FROM THE JAM

& HUGH CORNWELL

February 9, 2008;The Blender Theater at Gramercy; NYC

When singer/guitarist Paul Weller broke up The Jam, one of the most successful bands to emerge out of the original UK punk scene, in 1982 around the height of their career, the rest of the band – bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler – were left in a tailspin. Foxton started and aborted a solo career and eventually joined Stiff Little Fingers and Buckler played in other bands but neither ever fully matched the success they found in The Jam. Now, back together as From The Jam, they’re playing their old band’s best songs without Weller and working on new material. Currently on their first tour of the states, they have legendary singer/guitarist Hugh Cornwell, formerly of The Stranglers, on the road with them as their opening act. Unfortunately for Hugh, no one seemed to know that he was on the bill. He didn’t get mentioned in press and his name was absent from the marquee. Ouch! Somebody fucked up somewhere. At least the audience at this sold-out show was going to get a great surprise when they found out he was playing.

This is Cornwell’s guitar.

And this is the man himself in a portrait of the artist as a saint. His halo is a styrofoam plate but it’ll have to do as a real one might not be forthcoming. Cornwell, after all, titled his 2006 autobiography “A Multitude of Sins” and, back in the day, the Stranglers were truly badass and more than a little dangerous.

Debbie Harry of Blondie came backstage to hang with Hugh.

Blondie drummer Clem Burke was around too.

Patron saints of rock ‘n’ roll. Hugh Cornwell and Jimi Hendrix, or at least a mural of him appearing inside The Blender Theater at Gramercy.

This is Hugh’s drummer, Chris. He used to play in one of the two bands called Gene Loves Jezebel.

And this is Hugh’s moody bassist, Caroline Campbell.

Hugh and his band onstage. They played a lot of Stranglers classics in addition to Hugh solo songs.

Caroline handled the basslines of The Stranglers material they covered really well which is no small feat as The Stranglers had one of the most distinctive-sounding bassists of all time in JJ Burnel.

Hugh, standing in the spotlight.

He put on a great concert.

Having Cornwell and From The Jam on the same bill made for a great package.

Bruce Foxton of From The Jam

Rick Buckler, drummer of From The Jam.

Singer and guitarist Russell Hastings was a perfect choice for the band in the absence of Paul Weller. It’s been commented upon quite a bit that he sounds a bit like Weller.

Bruce onstage…

And above it. Foxton was the one to watch during the band’s set. The musician with the most stage presence and the most energy, his original Jam status wasn’t the only reason why he was the focal point of From The Jam. He rocked.

Rick Buckler, shaved head aside, hasn’t changed much from his days in The Jam.

Second guitarist and keyboard player Dave Moore mostly loomed in the background, not drawing much attention to himself.

Hastings does justice to The Jam material. The crowd of diehard Jam fans seemed to accept him from the get-go.

Foxton going for it.

Foxton was great in Stiff Little Fingers but really stand out a whole lot more in From The Jam.

The audience loved them.

REALLY loved them.

No one seemed to be disappointed by this reunion and this photographer did not hear a single person say that they missed Weller’s involvement. It was a fantastic concert and the band emitted a very positive vibe that the audience responded to and gave back to them.

They did a three-song encore, met up in the center of the stage….

Took a bow…

And gave a big thumbs-up to a stage invader with a camera on the drum riser.

These are the songs that they played.