REVIEW: Just Jack
- Posted on October 17, 2007 4:12 PM
- 0 comments
Just Jack
Shepherd's Bush Empire
Tuesday 16th October
- Review by Katie Spain
“Noooooooooo… I hate you! I want to see Just Jack. I can’t get back innnnnnn!”
The woman sitting on the front steps of the Shepherd’s Bush Empire is screaming down the phone, tears streaming down her drunken face. We can only assume she’s been evicted for disorderly behaviour and the prospect of missing the UK artist has lit the flaming sambuca inside her.
It’s a mixed crowd at the Empire tonight – then again, the people roaming the streets of Shepherd’s bush usually are. The streets reek of booze… but that’s what you get when there’s a Walkabout nearby. A few of the people around us aren’t overly familiar with Just Jack’s repertoire – join the club. We all know the addictively catchy Starz In Their Eyes but we’re hazy on the rest.
After catching their opening set at this year’s V-Festival, I was blown away. Top weather, top tunes and a set that whipped the crowd with more force than a high-powered hand mixer. The starry-eyed Jack Allsopp formed new fans that day and the venue is full of them; fresh blood waiting to hear THAT tune. The rest seem to be hard core fans, singing along word for word to the good, the slow and the fabulously fast.
Before I go too far, it’s important to explain the lack of visual details in this review. We arrive late and find ourselves wedged between the bar, some pill popping psychopaths and what must be the ‘All Arrogant Basketball Team’. Honestly, a short arse like me would struggle seeing over an Oompa Loompa, let alont this forest of hairy limbs. I am doomed.
A wall of flashing lights backs the group and what we can see is blocked by outstretched hands. Luckily, Just Jack's performance is geared towards the ears and the feet. You hear the beats and you dance to them, it’s as simple as that. As he rips into the Paradise Lost and Found, Jack urges the balcony crowd to stand up. “Oh, you already are!”. Not bad for the third song in. By the time Glory Days hits our ears, we’re in full swing.
His backing vocalist’s vocals serve up moments of pure sweet, clear brilliance. Jack’s lyrics seem simple at first glance but there’s a story in every tune. It’s straight forward and you know what, that's just the way the way we want it. The lack of angst-packed ditties is refreshing. The music invites us to dance and be happy. We oblige.
In amongst the high points, there are a couple of songs that fall short of the catchy whirlwind and flutter past, just out of reach. My companion likens it to a rollercoaster – she’s right. At least we get some breathing time. But, the highs outweigh the lows – I’m sure the bug-eyed lady behind us would agree. We look away as her assets bounce out of her top for the third time. Someone should have told her Just Jack requires full frontal support.
No Time is groover magic, a twanging bass line gets bums wiggling and faces smiling. This is happiness in a jar… bottle it Jack and you’ll rake in more than all the celeb perfumes put together. A group of men on the top balcony cheat death as they pull dance moves dangerously close to the barrier. I can’t see the stage but the view of the revellers is priceless. Goth In The Disco is quite simply fantastic. Release it.
He’s a likeable character, this chap from North London. When he talks it’s to tell us the name of a song and to thank the crowd with continued and genuine gratitude. It’s been a big year for him and on the last night of his tour, he seems primed for the next chapter. “I’ll see you in about a year… I get to go off and write new stuff now”. Bring it on – may the year fly by with the pace of a greyhound.
Starz In Their Eyes was always going to be as crowd pleaser and ends a short but well executed set. The punters emerge smiling, happy and with… well, stars in their peepers. As the sweaty bodies disperse and head out into the London night, the air fills with the out of tune chorus of “Now why’d you wanna go and put…”
You know the rest.
Did you see Just Jack in action? Tell us all about it in the comments section.
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