By DJ Astrocreep
A long-waited return to a venue I once did some work at is in store for a first ever time seeing From The Jam. Throw in a 45th anniversary tour for seminal ‘All Mod Cons’ album – and Scottish punk legends Skids – and it made for what would hopefully be an enthralling evening of top-class musicianship and songwriting. I arrive shortly after doors, taking my (sadly these days) much needed seat and settle in for some good old-fashioned fun.
As mentioned, Dunfermline punk and new wave act Skids are our support for the evening, and they are on as ferocious form as ever. Frontman Richard Jobson is on fine form between songs, as well as during, bemoaning all sorts of thing from U2 and Green Day covering ‘The Saints Are Coming’ to not liking playing some of their bigger songs and even on to a Leo Sayer diatribe, keeping us greatly entertained as guitars retune between songs.
The band around him are on absolute fire, too, with a well-rehearsed and expertly played set, although with songs like ‘The Saints Are Coming’, ‘Masquerade’, a cover of The Clash’s ‘Complete Control’ and set closer ‘Into The Valley’, it was always going to be a case of when, not if, the crowd were fully warmed up. We all lapped it up, singing along and the infectiousness of Jobson on stage quickly transfers over to us, with a warm, loud ovation at the end of the set proving an adequate consequence of such a rousing set.
From The Jam take to the stage and immediately launch into it, with the crowd already being hopelessly dragged along with them – just as well we’re all more than willing participants! It’s long been a personal dream to see Bruce Foxton playing ‘Down In The Tube Station At Midnight’ and I am utterly psyched for it to finally be coming true.
A couple of songs in, vocalist Hastings – cutting a suitably very Weller-like figure – announces that, for their own sanity and ours, they are chopping and changing the order tonight. This actually allows for a much more live-orientated set, rather than the ‘All Mod Cons’ album followed by fan favourites formula we might have expected: it goes down an absolute treat, so they made a great choice by us!
They are all sounding exceptional, especially considering it is so close to the end of the tour, with never a note nor beat seemingly missed. Foxton, who I keep watching for much of the show, is deep into the spirit of it too and it’s noticeable that his vocals are still absolutely on par with his prime days. The entire band are sharp, tight and focused and it makes for a highly compelling performance. The one thing the order change does best is give us a main set ending of ‘Down In The Tube Station At Midnight’, ‘Eton Rifles’ and ‘That’s Entertainment’, moving the likes of eternal fan favourite ‘A Town Called Malice’ much earlier than it previously had been and allowing for a more natural finish.
We get our encores after a slightly prolonged gap from the main set, no doubt just catching their breaths after what was a frenetic and loudly praised end to the set.
The entire experience has been absolutely spellbinding. Whilst there can sometimes be reservations in advance of going to a 45th anniversary show, From The Jam show that time is no factor to those who have the level of ability that runs through each of the members’ bodies. A sublime performance.
The tour finishes at The Limelight in Belfast tonight (Saturday 18 May).
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