FLOWERPOT'S NEW HOME, REPRODUCING ENDTRODUCING, HOWARD MARKS, MAYORS, MIGHTY BOOSH AND ZAPPA

THE Flowerpot's demise hadn’t reached the ears of Stornoway’s Ollie Steadman when I spoke to him on Friday. He sounded crestfallen on learning it had closed, saying it was one of Camden’s best venues. He soon came up with a generous idea – offering to play the venue’s launch when they find a new home. It might be sooner than we think. If rumours are true, we may find a Flowerpot residency at Johnny Flynn’s soon.

• Wonder what Howard Marks is like when he’s not regaling with tales of his misdeeds? See him on the decks at The Old Queen’s Head, Essex Road (Nov 12) – think he’s got Cypress Hill’s Mary Jane in there?

• Lovely to see Camden’s musical mayor Jonathan Simpson doing his bit for the borough’s music scene – he was a volunteer usher at the Roundhouse, hanging out with Noel Fielding (a mate I’m told) and Julian Barratt at The Mighty Boosh play Zappa on Saturday. He told me they need more volunteers – interested?



• Who else relied on DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing for their uni house party chill-out room? See 10-piece band Introducing reproduce every note of this essential album completely live at Koko (Nov 19) – a serious must.
Here's the original man in action.



• Judge just how close Diana Vickers’ single is to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Under the Bridge, when she plays Koko (Nov 12) – I say very.

• Highgate’s The Boogaloo has a novel twist on the acoustic open mic night – proving a bit of an underground hit. At the monthly Under the Influence night, acts sing two songs of their own and one cover of the month’s featured artist – Nina Simone on Nov 22. Line-up includes The Joker and the Thief, Betty Steeles, Meow and Belle Humble. Entry only £2.

GENEROUS JARVIS COCKER, SERGE'S SOUNDTRACK, N-DUBZ' "SUCCESS" + WINO POPS UP IN CAMDEN SHOCK

PROUD Camden held an extravagant birthday party on Wednesday night – to mark their second year in Camden Market’s Horse Hospital. The Delays launched their new album but didn't play live in the end - apparently due to some sort of leg injury - you can still sing boys!

Jarvis Cocker did a fantastic job hosting, posed for a photograph with me and generously stopped to listen to troubadour Joseph Strouzer play the Ballad of the Big Beautiful Woman all the way through.
His verdict: "I like it, especially how it turned out in the end, of course you won't ever get any air-time."
Strouzer said afterwards: "I guess he was referring to the ever-so subtle sexual references woven into the lyrics."

Professor Green did a brilliant job of headlining, bringing some grime vibes to the gallery, while Amy Winehouse popped up, as she does, onstage, took a spot next to the backing singers and danced along for a whole song before running off to mingle. Mumford & Sons DJed but it felt like a waste of their talents. Great night though.

• The iTunes Festival begins on July 1 at Camden Roundhouse, a month of huge names, from Tony Bennett to Ozzy Osbourne, Scissor Sisters to N-Dubz. Eighties hair rock bands Europe and Foreigner this week confirmed they play on July 25.

• The beautiful Serge Pizzorno, yes Kasabian bandana man, is lending his talents to Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding. Fielding’s summer art show, at London’s oldest cake shop Maison Bertaux, Greek Street, Soho (July 5), includes an installation with an original soundtrack by Pizzorno.

• Love Being N-Dubz – a six-part C4 documentary on Camden’s finest, with the second programme going out on Monday. Best quote so far from Dappy: “I’m a success, sir”, followed seconds later by “I’ve got an Oyster, I’m legit.”

• Juliette Lewis unveils her new album Terra Incognita – the album she’s always wanted to make – at London Borderline on June 30.

• Celebs are coming out in force to back a revival of the Finsbury Park Rise Festival, after Boris Johnson’s office pulled funding for it last year. Writer Meera Syal and Labour leadership contender Diane Abbott have joined Roots Manuva, Asian Dub Foundation, and Beardyman in their support for replacement festival UpRise: London United Against Racism (July 11). Info from www.uprise.org.uk

• Here’s an opportunity for genuine talent to impress industry giants EMI at Camden Roundhouse – 30/30, a groundbreaking youth music project for 16-25s. Over the course of September, 30/30 (30 days, 30 bands, 30 tracks) will offer 30 unsigned artists one free day’s recording time in the Round house’s EMI Live Music Studio, along with top guest producers to profes sionally record and mix their track for free.
Artists should visit www.roundhouse.org.uk/3030.

LIGHTS, TICKER TAPE, KISS, NOEL FIELDING...AND ALL SAINTS???

THEY were the hottest tickets in town on Tuesday night - going for hundreds of pounds on eBay.
But somehow, thanks to some very kind people at 02 Academy Islington, I ended up with a pair of tickets to see KISS.
People had queued outside the venue for the whole day just for a chance to snap up a ticket at the door after the original allocation sold out in record time.
Die hard fans knew just how precious these tickets were - it's not often you get to see a stadium band in such a small venue.
Hairy men stood side-by-side with glammed-up rock chicks just to catch a glimpse of Gene Simmons et al.
And the band relished every second.
Their compact setting just emphasised their gargantuan status.
Their make-up served the dual purpose of cementing their enigmatic superhero personas while at the same time acting as a wonder anti-ageing cream - not a wrinkle in sight.
Simmons obliged with all his tongue-waving and KISS, against a backdrop of Hollywood lights, dazzled.
Their set was tight, the sound clear and their nu-metal stacked gothic boots elevated them to stellar proportions.



They ended with a blinding ticker-tape onslaught, which nearly suffocated former All Saints singers Nicole and Natalie Appleton who, until then, had been right at the front, hanging over the balcony, looking like they knew every word. (see here)
Who knew they'd be such KISS fans?
Less of a surprise was comedian Noel Fielding, who bears some resemblance to all the band members put together - although he seemed oddly lacking in make-up this time.
He and Mighty Boosh co-star Julian Barratt spent only a short time in the VIP bar before preferring to join the hairy men in the pit below.



Setlist:

Modern Day Delilah
Cold Gin
Let Me Go Rock And Roll
Say Yeah
Calling Dr. Love
Got To Choose
I Love It Loud
100,000 Years
Love Gun
Black Diamond
Rock And Roll All Nite
Detroit Rock City