24/3/2007 Junkster @ 12 Bar Club & Mamajamas @ Bull & Gate

Subject	Junkster @ 12 Bar Club & Mamajamas @ Bull & Gate
PostedDate	3/24/2007
	Mamajamas have been away for a while - several years in fact. Tonight they return for a one off gig at one of their old stamping grounds the Bull & Gate. They played a lot of gigs first time round - including some excellent shows at the Barfly. Then things seemed to peter out.  The brothers in the band Andy (vox guitar) and Nick (bass) both got married and as is often the case the band's days seemed numbered. Or maybe they just burned out? Anyway, they managed to get a self released 'singles/best of' album done - then they went off the radar... Until last year when they suddenly popped up for a one off gig in the Archway area before vanishing again. Now here they are again, so maybe gigs will now be an annual event to blow their cobwebs away? Andy apologises for the band's lack of activity by saying "We're married now!". Although they play well tonight, they are certainly not at their best - due mainly I think to their new drummer who I'm told afterwards had only rehearsed with the band for an hour. And it showed. I got the impression he certainly wasn't in the same class as the band's previous drummer the mighty John Merino - songs like 'Squeeze It Til I break It' certainly didn't have the same sharp punch they they used to have... In a surprising recent development, a record company has picked up on their album after hearing it by chance at a party - the result being that they have given the album a proper release. Maybe some more gigs to support and promote it would have been a good idea? Anyway, they put on a spirited show of lively pop/punk in Kentish Town tonight to a modest but keen crowd.  Then they disappeared off into the night - maybe not to be seen again for another year? They were followed tonight by an odd indyish band called The Moon. They had an interesting and lively frontman, but apart from that I didn't really like the noise they made.  When they launched into a rather gutless version of the Stooges classic 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' I knew it was time to leave. Anyway, I already had somewhere else to go... I arrived at the 12 Bar Club to see Junkster. I was expecting them to be good as they were terrific when I saw them play the same venue a year or so ago. They certainly didn't disappoint this time either!  Their punk fuelled Wildhearts, Therapy? and Green Day influenced set was excellent. This is a band who, unlike most other current bands doing the same thing realise the importance of actually having good tunes - and they've got plenty of them. Their performance is spot on too - none of the lazy sloppyness of many 'punk' bands - this is a tight and powerful unit. Most bands in this scene don't seem to realise that if you actually play really tightly your music has a lot more impact. Enthusiasm counts for a lot, but if your songs aren't that great in the first place then you aren't going to impress many people. Although they haven't actually played for a month Junkster are still really tight, and when you add their passion for their songs and the quality of the tunes themselves then you have an act that is a cut above most in their genre. Tonight Junkster did exactly what it said on bassist Neil's T-shirt - ROCK LIKE FUCK. I'm looking forward to seeing them do the same when they are back in London in May. Last band at the 12 Bar tonight was Jack Viper. Unfortunately, they didn't manage to drag themselves out of the Intrepid Fox just round the corner until so late that by the time they clambered onto the 12 Bar's tiny stage it was time for me to head off to catch the last tube...