Disasters in the sun gig review at Black Chalk
OK – before I start, Disasters in the sun are a great band, I review them at the end of this article, but what I want to focus on here is the utter chaos of Black Chalk, a disaster in The Prince Albert!
Black Chalk is a regular night run at the Prince Albert by a guy who calls himself Black Chalk. As an idea its a good one, get some bands, poets and comedians to play at a regular monthly art club. I have to say, if I had got there earlier it would have been lots of fun, and most of the chaos that reigned was due to me being stood near the bar and next to the organiser who appeared to be under some form of intense stress. On arrival he was busily trying to get rid of a loiter at the door who didn’t seem to understand he had to pay to get in and was clearly friends with one of the performers, who may or may not have been a big issue salesman. He was also trying very hard to ensure everyone who entered paid, in a rather unusualmanner, which should be seen rather than explained.
The bulk of the night consisted of performers trying very hard to be heard over the din of noise from the audience, being stuck near the bar the effect was one of being in a washing machine, with people pushing past constantly and hearing the rising and fading din of the performers and various eccentrics who packed out the tiny venue. People were crashing about, whole familys were coming and going, the organiser was desperately trying to figure out who had and hadn’t paid and someone who sounds exactly like Martina Topley Bird was rapping and beatboxing at the same time on stage. On top of this bands were playing up to two hours later than they had been told they would.
Disasters in the sun themselves played a great gig, especially considering it was their first. They have a good driving sound with Mars Volta like tendencies. Its a shame I couldn’t really see them though, due to the business of the place. Just as Disasters in the Sun were about to play their last track a chap from headlines Invisible Jim came up and demanded they be pulled off stage. ‘They are cutting into our set’ he cried. Black Chalk then got up as if to leap over his desk and physically tear Disasters in the Sun off the stage, then relented, and got Invisible Jim to go up and do it. Seconds later the band started playing their final track. Invisible Jim tried to stop them, but to no avail, the band finished their triumphant set. After all this people were passing out from the intense heat and we left Invisible Jim to play without us. Nothing prepared me for the encore of the evening though – the guy from Black Chalk stood outside the pub shouting and arguing with the lead singer of Disasters in the Sun about this time extension. People all around were getting involved and giving their own opinions. Hmm make a band wait 2 hours, then consider pulling them off stage 12 mins into their 15 min set and then blame them…not a sensible move.
Well done Disasters in the Sun – you survived Black Chalk, here’s to many more gigs!
For more chaos check out Black Chalk at the Prince Albert, 28th May 2007.