Stefan Kushima | Lasers From Atlantis | Joey Chainsaw - The Grosvenor, London, 23.07.10

The Grosvenor is dead. There is no one here. Even by the standards of minority music this is a poor turnout.

The pub's managers isn't happy. He's losing money on the night and there's someone outside drinking from a bottle of wine in their bag. Later I see him give the promoter some grief.

Joey Chainsaw eventually open the evening. They hold out for late arrivals, but none come so an audience of 10 get a truncated set. Joey plays a violin with his teeth whilst the dying screams of a keyboard howl an endless loop of agony. It is not a slick affair. Halfway through the set the sound cuts out. Joey is left bemused as to the technical fault. Someone in the audience eventually steps onto the stage and waggles a lead. The sound is restored.

Lasers From Atlantis play kosmiche oscillations. A bit like Popol Vuh devotionals covered in static drizzle. They evolve their sound throughtout their set. Keyboards and guitar are used to generate their sound. Some drumming and whooped vocals are added. It's not bad.

Closing the night is Stefan Kushima. Apparently it's his first ever performance in London. Given the size of the crowd it's hard to imagine that he'll be back anytime soon. Which is sad as his Ash Ra Temple keyboard hymnals and fluttery drones have most of tha audience lying on the floor gazing into cosmic infinity. Or maybe just at the airtex ceiling tiles.