Monday 06/08/07 Frank Turner, The King Blues, Natty @ The Purple Turtle, Camden

An impromptu invitation and an empty Monday evening led us up the northern line to Camden for The King Blues monthly residency at the Purple Turtle. Arriving mid-set and catching a glimpse of dreadlocks through the silhouettes, Gigwise relaxed into an evening sated by the chirpy sounds of Natty.  Having recently attended Natty’s single launch up the road in The Abbey and spotted him supporting a Lake of Stars fundraising event, the night was off to a pleasing enough start. This time Natty was accompanied by a fuller band and he delivered his acoustic reggae with summery melodies which sparked off the dancing.

Wondering how many more people could cram into the venue, Gigwise staggered through the undulating crowd, pear cider in hand on the promise that it would be one for the memory box. In all fairness, The King Blues’ reputation goes before them - due to circumstances beyond their control they were forced to pull out of supporting living legends Toots and the Maytals earlier this year. They have also been noted as one to watch by Radio One’s Mike Davis, Huw Stephens and been celebrated in the press. Suddenly a nervous hush swept over the room, swiftly followed by ukulele player/vocalist Itch bounding on stage and emphatically spray-painting their name on the white sheet on the back wall. Now there’s a quirky take on visuals…

The band began their intro, building up the energy and the crowd sang enthusiastically along, punctuated by ‘whoops’ and ‘brrrops’ alike. You’ve got to give it to them – they’re both visually and musically highly entertaining; at times Itch was even up on the bar and the speakers. The first thing you notice for a ska band though is the lack of horns, instead they're centred on a ukulele and acoustic guitars, but it definitely works and their dedicated fan-base is proof of that. Highlights included their singles 'Come Fi Di Youth', 'Mr. Music Man' and a long carnival-style drum interlude. The music varied from traditional more punkier, oi type tracks to slower dub-infused ska - all punchy, all memorable. Describing themselves as ‘conscious rudeboy ska’ was supported in their rallying of the crowd to rally against the likes of the BNP and in their lyrics of songs such as ‘The Sound Of Revolt’. Although arguably clichéd, you can hardly criticize them for it, and their anger and passion creates a powerful energetic blend.

Enjoying a well-waited for cigarette outside, Gigwise overhead one of the bouncers slapping Itch on the arm and saying “you broke a record tonight mate, 303 through the door, last time I checked...” A cheeky grin from Itch and he darted off dodging the video camera’s. The King Blues are, of course, no strangers to breaking records, having smashed dad-rock Status Quo’s record for playing the most amount of gigs in a single day in 2006 (with seven gigs across the country to the Quo’s four).

The evening drew to a close with Frank Turner’s witty satirical folk – at first seeming like an odd way to finish off such a spirited gig, but the hyped up crowd enjoyed his slating of Slipknot and his following maintained the atmospheric high.