'All we want to do is play, I'd play down Bar Lorca tonight if I could. I want to get on stage, stamp my fucking feet and sing', says an exasperated Johnny Cooke, front man of Stoke Newington punk-rock n' roll 5-piece DOGS.

The music machine doesn't seem to be moving fast enough for them at this particular hour of the day. After a near riot at 100 Club, killing the Carling Stage at Reading and Leeds, a November/December tour with Paul Weller and, you know, a little phone call from Roger Daltrey asking if they wouldn't mind playing the next Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit at the Royal Albert Hall, you'd think they would enjoy some time off. Think not. They are already busy writing the follow up to their first album Turn Against This Land which has so far spawned two Top 40 singles. 'I'd like to make this my career so we didn't compromise on the first album', enthuses Johnny. 'We made it for us because it is us. All the piss and bile came out on that record so the next one may just be a little more accessible.'

Duncan (bass) remembers playing with Keane in Germany: 'I think they were expecting Razorlight or something. We just came out to blank stares but finished up with the place going crazy, well, the blokes who had been dragged along to see Keane by their girlfriends were going crazy.' Johnny continues 'People who like us really love us, and those who don't really fucking hate us - suits me fine'. It's this attitude, coupled with the sheer desire to play live and make records, which endears you to them. The shows are pretty lively too. In the summer, Johnny was frog-marched from a festival. It was only when the band screamed over the PA that it was their singer and he was 'interacting' was he let back on stage. There was also the 'Mushroom gig' at Ryans where a band playing were politely told 'my bands upstairs, give us a fucking go', by Johnny. 'People were coming in off the street and going mental!'

The name DOGS wasn't that considered but still explains their pack mentality and dogged determination. 'I had this white van', explains Duncan, 'that we worked from but it also took us to all our gigs, rehearsals and to the gig that got us signed. The Island Records MD caught our last song and said to his A&R man "find out who they are, record a demo and if I like it I'll sign 'em". Anyway, the next day Hackney council take the van away and crush it into a cube - one day earlier and we probably wouldn't have been able to do the gig.' 

Turn Against This Land out now on Island. DOGS play Scala, Kings Cross, 24 September and support Paul Weller at Alexandra Palace 5/6 Dec.

Gigging 

By Helen Griffiths

No matter how many years it is since you left, September is still the back-to-school month. The time for new pencil cases, satchels and shiny new shoes. So what does the new term have in store for us?

The Auld Shillelagh has a varied programme over October and November. Phone the bar on 020 7249 5951 for full details. Ryan's presents a variety of DJs on Friday nights. The second and fourth Saturdays of the month sees the return of The Corn Rocket Club from 7pm (£3).

The Lion have an exciting new autumn programme lined up. In addition to the regular open mic night on a Wednesday this month sees the launch of the new Comedy Candy Club on Thursday nights. The first outing was held on 8 September and confirmed dates for the rest of the year are 13 October and 10 November. Comedy night starts at 8pm (£5 / £3) and listings for the next set of acts will be displayed in the pub or can be found at www.comedycandy.co.uk. The Lion is also launching a monthly burlesque cabaret night - The Bordello Club - starting on Friday 21 October followed by 25 November. It's even free to get in.

Ex-Minx Club promoter Andy Davies opened his new venture - the Phoenix Club - last week with a gig by Wreckless Eric. His forthcoming programme includes Songdog plus support (29 September, £10), Gordon Haskell and Peter Bruntnell (6 October, £12), Foy Vance plus support (13 October, £10) and Dean Friedman, 23 October, £20). The Phoenix Club is in the basement of Barracuda. For more info phone 020 7249 3557 or visit www.thephoenixclub.biz. Also appearing at the Barracuda's Blow The Fuse jazz club are guitarist John Etheridge on 14 October and tenor sax player Louise Elliot on 21 October. Doors 8pm, music 9pm, £8/£6 conc. Contact 020 7254 8935 or www.blowthefuse.com.

Bar Lorca are determined for the world to salsa, it seems. Classes are held on Mondays and beginners and intermediate levels on Friday nights. Thursday has a wealth of attractions ranging from open mic night through to a free club night playing a variety of hip hop, soul, swing and garage. Saturday starts with a kids disco from 4-7pm and is followed by the regular r&b and hip-hop club night.

My new favourite venue, Barden's Boudoir - where the brilliant Test Icicles played last month - is sadly out of action at present but will hopefully be back soon. Bodrum have the Big Fibbers on 7 October and Elephant Shelf playing on 14 October.

Blush have live music and cabaret every Sunday night from 7.30pm. It's free to get in and actual listings will be posted on the website www.blushbar.co.uk  as soon as they're confirmed. Friday night is, of course, karaoke night and the quiz continues on a Wednesday. A new addition to the line up is the Texas Hold 'Em Poker night on a Tuesday. It's all for fun, tuition is offered for beginners and there's proper baize and chips for authenticity. The Yucatan presents rockabilly from the Brick Lane Boogie Boys on 24 September, 22 October and 26 November (free).

To remind you of some other regulars, The Prince and the Rose and Crown both have popular quizzes on a Tuesday night - and some famous faces have even been spotted at the former. The Prince also has live jazz on a Wednesday night. There are DJs in The Londesborough on Friday and Saturdays and also in the White Hart Thursday through Sunday.