The Barfly in Camden is one of my favourite venues to watch
live music. There is something about that place that makes bands and crowds
step it up an extra level. This week we were in for a fantastic night of ska
from The JB Conspiracy with support from Tree House Fire, Ghouls and The Popes
Of Chillitown.
London’s Popes of Chillitown start the night off and from
the get go they are full of energy. Combining the very best of punk, ska,
reggae, dub and rap The Popes Of Chillitown are one of the most refreshing
bands I’ve seen in a long time. Front man Matt is full of charisma and really
grabs the audience’s attention. I’ve been aware of this band for a little while
now but never really listened to them, after seeing them live I regret not
making the effort. I enjoyed the bad so much. Check these guys out immediately.
Up next were reggae/ska band Tree House Fire. Another band I’ve
heard plenty about but have never really listened to. Just like Popes Of
Chillitown I loved them, they brought a fantastic summer vibe to a freezing
cold Camden night. These guys were seriously tight as a band and whilst not as
energetic as the Popes Of Chillitown they definitely had the Barflys attention.
Singles Push and Dutty Girl got nice reactions from the crowd with everyone
nodding their heads or bouncing along with huge grins on their faces. Another
band you have to look out for.
The final support came from Ghouls. This would be the second
time that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this band, the first being 18 months
ago when they supported Jim Lockey & The Solemn Son at the Borderline.
Since that time they have released their debut album Ten Thousand Word On and
more recently the EP Great Expectations and have toured all around the country.
They were good the first time I saw them but my gosh they come on leaps and
bounds in the past eighteen months. They played with a great amount of passion
and really seemed to be enjoying themselves during the set. This was a really
fun set from these five young men, highlights from the set included London’s
Burning, Dive In, Gone Fishing and a first time playing of Being Me, a fantastic
song about being true to yourself and it not mattering where you go in life as
long as you make some great memories along the way.
Finally it was time for the excellent JB Conspiracy. The
first thing I noticed as the band took to the stage was that there had been a
line up shift, Bobble from Faintest Idea being one of them on the trombone. I
had noticed a few Streetlight Manifesto shirts in the crowd and thought it was
rather apt, if there is a band anyone in the world of ska punk that can hold a
candle to their horn section it’s definitely the JB Conspiracy’s. The band very
quickly whipped the barfly into a skanking frenzy. This was my fifth time
seeing the band and each time they’ve managed to top the previous fantastic
performance. I always forget just how many great songs The JB Conspiracy have
in their discography; it seems with every song they play the reactions and
dancing get more and more excitable. The sing long for the song Say Goodbye was
absolutely huge as it was for slower Drop Your Anchor. I honestly can’t say
much about the on stage performance of the band as I was to swept up in the
excitement of the pit. It must have been great though as the set stormed by.
Like every good party it didn’t slowly die down it just stopped dead and with
that the hot and sweaty crowd descending back into Camden no doubt whistling
one of the many memorable horn riffs written by the best ska punk band the UK
has to offer.
The ska scene in the UK has been dealt some blows this year
with the splits of Anti Vigilante and Dirty Revolution as well as ClayPigeons
impending last show at the Underworld on the 20th December. I was beginning
to wonder how long the scene would be able to keep going with the loss of these
big hitters, happily after the night at the barfly it was proven to me there
are plenty more amazing bands going strong in the scene. Ska’s definitely not
dead.
Check out The Popes Of Chillitown here: https://www.facebook.com/PopesOfChillitown
Check out Tree House Fire here: https://www.facebook.com/treehousefire
Check out Ghouls here: https://www.facebook.com/ghoulsuk
Check out The JB Conspiracy here: https://www.facebook.com/thejbconspiracy
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