We give our eardrums a break at a rare acoustic gig!
Owwww, my poor joints. Turns out that the best way for my increasingly middle-aged self to deal with a long week at work is NOT to go crazy at a Twenty One Children gig. The South African hardcore trio were on rabid form on Friday night, so I couldn’t resist, but now I ache all over. So it’s probably just as well that tonight is a more sedate affair; three acoustic solo acts in the basement of north London’s excellent Aces & Eights bar.
“Only one sad song, then it’s back to the heavy metal!” That’s Rob Moir, who has come all the way from Canada, and – like all of tonight’s acts – has a nice line in self-deprecating humour. The likes of ‘Forever Bastards’ and ‘Ports Of Call’ straddle punk, folk and indie territory perfectly, and he has a similar knack for storytelling as bands like The Gaslight Anthem and The Menzingers. Oh, and how could we not mention the jubilant rendition of ‘When I Was A Pirate’, complete with shouts of ‘Arrr!’ from the crowd? A great start.
Dan Goatham is in a playful mood tonight – that much is clear from him briefly donning a long coat and flat cap for a grin-worthy romp through the Bernard Cribbins novelty classic ‘Right Said Fred’. He’s joined by his Snuff bandmate Flo Redmonds on saxophone for a couple of numbers, and whether dispensing Spoilers (his main band) staples like ‘Roundabouts’, a couple more covers of favourites from his younger days, or newies like ‘Watching The World Go By’, nothing falls flat tonight. The closing ‘Punks Don’t Die’ sees the loudest sing-along of the evening; it’s clear that he’s among friends tonight, and his set reflects this. Folks, the bar has been well and truly raised.
We’re left wondering how co-headliner Tim Vantol is going to top such a spirited performance, but the Netherlands-via-Bavaria troubadour can’t really fail with songs as good as ‘Let Me Fuck It Up!’ and ‘Somewhere In Between’; the latter delivered with a poignant tale about leaving his kids behind to go on tour. Such is life on the road, but on the flipside, it’s given Mr Vantol some great stories – the one about Rob Moir stopping him from photographing a skunk (trust us, you had to be there!) will linger long in the memory. Everything is played with maximum enthusiasm and no little panache, and by the time he closes with ‘If We Go Down, We Will Go Together!’, he’s done more than enough to chalk tonight up as one for the books.
Granted, the turnout could have been better, but you can’t fault those who have attended for enthusiasm. Combined with the small (but beautifully decorated) venue, tonight has felt much more like a gathering of like-minded friends than a gig in the traditional sense. Cheers to all involved, including Capital Salvage for helping to make it happen!
Main Photo Credit: ALEX GOOSE
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Dan Goatham/Tim Vantol, London Aces & Eights, 17th Oct 2026
Owwww, my poor joints. Turns out that the best way for my increasingly middle-aged self to deal with a long week at work is NOT
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