by Rob Jones
Surreal to the real – and that is the appearance of Jah Wobble in Aberdare! Who would have thought that this revered legend would ever do a set in the core of the Welsh valleys? Not me or a number of others present! However, here we are and it is a massive credit to Jacs – which is a venue that is scoring some regal results with its ever expanding schedule of shows!
The former Public Image Limited legend visited RCT for an early Sunday evening show on the day that the clocks went back, so the crowd were looking for a boost. A 5 to 7pm slot had the bass master trek back to his PIL days and revive ‘Metal Box’ – which is without doubt one of the great post punk albums. Wobble fronts a five piece Invaders of the Heart group – including John Klein – a one time member of Siouxsie and the Banshees. The goal was to present the aforementioned 1979 masterpiece in its more recent ‘Rebuilt in Dub’ incarnation.
The main man was facing anatomical problems and he limped into the venue on a stick. He then spent most of the show trying to get comfortable on a stool while still being able to display his four string guitar mastery. The man a.k.a. John Wardle proved to be the ultimate trooper and he challenged pain in order to deliver a stellar performance as an entertainer, musician, orchestrator and raconteur.
The components of a stellar late 70’s release were given a remake in 2021 by the main man. A talented quintet brought to the stage the work of both three plus forty five years ago and these anthems were jettisoned on to another multi-faceted journey. This new package not only absorbs dub but takes on board just about every aural genre know to the human race. To list every style utilised would be impossible because even within the confines of any given minute we might experience three or four different approaches from the ultimate box of beats. There was many a jump from the mellow to the manic and an atmospheric change could occur within a split second. This is a sonic smorgasbord with the more obvious overtures of post punk and punk, but then think the various rocks of acid-hard-prog-punk-space plus add the options of dance, world music, film score, jazz in a number of its elements and a nod to classical ices the goods. Once again the aforementioned is a shortened list because there was so much more!
There were several numbers that retained their core and did not go out into the stratosphere and ‘No birds do Sing’ and ‘Bad Baby’ were delivered in formats closer to their original shapes and in an instrumental life form ‘Albatross’ retained its essence. However, ‘Public Image’ and ‘Fodderstompf’ (both pre Metal Box credits) arrived with the former in a more dub package before reverting to its more nascent sound. Others were fired out as a free form feast. ‘Poptones, ‘Careering’, ‘The Suit’, ‘Another’, ‘Socialist’, ‘Memories’ ‘Swan Lake’ (a.k.a. ‘Death Disco’) and ‘Graveyard’ (a.k.a. ‘Another’) were presented but in and around them were an array of other attractions including snippets of ‘I shot the Sheriff’ and a more noticeable ‘Midnight Cowboy’.
One and a half hours turned to two and well done Wobble for his spirit because he did say that due to his physical woe that the rest of the tour may be scrapped. However, he even stood for a bit to shows his percussive powers and also strike a few notes in the vertical position. The punters were joyous that he made it to Aberdare, played to his peak and enjoyed the show despite the discomfort – and it is best wishes for a speedy recovery.
The sidekicks were also beacons of brilliance – and there was plenty of quality in the quantity. Humour was also in abundance with top drawer in between song banter, but to hear pieces of my favourite ever long player just thirty minutes from home on the sabbath was indeed a religious experience. The cassette played top tunes…..
