The Others – The 100 Club, Soho

“OK, so the afterparty will be held in such and such bar in Soho …” First words when Dominic Masters took the stage tonight. He hasn’t lost his connection with the fans, which are probably stronger than any other band I’ve seen, but not the weirdest fans either (I’m remembering my time here on Carter USM forums in the 2000s …)

I missed the support band, the Neversheds, who I imagine were very much an east London 2000s rock band in the guise of the Paddingtons, etc. I’d have liked to have seen them, but I drove down from Wales yesterday, spent a couple of hours at the radio station last night, went to a group meeting at lunchtime and I didn’t get myself into London until 7.30pm – after getting something to eat and drink, I didn’t roll into the 100 Club until 8.45pm.

Transport was a lot easier though – I am staying in Brentwood, so I drove to Harold Wood station (5 minutes), parked out side and caught one Elizabeth Line train which took me to Tottenham Court Road. The 100 Club is pretty much opposite the Dean Street entrance. So much easier than it used to be changing at Stratford or Liverpool Street, and trains every 7 minutes too. Almost feels like we’ve sorted out public transport in this country!

Last night the 100 Club hosted the Sex Pistols’ first gig since their famous/infamous one in 1976. I might have gone up for that if I knew about it, although I can imagine the place would have been rammed. Tonight wasn’t too bad – maybe thre-quarters full, and despite getting in late I was able to nestle my way right up to the stage to get myself a rare decent view at a 100 Club gig.

Tonight was a first gig in two years, with two sets, starting with a 20th anniversary celebration of The Others’ debut album release, which came out on 31 January 2005. Q Magazine sneeringly listed it at no 40 in their “50 Worst Albums Of All Time” list in 2010, yet here I am watching the band, and that magazine is a distant memory to all of us …

For me, seeing the album played live, track by track, reminds me of two things – that it is actually a very good album and I should listen to it more; and that it sounds even better on a live stage, only needing a couple of loud guitars and Dominic’s vocals to really bring it to life.

After the first set, more band members joined the stage, and a smattering of more recent tracks were played – some from the new album which came out a few weeks ago, and some, as Dominic said, “were only written last Thursday”. The very new ones sounded good – and all of the new ones went down really well with the crowd. It’s unusual for a band to play two sets and do all the oldies in the first half, but it seemed to work for them.

Anyway, that was my 11th Others gig, and the first one at the 100 Club for me since 2006, and yes it did feel that, in a good way, time stood still tonight. Looking forward now to another new album and maybe another Others gig in 2 or 3 years time!

Set 1: