There's something welcoming about crowding into Camden's Barfly with the expectation of hearing some great tunes. And last Thursday, that's exactly what happened when Essex five-piece Morning Parade were on the bill.
Arriving for an early pint, it was nice to have a quiet drink while listening to Steve Sparrow, Chad Thomas, Phil Titus, Ben Giddings and Andy Hayes sound check in the distance. But it was easy to know when stage time approached because suddenly what had started off as a quiet bar experience was suddenly a packed gig venue and the queue was actually snaking right around the tables and out of the door - now that's how to attract a crowd.
And the band didn't disappoint. Launching straight into their set with Blue Winter, the boys didn't stop until they were eleven songs down and the crowd were pleading for more.
Highlight tracks included the mighty Under The Stars and Us & Ourselves which really grabbed the crowd's attention - the bobbing heads at the front really showed that. Then there was the fantastic Headlines, which certainly didn't go unnoticed. No track fell under the radar.
After the boys left the stage, two fans stood at the bar - sad that the evening was already at an end. "We came all the way from Cambridge," they said. "But every minute of the journey was worth it for that. We just need to start the journey back now..."
But they still took time to have one more beer and discussed in depth just how much they enjoyed their night in London with the boys from Essex. A success!
