So I think someone must have read my last blog about Jet Heeled Striker as my one complaint I made was that I couldn't buy their CD and take their songs home with me. Since then I've had to make do with logging onto myspace pretty much every time my laptop is switched on so I could listen to them. Now I don't have to, as I have my very own shiny copy of their first CD. Thank you guys! (I like to think it was done purely to keep me happy... please don't burst my bubble!)
I was looking forward to tonight, if a little apprehensive, were they going to be as good as I remembered them being last time? Had I talked them up a bit in my own head? Would my friend enjoy them as much as I told him he would? I'm very happy to report that the answers to these questions are yes, no and yes!
Adam's voice was struggling a bit in places as he was fighting off a cold, but the other guys stepped in and supported him when needed. It didn't do anything to dampen the gig though. If anything it showed how cohesive they are as a band that they could do this without looking like they were carrying him, or losing something of the quality of their sound in the process.
The venue was packed, and although people were there to not just watch Jet Heeled Striker, as I was looking around the audience were paying attention, were dancing, smiling, and looking like they were enjoying what they were hearing. In my opinion, that's what really counts. Friends of the band will always be there, and are loyal to the end, but it's the strangers that really matter. They've got no loyalty to the band, they could have disappeared to the bar or out for a fag break. But they didn't, and that talks volumes.
For me, my favourite song is still Generation X, and the very wierd thing was that I found myself singing along in my head. It felt very odd, usually when I'm at a gig and can sing along, it's a famous band - not a little known group from Southampton that my friend sings in. Odd, but wicked!
So now I'm home, and I've had a chance to listen to the CD I can report that yes, they do transfer very well from stage to CD. I figure you can make pretty much any shit song sound good when sung live. It's in the cold light of day (or dim light in my lounge at one in the morning) that is when you can hear it without the trimmings of atmosphere - you get to really hear it properly. I loved it. I love their music live, and I love their music on my CD player. And I promise, given the title of my blog, I am telling the truth.
