378 GARAGELAND, The Hangovers, the Vivas, London Camden Falcon "Barfly" Club, Thursday 2 July 1998

A new gig venue for me, and also new company joining Clive and myself; my new work friend Rachel (who of course is now my wife!). She fancied this short-notice (we found out about it the day before!) gig as well! Unfortunately a 3 hour trip (car and tube) meant we didn't get to the venue until 9 pm, missing all but the last number of the Vivas set. A shame, as that number, "Anna", was fiery and spunky, with the vocalist showing no little attitude.

Second band on, in this fine and dingy pub back room venue, was a predominantly female band called the Hangovers, featuring a former Raincoat as vocalist. Her gravelly yet feline vocals, and stories of life on the wild side, marked her out as kind of a female Lou Reed, and I warmed to their pseudo jazz music, after initially disliking them. Clive liked it, anyway...

Garageland, on just after 10, played a predominantly new set, rather than drawing heavily from their jagged, Pixies-ish guitar CD "Last Exit...". Their new numbers were occasionally country-tinged, occasionally moody and slow-burning, occasionally spiky and well rocking, but always intriguing, absorbing and mighty fine! Vocalist Jeremy Eade - who also adopts a "pre gig squirt" ritual, judging by my bumping into him in the loo beforehand - also made me and the other fans present happy bunnies by dropping "Come Back", "Beelines" and a well rocking "Fingerpops" into this set as good moshing material. A great hours rock! And KFC in Shepherd's Bush afterwards, leading to our not getting home until 2 am, but well worth it overall!

383 GARAGELAND, The Hangovers, London Garage, Friday 4 September 1998

A mad panic to get over to the Garage in time for the Boom Boom Mancini set - as bassist Geoff had told Clive that they were on at 8.30 - was all for naught, as we found out on arrival that they'd cancelled at the last minute, with guitarist Brett having hurt his foot! D'oh! Nevertheless, we three were still up for Garageland, so we paid to get in (the BBM guest-list, which we were on, was cancelled too!) and waited for over half an hour in a very quiet venue before The Hangovers came on at 9.15. They were, again, better than before, and better than I'd expected. The vocalist's annoying whistle was evident tonight on only one number, and the rest of their set was moody, bluesy and at best quite absorbing. Are they creeping around my mental block? Surely not another Drugstore in the making??

Anyway, we were well up for Garageland, and hit the front for their set. Again, a predominantly new collection of songs, but featuring more of a smattering of oldies tonight, from the excellently spiky, Pixies-ish LP "Last Exit To Garageland". The absorbing, mesmeric and shimmering "Nude Star" was a top highlight for me, as I danced crazily throughout to both old and new. Indeed, some newies, such as the frenetic "Not Empty", were already recognisable from their recent Falcon set, and overall, Garageland were noisy, rocky and rather splendid. Complimented the Garageland bassist Mark afterwards, and we all bought cheap (£5!) Garageland t-shirts before a very sodden drive home!