May 14th - Day 26

Heartless Bastards at Pure Groove opposite Smithfield Market - the first recipients of my new business cards created to make me braver. I'd not heard of Pure Groove before, but think this will not be the last time I visit the place. They are, in their own words, "a record shop/gallery space in central London, hosting regular instore performances from the best bands in the world on our specially constructed stage, and serving a wide range of soft and alcoholic drinks". Neither had I heard of Heartless Bastards, though it could be the last time I see them for a while, not because they weren't any good - they were excellent and gave the thirty or so audience a rocking good lunchtime - but because they're from Cincinnati.

September 4th - Day 139

The long south side of Smithfield Meat Market is a fine building designed by Horace Jones, the same chap who designed Tower Bridge. One can get a very good view of it from the window seating of Pure Groove Records, situated opposite, on the other side of West Smithfield. There is only so long, however, that one can admire the doings of a visionary nineteenth century architect and after two hours I was begining to tire of red bricks. I was wondering, as behind me a sociable and excited crowd was building up in the shop/cafe-bar/venue to celebrate the release of Hook and the Twin's new single "Bang Bang Cherry", whether I could count the band's soundcheck as today's music (it's never a good sign when the band soundcheck half an hour after the advertised start - I must learn that start times in Time Out are sometimes made up). As it turned out I was able to stay long enough to see half the gig - including the launch of the single itself ("That's it...it's launched," said singer Tom on the song's completion). Helped by live-looping and powerful drumming (by Marcus) this duo made a big sound for just the two of them...a sound with a krautrock core that I'm a bit of a sucker for at the moment.

myspace.com/hookandthetwin

November 16th - Day 212

My bastard train was cancelled en route and I only got to Pure Groove's instore lunchtime gig half way through singer/songwriter/guitarist Catriona Irving's delicate and upbeat set, which calmed me down nicely. Better now.

November 19th - Day 215

These guys were fantastic. The guitarist is Lonesome Tokita. He wrote his name on my card. He doesn't speak English, but he sings the blues like he's from St Louis. The drummer, Takuan, spoke some English and told me that they were over from Tokyo for a few weeks. A friend had told them about tonight's Blues Jam at The Smithfield Tavern. It turns out this is not the first time Lonesome Tokita has checked out a Blues Jam in London - here he is at The Spice of Life Blues Jam last year...www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vshYesUqE8&feature=related. He is also the front man of the band Mokkori.

A note on Japanese business card etiquette, courtesy of Howard who accompanied me this evening. Ones card should be offered using both hands and with a slight bow of the head.

December 23rd - Day 249

More tavern songs, but this time from a man who does sing publicly at times other than when he's in the company of someone who's in need of live music. In a lovely old Smithfield pub called The Hand and Shears, Graham, a softly-spoken folky singer, sang a couple of saucy numbers called The Trombone Song and The German Clockwinder. He sang quietly, but everyone around the busy table stopped talking. Some people at the bar also turned their attention to the singer. "That was a performance," said another of our company, Guy, "because people stopped what they were doing to listen". It was in contrast to a little earlier when someone else a little less gifted than Graham attempted to sing and was roundly ignored (thanks for trying though Dave!).