Fixing everything, really slowly

I went to see Gomez at the Hammersmith Apollo last night. A friend had a spare ticket and I’m always up for going to a gig (as long as its not totally talentless crap R’n'B or Pop. I’ve not followed Gomez at all so I only recongnised a few of the songs, but I thought they put on a good show.

Two things annoyed me about the night.

1. Gigs are starting way too early. The band came on at 8:30! We’d only just left the pub by then! We missed the first few songs by the time we got in. The band played a full set, but we were out and back in the pub before last orders (11pm). The situation wasn’t quite as bad as Koko (where they use the venue as a club that starts at about 10:30, forcing the band on stupidly early), but it still sucks.
2. Crap beer. Please Carling just stop ruining live music venues. I don’t wan’t to pay £3.50 for a plastic bottle of 4% dishwater! (To non-UK readers Carling is the crap R’n'B of the beer world, think Budwiser but with slightly less gas). Why not offer a choice of drinks rather than beer or water!

Some readers may be supprised to learn that a company that makes beer is buying up large music venues, but its true. Its a sad state of affairs and they are ruining the atmosphere of the venues they run. If wish I could boycot Carling venues and still see great bands but the fact is most bands don’t play more than one venue when they come to town. I guess the only thing I can do is support independent venues and only go to the larger venues for bands I really like.