Street Voice UK

Due to illness I almost forgot about this show! 5 months in and out of hospital and then to catch the flu and be hospitalised again has been hard on the body!

After rushing from work I quickly got showered and changed then it was off to the train station where for once there were no delays!

Once in Birmingham I headed off to The Fox and Missing for a couple of drinks and to see Meghan a friend before making the cold and damp journey into Digbeth!

Entering a pub in Digbeth I bumped into a staff member from Missing who was going to the same show. after a few minutes of chat I realised I remembered Hilli from the eighties as she went out with a friend.

How mad is that?

I made the short walk to the Crossing where I was very surprised to find a very cool venue which I fell in love with!

Never had a drink as they didn’t stock one of the few alcoholic drinks I consume these days!

After a natter it was time for the support act to hit the stage!

From the moment Block 33 hit the stage I was blown away with their Mod Revival sound fused with the energy of Punk Rock.

For thirty minutes my mind was taken away from all the health issues I had as this band delivered the goods!

I’d seen a couple of videos on-line a couple of years back but never got around to checking them out!

Huge error of judgement in my case!

From the set they delivered last night has me checking out for releases to purchase!

Yes!

Block 33 were that good!

After more chatting the time had arrived for Bruce Foxton and co to hit the stage and they did it in style!

I didn’t think I’d see Mr Foxton play again so was delighted to see him back on bass duties even if it’s for one last throw at the dice!

It was great hearing The Jam songs played again with Bruce Foxton being the main focus and I for one lapped it up!

Hearing songs like In The City, Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, The Eton Rifles, David Watts and Mr Clean really took me back in time to where I was just a youngster living a care free life!

Hearing All Around The World was epic as Bruce hadn’t played that live since the seventies. Not forgetting In The Midnight Hour either! A great song very rarely played live!

Ok so the vocalist messed up a few of the words here and there but it didn’t matter as the audience were taken back in time even if it was just for a hour!

As for the band its made up of the original drummer from Big Country, the keyboardist from Secret Affair and I can’t quite picture who the guitarist played for – Good though he was!

I like many left the venue happy and if you get the chance to get to see one or more of the gigs on this tour then you’ll have a lot of fun!

The sound was great last night and Bruce Foxton despite being very emotional at one point was very appreciative of everyone coming along!

Thanks to Bruce Foxton’s manager for sorting this out for me and thanks to the promote for allowing me to take in the camera!

Words / Photos: Kathleen Riot