Cargo / Natty

This was a return visit for a friend’s birthday on Wednesday night. I Already knew I liked the place, so it was as to whether it would stand up to its rep.

We first sat outside in the patio, where lots of tables are cleverly separated from one another to gice a secluded feeling whilst still alowing to see what’s going on around. And it was busy, with pretty much all the tables taken by a crowd mostly in their 20s. In our group the girls siped bellinis (£5.95) and the guys gulped Amstel (the only draught beer available, at £3.40).

At 11pm, I’m guessing due to local anti-noise laws, the staff asked us to move inside. The main bar’s layout is close in spirit to that of the outdoors. So we settled and continued our chit-chat.

A little later an artist called Natty and his band (?) came on in the concert room. Their music was good lyrics like The Streets with a more upbeat dub/ D&B pace. Not all their songs appealed to me, but on the whole a great concert, with everybody dancing around. We even had a few words with Natty later on outside, but it wasn’t easy to make conversation. The guy was so high on adrenaline and buzzing it was like talking to someone with attention deficit disorder.

It’s simple, i’ll be going back, especially as I wanna try their sunday brunch.

Check out this link for details:

http://www.cargo-london.com/

Glam rock revival..hhmm? more like Prince vs. MJ !

However rediculous it was, it just put a smile on my face!

It’s Friday night, a friend’s in town for the weekend, and i’m hosting. Gotta show the best London has! So we head off to the Hoxton/Shoreditch area, randomly looking for a bar or venue that’ll appeal to us. Stop right there. I know what your thinking, I’m supposed to “show the best London has” and I don’t even have a plan. Well you see that’s the beauty of that area, you know you’ll have fun whatever place you end up at.

And this time it turned out to be “Bar Music Hall” (http://www.hellshoreditch.com/ very cool site – of course) . The door is a bit slow at letting people in, especially considering the place wasn’t crammed, but everyone seems to get in at some point.

Inside it’s one big funkily-decorated space with a square bar in the middle, the dancing area to the right, and the seating area to the left. The crowd is trendy (which of course only means it’s normal people wearing unusual clothes): a few friendly goths, a touch of 80’s shoulderpads, a Bee Gees fan, Belle Epoque ladies. Apparently it’s because it’s Computer Blue tonight for Eighties-loving and gay-friendly people. And my friend and I are, so we’re loving it. Personaly I’d descride the music as dirty house remixes of the 80’s.

Then PaulStPaul and the Apostles came on. We had no expectations, had never heard of them. The lights we’re dimmed, the spotlights turned on, and we saw this 80’s glam rock clad group walk on stage. Their backs are facing the crowd. They jump around to face us and it’s Prince vs. MJ!! I was SO not expecting that, none the less I guess I loved it, since I couldn’t stop smiling.

Their set was short but intense. Afterwards it was back to classic Computer Blue. Overall a great night.