London Fog & Questionable Pastries: A Dispatch From Somewhere Near Camden
okay, so london. it’s…a lot. i’m currently fueled by lukewarm tea and the sheer panic of realizing i left my good *microphone back in berlin. i’m a touring session drummer, which means i’m constantly chasing gigs and questionable wifi signals. this trip was supposed to be a quick in-and-out, a fill-in for a band whose drummer apparently decided to “find himself” in nepal. classic.
i just checked and it’s…drizzling sideways, with a side of existential dread. apparently, this is normal. the air feels like a damp towel, and my hair has officially given up. i’m staying in this tiny flat near camden town. the walls are paper thin, and i swear my neighbor is practicing the tuba at 3 am. if you get restless, brighton is just a train ride away, or so i've heard.
spent yesterday wandering around, trying to find a decent record shop. ended up in a vintage clothing store that smelled faintly of mothballs and regret. scored a killer 70s leather jacket though, so, win. someone told me that the best vintage shops are actually in shoreditch, but honestly, i got lost just thinking about shoreditch. it’s a labyrinth.
“apparently, that pub on hawley crescent serves the worst pint of bitter in all of london. avoid at all costs.”
that’s what the bloke at the corner shop told me, anyway. he also recommended a place for pie and mash, which i’m tentatively planning to try. i’m a sucker for a good pie. the weather data is weird, though. it says the temperature is 5.61 degrees, but feels like 2.88? what does that even mean? it’s cold, okay? just…cold. the pressure is 1021, humidity is 89, which explains the constant dampness.
been trying to find a good open mic night. heard a rumor that the roundhouse sometimes has jam sessions, but it’s always packed. i checked out a few places on Yelp (https://www.yelp.co.uk/), but the reviews are…mixed, to say the least. one guy said a place near waterloo had “aggressive karaoke.” i’m gonna pass.
“don’t trust the street performers near piccadilly circus. they’re all pickpockets.”
that was a very stern warning from a woman selling flowers. i’m taking it to heart. i also overheard someone complaining about the price of coffee - apparently, it’s highway robbery. i’m sticking to tea, honestly. it’s cheaper and less likely to disappoint. i found a local forum (https://londonist.com/) with some good tips on free things to do, which is crucial when you’re living on a drummer’s budget.
spent an hour trying to navigate the tube this morning. it’s a whole system. a terrifying, underground system. i think i accidentally ended up in zone 9. i’m pretty sure i saw a rat wearing a tiny hat. i’m not even kidding. i’m starting to think this “finding myself” thing might be appealing after all. maybe i should join that drummer in nepal*. or maybe i just need more tea. and a new microphone. and possibly a therapist. check out TripAdvisor for more info (https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/).
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