From The Jam Going Underground Tour Review

Check out Ash Leszczuk’s From the Jam Review at the Metro in Sydney, 9th September 2016.

From The Jam, “Going Underground Tour”.

This is no “tribute” band. A tour of Australia, taking in Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to name but a few stop-offs, followed by a full UK schedule, From The Jam are the heavyweight punks in town.

In Bruce Foxton, this quartet have their own Carnaby Street tailor; fashioning a sound, instantly recognizable, all with the finest British twist. Looking dapper as ever may I add.

With Russell Hastings leading the line on guitar and vocals, and central to what makes From The Jam on point, the night immediately kicks off with a foot-stomping throw back to British-punk-gone-by, opening with “A Town Called Malice”. What a night we are in for here.

For five short years, Weller, Foxton and co. ripped up the rule book of English rock and roll, out went the punk-esque ripped jeans, in came tailored suits and boots to match. People suddenly wanted to look smart when listening to music. Looking around the packed room tonight, this was not lost on anyone, it must have been the best dressed room in Sydney!

With an average age of probably pushing 50, the audience was sure as hell packing a punch when it came to reliving their youth, and who could blame them from the sound emitting from the stage.

Hastings holds his own, he doesn’t try to pretend to be Weller and neither does he pretend this is some kind of tribute band, it is very much his own. From caressing the crowd into punk-like whoops and jeers, to tearing up the lead guitar, in Hastings, they have a perfect foil to Foxton’s original bass culture.

It’s funny how time works. 34 years since the original break-up, destined to be forever remembered for their punk-mod sound, From The Jam are throwing caution to the wind and ripping up the rule book when it comes to “covers” and are leading their own in this regard.

A rip-roaring set which included all the classics such as “That’s Entertainment”, “Eaton Rifles”, “David Watts”, “Going Underground” and “In The City”. Now, that’s what I call entertainment.

By Ashley Leszczuk