Street Voice UK

After a mad rail replacement service and short train journey I finally arrived in Birmingham New Street where the first port of call was a local bar for a couple of drinks. Once the were poured down the hatch it was time to head to the venue. Only eight minutes walk from the station to the venue.

After a chat with Guy their PR / Merch man I headed off to watch the Purple Hearts. This was a band I missed first time round as I was too young so didn’t really know what to expect!

Opening up tonight were Essex based band The Purple Hearts a mod revival band formed in 1977. They were considered one of the best bands on the mod circuit and tonight I was going to find out just how good they were.

Kicking off the set the Purple Hearts steamed straight into I’ve Been Away from the 1980’s album Beat That and I knew this was going to be a blinding set!

The band were bang on but you have to give vocalist credit for really delivering the songs in style with Perfect World, Plane Crash, Urban Soul and Frustration. I can see why Ian Brown of The Stone Roses fame kinda modelled himself on this man.

I didn’t want this set to end as the Purple Hearts put their souls and hearts into this set and weren’t just there playing the motions. They really loved it and that was expressed to the audience. A band that were very appreciative of their followers.

If you’ve not seen the Purple Hearts I recommend you correct that.

Top set – Top band!

Come 9.15pm it was time for From The Jam to make an appearance and play the heart out of their third album All Mod Cons on its 45th anniversary and these guys didn’t disappoint!

Some may argue that these are just a tribute act but From The Jam are much more than that! At one point they had two thirds of the original Jam members in them. They still have Jam bassist and song writer Bruce Foxton in them which to me makes them an originals band!

Kicking off with All Mod Cons I knew then this band was top dollar and all credit to Russell Hastings on vocals / guitar who really makes the Jam’s songs his own! The energy and spirit coming from this guy is unreal and has to be one of the best front men in the UK music scene without a doubt!

Bruce Foxton looked cool as on bass and it was great to see him play again as the last time I saw him when he was playing for Stiff Little Fingers.

Tracks like To Be Some One (Didn’t We Have A Nice Time), Mr Clean and David Watts were a joy to hear again. Russell had to explain he had to use a different instrument for English Rose as his other guitar got lost / held in customs somewhere. Still he nailed the song!

Mike Randon was a powerhouse on drums. How he hit that kit was hard and Kept Bruce and Russell in time.

The audience lapped up hearing this album and really got going with ‘A’ Bomb In Wardour Street and everyone just exploded with the Down In The Tube Station At Midnight the closing number on All Mod Cons.

If that wasn’t enough the band carried on with other Jam favourites but the one number that grabbed my attention was their own song Lula which was a crowd pleaser for sure.

Soon it was time for me to leave for my train but as I left the band were still on stage playing more numbers that the audience were obviously enjoying!

A top night and many thanks to Guy Helliker for arranging it all.

Photos / Words: Kat Riot