JJ72 - 93 Feet East, London, 18/5/2005

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 13 / 5 / 2005

intro

Back after a two and a half year break and with a new bassist, Anthony Strutt watches Irish indie guitar trio JJ72 play an explosive set of old abd new songs at London's 93 Feet East

The Irish 3 piece JJ72 return at last after a two and a half year break. In that time they have lost their original bassist, Hilary Woods, and have replaced her with Gemma Fox, a sexy rock chick that rocks hard and is easily at home with the original members, vocalist and guitarist Mark Greaney and drummer Fergal Matthews. They have also brought in for live purposes a keyboard player. The band are currently six gigs into their first tour in two and a half years, and it is clear that they are hungry. Outside the small venue which only holds 250, touts are having a bad time. No one is selling their spare tickets and no one is buying either. The band come on just before 9.30 p.m. and over the next hour or so deliver 17 songs each of equal beauty, the majority from their first two albums,'JJ72' and 'I to Sky', but also a few numbers from their forthcoming third album which is due out in the summer. The venue is beyond full. It very much feels like a fan club gig and nobody goes home disappointed. The mosh pit explodes for 'October Swimmer', which comes four songs into the set and again for 'Oxygen', the main set closer. Marc Greaney even does a number on acoustic guitar and it feels like magic is being spread through the speakers which blast our heads off. A fine performance, a very grateful audience, and one of Ireland's best ever bands also.

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