At Bardens

[dotinthesky]

Bardens Boudoir is a basement venue in Dalston with a slightly low ceiling, peeling red walls and seats tucked into awkward corners. It also has a stage and I believe lots of local bands play there. Last night, Catapulte Records put on a great evening with three bands plus a Scottish poet (Gerry Mitchell) - the first in what I was told will be a regular night from now on (the next one is on 24 March, I believe).

First band up was Helium and Eggs, who just get better and better with time - each gig they seem to play the same songs with a different combination of instruments - and whose new songs are darkly melodic and just damn brilliant. I'm looking forward to when they finally get a CD out. All too soon their set was finished and a cute trio of Japanese girls climbed the stage. No Cars are their name and they stole the show last night, but only because they played for longer than Helium & Eggs and had the advantage of a larger (and tipsier) audience by then. They are three gorgeous girls that play Sarah Record-esque music, full of banter and smiles when things (often) go wrong. For a moment I nearly believed they were based in France and visiting Hackney halfway through an European tour.

I got lost in conversation when Gerry Mitchell took to the stage with his music accompaniment and by the time the final act of the night, The Rebel, came on I was somewhat nauseous from a few pints going straight to my head. Didn't really enjoy The Rebel's sound but could see that the rest of the crowd begged to differ - his available LPs were all snapped up.

Weirdly enough, I ended the night working the door for the first time in my life. Friends meant to check stamps or get money were too distracted by chatter so it was up to me to give thumbs up or down for anyone arriving. Luckily, the bar owners told us to stop charging £3 since the live music was over and just let anyone in (people who seemed mostly like turn-aways from Dalston Superstore). I came home with Guess What's CD "Yuri Gagarin" and woke up today dry for water.

Some free MP3s from Helium & Eggs and Guess What at Catapulte Records.

Comments

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Defo! Next one is 24th March - so that's a date you can etch in your diary if you want!

[kevyn-kronycles.livejournal.com]

Je ne comprends pas l'anglais. Où est le texte en français? ;)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

C'est le fin de semaine! On n'étude pas dans cet periode. :-P

[millionreasons.livejournal.com]

Le mardi, je suis allee a Bardens Boudoir. C'etait OK.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Quel dommage! Peut-être je te verrai lá 24 Mars?

[millionreasons.livejournal.com]

Peut-être. Le 25 mars, je vais jouer un gig a Brixton, donc j'aurais besoin de practiquer les chansons.

[saint-narcissus.livejournal.com]

good job on the 'working the door' , I can get you a job in San Francisco when you come visit me! xxoo -David

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Woohoo! Didn't really consider that it's something to put on my CV - that's great. ;-)

[tonight-we-fly.livejournal.com]

You did well to locate it without any mishaps - most people walk past it at least twice before they eventually find it!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Luckily, K had been before and there were people standing outdoors so it was easy to spot that it was some kind of venue.