Jacobites 12 Bar Club 30/03/06

Thursday, March 30, 2006

12 Bar Blues


12 Bar Club - Jacobites - 30/03/06
I really thought it'd be a rubbish gig without Nikki and that it'd be pretty maudlin, like the gathering outside the Dakota after John Lennon's death, or candle-lit vigil after Kurt Cobain's death. I had intended to go, show my face and head home early. Though I was shocked and numbed by the news, I didn't want to be a part of a mass, Diana-like, grief demonstration. Oddly I even imagined local TV news turning up to intrude.

Dave Kusworth was wondering around in his patented Birmingham glam fashion; mixing trainers and polka-dotted shirt and bandana. There was Paul Caton in spotted tie, striped shirt and black cardigan looked like he'd dashed down straight from the office (I wondered if Paul might actually work as a broker in the City, like Heartbreaker star - Walter Lure - I love that kinda duality). Darrell was dressed for rock'n'roll business in his charcoal coloured pin-stripe suit.

They took to the stage. The tiny venue was filled with the heart-warming sounds of a tri-acoustic guitar assault. The sound of a warm full-body bear hug from an old friend - Dave on a battered 'blonde' Martin, Darrell twiddling with his slide, Paul on the lead riff.- 'Big Store'- From the opening strums I knew it was going to be great - Then they moved quickly into 'Pin Your Heart to Me' and I think the whole place was shouting the chorus - it was glorious - other songs - 'Kings and Queens' , 'Shame for the Angels', 'Fortune and Fame', 'New York City' - T REX - 'Silver Street ' - 'It'll All End Up In Tears' - 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory' - segued into 'Lonely Planet Boy' - 'Debris' - Ronnie Lane/Faces (sung by Darrell).
Returning for covers -, '1st Cut Is The Deepest', 'Where Do You Go To My Lovely' - according to Nikki Dave's favourite song!? As ever over too soon.

Nikki's voice, so entrenched in my head on some of those songs, was sadly missing. His sartorial elegance, his aristocratic demeanour - missing. All we had was a Nikki poster on the stage to look to when we expect Nikki's voice to come in.

Jacobites' songs are classics. Nikki and Dave are as important as Jagger/ Richards and Lennon/ McCartney. But as they have always been more reachable, more closer to home they are probably loved more.

I bet Nikki's up there getting St Peter to tailor a suit for him.

Mike