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My (sort of) nephew Josh Watts has just released an EP. Any sort of outpouring from any sort of nephew or niece provokes an involuntary shudder from an aunt. Whether a newfound love of the trumpet or intensely felt poetry, teen passions are usually dreadful.  But Josh’s EP is unexpectedly good. Properly, if he was a stranger I would still pay money for it, good. There are actual melodies, and clever lyrics which made me smile, and some really fab musical arrangements. It is better than good. It is great.

So why the surprise, and why is this relevant to a blog about London? Because some years ago, Josh’s band Snowblind played a remarkable gig in the Dublin Castle. It is a legendary venue.  They had travelled from Spain to play there (via Sheffield in a rented mini-van). It was the day after St Patrick’s day and the Castle was empty. Tumbleweeds blew through the dark and sticky music room: only the acts and their hangers on were there. We all stumped up the full ticket price (under a tenner obvs), had our hands stamped, and willingly bought London-priced ale to get us through the night.  


Snowblind played seven songs. Tightly played at tremendous volume, two were great, and the rest were… OK. I watched Josh’s curls thrash as he banged the hell out of his drums, but I saw the eight year old I will always see in him. The boy who said he already had enough toys at Christmas and giggled with me over the word ‘trundle’ in an Argos catalogue. He’s a dad himself now, but the sweet lad I knew is not far beneath the tattooed surface. That night in the Castle, I could only hear the din. On the EP, you can hear the voice of a young man who has grown into his talent. (Apart from the second thrashy metal track, that’s still a bit raucous for me). 


Music is too often reduced to panto – a gladiatorial tussle over who goes to the Judge’s “House.” The X-Factor is about ratings, fast fame and slow obscurity. That isn’t what music is about. With music, talent is forged over years of gigs in working men’s clubs where the band is the warm-up act for the bingo. Sometimes, bands win the big prize and play a great venue like the Castle. We, their friends and family, watch every gig like battle-worn squaddies. We listen, chat, drink beer, and remember our time in the spotlight. We bask in the light of our loved ones’ dreams which could still come true.  

Brenee Brown (presenter of one of the most viewed TED talks of all time: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability) tells us that every one of us, needs to do something creative every day, or that creativity metastasises, and grows poisonous within us. Whether our outpourings delight or appall our aunts, we all need to pour something out onto the page. If we are lucky, and if we work hard, we get recognized for that gift, and get to make a living at it. I truly hope that happens for Josh. He probably deserves that more than anyone else I know. You can listen to his EP, Neon Nightmare on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/7vC1LbGkhbovDqH4kf1DVh), download it from iTunes, or keep up to date with his doings on Facebook (https://en-gb.facebook.com/joshwattsmusic95/) 


The Dublin Castle really is a legendary value, complete with its own rock and roll book club.  Handily located for Camden Town tube and Overground station, check out forthcoming bands and events here:http://thedublincastle.com.