Smith and I went to see Aesthetic Perfection in Camden. This was a much needed gig, it had been quite a week up to then, mind you, it was a Sunday and that, I think, is the only thing I would say against this show. I tried a new travel programme. I might normally either drive the whole way and park nearby or get the fast train from Ebbsfleet. This time I tried the Rogers-Jones travel plan – drive the The O2 in Greenwich and then get the tube from there. This is a system I might try again in the future, it worked well.
Smith and I actually met on the escalator at Camden Tube Station. We were both heading to meet at the World’s End and I was starting the vertical journey to ground from the tube platform when I saw a bald man rush past me. I tapped them on the shoulder and thankfully it was Smith. It’s good to know I can pick out a fifty year friend from the corner of my eye. There were some other people we met at the World’s End, people from a Discord chat that I am part of but have never really participated in, Discord is another thing in a world where I don’t really have the time for things.
First band on was a person called Larva. They had a backing track and played a bunch of songs that sounded all the same and they sang through a distortion box so it wasn’t really that interesting.
Priest were the second act and I’d seen them a couple of times before so I knew what to expect. This band blew the first band away and showed how it should be done. It was an excellent set and the sound quality, where we were standing, was great. If you move any closer to the stage the sound does deteriorate because of where the speakers are placed.
Aesthetic Perfection were bloody great. Absolutely smashed it, I loved it. Daniel Graves had two guitarists and a drummer. There is definitely a case for having a live drummer. The sound of live drums is so much better than as a backing track. There’s a fundamental addition with the live sounds.
The entire AP show was great. I had a nice time and enjoyed myself a lot. It was a good end to an iffy week. So nice to be in London and surrounded by people all doing and enjoying the same thing.
The journey home was quite unspectacular. I got the tube and then drove. I got home around midnight which is the same as if I had got the train from Ebbsfleet. So all in all the new Rogers-Jones London travel method works well. Leaving the parking at the O2 was easy, I had expected it to be a pain as there was a large event on in the arena but I honestly didn’t notice it.