4/6/2022 A Gig for JB

A night of mixed feelings. I never got to know JB that well, but he always greeted me like a long-lost brother. If you go to loads of gigs you tend to see the same people at a lot of them - you obviously have similar tastes in music, and you end up making new friends. There is a certain crowd of people I see regularly at the more rock 'n' roll gigs - the 'usual suspects'. JB was part of that crowd - if I go to any gig at venues like the Dublin Castle or Hope & Anchor then I'm bound to bump into some of them. Music is a great way to bring people together - you find yourself mixing with people who are already on the same wavelength as yourself. JB was everybody's favourite Frenchman - the warmest hearted bloke I've ever met, but was sadly taken from us late last year. His death was totally unexpected and a great shock to all - especially his partner Katrin.

JB had a massive love for blues and rock 'n' roll music - especially in it's rawest and most basic old school form. And the legendary Hope & Anchor was one of the places he loved to see his favourite rock 'n' roll bands. So it seems very appropriate that his friends at Runnin' Blue promotions chose this as the venue for this tribute show. It seems especially fitting to me personally as the last time I met JB was at this very place only about three weeks before his death. And one of the bands he loved that was playing that night is also on the bill tonight, but more of them later...

Opening the show tonight is Swampstomper - fronted by JB's great friend Paul Brightman.

This powerful punk 'n' roll band have been away for some time, but hopefully we will be seeing them more regularly again soon.

Their sound is tight, punchy, and tuneful. The band they remind me of most strongly are the much missed Yo-Yo's founded by ex-Wildhearts bassist Danny McCormack.

This must have been a difficult and emotional show for Paul to play as a tribute to his late friend JB but hopefully it has helped him get some closure....

Next up is another of JB's favourite bands - a good example of what I call a proper rock 'n' roll band. It's not just the sound or the look - like with Motörhead or the Ramones, it's the spirit with which you play it. You can't be taught it - you either have it or you don't. There are loads of technically really good guitarists out there who have had hundreds of lessons and practiced endlessly, but still can't play rock 'n' roll convincingly - they just don't 'get it'. These guys get it.

It's The Electric Shakes, and they have some significance to me personally as they were unknown to me previously when I saw them at the Dublin Castle in October last year. I thought they were really great. JB was there - little did either of us know it was the last time we would ever meet. Around 3 weeks later he was gone.

I mentioned Motörhead and The Ramones. The Electric Shakes sound like neither, but I'm sure both were an influence. Those bands didn't sound like traditional old school rock 'n' roll combos, but there were rock 'n' roll - they understood what it was about. Some people can play rock & roll perfectly - in tune and in perfect time - all the right notes in all the right places, but it's still not rock 'n' roll. Because rock 'n' roll is an attitude, and if you don't have the attitude it's still not rock & roll no matter how perfectly you play it. These guys know this. JB knew this.

True rock 'n' roll is a celebration...

...of life...

...and tonight it's a celebration of JB's life.

The final band tonight is another particular favourite of JB's - The Witchdoktors. Again, this is an outfit I consider a proper rock 'n' roll band.

The music is very 1950's/60's sounding, but with a more modern punky edge. This is how rock 'n' roll is meant to be played - and you can't learn this from having lots of guitar/bass/drum lessons.

Like tonight's previous bands - it's all about the attitude. Not how LOUD you are or how fast you can play - anyone can do that. Well nearly anyone. As I said earlier - it's about the spirit with which you play this music. And if the spirit of JB was here tonight I'm sure he would have loved all three bands.

Runnin' Blue promotions and all the bands really did JB proud tonight - well done to all involved for putting on such a great event.