This is a good place to see bands in so it merited a * review. The problem is the people at the bar are not friendly and bouncers pretty heavy. What’s worse is how the management treat some of the bands that play there. I witnessed one band who had driven over 100 miles trying to get the £50 they were due to be paid for an hour after one event - the guy in charge was mucking these poor people about something rotten and the musicans told me afterwards they would never play there again. But the sound here is Ok and you can normally see the stage so it’s Ok as a music fan as long as you don’t have to talk to anyone who works there!

Right in the centre of Camden, and funnily - located beneath the World’s End pub - the Underworld is a live music institution. It’s a dingy underground set of rooms: an outer one with a central bar, and an inner one with a sunken floor where bands play. There’s almost nowhere to sit, and no ambience whatsoever. Forget food or high-end imported lagers.

No one comes here to sit and drink, though: this venue is all about getting in bands just about every night. Just about every metal, thrash, or garage band that’s just breaking out will come though here. It only holds a couple of hundred people, and you can get right up to the stage.

They also get rock acts that are mid-size elsewhere but not huge names here. I’ve seen great Canadian acts like Sloan and 54-40 play here, as well as Nashville Pussy, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Hot Snakes, and vileevils.

Basically if you’re the early type and you can’t wait till 9pm to have a good time then you’re reading the right review. Sundays this club opens around 6pm and you can buy the ticket in advance or from the pub next door before hand. With live bands playing and a space to mosh (purposefully knocking/pushing into each other, can go as far as swinging) as well as dance or you could mix them up. As you walk into underworld they serve alcohol which is very expensive on the other side of the bar they put down water for those who’ve been working up quite a sweat which everyone goes for so if your lucky they’ll serve more if not it’s on a first come first serve basis. I've not been to their night ones but that'll be my next step watch this space.

I love The Underworld.
I have been to some truly amazing gigs at this venue, and that at very reasonable prices! Truly, this place is a national treasure (though many people may not know it). I think this is one of the best places to go and see new bands - as well as more established ones, of course. The running The Underworld always seem to bee good at spotting new talent. Better still is that ticket prices are really quite resonable, as I believe I have stated above. I just wish I could say the same about their drinks.

I'm sure this venue has one of the highest alternative band counts in the U.K. It has a slightly odd shape, the bar in a separate area from the stage, which means fewer people can see, which is bad. There are pillars supporting the roof on the floor in front of the stage. This too is bad. I guess it''s fortunate that stadium sell out bands hardly ever visit. Fortunately, there is a raised section around the stage room that compensates for other view blockage.
Anyway, aside from viewing problems, this venue has one of the liveliest atmospheres I've felt at a gig. The audience can get close enough to touch the bands feet, and in some cases, the band can touch the audience, making for a highly personal performance. Some of my favorite gigs have been here, including Finntroll, who were spectacular.