05 January 2011 (gig)
08 January 2011
As Peter Astor of The Loft announces they're about to play "Model Village" somebody in the audience shouts "I've been waiting for you to play that for years!". How long is anybody's guess, and it could indeed be many years. For The Loft formed in the 1980s and broke up in the 1980s sensationally splitting live onstage at the Hammersmith Palais. They have only performed a handful of shows since then. This time however I'm informed The Loft are back for good. And why not? With a movie about Creation Records (of whom The Loft were Alan McGee's first signing) about to hit the screens, now seems the perfect time.
Indeed as I look around the crowded upstairs room in North London's Lexington pub I see more young faces than old, and as I hear the duelling guitars twang and scream over their heads I know they won't remember the band first time around or probably have even been born, but they've certainly been won over this time and maybe converted. I even heard somebody describe them as "incredible" and will admit that tonight's set was particularly well played possibly recalling the old days of The Living Room in Tottenham Court Road.
From the band that practically invented the UK indie sound that spawned a generation of floppy haircuts and flowery shirts we didn't get any hits (apart from a Black Flag cover) as true indie bands didn't have hits, but the crowd were treated to all their best known songs. Are they cool? Yes they're very cool. Just don't tell the band as cool is not how a true indie band wants to be described.
