Now that's what I call a good night: Creak & Kryptic Klu at The Libertine

People came. People drank. People danced. Musicians networked. People added their emails to the mailing list, even! The place was b-u-s-y, BUSY! So, it is possible to fill the pub on a ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP night. The bands just have to bring there friends and family in abundance, like Creak and Kryptic Klu did, God bless 'em. There was the added bonus of the stag party that arrived to fill the far end of the pub; but who cares who they were? They were there. At the Libertine. All of 'em. That night.


The first band of the evening, Kryptic Klu, has been evolving for six years or so. It is a five-piece guitar band led by Ray Hyde. The band rehearses regularly (their guitarist Liam Barnes once told me that weekly rehearsals were written into each of their marriage vows!) but has played less than a handful of gigs. Last night was the boys' first gig in a long time, and was therefore a very special occasion indeed, which galvanised friends and relatives, from teenagers and upwards. And they didn't disappoint their travelling massive, with a solid set of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan-flavoured rock songs.


Winners of ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP's Best Band of 2009, Creak had a hard task following the Kryptics, but rose to it, and kept the room buzzing with their mix of classic rock covers. Their guitarist Vladi arrived in the nick of time, straight from the airport that he'd flown in to from France, put his luggage down, got himself a Guinness, plugged in his sunburst Les Paul, and spent the next 45 minutes throwing the rock moves and shapes that have become his trademark. Creak is solid, professional and loud, but never uncontrollably so. I want a rhythm section like theirs, and a lead guitarist like Vladi or Paul. Singer Paul Rodger can join me on stage for our encore, a rendition of We're Not Gonna Take It.

Musicians met musicians. Promoter met musicians; I was introduced to the members the Foaming Beauties, a band I had not come across yet, who seemed very nice - I look forward to finding out more about them.

Youtube video of Creak and Kryptic Klu to follow shortly.