Aces n Eights - Nov 22 There are hundreds of small, often unique, independent venues scattered across the country providing an invaluable lifeline to both aspiring musicians and seasoned veterans. Every week these small venues provide entertainment to groups of music and comedy fans and an opportunity for artists to make a living from their talents. At the same time, economic challenges coupled with unsympathetic landlords and local authority planning departments are meaning that a lot of these venues are disappearing from our streets.

Aces n Eights opposite Tufnell Park tube station in London is one of those unique Independent venues. At street level, you have the main bar with its rock n roll aesthetics and some of the best pizzas in London. In the basement you have a small cosy and decadent cabaret room with its curtained and mirrored walls, which can hold about 40 seated people or 100 standing. The stage is big enough for a small drum kit plus two or three other people in front and occasionally you might also find yourself sharing a stage with a tasselled standing lamp. It’s ideal for acoustic acts or stripped back band performances.

Tonight, we have a triple bill of Ray Waters, Boss Caine and Tim Loud.

Ray Waters normally plays in rockabilly band, The Zipheads and so tonight we are treated to a mixture of stripped back Zipheads tracks, some of his own solo material and a couple of covers. The Zipheads ‘Revenge’ is turned from a rampant ‘billy stomp into a much slower laidback countryfied version and it works. There is a big sense of humour in Ray’s material and this comes across in his performance with a number of laugh out loud moments. A song written just before lockdown about fellow musicians finding excuses not to tour is fun especially with the hindsight that lockdown made many realise how much they missed it.

The tale behind Dick Dale’s ‘Misirlou’ is fascinating and Ray’s interpretation is well received. Finishing with a cracking version of John Leyton’s haunting ‘johnny Remember Me’, Ray is given a rousing applause after a thoroughly entertaining set.

Ray Waters - Nov 22 Up next is Aces N Eights’ regular Boss Caine. Fresh from a national tour with Ginger Wildheart and the Sinners, Boss Caine is back on home ground. Opening up with ‘Ghosts and Drunks’, Boss Caine’s rich baritone voice permeates the room whilst demonstrating some impressive guitar playing. Despite being a Joe Solo penned song, I can’t ever imagine the song ever been seen as anything other than an outright Boss Caine song, so much of his personality infuses the material.

Fan favourite ‘Truckstop Jukebox’ details why everyone will eventually fall in love with country music and is dedicated to Gram Parsons. ‘Father Time’ is an always welcome entry in the set and sounds excellent in its stripped down form. It’s been four years since the excellent ‘Loved by Trouble, Troubled by Love’ album and the set includes newer songs such as the excellent ‘Diamonds into Coal’ and ‘Taught Me Bad’ which both deserve the full band recorded treatment. I’ve seen Boss Caine many times and I’m yet to see a disappointing performance. I suspect that most of the audience regulars would agree as well.

Boss Caine - Nov 22 I’ve not seen Tim Loud before, so tonight was going to be a new experience. Joined on stage by Ray Waters (on a myriad of instruments dotted around the stage), this is the last date on Tim’s tour and he is determined to make it a memorable night. Opening song, the harmonica infused ’Born To Lose’ from Tim’s debut album sets the scene with Ray accompanying on double bass. You can image this going down well with the locals in the smoky backrooms of a Nashville bar.  

Tim Loud - Nov 22 Although the musical roots are deeply set in Americana, Tim’s lyrics are very much centred upon issues within the North of England. Taking aim at the wealthy and their pomposities for ‘Millionaire’s House’, Tim has the crowd of fellow rabblerousers on his side. Throughout the set, Ray switches between his nicely decorated Gretsch and a lap guitar which perfectly augment Tim’s acoustic guitar.

Tim Loud and Ray Waters - Nov 22 Despite being adamant that there would be no encore, Tim picks up his guitar for one last time for a humorous swipe at the gentrification of left-wing musicians with ‘I Don't Care What Everybody Else Says About You…’

Three very different acts but all equally worthwhile and the reason why venues like Aces N Eights continue to be needed in today’s society. If all we could consume was the product of TV talent shows and lifestyle youtubers who’ve suddenly found their desire to delve into their previous unknown musical talents, then the world will be a horrible sterile one devoid of any real emotion, feeling or lyrical enlightenment.

As demonstrated tonight. there’s no need to spend a fortune on arena tickets to drink expensive beer and watch a distant figure strumming on a guitar, when you can get so much more from multiple trips to your local venue for a fraction of the price.

Tim Loud - Nov 22