Photo: Shirlaine Forrest
The fact that Wimbledon born and bred Jamie T released one of 2009’s most inspired albums seems to have slipped by almost unnoticed by many of those compiling the end of year lists that punctuate December. While first record ‘Panic Prevention’ found itself greeted with endless superlatives back in 2007, the follow-up ‘Kings And Queens’ hasn’t had anywhere near the amount of praise lavished on it despite the fact that in some quarters it represents a significant step forward for its creator both from a songwriting and musical perspective.
Indeed, the back end of 2009 was fraught with complications and mishaps for Jamie T, culminating in the cancellation of the majority of his world tour, and ultimately relegating him to the status of “forgotten man” in an instant. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to have cascaded itself onto the public – yet, at any rate. Anyone who witnessed his pre-‘Kings And Queens’ performance round the corner in the Rescue Rooms last June couldn’t have been anything other than suitably impressed, while even those mostly buoyed by their daily fix of daytime radio fodder must have had their ears stand to attention the first time ‘Sticks And Stones’ or ‘Chaka Demus’ were relayed over the airwaves, arguably his most potent 45s to date.
Tonight’s show is actually his biggest headline slot in the city thus far, and while the gaps around the sides of the venue suggest the cold January weather has maybe deterred a few of those that purchased tickets for the initial performance back in October from returning this evening, its still a far cry from the humble beginnings of his first appearance at the considerably smaller, homelier confines of The Social some three-and-a-half years previous. Backed by his band The Pacemakers, there’s no doubt the newer songs work better in this context, enriched by a fuller sound and offering a more straightforward rock’n’roll approach musically than the mainly stripped down musings of ‘Panic Prevention’, ‘368’ and ‘Spider’s Web’ in particular standing out from the rest.
As happens with a lot of artists making that step up from medium to large sized venue, a lot of casual fans hitch a ride on the way and the largely muted response for much of the newer material is while maybe to be expected, richly undeserved. The more familiar strains of ‘If You Got The Money’ and ‘Sheila’ are predictably lapped up vicariously as is fellow debut album staple ‘Operation’.
Although tonight could be classed as a victory of sorts, there’s still a nagging doubt as to whether Jamie T is ready to make the step up to playing venues of this capacity either now or in the future, as the lacklustre response to much of his non-single material suggests he’s forever going to be saddled with the label “niche artist”.
Jamie T live in 2010:
