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ReviewsYou are in: Suffolk > Entertainment > Music > Reviews > A Gift for Jam fans  Rick Buckler at The Railway A Gift for Jam fansBy Andrew Woodger Timed nicely to coincide with the BBC2 Paul Weller: Into Tomorrow documentary, the former drummer of The Jam, Rick Buckler, played a set of Jam classics at The Railway in Ipswich. A glorified tribute band? Who cares?! Paul Weller's refusal to acknowledge the existence of his two former Jam bandmates Buckler and Foxton is well documented, so it raised a wry smile with me that The Gift kicked-off their set with one of the few Jam songs not written by their former leader - Ray Davies' "David Watts".  Top Of The Pops, 1980 With tickets for The Railway costing £12 in advance I wondered how many people would turn up for 'only-the-drummer'. I needn't have had any doubts - around 150 now-balding Jam devotees came to reminisce and they weren't let down. Speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk before the gig, Mr Buckler insisted this wasn't a tribute band, Rick pointing out that Paul Weller also plays old Jam songs and he doesn't have to justify it. That said, Weller doesn't play a whole set of Jam songs as part of a three-piece. BBC Radio Suffolk's Stephen Foster talks to the former Jam drummer: Help playing audio/video  The Gift But what a tribute! The hits and more flowed fast and furious and with such energy that it really didn't matter who was playing them. They still stand up as great songs and there's a feeling that "the other two" were so hard done by with the split of The Jam that Rick's entitled to have some fun and make a bit of money by flogging a horse that felt very much alive. "Tube Station", "Eton Rifles", "Going Underground", "Modern World", "Thick As Thieves", "Butterfly Collector" ... guitarist/singer Russell Harty and bassist Dave Moore complemented Rick with energy and passion. I never saw The Jam live, but many in The Railway who had did were nodding their approval and singing along to most of the set. Given that the photos of Weller and Foxton leaping in the air in their prime have become iconic, it's hard to think of The Gift as the real deal - but the songs rise above it and you do occasionally forget it isn't The Jam.  DLT auditions to replace Weller? Rick hung around at the end of the gig to sign copies of The Gift's CD of Jam songs and to let fans have their picture taken with him. How many drummers could claim to be held in such affection 24 years after the end of their only real stab at musical stardom? last updated: 23/04/2008 at 13:57 Have Your SayThe Gift - to be cherished or sent back? CALLEN [The Voice] Steve bj hollingsworth roy course Matteo Sedazzari Ray & Andrea (ipswich Railway) Karen M.Battersby Will Johnson SEE ALSOYou are in: Suffolk > Entertainment > Music > Reviews > A Gift for Jam fans   |
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