A TRIBUTE TO MISSING THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION IN 2013: A Review of their Sydney show in January 2011

The THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION were recently here in Australia and sadly I missed the gig due to one reason or another. Having seen them about 5 times over the years, and mostly brilliant shows they are too, I was saddened to have missed them this time around so as a small tribute, here's a review I wrote last time they were here in 2011 when I did see them which was not published. And what a great gig it was!!

THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION

Becks Festival Bar
Wednesday 12 January 2011

 THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION hit the stage with a raucous intro which lasted  for several minutes and then ploughed into the Orange off kilter version. I thought it was the entire Orange (1994) album being played here tonight, 'and favourites' as is often done these years, but I couldn't pick some of the tunes tonight. I still loved the riotous aural mess of rock/ southern blues fucked up noise as only these three guys can make. It has structure and JON SPENCER'S howls thrown in make it so much more pleasurable for ears attuned to it that can't help but draw you in and leave you satisfied.

Orange was played three songs in then came Chicken Dog, off Now I Got Worry (1996). I wish I had a camera to capture this - my next investment. It was a cool site for the gig at the Hyde Park Barracks known as the Becks Bar for the Festival of Sydney. Its a giant canopy tent with no sides and there was a refreshing strong breeze, it was lit just right on a glorious night like tonight with these glorious sounds of JON SPENCER AND THE BLUES EXPLOSION bursting forth from the speakers and there on stage. Just a few less people and it would be sublimely perfection. Watching SPENCER in his vocal glory and guitar freak out - 'I think he might be a girls saucy dream now and then' I think to myself as I watch the gig unfold -, and JUDAH BAUER blowing in the wind mastering his guitar, while RUSSELL SIMMINS in back on drums keeping all this crazy noise on some sort of even keel moving forward. And all that without the theremin yet! And no bass in this place.

Next was She Said. They could do no wrong in my book. Then "Don't call me after 12 /That's when I'm laying in bed home with the wife/ I don't wanna be bothered nor in the morning either...” Blues X Man . Followed by Flavour ... its slow beat intro is mesmerising with the plodding sound with drums. SPENCER called for 'Yeahs' - Jon wasn't impressed with what the crowd responded with and says "It makes me feel like I'm back in New Zealand!" Subsequently the next 'YEAHS' from the surging audience got louder. He was thus pleased and on went the show. Right up next came the whacked out Bell Bottoms that has a back beat that would or could severely dislodge a bottle cap if you put your unopened beer within 20 feet of a speaker! Then a Jon Spencer guitar break that gets you in a tizzy. Then Bam! They were gone... The show had been over an hour but it felt like only minutes.

We were lucky... To much demand, stomping and hollerin', came an encore. The songs and jams I couldn't pick but in this atmosphere and the glorious EXPLOSIONS' noise... It was a heaven for many a folk present here tonight! Then came Magical Colours from their album Acme (1998) - not a fave of mine... but I was to have my mind changed tonight on this song. I thought 'It's a nice mellow number in a beautiful somehow disharmonious-but-harmonious repertoire' ...for just as they'd worn us out, this slow number tricks you, you feel as though though the beat that carries you is lowering you down into a metaphorical cool calm clear water with its soothing guitar tones and drums - it then changes to a chica-chica-chica hypnotic rhythm that builds, feeling like its winching you back up an ascending wall of noise until you get to the precipice! You are then pushed over and you feel as though falling down the winding whirring screeching drum bashing and guitar screeching feedback wall again... 'Wow!!!' I thought, left open mouthed. What a reinvention of a tune and giving me a new respect for this song, an even more heightened respect for this trio of muso's, and definitely encouraging me to give multiple more listens to this song.

Apparently, so I read, the JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION don't play together much anymore – but last year re-released some of their albums with other and demos, etc.- but now playing more in their other bands now - like SPENCERS' HEAVY TRASH, BAUERS' THE DIRTY DELTA BLUES BAND (a lot backing CAT POWER) or SIMMINS' MEN WITHOUT PANTS. I'll be definitely be there to see them if they do or their other bands play here in Sydney. Smiles. I'd encourage you to do the same! Sadly Brisbane missed out on their gig the next day due to floods...

 

 

THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION website

www.thejonspencerbluesexplosion.com/

 

 

THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION - Bellbottoms (from album "Orange")