London, Darling: A Drummer's Dizzying Dive
okay, so. london. right? i just got back, and my brain feels like a snare drum after a particularly aggressive set. 2635308 and 1826827915… those are just numbers that popped into my head, don’t ask. they feel important somehow. like a postcode for a memory.
I’m finn, by the way. touring session drummer. mostly just show up, lay down a beat, and try not to spill my lukewarm tea on the sound guy’s cables. this gig was… different. booked through some agency, vague details, landed me in a tiny flat near *Camden Town. the whole thing felt like a fever dream fueled by questionable pastries and the constant hum of the Underground.
The weather? i just checked and it’s… a damp sort of grey. like someone wrung out a cloud over the city. hope you like that kind of thing. honestly, it suited the vibe. everything felt a little muted, a little melancholic, but in a good way. like a really great minor chord.
I spent most of my time bouncing between gigs - a pub in Shoreditch (surprisingly decent sound system), a wedding in Richmond (the bride kept asking if I could play “Wonderwall”), and a corporate event in the City (so. many. suits.).
Someone told me that the pub in Shoreditch, The Old Blue Last, is haunted. Apparently, a former owner still wanders around, complaining about the music. I didn't see him, but the beer was definitely haunted by a lingering bitterness. Check it out on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-old-blue-last-london.
I did manage to carve out some time to wander. Notting Hill was predictably charming, all pastel houses and antique shops. I got completely lost in Greenwich, which was cool. Found a tiny record store with some seriously obscure jazz vinyl. Spent way too much money.
My neighbors? a family with a small dog who barked incessantly at pigeons. and a guy who practiced the tuba at 3 AM. seriously. the tuba. I’m pretty sure he was trying to summon something. if you get bored, Brighton and Oxford are just a short train ride away - escape the tuba player.
I overheard some drunk bloke at a pub saying that the best place to get a proper full English breakfast is at Regency Cafe. Apparently, it’s a London institution. I didn’t make it, but I’m adding it to the list for next time. TripAdvisor seems to agree: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186361-d728886-Reviews-Regency_Cafe-London_England.html.
I also stumbled across a street art collective doing a mural near Brick Lane. Absolutely incredible stuff. They were using recycled materials, which was pretty inspiring. You can find some of their work on this local arts board: https://www.londonstreetart.co.uk/.
Honestly, the whole trip was a bit chaotic. A beautiful, exhausting, tuba-filled chaos. I’m already missing the rain and the questionable pastries. And maybe even the pigeons. Don't tell anyone I said that.
Oh! And something a local warned me about: never, ever* make eye contact with a pigeon. Apparently, it’s bad luck. I’m not sure I believe it, but hey, when in London…
For more London travel tips, check out this guide: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/london-travel-guide
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