Anyone driving past the queue outside Cardiff Student’s Union may have been forgiven for thinking it was a 40th-anniversary reunion of former students, but look again and the parkas and Fred Perry shirts hint at the truth. We’re gathered to see two driving forces of late 1970s punk and new wave: The Jam, albeit in Bruce Foxton’s latter-day incarnation From The Jam, and the Buzzcocks.
The Mancunian band start their set with an infectious solo drum beat which explodes into a strong, vibrant rendition of Love You More. Fronted by Steve Diggle, the sole original Buzzcocks member, he’s joined by bassist Chris Remington, Mani Perazzoli on rhythm guitar and Danny Farrant providing a strong punch behind the drum stool. The Buzzcocks hammer through their set, with the once-melodic What Do I Get and Ever Fallen In Love… – originally sung by the late Pete Shelley – given far more robust treatment from the mischievous and dominating Diggle. More than a mere support band, the Buzzcocks were here to give a full-on performance and leave the crowd shouting for more.
The Jam were, in their classic incarnation, a trio fronted by Paul Weller with Bruce Foxton on bass and Rick Buckler on drums. Gaining a massive following from 1977 debut single In The City onwards, in 1982 Weller left to try other things and the band split up. in the late 00s, Foxton and Buckler joined up to relive those days in the guise of From The Jam; of the pair, only Foxton remains, but the flame is kept alive with the assistance of singing guitarist Russell Hastings, who carries all the songs with energy, passion and an uncanny resemblance to Weller’s tone.
After three warm-up numbers, when Foxton plays the unmistakable bass intro to Start! things really kick off. A few songs later, Hastings asks for the lights to shine on the crowd so he can have eye contact, and introduces a new song, Lula. It’s taken from Hastings and Foxton’s recently released album, The Butterfly Effect: a collection of melodic and moody tunes, well worth listening to whether you’re a Jam fan or not, and this selection went down a storm with the supportive crowd.

Back, then, to the main theme: Hastings beefs up the soulful That’s Entertainment, replacing its acoustic lead with a robust electric guitar rendition. Three songs later, a pause for audience repartee is followed up with one of The Jam’s last – and in my opinion best – songs, Butterfly Collector, before a cover featured on 1979’s Setting Sons album, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas’ Motown standard Heatwave, Foxton’s harmonies adding depth and soul.
Strange Town and In The City lead us to the end of the main set; security hand out water to a lively, near-exhausted crowd as chants continue for FTJ to return to the stage. When they do, Foxton’s introductory bassline to Eton Rifles remains perfect and timeless. On the haunting Down In The Tube Station At Midnight – which I first heard at an early-80s Brixton Academy Jam show and have never forgotten – Mike Randon faultlessly recreates its Buckler drum solo, which sounds just like a tube train approaching.
Nearly all of tonight’s setlist – from singles to album tracks – is so well known to Jam fans, it’s noticeable that almost everyone in the crowd sings along perpetually. (Additionally, one spectacular mid-song leap from Foxton, renowned for such airborne antics onstage in his youth, didn’t fail to please the crowd.) Hastings thanks Cardiff for their welcome, citing the city’s reputation amongst bands for its unique and lively atmosphere, before From The Jam finish on a massive high with Going Underground. Leaving happy but exhausted, here are two bands who bring life to the stage, nostalgia to the brain and so much energy to the body that you’ll feel like a 20-year-old – regardless of your age.
From The Jam / Buzzcocks, Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Sat 19 Nov
words PHIL HEDLEY photos OWIN WONG
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