We made our way to London and did our traipsing around, visiting both rough trade shops, then we went to a Chinese all you can eat in Soho, and we ate all we could eat. Was wicked, after that we plodded our way to meet barneys uncle Dan. We met him and made our way to the Scala, once we arrived we were instantly met by ticket touts, but pretty much told them to fuck off and die. As we made our way into the venue I got all a bit excited and started humming Ghosts by shellac, was fun then we made our way into the “arena” now I don’t think I’ve ever been to a venue quite like this one you walk in from the back and there’s like four levels. You have the main bit at the bottom where all the die hard fans stand and watch, then you three other levels which rise up until the last one is well high, I think Dan said it used to be a cinema which would explain the odd layout, anyway, we got settled in and after twenty or so minutes, George Hurley and Mike Watt appear on stage, using Bob Weston’s bass and amp they steam through their songs, watching mike watt play bass is something else, he slaps, pops and picks these funked up Texan rock style bass lines, whilst almost narrating the lyrics in an all American Texas accent, this is real mans rock.

I found the London crowds to be quite difficult to please. A lot of them just stand there not doing anything until they finish a song in which case they clap and whistle, I looked around where I was standing and I was the only one moving I think. Anyway, they finished a blinding set, and the place started to get real busy, there was a great buzz going round in anticipation of the lords themselves Shellac, finely Albini comes out plugs his guitar into his space age amp and starts playing Disgrace from Terraform, then Todd comes out to play drums, then bob and it all kicks in, after that I don’t really remember much coz I was just so into the music, I can remember moments like when they played my black ass everyone was moving, it was incredible, then they played this quite emotional song I don’t know what its called but hopefully it will be on their next album, if they decide to release one. But it was so beautiful but they still managed to keep that Shellacy edge, everyone was still and focused on Albini, bob was stood by his amp getting some rib shaking bass feedback, you could seriously feel your trouser legs flapping, if they stopped playing for like a couple of seconds you could have heard a pin drop, shellac had managed to tame and in captivate the entire audience, then they had Question time, and some fucking rough Scottish bird with the harshest voice I’ve ever heard was shouting stuff out and of course the shellac lads had a joke about it. After they had finished we barney and myself went to get his bag to try and give Albini and whoever else we could find one of our EP’s big mistake, the queue was fucking massive, but we had patience, and eventually got the records and steamed through back to the stage. I saw Steve surrounded by a group of people so I stood at the edge and said “Steve I have a wee present for you” and handed him the record, he looked at it and then looked at me and he looked so grateful but then said in his Chicago accent “ hey man if you give this to me now I’ll just fucking lose it.” I was like “don’t worry about it” and then said “well it obviously means a lot to you that I get this so thanks a lot man.” And he gave me a handshake then I saw bob Weston and congratulated him on a fine performance, he was tucking into a pizza so I didn’t really get to talk to him properly. We then went to the train station and got home at 2:30am was a well wicked night.

In conclusion I’d like to say that this was probably THE best gig I've ever been to. It beats Wire by only a few millimetres but dude this was one rocking gig and one fucking rocking day, anyone who hasn’t heard the fine talents of Albini or Shellac, get down your local record store and get any of their stuff, you only have three shellac albums to choose from and I recommend you get them all. Life changing?.............yes.

Mike Simon