Chelsea: Live beside the seaside! Gig report!

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Chelsea and Jack The Lad: The Prince Albert 10/03/2022

Gene October was back in town with Chelsea at the start of a Europe tour! Guests were Jack The Lad. We danced, we sang, we sweated in Brighton! Chelsea are still making incredible music and putting on a great live show!

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Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Chelsea were back! Brighton had been selected to open up a pretty extensive tour. There was a mega crowd assembled for this gig. I had a chat with Charlie Harper of UKSUBS, who had played with Chelsea previously. We had a great chat about the “last tour” and his painting. Also DeRellas front man was in the crowd who advised me of an upcoming gig in December 2023.

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

It was in August 1976 that Gene October placed an advert in Melody Maker which led to replies from guitarist William Broad, bassist Tony James and drummer John Towe. On October 18th they made their live debut as Chelsea supporting Throbbing Gristle at London’s ICA. It was at this time that Gene convinced the manager of gay London nightclub in Covent Garden called Shageramas, to convert the club into London’s first live punk rock venue called The Roxy – a fact for which he is given little credit. The band split in November 1976 where Gene briefly recruited guitarist Marty Stacey & bassist Bob Jessie. The other three former members formed Generation X. When Gene was asked about his former band colleagues he said “Generation X? Oh yeah they used to be in Chelsea.”

Gene October – vocals

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Gene, always enigmatic and hypnotising to watch, was on top form tonight. He stretched and pushed those vocal chords to the packed Albert who had come to see these guys play. He really seemed relaxed and enjoying the set. He was relaxed and smiled as he engaged with his crowd. The crowd was made up of older fans, but I noticed a raft of younger faces in the crowd, and that’s always great to see. The guys had a practice session the day before, but the last gig they played was in October 2022! They were like a coiled spring full of energy, ready to unleash over an hour of pure punk, rock energy.

Nic – guitars, vocals and jumps

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Nic hit the stage and just blasted his black SG at us – it was full tilt and then some. I said to him after how tricky he is to photo, he laughed and said he likes to keep me on my toes! He didn’t stand still for the hour long set, and he always delivers a masterclass and puts on a great show.

Mat – on bass and vocals

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

A top bass delivery from the brilliant Mat. He powered some great bass lines and the sound jostled your lower intestines as the bass hit you. It was so busy in there, sadly I missed his trademark rifle/guitar pose.

Steve – Drums

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Steve is at the back, on the kit. He delivered a great thundering punk, rock and roll percussion wall of sound for the band. He and Mat work seamlessly together. He really is an awesome power to witness.

Rob on guitars and vocals

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Set to the side of the stage was Rob armed with another set of electric strings. He and Nic drop in those mega Chelsea sounds. Put the five of them together and you just know you are in for one helluva ride!

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Nic and Rob hitting the riffs, drums from Steve and bass thunder goodness from Mat as Gene hit the stage. Set opener, with a hot Chelsea triple, Mission Impossible, Johnny Has No Respect and War Across The Nation. That’s how to do it! I have Mission Impossible on vinyl, I have played the hell out of it and a new copy is needed soon.

Everything about this particular Chelsea gig seems so fresh from the start. A new setlist and new album set this aside from any of the usual shows you might go to on a Friday night. It is both enlightening, and yet so nostalgic of the good ol’ days of punk from the late 70’s. Yes, we some of us maybe feeling a bit older too. Immediately upon entering the room, hearing Chelsea fire it up, I promise you they will wash away the years! Now, they really have your attention, lets party it up!

The set was on fire as the songs were blasted at us in quick succession. Some chat from Gene and his trade mark “Did you like that one?” after many of the songs, which of course was answered with a rousing “yes!”.

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

“Whats the matter with you? You all look fu**ed” Gene screamed at us about halfway through the set. The Loner and the sublime Evacuate were up as the intensity of Chelsea seemed to grow with each passing song. This band is as consistent as they come. Every few years, they will release a new album and the popular tracks become part of an always changing set list.

The band plays very well, to an ecstatic audience. With the punk demographic, you will never reach as many fans as with other, more melodic genres, but the fans that Chelsea have gleaned are loyal, outgoing and will always show up. As a result, 100 plus fans are singing their lungs out and moshing down the front as if their lives depend on it! No Ones Going Outside and The Loner exploded from the stage. The sound tonight was excellent and congrats to Jon on sound.

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

“Have you had enough yet?” Gene asked – Nooooooo came the reply. This took place after Gene announced that Urban Kids was the last song of the night. “Oh good, we got another 10 songs for you!” Gene announced with a massive smile on his face that just lit up the venue.

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Come On, No Flowers, and the ripping I’m On Fire kicked in. The crowd sensing we were approaching the end was nigh, seemed to just got for it. From these songs it is clear they will honestly never get old, it’s one of those things that makes a Chelsea live show the spectacle that they have become.

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

No Admission, Last Drink and the anthem Right To Work closed the set. Phew, damn that was good. The crowd had generated a great atmosphere and a great deal of heat! It was the warmest many of us had been for months!

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Chelsea are still making incredible music and putting on a great live show. Their live shows also continue to be being one of the strongest in their respective field. Well played Chelsea, enjoy the tour.

Chelsea: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Well played Chelsea! They are on the WWW here!

JACK THE LAD

Jack The Lad: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The proceedings at The Albert were started with a new outfit for me, Jack The Lad. They had played in Brighton about a year ago with Hung Like Hanratty – missed that night! Jack The Lad play straight-up, honest-to-goodness, old school punk. Its Anthemic and very likeable. Not having seen these guys before the sound hits you with flavours of early SLF with perhaps more guitar muscle, Angelic Upstarts and a trace of early Sham 69. It was all good!

Jack The Lad: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

They opened up with a strong set of three songs, Voices, Who Is The Enemy and Remember. Damn that was an opening to grab anyone’s attention! The interaction between the band is fabulous. They were clearly enjoying the racket they were making, and so were we!

When Jack The lad started playing, they damn near shook the room and they all burst into life as the set powered along. We then had Leave, Time and ‘Ave it! The performance from Jack The Lad was slick and precise but without being over the top. I loved how the band members seemed genuinely thrilled to be there supporting Chelsea.

Hailing from various locations, and made up of a previous member of UB42 and a guitar previously owned by Captain Sensible, they are an in yer face punk band. The songs are catchy and easy to get into. They engaged well with us in the audience and, yep, they got a great response.

What I did experience was a wonderful, almost joyful set of songs in a punchy set. I’ll never get bored of being in a room full of punks! A self titled Jack The Lad was in the set and it all came to a fired up conclusion with Life’s A Riot.

What an energetic punk band! They gave us songs to dance to, all played well, and played LOUD and some top vocal work! Go see these guys if they play locally. Highly recommended if you like you punk, old school, with a touch of Oi. You won’t be disappointed.

Jack The Lad: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Jack The lad are on Facebook here!

And Finally…

Thanks to Chelsea
Thanks to Jack The Lad,
The Prince Albert team and Brighton and Hove News team.

Words and photos by Ian Bourn.

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