The Beat Surrender

I was invited to this gig through one of the band members who I happen to work with. As it turns out, on the night there were several of my colleagues there. It was weird going to a gig surrounded by loads of folk from work, but it was okay, I managed not to make an arse out of myself – well, I kept my pants on and my opinions to myself, anyway, so I can’t complain.

Jon Jones & The Beatniks Movement are a local four piece specialising in ‘garage punk’ according to the flyers. I worry whenever I see the word ‘punk’ these days, I think I’ve ranted on about this in one of my previous reviews about how “when I were a lad” punk meant something totally different to these days where any band with a ‘Something About Mary’ hairstyle reckons on to be a punk band. They’re all image and no substance; some of them even getting on kid’s telly, rather than being banned for shocking the nation with their attitudes and swearing. Fortunately, Jon Jones & The Beatniks Movement were nothing like these new pretenders, playing fast, loud guitar music without resorting to cheese or girliness.

While I’m here, I’ve got to mention the bass player’s footwear – he had on some incredibly long pointy boots; like my mate Ian said at the time “Look at them shoes! He should be down Morecambe Bay looking for cockles with them on”. It’s only a narrow stage at The Love Apple as well, he could have had someone’s eye out. Aside from these health and safety issues, the band had a good solid rhythm section with nice bass lines running throughout. It was a fine effort from their drummer, who played more than just the basics.

A mild criticism would be that the sound levels needed looking at either on The Love Apple’s desk or with the band’s set up; it was difficult to hear the solo guitarist from where we were.

The vocalist (Jon Jones perchance?), who also played guitar, was quite a natty dresser himself. Vocally, he had that punk twang to his voice which reminded me a bit of Jello Biafra of The Dead Kennedy’s. He was a decent singer, not stumbling over the words despite the pace of the songs. In fact the whole band was good, although this was only a short set, so I don’t know if they could keep up the energy levels with longer on stage. They’ve since played a gig at the new club in Bradford, The Gasworks, and I intend to catch them again when I next get the opportunity.

They were followed by a second band, The Bam Bam Francs, who were more electronic in their approach, and less punk, it has to be said. Special mention has to be made of the red faced drummer who worked her socks off and the vocalist who, while not my cup of tea, was interesting to watch as he was one of those guys who twists himself into each song while performing – like a musical corkscrew. I’m out of room, so I’ll have to review these guys another time.

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