Joe Jackson “Sing, You Sinners Tour,” St David's Hall, Cardiff 02/08/2022

Two years can be an eternity when the anticipation is so great waiting for the incredibly talented Joe Jackson and band to make a rare Cardiff appearance and It certainly proved well worth the frustrating wait.
Quite simply it was a jaw-dropping performance by The Man, who mesmerised a good sized crowd with songs both old and new in a quite stunning set, played at the highest level. accompanied by his talented band of musicians, one of whom, bassist Graham Maby, has been a stalwart alongside Jackson for most of his considerable career.

It was a rather Beatlesque intro reminiscent to the opening of Sgt Pepper's with a tune-up/tuneless opening breaking swiftly into 'One More Time' from Jackson's 1979 debut album Look Sharp, followed by the excellent 'Big Black Cloud' from his last recording Fool, a lost gem of an album.
New-ish songs like 'Fabulously Absolute' and 'Dave' slotted in effortlessly amongst the big Jackson hits with a deliciously acapella version of 'Is She Going Out With Him' (with just the bass for accompaniment) and 'Different For Girls'.

There was a break mid-set with Jackson alone at the keyboard. Jackson said that he gets to play one cover song from a band or artist that influenced him during a set and this time it was Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi', played in the style of a New Orleans pianist much like his hero's Dr John and Professor Longhair.

It was becoming a superlative evening with driving high-tempo versions of 'Sunday Papers', 'I'm The Man' and a curiously stylish 'Steppin Out' and frantic 'Fool'

Whilst there was no doubting who the boss was, there's no denying that the powerful and incredibly talented band that is Ted Kumpel, guitar, Doug Yowell, drums, and the aforementioned Graham Maby, bass, certainly played their part in an evening to remember for a long while...until the next time'

SETLIST

One More Time

Big Black Cloud

Sunday Papers

Dave

Look Sharp!

Fabulously Absolute

Solo (So Low)

Real Men

Big Yellow Taxi

(Joni Mitchell cover)

Kings of the City

Blaze of Glory

Fool

Sing You Sinners

(Tony Bennett cover)

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

It's Different for Girls

I'm the Man

Encore:

You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)

Steppin' Out

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Review - Level 42 - St David's Hall, Cardiff

Arguably the best bass guitarist on the planet, Mark King was again in the Welsh capital to thrash out the hits of Level 42.

A regular to the City with his household funky-jazz band that hit the early 80s and 90s is still got the notes both in voice and that trademark bass sound.

The high energy evening was set by Johnny Hates Jazz, who went down a storm with the audience that were looking for a good night out, and yes most of the guys had grey hair.

And for a 35 minute set a near full crowd were ready and waiting for the main act to arrive to take the evening to the next level.

The theme of sirens, sounds with blue/white flashing lights were taken up a couple of notches as King and his 6 piece band were ready to rock the hall.

The more classics tunes came towards the end third of the gig, Something about you, To be with you again, Lessons in Love, It’s Over, The Sun goes down, The Chinese Way, Hot Water and Running in the family     

With 6 top ten hits under their belts King belted them out admitting that he was tired during his 1hr 40 stint/, ‘I’m knackered, I’ve been doing this for the last 40 years,’ he joked. 

But as long as King keeps producing this magical 80s production and tempo he can go on for another 40 years.   

By Mark Bloom