So yep, I'm in a pretty good mood, and that gets followed by Milque. Who always seem to be able to put me in a good mood anyway. As ever, the songs flow, and the initially unaware crowd slowly begins to get into it. As ever at the Vic, someone's sound suffers, and in this instance it's Kaye's bass which goes walkabout during Dynamo, and doesn't really decide to return during the rest of the set. But not even that can deter. The likes of Target and Deal With It see to that, and joined by newer tracks such as Old Man. They're as good as anything that the bands in the States that are receiving saturation coverage are doing. In fact the only thing really missing are the crowds. Which is kind of a major problem isn't it? I mean, what else are people doing on a Monday evening. It's one of the problems in this country. Have an excellent scene going, but need the crowds to support it. And you wonder where they're going to come from. We need for people to realise that you don't have to be spoonfed the music by Kerrang! and Metal Hammer. We need to get it so that people get accustomed to checking out bands, that that almost becomes the ritual. We need to get past the clique scene elements, so that people get used to checking out the new bands, and not just the new bands that are wearing the correct brand of clothes to fit in with people. Music is defined by music, not by what you wear. I don't know how you do it and get people to check stuff out. Maybe if the venues dedicated a particular night per week to gigs by bands playing a certain style. So that people become used to thinking "right, it's X tonight. Nip to the local venue, see some friends, see who's playing." The bands are there, and if they're playing to packed venues, well maybe it'll start the ball rolling to where it should be going. I don't know, it's an idea. Because at the moment, we have a fine collection of bands let down purely by Apathy in the UK. Which is far closer to reality than the other version that the Sex Pistols used to sing.

3D House of Beef. Well, in the face of my "support UK bands" theme, it's time to cross the pond to the States. See, I like this band. And they're an example that should be held up to those singing Apathy in the UK. This is their third time over to the UK in as many years. Always self-financed. No-one knows them tonight. It's a bit worrying how they'll go down. And it's only at the end after Biffo and some incredible noise effects has ended that applause breaks through. It seems like most people have been shocked into the ground, which is probably the effect they're after. Anyway, they keep coming back. First time I saw them play, there were 2 other people besides myself. Last time was at least relatively crowded, and there's a few bodies here tonight. It's proof that you don't need to sell millions to be good. To be valid. To exist. It's an example to people in the UK. I almost feel embarrassed though when they've travelled from San Francisco to do shows like this. But why not? They're more than relevent. A huge monolithic sludge fest, through tracks such as Live, Coward Live, Thalidamide and Abate. It's like Neurosis on downers. Some guy walked back and forth past me in a t-shirt with None Fucking Heavier, or something like that on the back. I think he might have just discovered that the shirt was lying. Cos 3D are fucking heavy. Massive. And some of those noises tonight from Nial's guitar and effects pedals. I think he may have said afterwards that they're from Merzbrow. Beef is an acquired taste. As are these guys. They work better live really than on CD, yet you need to hear the CD to appreciate the live. It's a contradiction. It doesn't make sense. But then, neither does travelling from the States to play gigs like this. But they do it. And they may do it again. And I'll be there again.

So personally I reckon it was a pretty good way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday evening. Ok, so it was a nice day, so you could've lounged out in the beer garden, soaking up the atmosphere, while complaining to your mates at how the UK music scene sucks. So others tell me, cos I really am struggling to figure it all out here. Answer me the question. What exactly will it take to get you to go and see some bands that you know very little, or nothing about? What is the key?