Crystal Fighters might have spent the last few years flying their electro-folk airship around the globe, but they are a band intrinsically identified with London. Their first album Star Of Love was conceived in a room somewhere in deepest Hackney Wick, and they first came to the attention of the wider world with ‘I Love London’, a frenetic, bass-scrunching ode to partying in the deepest reaches of the capital.
December has seen the four year anniversary of that single release. With this and the fact they’ve had a monumental 2013 in mind, we sat down with guitarist Gilbert just before their recent gig at Brixton Academy, and asked him to recommend the things he loves most about the city behind the song…
Favourite bar after 4am…
Woah, I guess Russian Bar on Kingsland Road used to be open until then, but they’ve just changed it. What’s the other one in Dalston, downstairs with the booth in the corner, the gay bar? Just between the Cave and the cinema…ahh, man, I can’t believe I can’t remember the name. (It’s Dalston Superstore.)
Favourite view…
Probably standing on Tower Bridge looking west. It’s pretty incredible, like a fairy tale. It’s still spectacular every time I go there, and I’ve been in the city 10 years.
Well I don’t actually eat salt beef anymore, I find it a little intense. But here’s a tip: you know you have the yellow and red place [Beigel Shop] on Brick Lane? If you want non-meat then go to yellow and red, but for salt beef go to place next to it [Beigel Bake]. The bagels aren’t as good there, though. In the yellow and red place they boil the bagel. It’s the only place in London that does, which is the way you are supposed to do them. I’d go to yellow and red every time.
Favourite music venue to play…
It’s got to be Brixton academy, though Hoxton Bar and Grill is pretty good as a crazy sweatbox.
Favourite band from London…
Oh, sh*t, I should have prepared for this. Ermm, Is Tropical and Arthur Beatrice!
Favourite vintage shop…
I like the one that is on the road Beyond Retro is on: on the corner of Cheshire Street where it goes to onto brick lane. It’s got loads of shoes and I got my jacket [points to Barbour style overcoat] there. I think it’s called Vintage Store.
Favourite night bus route…
Ah, the 26, from Waterloo all the way to Hackney Wick. I love that one, man.
Favourite conversation you’ve ever heard on a night bus…
Oh I’ve heard some pretty serious, like, sexually charged crazy stuff, about what’s going to happen after the bus. But that’s just normally between ourselves.
Favourite job in London…
(Very, very long pause) I used to intern for a Basque start-up business. It was pretty wild. We started Crystal Fighters…