Monday. Traditionally a day for getting back to work after the weekend then heading home for a quiet night in, In other words, the worst day of the week. However, for the ET crew Monday 12th November was set to be far from this. E arrived into Paddington shortly before T and soon the crew were on the bus heading towards Euston and our digs for the night. With bags dropped and with 4 hours until stage time, it was off the Euston Flyer to kick things off with a few pints of Fullers ale. The Euston flyer is a regular haunt of the ET crew when in this part of London and for good reason! A massive pub with a cracking ale selection.
Nicely warmed up, it was onto the bus for the short Journey
up the Hampstead Road for the lining of the stomachs in the excellent (sadly
now gone) Istanbul Grill. As our regular readers will know, the ET crew are
very much partial to a late night donner, however with it being 6pm and us only
being two pints in the more sensible choice of shish kebabs was made. Stomachs
lined and with time still to kill, it was over the road into the Cobden, another
one of the ET crews’ regular haunts for Camden gigs. The Cobden always seem to
play music from whichever band is playing at Kokos that night and tonight was
no exception. A few pints of Hells lager (when in Camden!) for E and Doombar for
T accompanied by some Powerwolf tracks had the ET crew pumped up for the evenings
main event.
Before long, it was time to make the short walk next door to
Koko and with the ticket and security checks completed it was downstairs via
the bar for some double vodkas for the obligatory merch stop and then to secure
a spot. Now, as much as the ET crew love Koko, it always suffers from one
problem. The tallest person in the world standing smack bang in front of you. In
fairness, this can happen at any venue, just it always seems to happen to the
ET crew here.
Soon, the lights were dimmed and on they came with Fire and Forgive.
Straight into Army of the Night and then Incense and Iron. The Koko crowd and
the ET crew were loving every moment of this. Suddenly E felt an arm by his
side. Glancing down and noticing the yellow arm band E instantly jumped to the
side and let the biggest bouncer he’d seen in a long time through. He was on a
mission. It subsequently turned out further towards the front some <insert
desired expletive here> was shoving people who weren’t particularly into
moshing. As metal heads will know, the etiquette is don’t shove those who don’t
want to get involved and let people out if they get stuck in the middle of it.
This so and so obviously hadn’t got the memo and was soon being taken out a
side door, arms pinned by two bouncers. Serves him right. Big well done to the
Koko’s security here. The metal world doesn’t need people like this. Take note
Brixton academy! On with the set and following on from Lupus Dei, it was encore
time! Closing with Werewolves of Armenia and with the crowd dispersing into the
cold night (a welcome relief from the sweaty floor!) it was time for phase 2 of
the ET crews’ night.
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| Powerwolf!!!! |
Onto the bus and back down the Hampstead road the ET crew went towards Tottenham Court Road and our final destination for the rest of the evening, the legendary Crobar in Soho. Time for us to get serious for a moment. For those not in the know, the Crobar was the last remaining Rock and Metal bar in Soho. It will truly be missed. But fear not, there’s a crowdfunding appeal to reopen it! https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/crobar If you can help, please do. London needs venues like the Crobar!
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| The Legendary Crobar |
Anyway, back on with the normal rubbish we write about. Off the bus and with the short walk along the Charing Cross Road to Manette Street and there it was in all its glory, the Crobar! One of the ET crews’ favourite things about the Crobar is that it was open every night of the week bar Sundays, so the opportunity to get smashed and listen to the legendary jukebox was always possible even on a Monday. The other thing being how friendly everyone always was. The rock and metal crowd really are the best! Obligatory Troppers purchased and a table found the drinking a lunacy commenced. Shout out to the Spanish guy who took a picture of us in front of the skull sign! For anyone who’s been in the Crobar, they’ll know about the amazing selection of shots on offer! I’d love to be able to tell you which ones the ET crew had, but unfortunately our memories are a little hazy as each shot was accompanied by more beers. The sign of a great night!
With the clock nearing 2:30 and the stomachs growling, it
was time to bid our farewells to our favourite Soho bar and make the short walk
to the Burger King on Leicester Square. During this walk the ET crew were accosted
by a promoter trying to get us to a drum and bass night. What he was thinking
approaching two metal heads in full gig going gear asking us if we’d like a
drum and bass night, we’ve no idea. We were also offered free entry to a strip
club, which again we declined with a “no, I want a burger”. London really
changes at this time of night!
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| Medicine |
Food demolished it was into one of London’s finest for the trip back to Euston and the build up to the inevitable sore head. Feeling suitably hungover the next day, it was off to the final regular haunt for the ET crew, the double 6 café. Feeling slightly better, it was back to Paddington and time for the ET crew to go their separate ways and make the journey back to the royal county.
E
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