As the band walk onto the stage, the crowd literally detonates with passion and desire. They jump immediately into new and current JJ72 website soundtrack song, ‘Heat’, the sound explodes from the stage like a sonic bulldozer, mowing down the first few rows. The song sounds good online, but the live version is electrifying, Mark’s vocals send a genuine shiver up the spine. As it draws to an end, Mark lets out a scream: “WE’RE BACK!” It’s been too long, mate.

New bass player Sarah Fox’s backing vocals work wonderfully well, helping to fill out the sound. She’s not just the new babe in the band (and what a babe she is) but her bass playing is spot on, evening handling E-bow duties on guitar for one song. She even stops to take her own photos of the crowd between songs. The often unmentioned Fergal is a great drummer, a strong musical dynamic between himself and Mark; his drums rolls accentuate and compliment Mark’s expressive guitar playing. 

The band are a tight unit. It’s hard to believe, that this is just really a warm-up tour and one of a few shows the group has played in the last year and half whilst they crafted their forthcoming album.

Their enthusiasm is so incredibly infectious, they wear smiles so big, you think they’ve got the winning lottery numbers. Mark stops in between songs to give the crowd his own round of applause, his genuine appreciation is clearly evident as well as extremely refreshing, (especially in the present cynical and disposable rock music scene). 

Five years on and on their third album, JJ72 are considered old timers, which makes them even more relevant, but why? Because they just keep getting better, they’ve stood the test of time and are still producing incredible and credible new music, with more feeling and emotion than many “hot new bands”.

The band mixes new gems, ‘She’s Gone’ and ‘Someday’, which go down a treat, along with classics, like ‘October Swimmer’, ‘Undercover Angel’, ‘Oxyge’n and ‘Snow’.

This is a band, in their prime, with a new member and an exciting new album, and most importantly the ability, will and desire to make their mark. Just watch them claw their way back.

(5/5)