From The Jam live at the Picturedome
Live review; FROM THE JAM - a mix of anticipation and adulation at Holmfirth Picturedome
Since I got the email confirming a photopass for this gig, I was excited. Excited like I used to get when it was the morning of a new single release and you had to make a special journey to the record shop to get your hands on that new shiny (typically black) disc!
The night before, batteries all charged and memory cards emptied - so plenty of room for pictures… lens cleaned and bag organised.
It was only on the way to the venue (a 71 mile journey) that I actually started to believe I was going to get to shoot one of my musical heroes in my lens, I have to admit the nerves were growing.
The venue is a terrific old picture house in the middle of a traditional Yorkshire village; a huge stage with a high, semi-circular balcony facing it. Two massive plus points for this place are the sound system and the floor sloping down to the stage. This is fantastic for standing crowds to all to get a great view of the show.
Queuing was a good opportunity to chat with some fellow die-hard Jam fans, stories of when and where seen and clothes worn…..the recurring theme of ‘would love to meet….’
I half suspected most people might be late 40’s or over, given that The Jam disappeared as a band well over thiry years ago. It was a pleasant surprise to see younger fans, both male and female lower the average age.
This was an additional night, as the first advertised night was ‘sold out’ - it’s a great credit to the band that this night was rammed too.
As the lights dropped, the crowd drew a breath and as one a cheer rang out as the four members strode out onto the stage with their audience close and expectant.
Those first few chords of Russell Hasting’s matt black Rickenbacker drew another cheer and Bruce Foxton’s infamous bass made it’s introduction in the first tune “The Gift”, this song whizzed by… strong audience accompaniment is always a sign a band has started on the front foot.
As we worked through the set, David Watts, Tube Station (my favourite and an early position in the set to my surprise), In the City, Happy Together, Modern World (much energy and anger in the singing from the crowd throughout), a skilful and sensitive rendition of Butterfly Collector, Smithers Jones, That’s Entertainment (I closed my eyes and drifted back to my early teens and singing along with my mates Rob, Steve, Phil and Willo) it was all Jam songs until Russ stepped up to the mike and I’m pleased to say, proudly announced that the band were going to play an original From The Jam tune from their ‘smash the clock’ album.
Delivered with gusto and received with thanks from the willing public. It was then back into Jam, Saturday’s kids, In the Crowd, when you’re young, News of the World, Carnation, Start, Start!, strange town and final song for the set was ‘A’ bomb in wardour street….deliciously ended with Bruce scraping that plectrum away from him down that top string, with relish and meaning as the “apocalypse” brought the song to a conclusion.
The band took the huge and grateful applause from an audience that had seen a band perform a set in their own style. Yes, the body were Jam songs but delivered in a crafted, "From The Jam" way… The songs were obvious enough that we could love them as a homage to the classics they are, but crafted into an end product that is absolutely From The Jam. Maybe a few more of the original FTJ songs interspersed could have made an appearance and you know, the level of intensity and love from this crowd would not have waned.
We all applauded and smiled, big daft happy, young at heart smiles because we had loved these songs and we have had chance to love them live, all over again, thanks to the skill, dedication and mastery of their art that the band display.
The crowd though, weren’t finished, and neither were the band. After a short break they emerged to more applause and chants of “Bruce, Bruce, Bruce”.
The set was finished with Ghosts, Going underground, Eton Rifles and ultimately a Town called malice. The smiles of the crowd were now reflected by the band. There was a finale group bow to acceptance the adulation from the crowd, and just a final few words from Russ and Bruce on the subject of the release of the fab new album called “From The Jam Live!”….. I’ll be buying it and I’m absolutely sure thousands of other fans will too…
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