It's become my 'thing' to quote lyrics or names of songs as my titles to my blog entries. The title of this one isn't a complete quote because, ironically (given the subject matter!) I don't know the actual quote. It's from a new song by Jet Heeled Striker which was played as part of tonights set at Hamptons in Southampton. Given that this is my third review of seeing them play, I guess I can now call it one of my 'things' - writing about how they were when I see them live. So here goes....
Tonights review is starting with me telling the truth about me and music. It's quite a sad admission (sad stupid, not sad upsetting) that when I hear music live that just feels right and touches something inside me in a way I can't really explain in words, I have what I can only describe as a chemical reaction to it that makes me cry. It's my belief that I cry because the music gets to me and for that space in time everything else falls away and it's like the music is in sync with my soul. The first time I remember it happening was when my parents first played me The Doors. I didn't love it instantly, I thought it was okay if not a bit loud and bangy - but I was only about 7 at the time. I did well up though and I felt an immenseness from it that I couldn't and can't explain. I do remember that day moment like it was yesterday though. Now, I'm not comparing Jet Heeled Striker to The Doors - as much as I love JHS, even I can't justify that comparison just yet. But tonight I did cry though. It was during a song which previously I've enjoyed but wouldn't class as one of my favourites, for that matter I don't even know it's name. It was a love song. Not a gushy blah blah love song, but one written for and about the disaffected Generation X that we are a part of. It was not a rock ballad, I can only describe it as being what it was. Which is one of the things I love about this band; they're not one thing or another, they're them.
Tonight I took with me two friends who are a little older than people I've previously gone with, and who are both well into their music. I was keen to know what their take on JHS was. On one of our many fag breaks of the evening, I voiced my concern to one of them that although I try to be objective about Jet Heeled Striker and how good their music is, that I can't ever really get that objectivity. She was very quick to assure me that they were indeed in her words "pretty awesome" and individual. She took a real shine to Generation X, and was more excited when she realised she could listen to it again on the way home on my i-pod! She then made me promise to take her along next time they were playing as she would love to see them again.
One of the things I've mentioned in both previous reviews is how cohesive they are as a unit. This really came through again tonight, they play like a band rather than five individuals who happen to be playing the same song. They are not dominated by one member more than the others, you can hear Adams beautiful voice clearly but he does not hog the lime light, there are plenty of times throughout when the deep pulse of the base guitar becomes the focal point, or some time is given to a drum solo. But it doesn't feel like it's a show-casing either, or an orchestration but together purely to make sure everyone is noticed. It is there because these guys are intelligent enough to create songs that they are all a part of. As I said, they're a band in the truest sense and it's working.
I'm ending this blog with a thank you: Thank you Jet Heeled Striker for making me cry. That's the best reaction I can give to music, and it comes totally from my soul.
