Standing out from the saturated podcast landscape, How Long Gone, the cult interview show hosted by Chris Black and Jason Stewart, arrived in London this week for their first live shows outside the US. Touching down first at 5 Carlos Place, MatchesFashion’s chic townhouse in Mayfair, then at indie-oriented Moth Club in Hackney, the self-proclaimed bicoastal elites revisited their favourite topics: skewering trendy restaurants, boutique fitness, and their love of British culture.
At the first show on Thursday, after champagne and martinis, the pair brought out a surprise guest: Alexa Chung, in Pleats Please and Prada pumps, topped off with a golden Gucci horsebit belt. The model, indie-sleaze icon and all-time it-girl confessed to having never listened to the podcast before, but took to the hosts’ freewheeling style like a duck to water, talking pilates, and joking about forgetting to take photos during her recent trip stateside (who amongst us hasn’t taken a fabulous trip and come back without anything grid-worthy?). At the afterparty at Sweeties in Kings Cross, Stewart, a longtime DJ and nightlife impresario, played a set alongside Louise Chen, heavy on indie classics the hosts often discuss on the show, while friends of the pod across fashion and media took in views of the city.
Descending on Moth Club on Sunday, the setting was more down to earth, but underneath the gold glittered ceiling the packed crowd was similarly trendy. Joined by artist and musician Issy Wood, the hosts couldn’t help but note the differences between Mayfair and Hackney with their usual irreverence. Complaining of a dearth of upscale smoothie options in London, they also opined on meal deals, British pub culture, and the odd pleasure Black, a creative consultant and former band manager, took in braving Selfridges on a Saturday. Afterwards, the hosts handed out merch: look out for the London-exclusive “Gone” cap, as well as distinctive Ellsworth Kelly-inspired green and blue stickers, dotting the capital in the coming weeks…
The podcast, launched during the early days of the pandemic, is approaching 500 episodes at breakneck speed with no signs of slowing down, and recently signed with CAA, aiming to explore options for TV, publishing and film. The hosts have already signed to indie label Jagjaguar and released their first album, Adds Colour, last year, adding their distinctive cultural commentary to a variety of the label’s music. The reception was warmer than they expected: both shows were fully booked within hours, and the duo are planning a potential return to London this summer at bigger venues – we’re glad they’re not leaving it so long until their next visit.