After Danny was interviewed by the London College of Fashion, they dubbed my voiceover onto footage of a band who were part of a six act showcase night on a single weeknight. The competition is so tough on the London music scene.
So why is Camden Town such a unique gigging hothouse? Where does one even begin? I love Camden Town for reasons too numerous to mention here. This is because it spares no prisoners. Gigging can be both savage and the most exhilerating experience all at once. It takes pure unadulterated courage to put one’s heart and soul into rehearsing a gig for months, even years, both originals and covers. And yet, when at some point it all falls apart for maybe a technical reason – or very commonly an attack of stage fright, it’s so easy to be discouraged, or even to give up completely. But no! The persisters will have the bug for life and not let failure deter them. One could say it sorts the men from the boys; a musical natural selection!
So. Once one has the bug and has developed the courage to fail, one has the bug for life. I can’t think of a better example than Ed Sheeran. In my opinion he is only a fair singer and mediocre songwriter, yet conversely he deserves all the huge success he has. Why? Because, although I’ve never met him, he is by all accounts the hardest working performing musician around. Over the years, I can only think of the likes of The Beatles and The Stone Roses, prior to their successes, who come close.