It’s no secret that London has a rich music history. Being someone who is obsessed with music in general there are a lot of places that will be interesting to see without a doubt. From Zeppelin to Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, the Who, the Clash, Sex Pistols and David Bowie. Obviously, I will make my way to Abbey Road and pay homage to the Beatles someday, but I noticed a sign near our apartment that indicated the direction to Muswell Hill and that it wasn’t too far away. I told Tassa we should go there and check it out because of the Kinks’ album Muswell Hillbillies. Yeah, that’s right – The Kinks! Maybe the British Invasion’s most underrated band.
My favorite Kinks Albums
I think I bought the cassette tape Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One when I was in the 6th grade. I bought it for the song Lola but absolutely loved the entire album. It’s one of those rare, top to bottom albums; one that you can press play and let it go without wanting to skip any tracks. Apeman is one of my all-time favorite songs.
This is exactly what my cherished Lola Versus Powerman tape looked like. I had a huge collection of tapes and wish I still had them.
Check out the album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One (YouTube Full Album) below:
The Kinks rule! They are the OGs of heavy riff driven guitar rock with songs like You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night, which came out in 1964. However, I think their best work came in the early 70’s with Lola Versus Powerman (1970) and Muswell Hillbillies (1971). My brother Brent told me to listen to Muswell Hillbillies, and I’m glad he did because it is another top to bottom banger of an album. The first song, 20th Century Man is my favorite track on the album but the whole thing is great and culminates with the track Muswell Hillbilly, which blends Brit Rock and Americana brilliantly.
Muswell Hillbillies album cover. This pub in the picture is called The Archway Tavern. It is close to Muswell Hill but we didn’t go here. Maybe next time.
Check out the album Muswell Hillbillies (YouTube Full Album) below:
Our Mossy Well Kinks Pilgrimage
When I saw the sign for Muswell Hill, I did some Googling and found out that Muswell Hill is where Ray and Dave Davies from the Kinks are from. Excuse me, Sir Raymond Douglass Davies. I read that when Ray Davies received the letter that he was to be Knighted, he thought it was a tax summons, so he ignored it for a long time, which if you listen to enough Kinks, it makes sense and aligns with their anti-establishment music. Muswell Hill is in the borough of Haringey. Haringey is also the borough where Tottenham is located, which is where we live. Muswell means “mossy well” and was the site of a well with healing waters long ago. More importantly, I discovered a local brewery named Muswell Hillbilly Brewers. What?? Ok, we had to go there.
What I love the most about actually living here in London is that we can do way more than the average tourist stuff. Touristy stuff is cool and fun but being able to experience a wider array of what London has to offer is so awesome. So, with trusty Google maps in hand Tassa and I set out on foot to trek three miles to Muswell Hillbilly Brewers taproom. Tassa calls everything we do right now “soul stimulation” and I totally agree. Everywhere we go is new and fun and there is so much to see and explore.
We made it to Muswell Hill and climbed to the top and let me tell you it is a big ass hill. When you get to the top you can look back for an amazing view of the greater London area. The taproom was not far from the top and it was inconspicuously located down a small ally. The taproom was super small but cool. The room was only big enough for three or four little tables. The bar was small and located in the back right corner, while a dual record player with a stack of vintage records sat in the back left corner of the room. The bartender was a young guy and I told him we walked all the way there because of the Kinks album, Muswell Hillbillies. He said, “Yeah, I don’t know why they called this place that.” I thought that was pretty funny. We each got a beer and sat outside at the picnic tables in the alley. Tassa got the Tetherdown Wheat Saison, and I got the Hillbilly IPA. Both beers were really really good. They were amazingly light bodied, citrusy, and very drinkable. We can’t say enough about the quality of the beers. I also had a Bier De La Mews Pale Ale and it was also very good.
London has a very interesting beer scene (keep in mind I have only been here two weeks but feel I’ve already drank enough to form a valid opinion). I find it interesting because there is the traditional brewing aspect like cask ales, which are freaking amazing and then there is also an American-esque brewing scene of microbreweries with IPA’s and beers you would find in any descent American brewery. I like it all. I am more interested in traditional local ales for the sake of drinking different beers than I can get at home but when you stumble upon a great brewery like Muswell Hillbilly it doesn’t matter. Good beer is good beer. After we had a couple beers and were feeling the vibe of the place, we played some Kinks on my phone as loud as it would go and danced in the alley to Apeman. One guy came out and I think he thought it was cool and gave us a big smile and a “Cheers.” We really enjoyed the experience.
After the brewery we went to the Mossy Well Pub and grabbed a cask ale and some curry, which oddly is England’s national dish. It was very good curry! The Mossy Well was a cool place with a buzzing bar scene and laid-back quality restaurant. At the bar I was asked where I was from because of my American accent and briefly told my story and that I came to Muswell Hill because of the Kinks. The bartender told me about another bar in town that the band used to hang out in. Then a local guy started to chat and told me that his buddy outside was an American and that I had to meet him, so I met a fellow Yank, and he was a nice guy as well. It felt great to be out and mingling in a cool place that was off the beaten path of the normal London hype.
Great Vibes!
I totally recommend Muswell Hill Brewers taproom if you are in the area and are thirsty for good craft beer and the Mossy Well Pub for great atmosphere, food, and drink.
MeatSpace Adventures 
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