Goodbye to the Astoria
A busy night at the Astoria
Wednesday 14 January sees the final night for the London Astoria. It’s another body blow for the London live music scene after the closure of the Hammersmith Palais two years ago. This feels even worse, because the Astoria was such an important part of the capital’s live music circuit. Bands on the verge of making it big would pay here before moving on to larger venues such as Shepherd’s Bush Empire or Brixton Academy. And larger bands would reaffirm their punk rock credentials by playing here - with Oasis, U2 and the Rolling Stones playing here recently. And it somehow felt right having a live venue in the centre, right on Oxford Street. We still have the 100 Club of course, but that’s tiny by comparison.
The final night at the Astoria was due to be Thursday 15 January, but Manumission’s closing party was cancelled by TFL in what was described by Manumission’s Mike and Claire McKay as an “unsympathetic decision” that had left them “saddened and disappointed”. Roger Daltry, Pete Townsend and Kasabian were due to be involved, and it would have been a fitting sendoff. So what we have instead is a night put on by Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, featuring The Automatic, The King Blues and Mark Greaney from JJ72, which is not really a fitting testament to the venue.
My faourite gigs at the Astoria would be the Arctic Monkeys, who debuted their Favourite Worst Nightmare album at the Astoria in early 2008, a superb Hot Chip show in 2006 and The Cribs last year. I loved the fact the crowd seemed younger and more up for it than at other venues (maybe it’s Oxford St location?), the fact that ticket prices were low (most gigs cost around £12 compared to £30 at the larger venues) and the fact that is was rough around the edges and not corporate, the Keith Moon Bar, the superb views from the upstairs standing area…too many things to mention.
But nevertheless London Venue Guide will be there tonight to say goodbye. We might even take a screwdriver to see what mementoes we can get. We’ll have a full report of the evening tomorrow. In the meantime, tell us about your memories of the famous venue below.
Tags: guide to london's music venues, london astoria, london astoria last gig, london astoria tribute, London Astoria: Farewell, remember the london astoria
January 14th, 2009 at 4:10 am
It’s a disgrace they’re shutting it down. So many great times there: Rammed in for Morrissey in 92, Suede’s farewell gig a few years back, Radiohead filmed in 95, the Libs at LMHR, Arctic Monkeys oversold by about 50% when they suddenly went massive after booking it, and tons more. A shitty dive of a venue really, but like Brixton - one that really tests a band’s mettle. When a band rose to the occasion there it was always a fucking stonking show.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:39 am
I will be there tonight to say a tearful goodbye to my favourite of London’s venues. I have had some amazing times at The Astoria, seen Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks, The View and everytime I go I know I am going to have a fantastic night. I am sure tonight will be no different, can’t believe it will be last time though…..
January 16th, 2009 at 6:53 am
What a sad day it was …no more Astoria where there were so many good nights of lots of fun and superb music…where will we go now?