The Water Rats
You only have to see the queue snaking down Gray's Inn Road to realise that the Water Rats is something a little special. At the freshly-whetted, razor-sharp edge of new music, it's a mini-theatre showing new indie bands at the sort of prices you could pay for a poncey West End cocktail. Pull on your skinniest jeans, make sure you can barely see oncoming obstacles for your tousled hair and get down there to join hoards of London's young-things for a night of sweaty, beery, noisy fun.
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The Water Rats
328 Gray's Inn Road, WC1,
London
WC1X 8BZ
Mon–Sun, 11.30am–11pm; late opening when bands are playing
Tickets £5–16 depending on act
020 7837 7269
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Friday 14,November,2008
Firstly, the Water Rats is a great venue. HOWEVER I went to see some bands there last night and was left disappointed, not by the music (which was all exceptional), but by the sound. Imagine if you will being smacked in the face by a continuous wall of sound and punched in the ears over and over again by Floyd Mayweather - that brings you somewhere near the sound quality. The 'professional' sound man clearly had a bee in his bonnet and, on further investigation, it turns out toys were being thrown out of pram because all the bands were late because of a 2 hour central London traffic jam. Surely a 'professional' sound man of any worth would be able to think on his feet. My guess is it is more likely because he just returned from touring with Paul Weller and hadn't yet removed his firmly clamped head from his a***. Recommend the venue, the bands, but not the sound technician. Sort your life out mate.