Stage of the Art 2 – The Final Rendezvous

Friday night saw the close of Stage of the Art, a series of gigs staged in Paris and London as a kind of ‘bands exchange’ project that featured Carl Barat, Sebastien Tellier, Gonzales, Sierra Casady (Cocorosie), Black Affair, Poney Poney, Aidan J. Moffat, Laura Marling, Har Mar Superstar The Kills, Zombie Zombie and These New Puritans, to name but a few.

Sitting in the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) café in Pall Mall on this wet July evening and the only place I really want be is at home with a cup of tea watching The Jonathan Ross Show. In fact it feels weirdly nostalgic just being here. The venue reminds me of my former years in London, when I was an up-for-it bar-hopper who thought nothing of coming out on a cold, torrential evening to spend money I didn’t have, to watch bands I’d never seen and may not even like.

But, here I am, ten years later, older, wiser and definitely grumpier, mingling with a mix of youthful arty types, 40-something dykes, skinny-jeaned indie kids and fuzzy-haired geeks in what’s become an achingly cool little cultural hub that does a darn good job of championing up-and-coming artists.

Stage of the Art images project on the walls to a slightly bizarre, eclectic soundtrack as people with plastic pint glasses pile into the deceptively large theatre to watch Parisian act Zombie Zombie. This ‘mad musical scientist project’ is made up of a bunch of guys in black who make amusing little jokes in slightly inaudible French accents between songs, in a set that is sort of synth-rock. They do a great job of warming up an audience that obviously needs some time to ease into weekend mode, as one of them performs the peculiar  task of playing his guitar like it’s a violin.

Nelson and These New Puritans take to the stage with their driving guitars and blow the crowd away. Unfortunately though, it’s not enough to hold the attention of this retired raver. I’m off, into the darkness, for a night cap and to catch the end of Jonathan Ross. Must be getting old. Sorry chaps.