Black Heart - London

Ah Camden, what a sight for sore eyes you really are. Please never, ever change. I appreciate so much about he hustle and bustle of these markets. It's electrifying and unlike anything you're likely to find at your local Sainsbury’s. Truly a thing of beauty. Whether you're on the hunt for some shopping for your evenings tea, a leather jacket, a pub to sink 12 pints and watch the match in, or some of the best coffee this side of the Nile, this place has got everything you could possibly need. Full disclaimer for any tourists, I wouldn’t be surprised if a portion of the goods you buy here are moody, but that's half the fun of this place! By day it's the most vibrant and bohemian part of London and by night it seems to transform itself into the Mecca for all things music. Electronic, House, UK Underground Rap, Rock, you name it, there's a show happening at one of these venue with your name on it. Absolute nirvana.

Before we get into that bollocks though, I want to start but saying, man was it ever nice to be in the old country for a week. I love being home, I love reminding myself why I visit once a year instead of permanently changing my mailing address. I love a proper cooked breakfast, a proper pint but most of all I love stocking up on Gregg's Sausage Rolls and my old mans cups of tea. I don't know what the old timer does, but between the bag itself, a spoonful of sugar, and a splash of 2%, it's perfection, and it's seemingly something no one else can replicate. I promise you it could solve wars, the Camp David agreements would finally be settled before the pot runs dry. No need for a tea cosy. Simply put, it's the best cup of tea in the world. I'll miss many things about the old fart when he decides to clock out, but his ability to make a cuppa Rosey Lee will be one of the things I miss the most. 

Thankfully however, much like Camden Town, he's still alive as well and after a good week of gigs through the UK and only one major argument, we made it to the Black Heart. This was our last gig before we hit the road to the continent and I couldn't have been more stoked when we pulled in to find that it would be the smallest room, with the smallest stage, and it was sold out. We were in for a hot at sweaty night. 

As much as I love the massive stages and the festival's with all the backstage catering, booze, trailers, "artists village" and all the bells and whistles, sometimes those gigs feel a bit impersonal to me. I will forever be a sucker for a small venue and a sold out show. I always feel as if there's more interaction with friends and fans who have actually come to see the show. Unfortunately it isn't 1987, and at those bigger festivals there's usually just a bunch of music industry big wigs stroking each other off backstage. People with zero talent and ability to write a melody, just another hand in the pocket of musicians putting in the hard yards that live off couch surfing and KD. It's a shit business and one I wouldn't recommend getting involved with unless you have a burning desire to play the same three cords for the rest of your life. My biggest advice to anyone thinking about starting a band is unless you're really, really fucking good, and I mean really good, just quit. You're going to basically just end up living life as a travelling t-shirt salesman. Although as much as I grumble about it, playing to 20,000 people is a pretty incredible feeling.

As for The Black Heart, this place is exactly what you need in a rock venue, the upstairs is as small as can be, the downstairs is serving up frosty pints, the decor is phenomenal, pinball, the footy was on and Judas Priest graced the airwaves. My only gripe would be the all vegan food menu, which normally I'd say yeah no dramas too but if you're going to be vegan, be vegan. Don't fluff me up with a vegan Sunday roast. ya can't have it, so don't try. 

6/6.