Live at The Cluny in Newcastle upon Tyne: The Jam'd

I went with some awesome friends to see this band because of my long term passion for the music. I think I can speak with some authority as I've seen The Jam, From The Jam (Bruce Foxton), Paul Weller etc all live. I also spent my life in the entertainment industry on stage and supported many of the mod/2 tone bands during the 80s.

First impressions from the immediate sound was that it was incredibly tight, as if performed by a band that knew each other's interactions precisely and had practiced together day n night for years.

The bass player was a bloody legend, he stalked the stage with power and presence, manipulating the strings like a man possessed. His brief solo spot enforced what we already knew, he was an absolute genius of the chords and one of the best bass players I've seen.

The drummer is always the power behind the throne who can make it break the night. With power, precision and panache this guy pushed the band from one song to another with assurity and strength in total dominance.

A shout out to the guys at the back with brass and accompaniment who were legends.

And so onto the lead guitarist and main singer. Not only looking the part but sounding the part was a vast understatement. The inflex, vocal control, exact tonal reference and pitch was undeniable. If you shut your eyes you heard Paul Weller, it's as simple as that. His guitar work was incredibly passionate, driven with frenzied excitement, irresistible and sheer skill. He absolutely controlled the crowd and took them on a journey kicking and screaming with intensity.

The performance was one of the best I have seen in decades and I have seen so many bands

To all intents and purposes this band IS The Jam, they are every bit the real thing as good as it ever was and I almost dare to say, even better, simply because their incredible tightness on stage is magnificent.

This is one band you simply have to see.