The Jericho Tavern

The Jericho Tavern is a medium-sized pub in north-west Oxford. As a watering-hole, it is pretty unremarkable (there are at least half a dozen more appealing dives in the adjacent neighbourhood of Jericho, the old industrial quarter along the banks of the canal), but the upstairs room has long been known as the city's premier live music venue.

It was for a while taken over by the Firkin chain, and lost the celebrated name. I'm not a great fan of chain pubs; and, although the Firkins are one of the better chains, I find their insistence on incorporating the word Firkin into alliterative names for all their establishments ('Philanderer & Firkin", "Fig & Firkin", etc.) to be deeply tiresome - especially when it requires the abandonment of an established pub name of some antiquity. I'm not sure if Firkin gave the pub up, or if they relaxed their Firkin-naming rule on this one occasion in deference to public pressure - but the Jericho is now the Jericho once more. I think the place may also have ceased to host live music for a while (I'm not sure if that was in any way connected with the unfortunate Firkin interlude - I've been away from Oxford for some years); but it is now once again a gig venue too.

I first encountered the Jericho during my student days, ever such a long time ago, but was not a particularly regular visitor back then. Later, in the early '90s, I found myself back in Oxford teaching for a couple of years, and was lucky enough to have a small flat on the edge of the Jericho district, just half a mile down the road from The Tav. At that time, John Otway (see my previous two posts) was playing there about once a month.... and I think I went to see him every single time he was on. Great days.

Radiohead, an Oxfordshire band, were just getting started around then.... and I'm sure they must have played at The Tav once or twice. However, I failed to notice them, was sadly unaware of them - I now kick myself that I failed to see them before they were famous. (I did see them relatively early on - in the 'Pablo Honey' days - and they were always a kick-arse band!) I never really expected to stumble upon true greatness in a small, local venue like that, and so chose my gigs based on the amusement value of the bands' names: 'Frank Fish & The Fins' and 'Kitchens Of Distinction' were among my favourites back then. Damn.

I heard a rumour when I was in Oxford a couple of months ago that Radiohead were shortly to play a 'stealth gig' at The Jericho Tavern, for old times' sake. I wonder if that really happened? Did I miss them again?? DAMN!