From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
From The Jam, Guest: Chris Pope. St. Peters Church in Brighton 18.8.22
Two nights in the company of From The Jam and Chris Pope. We have words and pics from a stunning second night live gig in Brighton!
Meet: From The Jam:
Bruce Foxton – bass guitar and backing vocals
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Russel Hastings – lead vocals and acoustic guitars
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Andy Fairclough – keys
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
From The Jam
From The Jam is made up tonight for this acoustic performance with the legendary former ‘The Jam’ bass player Bruce Foxton. Vocals and guitars from Russell Hastings, and Andy Fairclough on a set of keyboards. They have toured recently performing an acoustic show and the tour closed in Brighton at St Peters Church in Brighton as part of the The Jam/Style Council event, This Is The Modern World exhibition. They toured showing sold out Audiences seeing the band perform acoustic versions of a selection of songs from The Jam’s extensive back catalogue.
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
I was indeed fortunate to have been given access to photo the two incredible nights in this extraordinary venue. The first night has been extensively reported on by the Brighton and Hove News music team, accompanied with photos by yours truly, and you can read all about it here.
These almost intimate shows are a rare opportunity for Jam fans to hear those songs in this stripped-down fashion. And yes, I can confirm, it worked!
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
For over 10 years From The Jam have constantly toured. They have played 100’s of headline shows in the UK since their inception in 2007. I have seen and photographed From The Jam afew times, most recently at their double night at Concorde 2 and at the quite magnificent show at the Brighton Dome earlier this year with Selecter.
They’ve earned a well deserved a reputation for blisteringly good live shows, frontman Hastings and Foxton are pure magic together and they have sealed that reputation and have carried on driving the reputation of The Jam and music from all those years ago. From The Jam have a new album coming out soon, it’s called Butterfly Effect, and a new single released on Bruce Foxtons birthday in September, it’s called Lula.
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- From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The set list for tonight mirrored the previous nights set. I say set list, I think it was a list of songs to play but not necessarily in that order! They jumped around the list Foxton and Hastings pointing at the next song they wanted to do next, and at times, asking for “any requests” and am pretty sure the replies from the packed in crowd were on the list. Perfect!
I was lucky to share the pit with my friend Derek D’Souza, who got a great shout from Russell, “you must have a new book out!”. Derek has photo’d The Jam from the early days and has a collection of photos recently published.
I had been at the first night show, Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet was in the crowd. I had a chance to chat with Nicky Weller and related an episode from when I road crewed for The Jam back in 1977 in Edinburgh. She said she would feed the story back!
Bruce Foxton cuts an impressive figure, even when seated, laying down those world famous bass lines and vocal duties. Mr Hastings obviously seemed to struggle with having to stay seated as he stood up from time to time and bounced in his chair to the music. Hastings sounded great.
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Anyway, back to tonight. It was so good to see Russell back after his fairly recent heart attack and also Bruce, who earlier in the year was admitted to hospital with a potentially life threatening illness.
The Magic Was Back
They are back together and the magic was happening in front of us, both sounding as dynamic and fresh as ever. Look after yourselves guys.
Tonight the crowd entered the seated area of the Church. They were having none of it tonight as the chairs were pushed back and the fans “congregated” at the barrier. It was packed in the venue so at a guess some 600 fans joined in with this wonderful evening. The crowd seemed to be “more up for it” than last night. Hastings joked with the line “You are so much better than the people here last night!”. The massed voices seemed louder, most of the crowd were up on their feet and a “mosh” pit opened up for the revved up classics played tonight.
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The set was packed with old ones, favourite ones, forgotten about ones and yes a new one! My favourites/highlights included Down In The Tube Station At Midnight with a massive audience participation choir, That’s Entertainment, Eton Rifles and of course the big hitting numbers Start! In The City and David Watts. With much exultant air punching and dancing from the satisfied audience, The heat and humidity in St Peters went through the roof with the set closers: Town Called Malice and Going Underground.
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Tucked in there was a beautiful song, from the new album, “Lula”. We were treated to a real dig into the back catalogue with a couple of covers. This is pure quality! The humour from Russel, Bruce and Andy was super as the banter flowed and stories and memories of the past were related to us. A brilliant moment as Russell’s son, guitar tech etc, was called on stage to deliver some new dry towels.
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
It had been a wonderful experience to share time with these guys again. It was a privilege to be there for both nights. Nights I will not forget for a long time. The expectant crowd weren’t disappointed as Foxton & Hastings returned to Brighton for two special nights.
From The Jam played for about 90 minutes, and I can confirm that they did not waste a single minute of it!
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
From The Jam have recently posted:
“We are now on the right road both of us health wise and physically back in the room really looking forward to the autumn dates on The Beat Surrender Tour”.
But, from me, thank you for the last two nights! The set was Jam packed! Well played From The Jam, now That’s Entertainment! See you hopefully in December!
From The Jam: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
From The Jam are on the WWW here!
New Release info: Visit https://foxtonandhastings.tmstor.es/
Chris Pope
Chris Pope: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Striking a chord
Support again for this evening again was provided by Chris Pope of The Chords, now known as The Chords UK. The Chords were a 1970s British pop music group, commonly associated with the 1970s mod revival, who had several hits in their homeland, before the decline of the trend brought about their break-up. They were one of the more successful groups to emerge during the revival, and they re-formed with the four original members for a UK tour during 2010. Tonight Chris Pope was back as a guest of From The Jam for a second night.
Chris Pope: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
“Chris Pope is the best songwriter of his generation” – Paul Weller
Tonight Chris set about to prove the praise from Paul Weller as correct. Tonight Chris seemed a little more chilled as he stepped out clutching his acoustic guitar. I had last met up with Chris when he visited Brighton with Chords UK back in 2019 for a storming set with Department S.
Chris Pope: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
St Peters Church was set to be an intimate surrounding with great acoustics, Chris was here to chat and play a mix of Chords classics and solo material in a set of two special gigs.
Chris set about his set with no fuss, no extras, just him and his plugged in acoustic guitar. He smiled out and fired up Listen To The Radio. A cracking good song, top lyrics and a damned catchy chorus, he then played Now It’s Gone to take us back in time.
Chris Pope: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
I loved what Chris did with his set and performance. Mutiny On The Thames is another class tune, “there will always be an England”. This is a quality well written tune released as a solo single, but is easily as good as the tunes released with The Chords, Chords UK.
Chris proved himself on this solo outing, combining past and present into what proved to be two solid killer live performances over the two nights.
Chris Pope: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Back to close the set with The British Way Of Life and then finishing with another classic Maybe Tomorrow. Both nights saw Chris receive a massive round of applause from the people lucky enough to see him play.
Top performance again from the “Chord”, it’s nice to see he is still performing as a solo artist or with Chords UK. I managed a quick chat and to say “hi” quickly when he had finished.
Chris Pope: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Indeed, I believe he will be back with Chords UK for a full show as part of the exhibition on Sat 27 August 2022 at St Peters Church. Grab your tix for this all dayer HERE.
You can get more info and sounds from here!
And Finally
Thanks to Russell Hastings
Thanks to From The Jam
Thanks to Chris Pope
and the brilliant Joe from AGMP, thank you!
And fellow photo taker and friend Derek D’Souza
Thanks to the brilliant team at St Peters and all the security team.
Thanks to everyone there who made it a night to remember.
Words and Pictures: Ian Bourn
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