My London: Vocalist Lou Vainglorious
Vocalist Lou Vainglorious, of London-based band Hoodlums, takes us on a tour of the capital via Big Ben and the Barbican, with breakfast in Primrose Hill…
‘As odd as it sounds my favourite area of London is the big clock in Stratford town centre. It was where I first met Nick Pini, the co-founder of Hoodlums. We had been introduced online by a mutual friend but the day we met in person was strangely date-like and beautiful. Then I opened my mouth.
Right now I’m in limbo, burning the midnight oil but in need of a kip. I’ve been walking around town with my old Walkman on pretending life is ‘cinematic’.
The first time I walked through the doors of RAK studios in St John’s Wood to record music is my most vivid London memory. Such a rich musical heritage and impressive building, like walking through the door to an era that’s long gone. Inspirational and overwhelming.
Big Ben… I wanna snoop it out.
My perfect London day out would involve… Russian Tea Rooms for breakfast in Primrose Hill and a walk through the park over to RAK studios in St John’s Wood to do something Hoodlumesque in the studio; pop to the Tate Modern for some culture before lunch at the National Film Theatre; spend the afternoon talking to the great drunks of Camden then finally a black cab ride to the Barbican for some sort of musical escapism; finally find a good roof somewhere with a friend and sit drinking and talking till the city finally falls asleep.
The mixture of old and new, the drama maybe, makes London unique. The sense that although you love your city… its gonna put you in the ground!
My biggest inspiration in life? There are too many conflicting inspirations to point the finger at any one person. Maybe Woody Allen.
Christmas is special for me. I used to spend them with my Nan in Lambeth… snow at the Imperial War Museum.
My grandad is a bit of a hero and bit of a villain… through his stories I have experienced London’s history through the lens of a glorious chancer.
Hoodlums release their second single ‘Dark Horses’ (via Blow the Whistle Recordings) on January 30 with a special release show on February 9 at The Wilmington Arms.
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