By Nicki Newton

 

MADAME JOJO’S, SOHO, 2ND SEPT 2010 

 

Madame Jojo’s in Soho was the setting last night for London’s very own, Jim Jones Revue’s, ‘Burning Your House Down,’ launch party, their new album produced by The Bad Seeds and Grinderman drummer, Jim Sclavunos.

 

‘Burning Your House Down,’ promises to be just as good as their previous albums, ‘The Jim Jones Revue,’ and their compilation, ‘Here To Save Your Soul.’ My partner and I stumbled across them when they were playing live in HMV, Oxford Street a few months ago. We were on the way to another album launch party. That day they just blew us away, so we bought the album they were promoting and just had to go and see them again. Their songs stick in your head for days afterwards, their impact still hasn’t left me.

 

They won’t only burn your house down, they’ll blow it away, they’ll smash it into little pieces and still leave you wanting to party in it.  Every kick ass tune belted out in the good name of rock and roll, garage rock, punk rock and every other influence the band ever held dear, like The Stooges, The Sonics and Johnny Thunders, to name but a few.

 

They describe themselves as a car crash between MC5 and Little Richard, which is altogether an honest description. I’m sure both would have enjoyed listening to the Jim Jones Revue. They have taken all that was energised and sexy about rock ‘n’ roll, cajoled and squeezed it dry, added their own twist to it and the result is new and outstanding. If you haven’t heard them yet, you are seriously missing out. They’re the most exciting band to come out of London since The Clash!

 

Madame Jojo’s is a great venue and the place was rocking, the word must have spread on the celebrity grapevine too because Liam Gallagher, members of The Bad Seeds, Grinderman and Radio 1 DJ Mark Lamarr were there to see them too. By the end of Dishonest John, their first track from the new album. Jim had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. They were dancing, cheering and singing along. The atmosphere was electric.

 

I was pleased to hear that the second song, their new single, ‘High Horse,’ sounded just like their video release. There was absolutely nothing lacking in their live performance. They just got better as the night unfolded, ending with their awesome 2009 single, ‘Princess and The Frog.’  [ Playing in the background, Ed ]

 

The ‘Revue, were formed in 2007 on a mission to strip rock n’ roll right back to the bone. Founding members Jim Jones, who was former front man of Thee Hypnotics’ and Black Moses and their manager and guitarist Rupert Orton, who has a Brit award winning sister Beth, got together and then enlisted Gavin Jay on bass and ex Heavy Stereo drummer Nick Jones. Elliot Mortimer joined them on the piano and they were complete.

 

Jim Jones’ doesn’t waste any time in front of an audience. He wants to bring something new to the world and everyone in it, he furiously belts out their songs like a battering ram and you know he has a wealth of experience and you know he means business.

 

When Elliot Mortimer plays the keys he’s like a whirlwind on speed. I get the feeling that if he could jump up and play with his toes to get even more music out of his keyboard, he would. He plays rock ‘n’ roll with punk rock attack. It’s a good job he repairs pianos as I’m sure he must have done serious damage to many a keyboard.  

The boys are currently off on tour in USA and Europe and will be back in the UK in October. They left me wanting more and I can’t wait to see them again. The Jim Jones Revue have successfully managed to bring 1950’s music into the 21st Century and it sounds like the future.

 

The album Burning Your House Down is due for release on 6th September .

 

 

Nicki

Check out The Jim Jones Revue  RIGHT HERE