25/5/2011 St Jude @ Islington Bar Academy

Subject	St Jude @ Islington Bar Academy
DateCreated	6/3/2011 2:41:00 PM
	Wow - I'm going to a gig that isn't at Nambucca for a change, although I'd prefer it if it was there rather than Islington Bar Academy with it's overpriced bar and poor selection of beverages.  A bunch of us get round this by going to the ajacent Wetherspoons/Lloyds Bar instead where the beers are around half the price and of far better quality than you'd expect for the money - a decent selection of real ales too.  Having avoided spending any money at the venue's bar we pile in just as St Jude have started their set. The place is packed - this band seem to have built up a strong (mostly middle aged) following in a short time. It seems to be largely the sort of crowd you'd find watching a band in your local pub rather than at a normal rock gig - which makes you wonder if this sort of music can only ever appeal to a very narrow section of music fans. It can only help that the band have been playlisted on Planet Rock recently, but then again that station's listeners are also mostly middle aged. You can't fault the quality of the musicianship - this band is tight and they have a good retro sound. If you like the way the Quireboys sound these days then you'll probably like this lot too as they sound very similar apart from having a girl singer. The way the guitars groove reminds me of the Black Crowes as well. Lynne Jackaman's voice is often compared to Janis Joplin, but I think her voice is less of a rasp - not exactly a female version of Spike from the Quireboys. The Faces are another band that springs to mind on hearing St Jude, especially as this band has covered the old soul classic 'I'm Losing You' as also covered by The Faces - indeed Ronnie Wood got up and played this song with St Jude at the 100 Club not so long ago. After over an hour of sweaty rock 'n' soul - naturally including 'Soul On Fire' as heard quite a bit on the radio this year, the inevitable curfew at this venue kicks in.  We all head off back to the pub - again without spending any money at the venue's bar. This is getting to be a habit at Academy venues.  I manage to get the trains right and get home quite quickly - a good Wednesday night out! I'll have to remember to get to the High Voltage Festival early to catch St Jude opening the main stage.