Astoria Gone
Frank Turner at the Astoria
It’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone…
Last night saw the final ever concert at London’s Astoria, the Demolition Ball. After Manumission’s proposed final farewell was cancelled by TFL, it fell to Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly’s Sam Duckworth to organise the last night. The line up was not really a fitting end to such a historic venue, but then again, being something of a shambles, maybe it was the right way to say goodbye to the grimy sweaty venue.
The music was almost a sideshow as a sell-out crowd came to say goodbye to the Astoria. Highlights included Helsinki, led by Babyshambles’ Drew McConnell, who got the crowd chanting “Boris Johnson’s a Cunt” (although it was Ken Livingstone who sealed the Astoria’s fate) and a solo set by Frank Turner, who at least seemed to recognise the evening was about having fun, encouraging the crowd to join in with a cover version of Abba’s Dancing Queen. King Blues played a terrific set, before My Vitriol spoiled the mood somewhat with a disappointing set and then it was good to see the Mystery Jets as the mystery guests.
Last Orders at the Keith Moon Bar...
So a shambolic evening. But fuck Boris, tonight was all about the memories. Somme random quotes: Steve from Bournemouth “seeing 3 of Ash’s 5-night residency in 1996, when the Astoria became the Ashtoria”. Karen from London first came to the Astoria in 1992 and has seen “hundreds of gigs here”. Aaron from Brighton “It’s just the right size and I’ll take the two ties I’ve seen the Arctic Monkeys here to the grave with me”.
Well we still have some fine music venues in London. But perhaps now is the time to start valuing them and protecting them - it all came to late for the Astoria. We’ll miss it, but things move on.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:03 am
I was at the Demolition Ball and although the line up was slightly disappointing, the evening really was about the memories. In the very long queue for the girls’ loos all I could hear was people reminiscing about their first club night at the Astoria 17 years ago, their first gig, their favourite memory, the bog trogs! It will be missed……