Satan Is A Big Fat Liar

So says the message on the cap that Nick Hornby (Arsenal) is wearing.

He picked it up on a trip though the American bible belt. I've never been tempted to read any of his books but on Thursday night at Dingwalls in Camden, London, he came across as a witty 'normal' bloke who you wouldn't mind sharing a few beers with in a local bar.

Billed as 'A night of Words and Music with Nick Hornby and Marah', Phil Jupitus (West Ham) introduced the proceedings. Hornby then read through entertaining short essays about his love of music.

He started with a story about Rory Gallagher and then went on to talk about prog rock, going to a Bob Marley concert, the rise of punk and how hard it was trying to be into the rock scene whilst being a privileged Cambridge student on a grant.


Hornby's tales were interspersed with Marah playing songs to illustrate the words - a version of The Clash's 'Lost in the supermarket' accompanied the punk era. In his last essay Nick spoke about his current favourite band and how they have inspired him...

Cue Marah and their blistering set. Wow! They are always good but at Dingwalls they blew everyone away. Cracking versions of 'Demon of White Sadness' and 'Reservation Girl' were my highlights. Serge, Dave, Kirk, Adam and Dave take a bow.

I'd say half the audience were there to see Hornby and get a few books signed. At the end of the show they knew that they had seen something special. As an aesthetic aside, it was good to see some nice looking girls in the crowd, they helped counteract the guy (formally known as 'wally') who looks like Dr Ziodberg!

Bob Mills (Leyton Orient) and David Baddeil (Chelsea) were seen lurking in the dark.

[Thanks to MustyMC for the comment - yes check out Amanda Coplans' excellent photos of the gig]

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Read about the 10 songs Nick Hornby can't live without at Rocksbackpages