The small venue was filling up with a crowd of predominantly white 30-somethings, with varying degrees of dress-sense and ability to dance. Décor-wise, it was pretty Spartan- there was nothing except a banner behind the DJ decks, and a poster which read ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’, and ‘Hang the DJ’.
All the music was indie-rock with depressing lyrics: I recognised tracks by Kaiser Chiefs, Morrissey, The Smiths, Joy Division, and [the eternally unlistenable] Iron Maiden (yuk!). As well as the DJ, there were also two performances that night: the first was the UK Air Guitar Champions, The Miserablists, mimed to whatever tracks the DJ played.

The guitarists were hilarious, ‘playing’ toy guitars, with highly exaggerated Rock Star guitar poses; the singer had a toy mic, and they even had a cute little toy amplifier. Following the Miserablists, was a dancing Grim Reaper. Unlike yer average Grim Reaper, who’s a bit scrawny, he was actually pretty fit, and did some dirty dancing with a girl from the audience, which wasn’t very death-like! If you need relief from the super-coolness of London clubland, try a dose of Feeling Gloomy. You can also hire out the promoters. Available for weddings, funerals, bar-mitzvahs…If you don’t believe me, go to www.feelinggloomy.com

Minnie Mouse

Feeling Gloomy – every Sat night @ Bar Academy.