Monday Night Youth Club

Monday Night Youth Club

01 April, 2009
by: Jayrock

In my mind there's definitely a place for going out on a Monday night. It's the place you're at when you went out on Friday night but then for some reason were 'good' for the rest of the weekend, so come the start of the week the whisky itch has set in again. Monday Night Youth Club is a new night on the last Monday of every month at Proud Galleries  in Camden which capitalises on those foolish folk that weren't dancing on tables in their local the previous evening.

Proud Galleries is a strange place, plain and simple, and tonight is no exception. The main gig room is an okay space, although the entrance is a little abrasive and there are too many people lounging on couches for my liking (back in my day we used to have to stand until our feet bled to watch live music! And we smoked inside!). The layout gives it that 'these people would be drinking here even if there was no-one playing' feel, which isn't always the best ambience for a club night.

Anyway, enough about the venue - let's talk tunes. I've never heard of King and Country before, despite the fact that they're from London, have been around a couple of years and even played at Glastonbury last year (obscure stage aside). Tonight they are fun, fresh and a touch frenetic. The sextuplet of four men and two ladies seem to have cultivated a feel-good party sound consisting of a mezze of ska, folk and gypsy punk. They bounce, bob and smile, belting out violin and saxophone-soaked ditties to an increasingly receptive crowd.
 
Kid Carpet's reputation precedes him. I've never heard a bad word said/written about him. I'm not disappointed - this guy is cool and clearly quite crazy. The good kind of crazy. A master of what I can only call experimental electro geezer chic, Kid Carpet (formerly existing as Bristol boy Ed Patrick) sweats on and tinkers with an assortment of 'stuff' like plastic children's instruments, accompanied by his own block-rocking beats.

A bit like the Flight of the Conchords band meets Jamie T, he is amusing and compelling (please note the difference between the FOTC band that performs in the series and the songs that are actually part of the show…sorry but I am a geek / fan!). With gems like 'Make it Look Good' (which has been remixed by dan le sac vs. Scroobius Pip) and 'I Don't Want to Fall in Love With You' in his arsenal, a wealth of dates lined up and '2009 Festival Highlight' written all over his unassuming mug, this year should be a good one for him and his lucky audiences alike.

Monday Night Youth Club runs on the last Monday of every month at Proud Galleries.

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Jayrock