After sleeping off the previous night’s session at the Shillelagh, I got up about half past 12 on Saturday and tried to ring round to see who was coming down to the gig later on that evening. Tim sent me a text to say he might pop down but never did, Dean couldn’t make it as his dad was ill, Robert couldn’t make his mind up, Wesley didn’t answer his phone, and one other person I asked decided after watching a very old, short, poor-quality video of the band on Youtube that they weren’t for them. His actual words were “I wouldn’t pay to see them” which annoyed me a bit if I’m honest. Twat.
However Will said that he would be in town about 8.30, so we could meet up then in Central London and make our way there. I decided to leave a bit earlier so I could go down to Seoul Bakery which was right around the corner from the 12-bar club. I hadn’t eaten all day and I was starving.

Seoul Bakery was good as always. I had the spicy beef soup (Gopchang Jeongol) which was a new addition to their menu and a pleasant one at that. The kimchi was especially good that day, so I ordered an extra helping of that. After I’d finished I went over the road to the Korean supermarket and bought myself some chewy grape sweets and a can of Sapporo lager, and walked down to Chinatown to meet Will.

Will told me he’d probably be moving back to London soon. I thought this was coming as he’d told me the last time I saw him that the commuting was doing his head in. He got a Chinese steamed bun from the place that I’d first had one a few months ago (see my post Sumer Is Icumen In if you’re that interested) and we walked back up toward Denmark Street.

We popped into the Crowbar for a swift drink before the gig. Will recommended a beer called Cooper’s Light Ale so I took him up on it. It was very nice. I generally don’t like the Crowbar as they don’t have any beers on draught, instead choosing to sell cans for about 4 quid which are usually warm. I begrudge paying that when a fiver will buy you six cold ones at the Turkish supermarket at the top of my road. But I could stomach spending an evening in there if there is plenty of Cooper’s and it’s cold.

We got to the 12 Bar club, got our guestlist wristbands from the front door and found the band in the back room where the pool table is. It was good to see them all again, particularly Jenna as it has been ages since I saw her. She looked great, like the country air had done her the world of good. I gave her a few packets of instant noodles that I’d got her as she was saying that you can’t get any in Cornwall!

The band took to the stage and it was just like old times, with them belting out all the trad Toxicslut classics: “Love Rocket”, “Action”, “Time To Party”, and one of my favourites: “Rock & Roll Rebels”. Then they launched into “Safe European Home”, a song which I love their version of. They speed it up and do the impossible by giving it more attitude than the Clash did. Jenna dedicated that one to me which I thought was nice. The band sounded like they’d been playing together every week since I last saw them. The only annoying thing was this bloke who kept standing in front of me. The shine off of his head kept creeping into my photos and putting me off.

But just like Saxon said, the band played on. That was until halfway through their signature track “Toxicslut”, Jo broke a string and the band had to carry on without her. Luckily Jo’s husband Matt came to the rescue and changed the broken string in record time (It takes me about an hour and a half, this is because I don’t know how so I have to get the bus over to Wesley’s house and get him to do it).

They pulled it off though, I’ve gotta say. So well in fact that it worked in their favour adding to the comedy value of the set. Though I think Jo was a bit disappointed that she didn’t get to do her “We only know three chords” bit which I was looking forward to as well.

As they ploughed through their set with all the subtlety of a juggernaut driving straight through the Houses of Parliament, they looked like they were really enjoying it and getting into it.

After an encore, they finished off with a few more covers: “So Macho”, “Jailhouse Rock”, and one that I’ve never seen them play before; “Breaking The Law”.

All in all, it was a cracking set and great to see the Sluts back in action again. I hope it’s not ages before their next gig.

After their set was finished, I went to join them backstage (Well, the little room with the pool table in) and we had a drink or two. The guys presented a Toxicslut t-shirt to one of their fans, a guy called the Dark Lord of Barnet who has apparently been to more Toxicslut gigs than anyone else, though this was the first time I’d seen him.

Spanky thought she’d unwind by playing some pool…

…while Jen on the other hand was in need of some fresh air. It does get quite hot in the 12 Bar Club.

We stuck around and had a few drinks and then people started disappearing as they all had to get back to their homes on the various outskirts of London. I was kind of hoping that Spanky and Lee would be up for going to a club or something, but in the end I started to get tired and got the 55 back to Hackney Road and got myself a kebab.

For some reason I always fall asleep on the 55 back from town, but I’ve yet to miss my stop by more than one stop. It’s like my body has a built in sat-nav that knows when the bus is getting close and wakes me up.

The next day I went down to Brick Lane with Dean as I hadn’t seen him over the weekend. We walked around for a bit and I bought myself a Shawarma then we went and had a pint in the Golden Heart and then one in the Birdcage on the way back. Dean had to shoot off as he was supposed to be helping his sisters decorate his dad’s bedroom. I tried to ask if he fancied continuing our drinking session later that evening but he didn’t seem up for it so I decided to go out and get myself a few cans, and spend the rest of the evening watching some James Rolfe videos on Cinemassacre.