Unlike the other gig reviews on this site so far, this review is written 3 months after the event rather than 3 days after
due to my very busy summer. I'm not sure whether time passing allows a greater sense of reflection after something as immediate
and spontaneous as a rock gig but can remember that this was an excellent concert.
Joe Jackson has reformed his original band (Gary Sanford - guitar, Graham Maby - bass, and Dave Houghton - drums)
for the first time for over 20 years to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their formation. Although Maby has
played in several of Jackson's bands over the years, it was the first time Sanford and Houghton have played with JJ since
the original band split in the early 80s though you couldn't tell this at all from their excellent playing and the special
chemistry still present between the 4 musicians.
The original band played on Joe's first 3 albums Look Sharp, I'm The Man and Beat Crazy which include some of his biggest
hits and best songs such as Is She Really Going Out With Him? It's Different For Girls and Fools In Love. Despite this, Joe
was determined that the 25th Anniversary reunion tour wouldn't be a merely a "cheesy" nostalgic Greatest Hits set
resulting in the band recording a brand new album, aptly titled Volume 4, which was released earlier this year. The set list
included several excellent songs from the new LP though the fans had still come primarily to hear the old favourites - a reality
acknowledged by Jackson with some humour. JJ was in excellent spirit throughout the gig, belying the popular (and often justified)
image of him as a grumpy and difficult artist.
Highlights of the gig included semi sing-along versions to the big 3 hits mentioned above, Beat Crazy, Got The Time and
a blistering encore of I'm The Man which showed what a great unit the Joe Jackson Band are. I've rarely seen a band where
the chemistry and interplay between the musicians is so great. One reason for this is economy - Sanford, Maby and Houghton
are as good at knowing when to keep it simple as when to show their musical chops. This is especially the case for Sanford
who throughout his JJ Band career has often played highly effective, economical rhythm guitar with the superb Maby often supplying
the lead instrument with his outstanding bass playing. The clipped guitar rhythms of Is She Really Going Out With Him? is
an excellent example of this.
Although the band concentrated on their 4 albums recorded together, there were also a few selected songs from other parts
of Joe Jackson's long career including Down To London from his excellent 1989 album Blaze Of Glory - an album about turning
35 which has special pertinence to me now. He also played Real Men and a moving Steppin' Out from his 1982 classic Night And
Day album as part of a superb mini solo piano set which also included an excellent version of The Beatles'classic Girl.
The Joe Jackson Band gig was an excellent mix between old favourites and new songs played by 4 very accomplished musicians
and one of the best gigs I've been to for ages. Joe seems resolute that this reunion tour will be a one off but I very much
hope he does it again one day!
Greg Rose 4.9.03
