Review: Jettblack – Rescue Rooms – 12 February 2015

‘If you like Pina Colada’… you’ll love these guys

All I’ll start off by saying is, what a night! Set in rescue rooms on a chilly February evening. This was a last minute move but a well-chosen one as it made for a more intimate and unceremonious gig. A small but bustling crowd had gathered together, building up a friendly level of anticipation for the show to come.

The power trio LTNT (or Lieutenant) set the tone and warmed the crowd up for action. Their rock grunge/alternative hard rock sound worked well in offering a familiar but welcome start to the night. You might think these guys are simply newcomers to the scene, but this show demonstrated they had a wealth of talent and could perform with an intense stage presence. You can easily see LTNT moving up the list and holding their own on the tour circuit in the future.

Then it was time for the main act, JETTBLACK. In the crowd there was a mixed crowd of new, young enthusiasts and older, more experienced veterans. With bags dropped on the floor and coats wrapped around waists, the audience were ready to rock. The lights went out, the rainy sound effects started and lights flashed, like a thunderstorm, and the show begun. There was a vibrant atmosphere with an 80’s feel; a modern Motley Crüe. With a mix of white ‘glam’ rock guitars and plain black T-shirts and jeans said a lot about the mix of styles this band presented. But the mix worked.

What wasn’t mixed was the music. If I were to describe their sound, I’d say it is similar to that of some of the greats; with the vocal reach of Iron Maiden, the rock feel much like Velvet Revolver, and the fast pace similar to Airborne. But it’s not fair to compare Jettblack to others, as they do offer a unique sound all of their own. They presented a hard, energetic set that kept the crowd buzzing throughout, playing a variety of old and new tracks, which provided for lots of head banging, screaming and shouting

However, time flies when you’re having fun. This night was a great exemplar of this, as time had vanished and 10pm curfew was suddenly upon us. As the band finished their set on a high, the crowd chants for Jettblack died down and the closing music faded it was clear: a great night and a lot of fun was had by all.

Review and pictures by Chris Marsh