It’s Friday night, Camden Town. The place is, predictably, packed. And there’s a band on a roof.
Razorlight are the band in question, atop the roof of the Hawley Arms – recently reopened after its gutting by fire in February. Below, hordes of fans line Castlehaven Road outside the pub, some 300 of them (if not more), for a free gig coinciding with the release of Razorlight’s third album, ‘Slipway Fires’. (Find it reviewed HERE.)
The Hawley Arms, a favourite haunt amongst the London music set prior to its fiery demise – Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and The Mighty Boosh pair were all regulars, alongside a certain Johnny Borrell – rises phoenix-like to the sound of a short set from the four-piece. Just seven songs are aired, mostly from the new album, although a smattering of older tracks including ‘Golden Touch’ and ‘Somewhere Else’ get the fair-weather followers moving. Opening with ‘In The Morning’, the crowd quickly grows in size, the music filling the streets of Camden.
Halfway through the set, frontman Borrell scales the fence on the balcony, balancing precariously on the ledge to sing ‘North London Trash’ to a visibly elated (but slightly concerned) crowd below. Word has it that The Killers are watching the set, but unfortunately Clash does not spot them.
“It’s amazing to be up here, and it’s amazing to see so many people,” exclaims a cheerful Borrell, no doubt pleased to have both a third album on the shelves, and his favourite boozer back in business.
