Camden Town.
Following our recent film trip to the Canary Islands, I stopped off in London for a night. For whatever reason I’ve always been drawn to London. I am a descendent from the U.K. I like the culture. I like drinking pints in foggy London Town. I like cities. I need to be in nuts environments often to stay sane. You can be educated by the crazy people who inhabit them: the music, the clothes, life. A city is a nice release from the daily regimen.
I arrived into town very uniformed — which can be cool, allows for new discoveries, rolling solo. But a little searching online for what to do in London was a perfect starting point. I ended up in Soho — and it was kind of shit. The Internet can lie, ya see.
I was a little lost and someone mentioned a few bars in Camden Town…
The London Underground has to be one of the more seamless transport systems in the world, shit’s a cinch. So I hopped on and headed to Camden.
I walked the streets of Camden Town and it was late on a Wednesday night.
I found a little pub called the Elephant Head. I ordered a very bloody, Bloody Mary. House special. The pub was full of interesting beings.
“Let’s Twist Again” is jamming on the jukebox as I walk in..and I wanted a jukebox, not a DJ. Soho had been full of DJs.
A guy who looks like Keith Richards is walking around with an electric guitar. He’s old and pretty cooked — but rad. He is walking around with that electric guitar, sparkles and badges on his jacket…in a pub. On Wednesday. There is no stage, just a jukebox. His guitar is painted with rubies stuck too it. I pretty sure he’s on something. Camden Town.
There are young people there too, punks, what seemed to be seasoned locals. People you can relate to. They mix with the old boys at the bar.
Your people. The night just flows. I like the vibes.
“Teenage Kicks” by The Undertones came on…How goods is bar life? Bar fly. Soaking it all in, observing. London seems a little more core than NY. Pretty damn real.
These aren’t even the deep cuts either. The Doors are playing now. Lots of under cuts. I want to transport this scene onto the screen. This is England. Until next time. —Kai