Kevin Gray, at the Dickens

Went out to Ebisu  to the Dickens pub to see Kevin Gray and his band.  Nice pub that does not try to be found, no sign on the street, or even a name in the elevator sign going up.  This seems a trend with the gaijin pubs in Tokyo, not the Japanese chain English pubs, but the older pubs, a certain disregard with the general public.  The Ueno pub too has let all its flags be blown away and it's big painted sign has rotted completely, leaving nothing but its metal frame.  If you do not know it already you will have a devil of a time finding the place..  Though some people still do.

Friday night at the Dickens was quite full by 10 O'clock.  I was not surprised by the smoke, the Ueno pub has even more.  The surprise at, "What the Dickens," was noise.  Some of the audience seemed to be fans of Kevin Gray, but still they talked through the entire set,  loudly to make themselves heard over the music.  Funny sorts of fans.  But it seemed to be the way at Dickens.  Kevin himself was fine, great original songs, the sort you do not get a chance to hear every day.

Just up the street, past Dickens on the left, is a great little Sri Lankan restaurant, street level, I stumbled into by mistake.  Worth a visit on its own.