Final Boarding Call: Toast Club at The George Tavern
Toast Club: Tommy Villiers & Chuck Smythe
This past week, I was lucky enough to travel to London to take in the sights and sounds of the city. After I got my plane ticket, I started looking into some shows to catch while I was there. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen acts I desperately wanted to see, only to realize they only tour in the UK—so this felt like my chance to finally catch something I normally couldn’t.
A few months back, I got an Instagram ad for a song called “Cafe Pacific” by Toast Club. I get a lot of similar ads—usually it’s a slick music video with a big budget behind it, but the songs don’t really stick. This one was different. Right away it grabbed me. It’s got this catchy, driving piano riff that’s not far off from something like What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers. But it’s not yacht rock—it’s almost… aviation rock?
What makes Toast Club really interesting is their whole aesthetic. It’s completely built around aviation and the idea of travel—like this idealized version of going somewhere better. So far they’ve dropped four singles in this direction, and it feels like it’s all leading up to a full album. Some of the other tracks lean into that jazzy pop world too—reminds me of Daryl Johns’ 2024 stuff, with that smooth, 80s-filtered sound.
The show I ended up going to was at The George Tavern in East London, a small venue with a ton of history behind it. It’s one of those places that almost got wiped out by developers and gentrification, so just being there already felt like you were part of something real. Walking up to it, it’s definitely got that neighborhood vibe—nothing flashy, just a proper local spot that happens to host great music.
I posted up right up front—not something I normally do—but I ended up getting some great shots. And honestly, you could tell right away these guys were the real deal. Drums, percussion, guitar, keys—the whole thing was tight. The keyboard player especially stood out. Just effortlessly locked in, singing backing vocals, moving around like he was having the time of his life. It made the whole show feel less like a performance and more like a party.
Toast Club really impressed me. I’d definitely recommend checking them out before they blow up. Then you can be that person who knew them early. And who knows… You might just turn into an aviation nut yourself. ✈️
