From the Jam - Classic Mod Punk hits Bath!!!

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Jam packed with all the classic hits 

From the Jam **** is, as can probably be deduced from the name, a band playing the hits of the classic Mod band. The line up included original member Bruce Foxton, the bass guitarist and long-time vocalist Russel Hastings as the key members. Perhaps there is a slight irony in that The Jam were only actively releasing songs for five years, 1977 – 1982. Yet they obviously made an impact as people are still showing up to Sold Out!!! venues forty years later to hear said tunes. 

Opening with ‘Away From The Numbers’ the crowd are instantly drawn into the performance. Bruce Foxton with his trademark suit he has always performed in and Russel Hasting a little less formal but keeping the stylish looks that The Jam were famed for. They do rattle through The Jam hits, and it’s not long before ‘Start’ is being sung back to them with the line “what you give is what you get” probably being amongst the most well known (of many) of The Jam songs. 

Of course, Paul Weller did not always take lead vocal duties for The Jam, Bruce originally did for ‘David Watts’ and reprises his role perfectly tonight. The two lead men work perfectly together, especially in these Jam songs that have combined parts where they sing bits back at each other. From The Jam have also released their own material and a wonderful song ‘Lula’ gets an airing tonight. In fact, it would be nice to hear a few more, but of course everyone wants to hear The Jam hits mostly. 

Last year they had to briefly stop touring as Russel had a medical condition and they thanked the crowd for the many well-wishing messages they received at the time. They do seem to have a very loyal fan base and I suspect some of the people present were at the original Jam gigs too based on the age. That said there is a good mix of ages present. One thing they were less complimentary of was the roads around Bath, in fact “sort the fucking roads out” was the call before ‘Strange Town’. Filming of ‘Bridgerton’ had been causing chaos for locals and touring bands alike all week. 

‘Town Called Malice’ sees the pair sharing a mic, while of course a room full of people join in for unofficial backing vocals. They are not a Jam tribute band, more the natural successors I would say. Russel Hastings offers too much in his own right and does not try and be Paul Weller but offers his own complimentary sound to the classic songs. Yet more crowd interaction is called for during ‘Eton Rifles’ with the back and forth of the title during an extended version of the song. All too soon the set is closed with ‘Down in the tube station at Midnight‘ followed by ‘Going Underground’.  A wonderful night hearing some classic tunes, in a great venue

Review by Jon Cooper and Photos by Steve Owen (Icarus Photography)

From the Jam - Setlist
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Circus
Away from the Numbers
Pretty Green
To be Someone (Didn't we have a nice Time)
Start!
In the Crowd
David Watts
Lula
That's Entertainment
Mr.Clean
It's too Bad
Town called Malice
The Butterfly Collector
Heat Wave
Strange Town 
In the City
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The Eton Rifles
Down in the tube station at Midnight
Ghosts
Going Underground

Check Out! the Video for 'Town Called Malice' Below...