Kevin Spacey's much-hyped Old Vic Tunnels venue is playing host tonight to the godfathers of seventies punk enthused garage rock...it's the New York Dolls darlings, and I bet you're thinking "What a fabulous fusion of dingy caverns and sexy music.... right?"

Things do start well. There is a cool assed graffiti mural of 'Dancing Backwards In High Heels' album artwork in the tunnel running parallel to the venue's doorway and it was awesome to stand, waiting in a non-moving queue watching it being done. The non-moving queue was just the beginning though, as I was fobbed off by door staff for at least half an hour before finally finding a lady with a clipboard that would actually bother trying to get a working journalist through the doors. So the tunnels might look cool as hell except that they are nowhere near gig ready; will they ever be? Who knows?  But Portaloos in a venue? C'mon

Unfortunately, because of the meatheads out front I miss the support band, so by the time I get stage front New York Doll's tech's are busy getting the stage ready a full 20 minutes before the band are due to start and then the lights are dimmed. A few cheers go up and then we wait. One of the techs comes back on stage amidst more cheering, and then we wait. The tech leaves again and then we wait ... and wait ... and wait. Whatever could be taking the Dolls so long?

We're still waiting by the way - almost 20 minutes after the band's advertised stage time, and then suddenly, Sylvain Sylvain appears along with Earl Slick, Brian Delaney and Jason Hill. No more Sami Yaffa and Steve Conte as they've now jumped ship to be fulltime members in you know who's band. We've still got the band though at least so I guess 1 out of 2 isn't bad right?

The super svelte, black clad wearing David Johansen grooves onto stage to 'Looking For A Kiss'. The sound is diabolical and I suspect from the off that it's got nothing to do with the front of house either! The tunnels are an acoustic nightmare to say the least.  Winding their way through a set that includes 'Cause I Sez So', 'Kids Like You', 'Mystery Girls', 'Pills' and 'Trash', the professionalism of the band is unrivalled even though the circumstances aren't anywhere near the dire levels of the worst underground venues that I'm sure the Dolls have been subjected to play in their 40 year long career. What a pity though as this gig could have been one of them once in a lifetime events for some of the teenagers that were hanging around. After 'Jetboy' the band's stage manager tells them their curfew allows for one more song. Both Johansen and Sylvain seem to think that this is an injustice; it is but had they showed up on time, perhaps we would have got more than 'Personality Crisis' although the song literally does tear the tunnel apart!!

Apart from the shit venue, it was great to see Earl Slick playing with the Dolls tonight, looking every inch the part, yet still maybe needing a bit more practice in ending some of the songs. It could be fair to say that he's only done a handful of shows as a Doll so until next time, he's off the hook.  As for the venue, Kevin, you could be onto something here if it could be sorted out. London really is becoming short of good venues, but what we need are ones with great acoustics, with proper toilets and normally priced beers!!!

Photo kudos - Cristina Massei  http://www.cristinamphotography.tk/