Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong – Live, Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire, Friday 18th January 2008
Things have been a bit quiet here for the last couple of days because of a rather drunken stagger through the gigs of Edinburgh. I whinge about this place, but there’s some excellent stuff happening here in the next couple of months, with this weekend just the start.
As most of you know, Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong are something of an uber-buzz band at the moment, with everyone and their dog tipping them to make the big time with a bang this year. I was actually sent a demo copy of some of their stuff and I have to say I didn’t think it was bad. The next big thing though? Well how would I know, but I wasn’t convinced, honestly.
So why did I go and see them? Well why not. Gigs can be a bit thin on the ground around here, people reckon they’re great live and you never know – groups can sound drastically different on stage compared to on record. I thought it might be worth it, as much out of interest as anything else.
And you know what – they were pretty good. Joe Lean himself is a consummate skinny little rock ‘n’ roll frontman with plenty of onstage charisma. The songs, despite not playing my favourite, Sleazy Hughes, were all excellent and the crowd were bloody nuts for them. So I’ve definitely revised my opinion upwards, but to say I was blown away would be an overstatement.
Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong – Sleazy Hughes
Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong – I Ain’t Sure
Oh gawd!! I’m shimmying and shaking and pogoing and some scumbag named Hughes is touching my neck. Make it all stop – I NEED TO GO TO BED!!!
Catchy little number isn’t it? Actually quite a lot of their stuff was pretty infectious. I hadn’t remembered the tunes being that hummable. Touch of the early Razorlights about them though, which makes me mildly nervous.
Sorry. Got to disagree. I went to the gig for much the same reasons – I had low expectations and they failed to live up to them.
I searched online the next day to find out what the hype was about and your previous review was the most honest assesment I could find. Everyone else just seems to be blinded by the name and the cheekbones.
I know what you’re saying. I still don’t think they’re any more than pretty decent, and I wouldn’t spend money on the album. But it wasn’t a bad gig.
To be honest I think it often depends on the frame of mind in which you go to these things. I was feeling pretty open and cheerful and had a couple of pints down me. And I wasn’t expecting much.
“I was feeling pretty open and cheerful and had a couple of pints down me.”
Lesson learned: if ever I’m forced to go to a Barbra Streisand concert, I’ll make sure I first dose up on ecstasy chased down by fifteen pints of snakebite.
I don’t think that would cut it. Perhaps you could try sticking knitting needles in your ears first. Unfortunately that would leave you still able to see the dried up old trout. Perhaps decapitation would be most effective.
Of her.
I still can’t get past their name.
Aye. Appreciated. Just a little bit tossy, and no denying it.