Gig review: JAWBONE – 02 Islington Academy, London, 12 September 2018

JAWBONE – 02 Islington Acadamy, London, 12 September 2018

And so to Jawbone, a new roots rock band with some familiar faces.

Jawbone isn’t so much a case of old wine in new bottles, as a thoughtful and musically excellent quartet exploring a new significant context for their collective creativity

More specifically, the band is built round the nascent songwriting partnership of pianist and vocalist Paddy Milner and guitarist/vocalist Marcus Bonfanti, who are backed by an intuitive rhythm section of drummer Evan Jenkins and bassist Rex Horan who also adds superb bv’s.

JAWBONE – 02 Islington Acadamy, London, 12 September 2018

Harmonies play a big part in the band’s repertoire. They offer plenty of musical variety, interesting arrangements and engaging narratives that fit comfortably under the Americana label, though that doesn’t preclude them from exploring several locked-in moments tonight.

They open with ‘Leave No Traces’, arguably the best track on their self titled debut album. It’s carried by a New Orleans influenced stuttering rhythm and features a clever change of focus on vocals. Paddy sings the opening verse, before Marcus’s adds a contrasting baritone. They head for a call and response section and three part harmonies on a catchy hook.

JAWBONE – 02 Islington Acadamy, London, 12 September 2018

It’s the perfect calling card and sets a high standard for the rest of the night. And if the band is still finding it’s feet, the new songs resonate quickly.

There’s the piano driven and funky feel of ‘What You Deserve’, which is underpinned by Rex Horan’s sumptuous bass line and that is followed by ‘When Your Gun Is Loaded’, which owes much to The Band.

The latter influence rears its head later in the set with a celebratory ‘Rag Mama Rag’ which is the point when the audience finally eschews its reserve and starts dancing.

Bonfanti’s weathered vocal is well suited to the band’s rootsy style and Jawbone positively revels in an acapella breakdown as the tambourine playing Paddy moves centre stage to lead the crowd into a sing-along.

The band further reveals it’s musical influences with a rather obvious cover of Little Feat’s ‘Willin’, which given Bonfanti’s (slimmer) resemblance to Lowell George is eerie.

In truth, it’s a rather obvious Little Feat cover when there’s such a big catalogue to choose from, a point highlighted by the bigger impact of Steve Stills’s ‘Love The One Your With’, which brings surprised whoops from the tightly pressed crowd.

JAWBONE – 02 Islington Acadamy, London, 12 September 2018

‘Sit Round The Table’ is a good re-entry point for their own material, as the set rebuilds on the back of a heartfelt ballad with impressive harmonies and a great lyrical bent: “when we’re sat round the table, time stands still, let’s share our troubles like we share the bills.”

The quality of the song and tonight’s impressive harmonies make this band more than just a enthusiastic diversion.

There’s a subtle balance at play from the interchangeable vocals, to the fluid interplay and subtle solos that colour the material and emphasize different moods and feels.

JAWBONE – 02 Islington Acadamy, London, 12 September 2018

And if as someone noted, the covers show that they have a way to go with their own material, there’s enough lyrical substance and musical twist and turns on show tonight to satisfy most palettes.

As they slip into the deep groove of ‘Two Billion Heartbearts’, with Milner on organ and Bonfanti’s earthy phrasing bringing to life the lyrics of another resonant hook with rich harmonies, you can almost feel the project growing and taking shape in front of us.

JAWBONE – 02 Islington Acadamy, London, 12 September 2018

Jawbone may be a work in progress, but apart from the need for better presentation, they make a significant splash as a brand new song-driven roots rock band of the highest order.

Review by Pete Feenstra
Photos Maggie Rogers (1/2/4/5/& 6) and Pete Feenstra (3)


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply