retiredmartin

June 2026. London.

A bit hot for a gig last Wednesday, but after a week in Armenia I really needed a night of cask and chaos in central London, and you won’t easily beat that Harp/Cock combo for a reintroduction to the joys of the English pub.

I’d popped in the Sam Smiths last time I came to the 200 capacity Social just before COVID,

As the heat causes national panic, “Please come to my gig !” pleads Eaves, who you’ll remember as my new music pick for May,

“There’s be air conditioning“. Well, before it packed in, anyway.

And free cans of Jubel (cut with peach). I was told they were free, anyway.

The Social had a good Lost & Grounded on tap as well,which makes a change from Neck Oil and Camden at London gig venues

But this was about the music, the best 3 band line-up I can recall in 52 years of gig going, and I don’t always feel that about the supports.

In front of me, a chap was sketching Auntie.

They were brilliant, his sketch was astonishing. This is Keith, cebillustration on Instagram, a fascinating and talented chap who (seemingly) produced this in about 10 minutes.

What talent we have in this country, on the stage and in the crowd.

Die Twice were equally thrilling,

though I may have been a bit distracted by the need to balance that can of Jubel on a small ledge and a quest to identify the brewery on the T-shirt in front (it’s Yomato of Japan, but you knew that).

Which brings us to Eaves, somehow even more visceral than on her debut record “Little Miss Sunshine“.

I skipped back to Charing Cross, a new song in my heart.

Ain’t London grand ?