A mild Wednesday evening saw The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion pull into town to deliver their brand of righteous rock n' roll and raise the temperature several notches.

The evenings entertainment was kicked off by Sleater Kinney, who had already begun their set as your correspondent arrived. Entering the hall, it was striking to see the lack of stage presence these three ladies possessed. Described as the future of rock by people with no ears, Sleater Kinney were competent enough, but offered nothing that hasn't been done much better before by bands like L7 and Babes in Toyland. Disappointing.

"Ah do not play no blues..."

The Blues Explosion are an incredible live band. Full stop. They have produced a string of fine albums over the years. From the raucous rock n' roll n' blues energy of "Extra Width" to the more refined, dub heavy experimental grooves of the latest "Acme". However, drop these three hombres onto a stage and they opt for firepower over subtlety, with a Ramones like onslaught of all their best tunes, one after another, with barely a pause for breath, or for one of Mr Spencer's sermons.

"ah do not play no blues. Ah play rock n' roll!"

It is Spencer himself who is the livewire focus of the band's output, and he throws himself into it like it's his last day on earth. He is the man, throwing the coolest shapes whether hunched over his amp, perched on the monitors or sprawling on the floor. Russel Simmins and Judah Bauer keep things going, driving the band along and Spencer rides on top of it all. They rampage through countless songs in the hour and a half set, with highlights coming in the old skool stomp of "Afro" and the hurtling "2Kindsa Love"

To sum up...

"The blues is number one!" (9)

Get converted
The official matador records JSBX page OR The Jon Spencer Web Explosion

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