505b. Sat 20/10/18: The Bear Club, Luton

Beer: Rebel Brewing Company Surf Bum IPA 3.5%, Leighton Buzzard Restoration 4.6%

Third gig in as many nights. Maybe one gig too many. The Bear feels subdued. Lemn Sissay's in town, which may have taken one or two customers. Such a difference can be telling; there are a few empty seats, which is a bit of a shame. Have a very pleasant catch up with Justin and tell him how much better The Bear is than Ronnie Scott's, although I suspect that a) he knows, and b) there's no real comparison. I mean well, but should perhaps keep my wisdom to myself.

I'm knackered. I try a low strength beer. A false economy; the flavour eludes me so I neck the Rebel back and move onto Restoration. Henrik Jensen and his quartet take the stand. They are cool and measured. Not necessarily the right time and right place for me and my weary head. I find myself trying not to nod off, rather than nod along. I'd arranged and very pleased that SRW and AW (nee AT) are here, but am unable to give any good advice viz their planned 2019 rail excursion to Eastern Europe. I mutter vague warnings about the Belgrade to Sofia overnight train, though they're not planning, or aren't talking about either Serbia or Bulgaria.

Dirty chips in pitta on the way home.

 

105. Tue 30/5/17: The Bear Club, Luton

Beer: Leighton Buzzard Smokin’ Angel Porter 5%, Leighton Buzzard Black Buzzard 5.8%

At The Bear at the invitation of my brother, who has a cameo role in the British Independent film The Same Circles directed by Mark Garvey, written produced and starring Simon Cleary.

Simon is a friend of the KOs/Clod Mag, a Quiet Night (Slow Night - ed) regular and a fascinating, fantastic and wonderfully creative fellow. AJKingston’s part is to ride up on a bike, inform Cleary’s revengeful character that he doesn’t know of the man he is looking for – and ride off. Simon Cleary does almost everything else – with tremendous gusto. I’m not sure what to make of the film, apart from being full of bemused admiration for Simon – and being impressed with some very nice individual shots.

It’s good to see a screening at The Bear, what with Justin’s Filmstock background, and the room is full – albeit of folk who either have bit parts in the film, or know them that do.

304. Thursday 15/2/18: The Bear Club. Mill Yard, 24A Guildford Street, Luton

Beer: Leighton Buzzard Smokin’ Angel 5.0%

Although Steph has deigned to accompany me to the latest Slow Night – it does seem quieter than normal. We put that down to it being half term, and the opening night of the Luton Beer Festival in Hightown.

CJ along too, as is a young fellow from the Vandalism Begins at Home fanzine. There’s issues of VB@H knocking about, there’s issues of Clod knocking about, conversation knocks about who does your printing, how many pages… fonts (probably)… it's Editor chat, largely beyond me.

I tentatively dip my toe into the DJ role again. That involves picking those tracks off my ipod least likely to offend, retain the ambiance, but being just a little bit different. My selections break all those rules – punk rocker that I am – immersing those few present into bored bemusement: the Alabama Sacred Harp Singers off of the Anthology of American Folk. Afterwards I attempt lifting the mood with a bit of Jacques Dutronc (doing his barnstorming “responsible man” bit) but it’s too little too late.

We leave a little bit after CJ, and a little bit before the Slow Night raffle.

122. Wed 21/6/17: The Bear Club, Luton

Beer: Leighton Buzzard Restoration 4.6%
Richard Herring gig; warm-up for his “Oh Flip I’m 50” Edinburgh show. I’m a podcast subscribing fan of Mr Herring, and me brother bought me a ticket for my birthday (although I don’t usually go for live comedy). It is stupidly hot outside, and inside, The Bear. The warm-up acts are forgettable, and the compere picks on just about everyone apart (mercifully) from me. He’s called David. He’s gay. Not seen him before but I’ve since seen him on a talking heads clip show – where he was required to be aghast at 70s TV content… ‘cause it was racist and sexist and almost certainly homophobic too.

Anyway, Richard Herring was good – the crowd were a bit rubbish though; he deserved better levels of enthusiasm than a hot and bothered Luton crowd could muster. Still, I was audience, I should have laughed louder and applauded when me brother tried to start a round (it didn’t take).

At the end of the show I procured a copy of Richard Herring’s book of emergency questions. I asked him to sign it to Timothy. I stopped at least twice on the way home to laugh at the questions therein.

211 Thu 2/11/17: The Bear Club, Luton

Beer: Leighton Buzzard Brewery Restoration 4.6%

Out: SW, AW, AJK, Simon, Phil and Pete

Quiet Night is quieter than normal tonight: the official launch party for the latest editions of Clod Magazine, and Luton Haiku book... I don’t think either sell exceptionally well (if they sold any at all).
We sit at our little table at the front, huddled around the amps and albums and raffle prizes - admiring all the old record sleeves and talking music (The Fall/Brix Smith), cricket (Pete and I) football and booze...

Raffle prizes this QN as seen in the picture: Beret, Of Mice and Men and Ligo branded sardines. Matt wins. We don’t know Matt. Matt seems bemused by the (quite good) prizes.

154 Thu 24/8/17: The Bear Club, Luton

Beer: Leighton Buzzard Brewery Restoration 4.6%

They don’t need my turning up at Slow Night – it’s quite packed, albeit, its suggested, by some work party. Good for them. On the DJ table (my Ipod shuffle play isn’t required tonight), sits the proof copy of Luton Haiku v5. The cover is one of the photographs I took at the football ground in June. Ramshackle mess. As with the picture of the car bonnet (v3), the back cover is far more aesthetically pleasing than the front.

Beer goes down nicely, and all is going swell until the South Beds chapter of CAMRA turn up and start tearing the place down. Not really. No draught beer though – why are they here? Mike from CAMRA is an affable soul and comes over to say hello. He mentions something about the live entertainment at the Beer Fest’ in February; I’m not sure if he wanted The Knockouts or not (I’m thinking possibly not). We tell him that Helen and Ricky’s lot were fantastic this year – and that the diehards will always demand Cerberus.

CAMRA are here ‘cause they always come here on their Luton socials. It is one of the best places in town for beer… trendy beer, mind (too zeightghastly for me). I wonder if Justin would consider dabbling in draught, I presume not. Anyway, whatever, the fact that CAMRA come here routinely surely suggests at the rubbish choice of pubs in Luton – something that has become an acute bugbear, especially since last Friday.

296a Fri 2/2/18 The Bear Club, Luton

Beer: Pope's Yard Luminaire 3.9%


First 2018 trip to The Bear Club after its brief hibernation. Joined by J Hackson of Clod Magazine to watch Clark Tracey and his very youthful quintet who acquit themselves with some aplomb. Pete's in and he and Hackson chat some about their visit to The Bear earlier in the week, where they attended Luton Music Club's Holocaust Memorial concert. Otherwise, the club's a little slow to fill and seems to have started emptying before the end of Tracey's set. A little strange; the music, atmosphere and beer are all first rate.


There were a couple of nattering skinhead gentlemen in, aged in their 50s and sat right in front of us, but they were gracious enough when glared at and apologised for their quiet racket.

The Luminaire was lively and pleasant and entirely out of keeping with W*tford, where it was brewed. I proceeded, however, to run through a few Leighton Buzzard brews afterwards.

167 Fri 15/09/17: The Bear Club, Luton

Out: AJK

Beer: Leighton Buzzard Restoration 4.6%

Second Bear jazz excursion in as many weeks; this week it’s Tony Kofi and the Organisation. Tonight is even busier than last week, and the crowd seem younger. They seem keen enough, but far too involved with their mobile phones – either texting or taking pictures. Those incessant light intrusions are a bit annoying, as is the fact that a significant minority are chatting through the jazz. Seems rude to me.

Can’t say I’m becoming an evangelic jazz convert very quickly. There’s too much on-stage name dropping, and solos and necessity to applaud solos (or some solos – some apparently insignificant solos don’t warrant a ripple).

After the set, we nick off back to the Bricks.