Touting for Jesus

Brixton is renowned - at least among its residents - for the vibrancy of all the various evangelical religious denominations which call it home. These figures are so much a part of the rich tapestry that is life in Brixton, that you hardly even notice them. Sometimes, though, the particularly determined among them do something that makes them stand out. The 'KFC preacher', for example, who used to have a permanent station on 'KFC plaza' - the paved esplanade at the corner of Brixton Hill / Effra Road / Coldharbour Lane which occasionally serves as a mini town square - until he decided that there were richer pickings at the tube station and bought a megaphone.

At the weekends, when the weather is warmer, 'KFC plaza' is often the venue for Christian performance - like those Chinese Christian groups who sing haunting songs and do martial arts-like dancing, though personally our favourite has always been 'Jazz for Jesus'. The Nation of Islam guy usually hangs out on the other side of the road, dapperly handing out his copies of The Final Call - though one day K witnessed the memorable scene of an enormous Nation of Islam guy engaged in virulent debate with a tiny black guy wearing a white habit with a big red cross on it, as if the Crusades had touched down in 21st-century Inner London. Over the years we've also overheard some profound theological discussions taking place between the bouncers outside The Fridge - one of Brixton's many nightclubs.

At the same time, Brixton is a party town - perhaps partying and preaching always go together. Whenever there is a popular gig on at The Academy, Brixton fills up with concert-goers - most usually gangs of teens wearing the fashion uniform du jour, and who all look far too young to be out late without parental supervision. Sometimes you see them travelling down to Brixton on the tube, with their carefully ripped jeans. Trying to leave the station is sometimes a struggle - you have to shuffle along behind a packed train-load of youngsters who have never ventured so far south of the river, and then you get assaulted by ticket touts, who crowd around the pavement at the top of the stairs, shouting "Buy or Sell! Buy or Sell!" very loudly and annoyingly.

Tonight these two groups converged. The concert in question is by a band hitherto unknown to me, called Lostprophets. As I emerged from the tube station to the usual aural assault from the ticket touts ("Buy or Sell! Lostprophets! Buy or Sell!"), another voice could be heard shouting - "Anyone need Jesus??"

A novel approach I thought.