Picking your Battles
Jack J Hutchinson (with Slyder Smith) – Bannermans, Edinburgh, 1st May 2024
Jack J Hutchinson (with Slyder Smith) – Bannermans, Edinburgh, 1st May 2024
Midweek gig goers in Edinburgh were treated to a cracker of a show at one of the town’s most popular venues, Bannermans, when Jack J Hutchinson and his band came into town touring his latest album Battles.
Prior to Jack J (guitars, lead vocals) Phil Wilson (drums) and Charlie Rachael Kay (bass) hitting the stage, the Bannermans crowd were warmed up by a not unfamiliar face on the circuit, Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids (a noticeable change to their usual line-up was having Brian Kerr (PowderKeg) on bass, doing a damn fine job in place of Tim Emery).
Some may know Slyder Smith as part of the Last Great Dreamers but here, fronting his own band and promoting his own wares (including the ‘Dreamers glam-punk number 'Crash Landing in Teenage Heaven,' which also features on the Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids 2022 debut album Charm Offensive), the trio had quite the vibe going and a sound that wouldn’t have been out of place on stage with Tyla and the Dogs D'Amour, as heard with their self-titled calling card, 'Oblivion Kids.'
Prior to Jack J (guitars, lead vocals) Phil Wilson (drums) and Charlie Rachael Kay (bass) hitting the stage, the Bannermans crowd were warmed up by a not unfamiliar face on the circuit, Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids (a noticeable change to their usual line-up was having Brian Kerr (PowderKeg) on bass, doing a damn fine job in place of Tim Emery).
Some may know Slyder Smith as part of the Last Great Dreamers but here, fronting his own band and promoting his own wares (including the ‘Dreamers glam-punk number 'Crash Landing in Teenage Heaven,' which also features on the Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids 2022 debut album Charm Offensive), the trio had quite the vibe going and a sound that wouldn’t have been out of place on stage with Tyla and the Dogs D'Amour, as heard with their self-titled calling card, 'Oblivion Kids.'
If that’s your gritty glamour jam (and it is certainly this reviewer’s) then you should definitely check Slyder & the Oblivion Kids out, if you have not already done so – you’ll also get a chance to sing-along to the band’s cover/ interpretation of 'Never Ending Story' (not something you would necessarily expect at a rock gig, but a surprising & welcome addition), which can also be found on Charm Offensive.
Following The Oblivion Kids set Jack J Hutchinson and band hit the stage running with punchy, lyrical life-lesson number 'Don't Let The F***ers Get You Down,' from the feisty and forceful new album, Battles.
As an opening statement it certainly let the crowd know Jack J and his colleagues were here to rock the place, further underlined by 'Constellations,' which kicks off the Battles album in high-powered, high-driving fashion (and no less impacting here, with a powerful vocal and an opportunity for Hutchinson to flex his shredding muscles).
Between showcasing songs from Battles and a handful of earlier riff-based nuggets, Jack J treated the crowd to a number of tour stories, including one where he somehow ended up in a Disneyland hotel for the night (prompting Charlie Rachael Kay on bass to deliver a little snippet of a song from Aladdin).
As expected, and quite rightly, given how good (and new) the album is, the set list mostly consisted of songs from Battles.
But it was great to also hear a number of riff-tastic gems from previous Jack J releases, including 'The Hammer Falls' from the 2022 album of that name, which made a great argument against those that say, or feel, the new album has a heavier sound than previous offerings.
In hard rocking reality however, that’s probably true, but as 'The Hammer Falls' and most other numbers performed underlined, Jack J has always had that solid, riff-led, heavy rock sound in the mix, complemented by a hard-blues underbelly.
But he can also deliver downtempo contrast, as heard to fine effect on the reflective and highly contemporary 'Love Is The Law.' That the song also included a couple of tasty little melodic solos, the second extended to include a flurry of fast fingerwork as the song neared its conclusion, helped put itself forward as a highlight of the entire show.
Following The Oblivion Kids set Jack J Hutchinson and band hit the stage running with punchy, lyrical life-lesson number 'Don't Let The F***ers Get You Down,' from the feisty and forceful new album, Battles.
As an opening statement it certainly let the crowd know Jack J and his colleagues were here to rock the place, further underlined by 'Constellations,' which kicks off the Battles album in high-powered, high-driving fashion (and no less impacting here, with a powerful vocal and an opportunity for Hutchinson to flex his shredding muscles).
Between showcasing songs from Battles and a handful of earlier riff-based nuggets, Jack J treated the crowd to a number of tour stories, including one where he somehow ended up in a Disneyland hotel for the night (prompting Charlie Rachael Kay on bass to deliver a little snippet of a song from Aladdin).
As expected, and quite rightly, given how good (and new) the album is, the set list mostly consisted of songs from Battles.
But it was great to also hear a number of riff-tastic gems from previous Jack J releases, including 'The Hammer Falls' from the 2022 album of that name, which made a great argument against those that say, or feel, the new album has a heavier sound than previous offerings.
In hard rocking reality however, that’s probably true, but as 'The Hammer Falls' and most other numbers performed underlined, Jack J has always had that solid, riff-led, heavy rock sound in the mix, complemented by a hard-blues underbelly.
But he can also deliver downtempo contrast, as heard to fine effect on the reflective and highly contemporary 'Love Is The Law.' That the song also included a couple of tasty little melodic solos, the second extended to include a flurry of fast fingerwork as the song neared its conclusion, helped put itself forward as a highlight of the entire show.
The conclusion of the gig saw Jack J bring out his treasured double-neck guitar for final song, the brooding and brilliant 'Call of the Wild,' from the aforementioned Hammer Falls album.
It made for a great end to an outstanding gig.
Jack J Hutchinson and his band are a power-trio (in every sense) who are capable of lifting the roof off any venue.
From first note to last the Bannermans crowd were hooked, fully locked in and made to feel a part of what was being delivered on stage (visiting the bar is never an option for fear of missing any of Hutchinson’s hi-energy music, and set).
In short, Jack J picks his Battles on the unpredictable field of the club touring circuit, and emerges rock-victorious.
John McIntyre
FabricationsHQ
Photos & video by John McIntyre/ Shutter Time Photography/ Stage Time Promotions
Jack J Hutchinson summer/ autumn/ winter tour dates:
29 June – Wildfire Festival, Wanlockhead
28 September – NWOCR Livefest 3, Wolverhampton
1 October – Night and Day, Manchester
2 October – The Black Heart, London
3 October – The Louisiana, Bristol
4 October – The Patriot, Crumlin
5 October – Torquay Rock and Blues Festival
12 October – Voodoo, Belfast
26 October – Rockin’ By The River, Saltash
27 October – The Muse, Brecon
8 November – Whitby Rocks Festival
It made for a great end to an outstanding gig.
Jack J Hutchinson and his band are a power-trio (in every sense) who are capable of lifting the roof off any venue.
From first note to last the Bannermans crowd were hooked, fully locked in and made to feel a part of what was being delivered on stage (visiting the bar is never an option for fear of missing any of Hutchinson’s hi-energy music, and set).
In short, Jack J picks his Battles on the unpredictable field of the club touring circuit, and emerges rock-victorious.
John McIntyre
FabricationsHQ
Photos & video by John McIntyre/ Shutter Time Photography/ Stage Time Promotions
Jack J Hutchinson summer/ autumn/ winter tour dates:
29 June – Wildfire Festival, Wanlockhead
28 September – NWOCR Livefest 3, Wolverhampton
1 October – Night and Day, Manchester
2 October – The Black Heart, London
3 October – The Louisiana, Bristol
4 October – The Patriot, Crumlin
5 October – Torquay Rock and Blues Festival
12 October – Voodoo, Belfast
26 October – Rockin’ By The River, Saltash
27 October – The Muse, Brecon
8 November – Whitby Rocks Festival