From The Jam - Sydney - March 10 2024

More nostalgia, this time from a couple of years before my previous upload. May 1977 and The Jam’s ‘In the City’ is the third (or maybe fourth … after The Damned, The Clash and maybe The Stranglers) punk album I buy. All bought totally unheard and unknown. It’s easy to forget now just how revolutionary those early punk albums were to the stale music scene at the end of the ‘70s, and while it was happening on the other side of the world, I was soon swept up in it. I had the privilege of seeing those other three bands back in their heyday, but sadly, The Jam never toured Australia.
From The Jam finally gave me the opportunity to hear their songs live. I don’t care whether or not they’re ‘just a cover band’. They sounded bloody great, and for much of the time, I couldn’t tell the difference. Russell Hastings’ vocals effortlessly matched those of Paul Weller, and Mike Randon was outstanding on drums. And of course, Bruce Foxton’s presence made them much more than ‘just’ any old tribute band.
The venue was packed. Most of us had been hoping to have seen them in 2022 when they were scheduled to play a much bigger venue. Unfortunately, that tour was cancelled due to health problems. This visit was a special effort to make up for that cancellation and to say their goodbyes. A total of 18 songs were played of which I recorded ten:
Saturday's Kids (00:16)
Heat Wave (04:21)
Lula (07:42)
English Rose (11:37)
All Mod Cons (13:40)
To Be Someone (Didn't We Have a Nice Time) (14:56)
Beat Surrender (17:22)
The Eton Rifles (21:11)
Going Underground (26:55)
In the City (30:47)
A really terrific performance with a few poignant words of goodbye from Russell and Bruce at the end. And for me, what better way to go out than with the title track of their first album, taking me right back to my introduction to punk.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

From The Jam website: www.fromthejamofficial.com Facebook: facebook.com/FromTheJam/ Instagram: instagram.com/fromthejam1/?hl=en

[@garyfaulkner1480]

Foxton a legend..

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Definitely. So good to see him at last.

[@cmoretonek4081]

A great band playing great songs. Long may it continue ❤

[@kevinfitzsimons41]

Excellent performance and a bloody good drummer too capable of lovely harmonies as well.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Yes, it was a great night. So glad I got to see them. I thought he was a terrific drummer, although there have been some comments here saying otherwise. I think some people thrive on being negative.

[@michael5089]

Brilliant upload. I love their song Lula❤❤👍🎸🎸🎸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Thanks. I deliberately included 'Lula' so it wouldn't all be The Jam material. These guys are first rate musicians which I think is sometimes overlooked, dismissing them as just another tribute band. Thanks for commenting.

[@tonyh6951]

Tremendous. Thank you.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@rockboxpolska]

Dobry ten nowy frontman 👍😎

[@achtung001]

Merci

[@kevinfitzsimons41]

Wouldn’t Lula have made an outstanding Jam song on The Gift??? Would have been an opportunity too for Weller to take a lead vocal on a Bruce song because it sounds like it would really suit Weller’s voice

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

It's a terrific song. Very glad they played it and that I recorded it.

[@dmitriyvinokurov9790]

Крутой трибьют-трек The Who! Best wishes from Russia!

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Love The Who.

[@blairmcquarrie6070]

Bruce does not look as if he wants to be there. Either he is ill, or is tired of the charade. If he wasn't there, it really would be nothing but a tribute band (even if it is a particularly good one).

[@adamblackshaw9151]

2 bass players?

[@howardspice7150]

Is it me or does Bruce look unwell?

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

I think (hope) he was just a little tired. It had been a full on schedule up to this point. They did have the next day off in Sydney. Hopefully, Bruce and the rest of the band were able to recharge.

[@Neontrifle]

I saw them in the UK shortly after this and as soon as Bruce came on I said to my wife that this is the last time we'll see him playing, he looked ill, shattered and frail, on previous tours I've been to he was still doing the iconic jumps, it was a bit sad..

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

@@Neontrifle Sad to hear. I'm so glad they gave us this farewell tour after the previous one had been cancelled. Having never seen them before I have nothing to compare this performance to, but they still sounded great. Stay well Bruce and Russell.

[@yewchewb67]

Wots the guy at the back with the bass all about?

[@christopherdennett4309]

He has covered when Bruce was unwell in the past maybe just there as back up incase.

[@Fractalite]

Yea wow never seen anything like that before - hes singing harmonies too.. I can see Bruce losing his place on the bass occasionally . Hard to play at the pace of an 18 year old when your 65 .

[@troytempest290]

I was thinking the same thing about Blondie.

[@IanT-xt1zm]

Bruce does not look well. Shame, superstar.

[@brett.altEIGHTies]

Not the Jam

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Obviously not The Jam. What's your point?

[@leighgabriel6824]

It's kinda in the title, FROM The Jam! Plus, how very dare you, Bruce Foxton is there.

[@brett.altEIGHTies]

@@leighgabriel6824 In my opinion No Weller No Jam, simple as that really. I am a massive fan of the band but these guys (even with Bruce Foxton in the lineup) look and sound like a tribute band. If you enjoy it then good luck to you - enjoy.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

@@brett.altEIGHTies Your negativity is greatly appreciated. Not sure why you even bothered to look at the video.

[@newsnownorthampton]

Can anyone tell me why there is a guy with base guitar stood at the back ,when Foxton is playing base

[@TheConduit10]

Bruce really could have carved out a better career from himself as a session musician , he really could of , chose the lazy option .

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Perhaps he chose to do what he loves rather than a "better career".

[@TheConduit10]

@@Peter_LiveMusic Learning more about his instrument ? becoming a better musician by learning other genre's ? instead of banging out old Weller songs , Even Weller would have thought the same as me , I don't think even he would have predicted Bruce would have just given up and been so lazy.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

@@TheConduit10 No one is making you listen to From The Jam. If you don't like it, go and find something "better" to do. But I can assure you that everyone at this gig had a great time. It sold out six months in advance and could have easily been double in size. For whatever reason, The Jam never made it to Australia. Many fans here are very grateful that Bruce and the rest of From The Jam have given us the opportunity to experience the next best thing during their tours down under. "Instead of banging out old Weller songs" - sounds to me as if you don't even like the originals. Why is it you think anyone wants to read your putdowns?

[@TheConduit10]

@@Peter_LiveMusic Sorry mate , loved The Jam , even , occasionally , still have them on , ( normally when I'm raging about something ) Just as a Bass player myself , would have liked to have seen where Bruce could have taken it , he's not a bad Bass player , Your right ! From The Jam is not for me , at all ! But I.m not putting them down , Good luck to them and all their fans - cheers.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

@@TheConduit10 OK, cool. I get lots of comments from people putting down what musicians from 70s and 80s bands are now doing. It gets real tiring. The musicians have moved on. Fans need to either move on with them or let them be. The music we loved is still there. Be thankful they gave us that. A lot of the music I now listen to is decades old. It'd be nice if we could go back and see it live again. I'm even slowly coming to terms with tribute bands (which I used to think were largely rubbish). Good luck with your bass playing. Enjoy The Jam.

[@philhippe5585]

Too bad Rick left, this drummer isn't up to the task.

[@richirichjam]

Sad to see Bruce having to continue to pay Russels mortgage, hes obviously struggling on this tour, he deserves better.