SHOW REVIEW
In the afterglow of the Camden Crawl, we slipped into the Monarch, a pub in
Camden. It's a small, intimate pub with luxurious wallpaper, chandeliers, with taxidermy decorating the walls (think stuffed foxes, small creatures, and deer heads).

We needed the Monarch. We'd just been slogging through stacks at record stores and our feet were covered with blisters. We settled into a huge booth with our Rough Trade bags, and settled into a comfy black vinyl booth.

It was an interesting night to visit. An ancient, very-drunk British couple sat in the booth next to us and glanced at us as they continued to down pints of ale. In the booth across the way, a crowd of soccer hooligans celebrated an electro show that they had just watched at The Roundhouse. In the DJ booth, two female Cherry Cola DJs were kicking out an interesting mix of Prince, Michaeal Jackson, LCD Soundsystem, and electro hits. At the bar, two bartenders wiggled as PYT pumped through the room.

As the old couple in the corner stared at me, I amused myself by staring at the soccer hooligan crowd who rapidly took over the dance floor. It was such a contrast to Seattle, where you almost have to dose someone with an illegal drug to get them to dance to ANYTHING.

You hear that Seattle? London doesn't stand there with perfectly coiffed hair, cross their arms, and act tough when bands play. They do the appropriate thing: they dance.

Thanks, Cherry Cola DJs. Thanks, London. Thanks, Monarch. Thanks, soccer hooligans. Thanks hot bartenders who kept the ale flowing like honey. Thanks weird old drunk couple who survived the war to creepily stare at me while you bobbed your heads to "Let's Get Crazy."

You were the tops.

*Image source: bauergriffin online photo of Amy Winehouse's DJ gig at the Monarch.