Slint - London Show 1 (London)

1/3/05 Tuesday –

Had some food with the guys and exchanged email addresses and stuff and then we wished each other well. They were really top people. See not all Americans are loud and annoying. One of the things I learnt was that Fosters quite popular in the US. I knew about Britain, but not the US as well!

Time to hit the road on my lonesome again. I decided that this time I had better find a place to stay that was a bit toned down from the Generator. I found one place on the internet called St Christophers Inn. A hostel walking distance from, "The Forum", the venue Slint were going to play at for the next two nights. Quite a nice place with an ensuite in the dorm.

I walk from the hostel in Camden to the Slint Forum gig. I'm starting to wonder if I'm going the right way, but then I hear the sounds of scalpers. I wait around in the cold rain for a long time. The Forum opens well late and I get in and score a seat in the front row near the centre. Sweet! One of my dreams come true, a lounge, something to lean on and I'm at the front of the gig (of the upstairs part anyway). This all happens for my favourite band. Muahahahaha.

The Visa credit card women rang me... nice timing. Still, better than when a band is playing. I could make out most of what she was saying when I put my earplugs in. There are a few calls and after some problems with the hostel not agreeing that I was checked in (and she reckoned she was ringing the right place, as they did have multiple hostels), it turns out they had problems with their checkin computers. Anyway, they finally agree to sign for my parcel and it shoud arrive the following day. Sweet! Oh, then she tells me that the emergency Visa card doesn't have a PIN. What, I say? You have to go into a Visa aligned bank and they will let you withdraw cash. Okay, I say, that doesn't sound too hard.

Whilst waiting for the only support act there is a DJ who is threatening to send me to sleep. Support band comes on... they play stuff... I put my head on the board in front of me and try sit it out. The only vaguely interested part is one of the guitarists is a cute blonde with tight jeans on and she often walks back to bend over pick up her drink from the floor.

Finally, Slint play and it sounds awesome. It didn't quite reach the magical heights of ATP, but it sounded damn good. I think the set was the same. I walk home well pleased once again.

Got back to the hostel, chatted a bit, got a warning about looking after my money as there had been some problems earlier that week in our room and went to sleep.