The House of Rock (The Underworld)

Member Name: jamiemchale

Product:	The Underworld
Date:	20/06/01 (78 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small, Friendly, Loud

Disadvantages: Big pillar right in the middle of the floor

The Camden Underworld is a small rock club underneath a pub in the middle of Camden (!!!). Literally accross the road from the Camden Town underground stop it is very easily accessable, from most places on the train line to London Euston. I live about 45 minutes from London by train, and can be at the Underworld within an hour of leaving.

The inside of the venue is small, there are two bars, a clockroom (pay-per-hanger), a raised 'balcony' area at the back, with a mixing desk, and a floor area for the mosh pit. The stage is tucked into the corner, almost triangular in shape. As the venue is small you can get to the very front almost whenever you arrive. It gets fairly tightly packed. The setting makes it great for whatever you are into, if you like a bit of a crush and a good ol' mosh then you can do that down on the floor. If you prefer to appriciate the band from a distance, but still with a great view, you can use the balcony, whilst sipping on your pint of (slightly expensive) beer. The only criticism I would have of the inner layout is the massive pillars holding the ceiling up. There is one to the right of the stage, which obscures some of the view if you are right at the edge of the room. There is also one planted right in the middle of the main floor, a few metres from the stage. I'm not sure how much this obscures the view, as I've always been in front of it.

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Now that I've got a description of the place out of the way, you're going to have to read my wonderful experiences at this place:
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The first time I went to the Underworld was in late December 2000 to see "Slash's Snakepit" - The solo project of the ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist. I was surprised that such a well recognised guitarist would play such a small club, with just over 500 capacity. Arriving at the club, queuing briefly in the street outside, descending the stairs into the dark and exciting world of rock, I wa
s on a real high. After buying a tshirt to commemorate the occasion I went straight to the main floor. Even though, due to bad-timing, I was fairly late into the place, I still managed to walk pretty much to the front. Within a few hours (or it felt like that) the band was on stage, people were jumping, it was getting hot and very sweaty. Although this sounds like a bit of a nightmare to some, it was really friendly - Something you may not get at larger venues. The crowd was good - No mosh-pit violence, just a good physical jumpin' appriciation of the music.

The second time I visited the Underworld happened to be last night (inspiration for this op.). I went to see the "Backyard Babies". I didn't know about this band before they announced they were playing there - I just tried to sample every band booked at the underworld as I wanted to return after Slash, and Backyard Babies was the first that I had the time/money/will to go and see. Yet again it was a great evening, I was right at the front, you could reach out and touch the band in front of you. It was an inspiration to be so close to the creation of such powerful guitar music. The venue really made it, intimate and personal. It rocked.

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I've stopped rambling now. In conclusion the Underworld is:

- Small
- Friendly
- Loud (approx. 2 days till your ears recover)

I would recommend anyone to pay it a visit, as ticket prices are generally cheaper than most other venues that major bands play at. Slash set me back £15 (inc. booking fee) and Backyard Babies £10 (with 2 support bands).

Jamie :-P

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