From the Jam - Show that they can be equally as good without Weller!

****1/2 

A spreading From the Jam!

From the Jam ****1/2 could possibly be seen as case of The Jam yesterday rather than tomorrow. The jubilant crowd with head showing skin as opposed to skinheads, as they mature with age roaring in approval as Bruce Foxton takes the stage with his current band mates. thirty five years since ‘All Mod Cons’ was released it is back in full at Komedia in Bath. A suitable venue it seems as the roof has Mod like red, white and blue concentric circles on it.

The crowd are knowledgeable yet still waiting for the hits. While ‘Mr Clean’ got the cobwebs off ‘David Watts’ was the first crowd mass sing along with every word being belted out by band and crowd alike. It was also a revelation for this reviewer as having seen Ray Davies perform this previously I had now seen both major versions live, both of which were released before I was born. It is noticeable that probably completely on purpose, the new singer Russell Hastings is close enough to Mr. Weller's voice while being distinctive enough. The old tensions of course have thawed now and it is all about enjoying the great songs.

The pace is certainly kept up with no talking between two or three songs at a time straight from one to next. This is not an unresponsive band but one that want to get on with the business in hand. One of the quieter and therefore memorable moments coming a short way into the set of the atmospherically wonderful ‘English Rose’ showing a softer side to The Jam’s back catalogue.  The pace is soon picked up again with ‘A bomb in Wardour Street’ and ‘Down in the tube station at Midnight’ seeing those signature scissor kicks of our original member.

After they had raced through ‘All Mod Cons’ I was wondering if it was to be a short set or we were to get more of The Jams releases, and there was plenty more to come. The public get what the public want and that was the sounds of ‘Going Underground’ possibly the most recognisable of all the original tracks. But it was not just The Jam songs we were treated with but Bruce Foxton’s solo material too from recent album ‘Back in the Room’ with a style, as you would expect, all Jam fans would appreciate, ‘Number 6’ being a particular stand out.

It was The Jam sounds that dominated the set with ‘Town called Malice’ and possibly the song that summed up the evening in title at least ‘that’s entertainment’. After short lull they were back for more of the same with ‘Eton Rifles’ and finally ‘Sweet Surrender’ ending the music of a great evening.  When telling people I was going I mostly got asked what sort of band they were and From the Jam are not a tribute band but do pay tribute to some much loved songs. Bruce Foxton is still out there giving it all the energy and passion he did all those thirty five years ago and it was a privilege to see him play them live. 

Review by Jon Cooper and Photo's by Steve Owen (www.icarusphotography.co.uk) 

Check Out! a live Video for 'Down In the tube station at Midnight' Below...