I have been hearing the name “The Sunshine Underground” bounded around for quite a while of late and so when I was offered this gig I snapped it right up. Not only a chance to see a band that has been on my wish list for quite some time, but to see them in the lavish setting that is known as Koko’s of Camden was a real treat.
The rain this evening was incessant and relentless. I battled head first through the gailing rain until eventually I found myself in Camden Town. We approached the venue early to ensure everything was in order with our press passes and after a small altercation with some overzealous blockhead security guards who were adamant that we would not be able to re-enter once we had left, soon had everything sorted and were even issued with some Green SJM wristbands we were told would later gain us entrance to the aftershow party at Camden’s now infamous Proud Gallery.
A whistle stop tour of some bars of Camden ensued which included (amongst other not worth noting), Lock 17, the Lock Tavern, the Ice Wharf and the Worlds End.
We returned to Koko’s to catch the second support act ‘Palms’, The band certainly set the scene but they weren’t worth writing home about. For that very reason I won’t waste the time of you or I by banging on about them here.
For those of you not acquainted with Koko’s it is set in an old Theatre with several tiered Balconies above the standing area. We decided to watch Palms from the fifth and highest balcony mainly due to it’s complete abandon. Perfect opportunity for another beer, though higher priced and lower quality before beginning the epic trail to the photopit.
Sunshine Underground had certainly pulled a crowd. So much so in fact I began to wonder how I could traverse the distance from the uppermost pinnacle of the venue down to the photopit. I paused to ask the security guard if I could use the backstage staircase to expedite the journey. The guard studied the photopass emblazoned upon my chest and the wrist-bands we were also wearing carefully. He looked at us confused and barked something in to his walky-talky. Moments later he said that only AAA (Access All Areas) passes could access the rear stage area, but with the wrist-bands we were wearing we could access the exclusive Royal Box. We decided to check it out and were soon flabbergasted by our good fortune. The Royal Box was placed immediately next to the stage and gave a perfect vantage point to photograph both the band and the crowd alike. I had for a while wished for the opportunity to do some aerial gig photography, however with most venues hell bent on making you check in your camera after your regulatory 3 song limit this was the first chance I had. We had the box almost exclusively to ourselves and the adjacent staircase led directly to the bar meaning my confederate could easily keep me well stocked with beverages as I photographed the band.
It was certainly good to see everyone having a good old fashioned mosh. From circle pits to stage diving to just plain old swaying back and forth this crowd had it all and from hearing the quality of the performance by the Sunshine Underground you could see why the crowd reacted with so much gusto.
The Sunshine Underground’s performance was fantastic. There is no experience that can compare with going to watch a band of which you have no prior knowledge of their work and realising that they are in fact really good.
London, England