James Oliver Band
22nd February 26 – The Old Bush Inn, Callow End
With both bands coming from Blackwood in Wales, it must have been difficult for the Manic Street Preachers to forge a career in music, in the shadow of the mercurial James Oliver Band.
Justifiably, there was little standing room in the gregarious Old Bush Inn on this particular school night, shoulder to shoulder in fact, due to the crowd’s expectation of this singular band.
Tear it Up was the vertical take-off for the night’s musical entertainment. Mean Little Mama saw the band cruising at altitude. And perennial crowd favourite Rocking Your Life Away saw aerobatics on the blond telecaster fret board. JOB are truly a Rollicking and Rolling band but it is not all about the conspicuous guitar work of James Oliver…
Mark Kemlo, with his left-handed traditional grip provoked his angled snare drum, chatty top-hat cymbals chimed with his pedal work, with the blur of his matched right hand in nuanced cahoots – truly the band’s rhythm Master General.
As a master of the segue, Oliver informed “…this is the instrumental section, so if you know the words please do sing along.” The self-penned Missing Link inspired spontaneous head-bobbing, Miserlou added a sense of musical drama and the lugubrious version of Albatross supplied a sweet melancholia the Manics would have appreciated.
For me personally, the band’s inherent humour and flagrant irreverence gild the gigs like the golden foil wrapped around a Ferrero Rocher chocolate.
Amongst others, Inter-song discussion points included, James Oliver avoiding the draft should we go to war- due to his flat feet. Admittance he was too fat for the airline’s seats for the mid-week Dublin trip – even before the extra maltesers. Confessing the band was saving up for a trip to Turkey – for much needed dental work. Before offering an open invite to key Mr. Kemlo’s new car…
Venerable bassist Norman Watt-Roy joined in by offering to “dispose of any unwanted drugs in the room”, without even wanting a fee.
Considering this was a “free” gig the familiarity of Roxette and All through the City ensured a priceless reaction from the appreciative and wistful audience. An audience who, Oliver assured, “would be dead by the time he was their age.”
Much respected for his role with Wilco Johnson and the Blockheads etc, Norman Watt-Roy was the focus of persistent camera phones and pre and post gig attention. Befittingly, the birthday boy was agreeable and garrulous to all who approached. Of course, his creative basslines added more than a little Bombay spice to proceedings, with his jeweller’s fingers defying time and arthritis. Tidy.
Once again a manic night with the James Oliver Band live, even though, in the street before the gig Oliver had confided the band had endured an awful week of excess travel and illness. However, at the risk of appearing preachy…if you have a dragon on your country’s flag, a genuine passion for music, then Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg!
By: The Swilgate Scuttler