Swindon Music

Load in was easy enough, despite me getting earlier and earlier to the venue, the bands are getting earlier too. Ten to 6, and BAM Dave is already mic'ing up the kit, I join in and we conspire to get in each others way.

Seeming as im being paid to do the job, I banish him to the sound booth - where he comments "you don't like me watching you" to which I quipped - "it's like my dad keeping an eye on me..."

Turns out TJJM has a bit of history to them. Jim himself has decades of hard slog behind him, their roadie was in Ten Benson, guitarist brother to one Bath Orton, and drummer was in Creation's Heav y Stereo. With calibure like that, you know your infor either a really anal sound check or a really laid back one.

Thankfully the latter came true - Jim helpfully told me how to mix the sound he wanted in the prep, and also warned me they were going to be loud.

I spent a good 20 mins on the drums, getting everything just so, before moving on to the "in your face" guitars and Piano. He basically directed me from front of house, in the nicest possible of ways, so I was nothing more than monkey to his grinder. Easy peasy and they went away happy - very important in my experience - that the band is happy.

For the first time I had to orchestrate a drum change at the 12 Bar - and after pushing TJJR drums back - it didn't leave much for John E Vistic - nether the less, despite a surprisingly large guitar rig, and double keyboard rack - they still found space to actually perform.

Their sound check was propbably the quickest i've ever done. And I've done Kunt And The Gang. Clearly we got it nailed in the TJJR check, and little was needed bar some monitor tweeking.

Doors open at 8, and on the stroke of 8.30 the band stepped up to play, JEV are from Bristol and hadn't played Swindon before - apparently their drummer had in a previous band. So I wasn't surprised to see the crowd slowly move into place over the course of their set - What I was surprised to see was the reaction they got - considering (im rather assuming) no one had seen them before, they went down rather well, with some dancing down the front.

I'll have a bash at their sound - "Swampy Blues Rock" anyone? I spose if I had to nail a band i'd say similar to "K" era Kula Shaker, all hammonds, keys and riffs. I say that in strictly the best possible of ways (and I liked Kula Shaker anyway...)

How ever TJJR was what we all paid £6 for. Their smart costume change took me by surprise, as I didn't recognise them from the sound check - and they walked on to some hoots and holla's, and launched into their first song - it was lovely and loud and free of an ounce of feedback, which made for the perfect introduction to the band.

Jim is a born performer, that or he has learnt it over the course of over 20 years of performing - either way, he kept giving and giving, leaping about like a man possesed on that small stage - and it was twice the size than JEV had!

I expected they would get a more enthuastic responce, but the crowd participation on some of the songs lacked conviction, that said, it didn't dampen the mood and both band and audience were left suitably impressed.