
Since May 1980 the 100 Club has hosted Northern Soul allnighters, still running nowadays.
And then the buzz of Indie in the mid 90′s. Oasis, Kula Shaker, Cornershop, Muse, OceanColourScene…
Need any more?
Who we went to see
The Trojans, gaelic ska band lead by the great Gaz Mayall
2 – Brixton Academy
211 Stockwell Road, SW9
Paul Weller sold out at the academy last winter
It used to be a cinema and a theatre, and you clearly recognise that from the leaning towards the stage of the floor and from the layout of the seats in the upper area. The arch and the interior are still like they were originally in the late 1920′s. Scenographically speaking, it’s probably the best live venue in the UK.
Bob Dylan and The Clash both played 5 consecutive nights at the Academy. The Specials are set to play 5 nights for their reunion (but without Jimmy Dammers is a bit like The Jam reuniting without Paul Weller) in May this year.
Who we went to see
In 2005 we saw Shout Out Louds and The Magic Numbers, in 2008 Paul Weller
3 – Hope and Anchor
207 Upper Street, N1
Basement at the Hope and Anchor - courtesy of _maracuja on Flickr
Difficult to imagine late 70′s music without the Hope and Anchor. This pub in Islington, main spot of the pub rock London scene, hosted gigs from Madness, The Damned, Joy Division, U2, The Stranglers, just to name a few.
Given the size of the basement, it’s crazy to think about it full of people seeing The Specials…
Who we went to see
A band of friends of friends of ours called The Words. They were opening act fore some other random Killers-sound-alike bands
4 – Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, SW7
Noel Gallagher Live 2 the RAH - Courtesy of mattandsally on Flickr
Opened by Queen Victoria in 1871, for the hole history I’ll leave it to Wikipedia. The Royal Albert Hall has been hosting the Proms since 1941, and an impressive line up of superstars played here. Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, ABBA, Ocean Colour Scene + Paul Weller + Oasis, Morrissey, The Who.
It’s simply breathtaking.
Who we went to see
Madness as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts in 2008
5 – Roundhouse
Chalk Farm Road, NW1
The interiors of the Roundhouse - Courtesy of etcher on Flickr
The building was originally built in 1846 to repair steam engines, but its uses changed often in its history. It started to be used as a live venue in 1964, and hosted shows by Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, among others.
What I personally like about it is the round (of course) shape and the feeling that yes, one could be using that space for all sorts of different things but it keeps on giving you the idea that no, you really can’t do anything else than playing music.
Who we went to see
Los Van Van this year. It was fine at the beginning, then it got boring and we left…
How about you?
What are your favourite venues for live music in London? I know we are missing many, the Jazz Cafe and the Hammersmith Apollo among others, but we haven’t had the chance to visit them yet.
