Jackson

There are too many bands. When you get all the bands fighting for gigs in the same venues, sometimes a new and genuinely exciting band will miss out because they can’t pull in the punters, or whatever other reason. Then there’s the problem that people don’t know which bands to go and see – hence the lack of punters at many of these gigs. So it’s no surprise that it takes a ‘supergroup’ (members of Foo Fighters/Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, Face To Face and Saves The Day), quite clearly riding off the back of success of their more well-known groups as is always the case, to get some kids along to a sweaty Barfly.

And I asked myself, ‘Why the fuck does this band exist?’ I mean, it’s not as if it’s even the interesting one from the consistently overrated Foo Fighters in this band! It’s not like they have a single new idea or interesting angle to add to the over-exposed punkpop Book of Rules!

So I’m standing at the back with my Joey from ‘Friends’ thinking-face on, and watching the people at the front being spoon-fed this glut of useless and uninspired vanity-rock, and wonder if the people here have already heard this band or are just curious to see what these bunch of Americans have got up their sleeve for their first UK gig. And for the most part, it’s clearly the latter, and it’s also highly likely that these are the people who wouldn’t normally be found at a venue like this checking out other unknown bands.

Don’t waste your time on this forgettable bunch of donkey droppings. There’s no need for Jackson to exist. “This is our first time in London,” says Chris. Well, let’s hope it’s their last, eh?

I grab a beer and go downstairs, with a sudden urge to listen to Bowling For Soup.