Janice Graham Band

Straight out of Manchester, an area that hasn’t really been associated with the cutting edge of the local music scene since its post-punk days, come the Janice Graham Band.

The Mancunian quartet is comprised of Joe Jones (lead vocals/bass), Andy Morton (guitar), Josh Hunt (trumpet and backing vocals) and Tom Scott (drums and backing vocals) - average age a mere 21 but looking even younger! A true garage band, the lads had known each other for years. Soon, endless jamming in a South Manchester garage ensued, where they not only formed but rehearsed and played their first gigs in late 2008.

The band’s musical style is a steaming hot concoction infused with funk, soul, garage-rock, jazz and above all, two-tone ska. Yet, they serve up this brew as something that is utterly unique, though one must wonder how musicians as young as JGB can display such an understanding of root music that originated back in the 60’s and 70s.
The recipe has paid off though, for the band have just performed at this year’s Isle Of Wight festival and supported the likes of Madness and Kid British in front of 5000 people at the Hull Arena. Speaking of, perhaps it’s no coincidence that JGB frontman Joe Jones resembles a very young version of former Madness frontman Suggs.

Little wonder then that with so much hype oozing from the shaker, JGB’s recent London gig at The Borderline was met with anticipation. The lads didn’t disappoint – whipping up a set bursting with raw energy.
Opener ‘Robbery’ blew into action with funk ‘n’ jazz sound heavily dominated by Josh Hunt’s trumpet, only to drift into an almost slow-mo reggae beat underlined with cool bass licks. Although highly energetic, this was not exactly a straightforward number to groove to, what’s with the song’s constant break in rhythm and speed (a characteristic that seems to prevail in most of the band’s songs).

This was followed by ‘Swallow Swords’, ‘No Money Honey’ and the fabulous ‘Easy’ – a very cool and steady flowing reggae-funk-dub number that worked particularly well thanks to its more simplistic arrangement and consequently more memorable tune.
‘Front Door’ was another example of the band’s precision playing and impeccable timing, with Joe Jones equally confident on main vox as well as on bass – manipulating the crowd to move to the beat.

Next came ‘Murder’ which is also the first single release from the band’s upcoming album. It was easy to see/hear why this particular track about a sociopath is such a hot-to-trot track: heavy on two-tone ska and rocksteady, it utterly electrified with its punch-in-the-face attitude and had everyone dancing like the Duracell bunny. Out of the lot, it was the most commercial sounding (if the word ‘commercial’ can be applied to JGB at all…).

The general vibe stayed that way with ‘You Can Dance’ – a blend of ska and dub that was spiked with lengthy instrumentals - and continued with ‘Carnival’, a musical oddball rather chaotic in structure and almost drowned by a wicked, percussion-driven rhythm.
There was a glisten of perspiration visible on the band’s faces and the audience began to feel hot from all that dancing too, yet, the set had to come to an end. Not before an encore though, to help stretch the general party vibe for a few minutes longer.
‘Assassiner’ (the B-side to ‘Murder’) is equally dark in theme, though the sound was more electro-dub. Once again it smacked of attitude and that’s exactly what the currently rather stale music industry needs to re-discover and appreciate: bands like the Janice Graham Band who won’t conform but instead kick butt!

© Pic by Sam Atkinson