Gig review: JACK J. HUTCHINSON – 02 Academy 2, Islington, London, 8 February 2024

February 15th, 2024 by andynathan

Going somewhat under the radar, except for those in the know, Jack J Hutchinson has just put out his fourth album in the last few years, ‘Battles’, receiving a rave review from Jason Ritchie in the pages of GRTR! For a long time he’d only been vaguely in my consciousness- not least when at a pre- Covid Xmas gathering of the ‘London Gig Buddies’ Facebook group I belong to, he turned up, an actual bona fide rock star. I finally saw him perform at Firevolt festival last year and instantly became a confirmed fan.

This album launch show was originally a three band bill but Doomsday Outlaw, who were a big draw for me, sadly didn’t make it so I had to content myself with a solitary support in Skinny Knowledge. Their Facebook page describes them as alt-rock so my expectations were low but theirs was a tight and punchy sound, opening with ‘I Wanna (Rock n roll)’, then ‘Disobey’ which my gig partner suggested had a strong Foo Fighters vibe, not least in singer and frontman Andy L Smooth (sic) breaking into a harsher vocal bark.

Songs such as ‘Class A Dummy’, ‘Strike Out’ and ‘Goes Around Comes Around’ successfully straddled punk, hard rock and enjoying pop punk, with vigorous drummer Mike Rigler really enjoying himself. However ‘Home’ had a real melodic sensibility to it and, after the songs progressively became more adventurous, set closer ‘Keep Me Out of It’ boasted a genuinely catchy hook.

The band had a good, dynamic stage presence and are one to watch especially if you hark back to the glory days of the likes of Green Day, Offspring and even Blink-182.

Jack J Hutchinson now has a settled three piece band with Charlie Rachael Kay on bass and Phil Wilson on drums, forming a tight trio, in addition to adding backing vocals. His own voice is a pleasing one though was a little buried in the mix for the first few songs.

His cowboy hat and beard may suggest a blues rock hero, and yet the impression I formed last time that he is much more than that was confirmed. Though he loves to move away from his mic and pull classic guitar hero poses, his exemplary soloing on his trusty Les Paul tends to be brief and always serving the song as proved in openers ‘Constellations’ and ‘Days Are Gone’, the latter particularly impressive.

‘Running On Empty’ reminded me a little of the Eagles ‘Victim of Love’, and ‘Don’t Let the f**kers Get You Down’ had a harder edge, while ‘Love is the Law’ saw a longer solo with Jack bending the notes impressively.

As a launch for the album about to be released the next day, it naturally featured heavily, including the ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ cowboy vibe of ‘Road to Hell’, written like much of the new album together with fellow middle initial lover Josiah J. Manning. A relative oldie in ‘Hip Slickin’ had a Skynyrd feel in the verses and ‘Written in Stone’ featured a great solo.

When he did a slower song, ‘Stay With Me’ was not so much a blues but a melodic ballad which also impressed. The set closed with the title track from previous album ‘The Hammer Falls’ with a classic, but naggingly familiar riff, before a heavier new song ‘Rip It Up’ to end.

My only gripe was at just an hour, the gig left me wanting more. However my favourable first impressions were certainly more than confirmed, and hopefully such a strong new album will raise the profile of a significant talent, albeit one who defies easy pigeonholing.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Album review (Battles, 2024)

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