Re uploading this post as I have now added the second and last single by Kindergarten.
Kindergarten along with Lack Of Knowledge were one of the Enfield area bands, although by the time of these record releases some members of the band were holed up at Lansdowne Road in Tottenham within cheering distance of the football stadium there. The band were connected to Tea House Camp not only by location (a member of Tea House Camp also lived at Lansdowne Road) but also by constantly performing together at various gigs around the north London area. Kindergarten were the heavier sounding of these two bands with a sound reminiscent of Killing Joke.
Tea House Camp were actually from Bradford, home of New Model Army and Southern Death Cult and were just temporarily based in London. Both brothers in that three piece band were actively employed by doing stints at Rough Trade Distribution, then based at Collier Street in Kings Cross.
Kindergarten had quite a decent following at those North London gigs and I saw them a fair few times. A lot of Play Dead and New Model Army types used to come to the performances including the infamous Nick The Frog. Joolz the Bradford poetess and Justin from New Model Army would come along now and again and those two would also invite the band to there private parties in Stamford Hill which were always fun. Gig highlights for me were performances at The Three Crowns in Stoke Newington on one of Jon Fat Beasts free entry gigs and The Boston Arms in Tufnell Park which was an all day gig with Brigandage, Rubella Ballet, Ausgang and Tea House Camp performing amongst a host of others.
While an idea of recording the second single was in the air I was paying a visit to Lansdowne Road and it was discussed that the band wanted to place mugshots of various people onto the eventual artwork.
I went out to the nearest photo booth with Magnus who was quite a character. He was a relatively well connected roadie and did a fair amount of regular work at the Clarendon in Hammersmith. Bands he had worked for were quite vast including New Model Army, The Cult, Play Dead as well as Tea House Camp and Kindergarten.
We came away with four mugshots from Seven Sisters tube station and wondered back to Lansdowne Road where we placed them in a pile with other booth photographs already collated. Something like half a year later the record had been recorded and pressed and artwork ready to go to the printers and I was quite chuffed to see that three of the four photo booth photos had been used. One of me, one of Magnus with his treasured (and seemingly always worn) eagle baseball cap on, and one of the both of us together. My little brothers girlfriend of the time named Amy was also on the inside cover…
denzil
March 19, 2010 at 8:06 pmExcellent record this.
dan i
March 22, 2010 at 9:46 amYes indeed! Kindergarten were great live. Sam was the singer, right? I remember them appearing on the bill with Brigandage and Rubella Ballet quite a bit for a while (including the all day Tufnell Park gig). Didn’t Sam play for Rubella Ballet for a bit too?
Penguin • Post Author •
March 22, 2010 at 10:34 amThats right Dan I Sam was on vocals..Kevin the drummer was in Null And Void (not the Yeovil band – the Enfield one). This band is on one of the Lack Of Knowledge flyers I put up on a post recently. Kevin went on to join the old sixties band The Creation when that band reformed in the 1990’s.
There are a couple of mugshots of a younger Penguin on the 12″ that this band did later on on the year. I will have to upload that at some point.
I was at that Tufnell Park gig. Tea House Camp and Hammer And Sickle I think also performed. And the Folk Devils I think. Boston Tea Party it was advertised as, as it was down the Boston Arms.
dan i
March 23, 2010 at 7:41 amThat’s the one – John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett were on the bill too weren’t they? Have the flyer soemwhere. I am pretty sure Sam stood in for the Ballet on guitar after Sean and Steve left. Revolving door for guitarists in mid 1980s sadly. Zillah’s sister Rachel was on bass then.
Nick Hydra
September 21, 2011 at 12:07 pmSaw them with Ausgang and Hammer and Sickle at The Tunnel Club in Greenwich, and they were easily the best band of the night. All the bands got on stage together at the end and did a really rough version of “Loose” by the Stooges…