On at 9pm and off just over an hour later, but for £15 and one 40 minute album what can you expect? Jake Bugg worked through his self titled debut album in a sold out Cliffs Pavilion on a cold March evening, playing the hits Lightning Bolt and Two Fingers to a largely besotted audience.
What felt like a pop up Topman stall was actually the merch stand, filled with polo shirts, long sleeved chequered shirts and man bags, befitting the large percentage of the audience. Being in a room full of Wiggo style haircuts and rolled up tshirt sleeves, I felt distinctly middle class for the first time. A far mismatch from where I place myself on the social standing. This is who Bugg appeals to though, youngsters and teenagers who want to live their dream of being in The Smiths, and people in their early 30s desperately attempting to cling on to the same dream too.
Bugg does this well. He plays the part, dresses in his Fred Perry jacket and swaggers around the stage playing the odd solo with the expression on his face like he would rather be anywhere else. Despite the brief pause during one song to sort out some crowd disturbances, it was song after song followed by a shy and retiring thank you every now and then. Having just announced a third date for Brixton Academy later this year, I was at first baffled by the notion of playing to 12,000 on this one mediocre record, however the kids won't care though. They will enjoy watching JB through their phones in South London later in the year, just like this performance.
It was what is was. Not the greatest gig I will go to all year, but still worth it.
6/10 Reviewed by @thejoeeley
Jake Bugg Played;
Fire
Kenttucky
Love Me The Way You Do
Trouble Town
Seen It All
Simple As This
Side
Slumville Sunrise
Someone Told Me
Country Song
Note To Self
Someplace
Two Fingers
Taste It
Lighting Bolt
Broken
Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash Cover)