Live Review: Killing Joke @ Glasgow Garage

It’s now over 20 years of going to Killing Joke gigs for me, and I gotta say it fills my heart with joy to have ‘em back, bigger and better than ever (or at least once again reaching the dizzying heights they’ve reached before!). Killing Joke aren’t just a mere band, they’re a fucking monster... the great beast that’s gonna crush yer skull ‘til yer eyeballs pop out!

So after numerous pilgrimages to foreign climbs (like… London!) it was good to have ‘em back on (relatively) home soil. The last Glasgow gig had been immense, and there was no reason for this one to be any different. The scene was set as ever with two Sensational Alex Harvey Band goodies as intro music - "Faith Healer" (check out that guitar sound, then put on "Are You Receiving"!) and then the ferocious tribal drumming of "Booids". On stroll Geordie, Raven, keyboardist Reza and new(ish) drummer Ben Calvert.

The familiar opening strains of "Communion" ring out, and it’s time for Jaz to make his presence felt... red face paint, boiler suit and some of the maddest staring eyes ever witnessed. A distinct middle-eastern feel to this opener, with lashings of finest Joke malevolence flowing from the stage. Raven already noising up someone in the crowd, Geordie being nothing less than his coolest of cool characters and Jaz the evil demented ringmaster. This fairly slow opener was immediately followed by the absolutely crushing "Wardance"! Always a favourite, always upping the intensity. "MUSIC FOR PLEASURE, IT’S NOT MUSIC NO MORE, MUSIC TO DANCE TO, MUSIC TO MOVE... THIS IS MUSIC TO MARCH TO! TO A WARDANCE!" (sorry, that just HAD to be in capitals!). How to convey the sheer power flowing from the stage? I know...go and jump off a tall building... see that moment when you hit the ground? THAT’S what it was like! Well, almost.

As ever, the crowd upped the energy level for what is the ultimate Joke for many people. God knows how many times I’ve heard ‘em play this, but I fucking love it every time.  Barely any let-up, and it was "Sun Goes Down" with its tribal rhythm pounding, and "Primitive" (another one that’s slow and full of threat... a primitive beating administered to all and sundry for sure). Songs that are around a quarter of a century old, but still crush! Time to travel to the horrors of the mid-80’s, with Night Time’s "Darkness Before Dawn". In fact it’s not a horror at all, and sounds better now than it ever did! This era was kinda the start of Killing Joke losing it slightly for me (actually, it’s not opinion... it’s plain fact, the Joke did lose it! But they got it back again... in spades!). But it was the mid 80’s after all... few escaped unscathed! Bang up to date with the last album’s "Total Invasion"... "Fuck America" stated Jaz, and I gotta agree. Well, taking America to mean every right-wing fuckwit... sorry to the rest of you! Okay, maybe not the one I woulda chosen from the last album (that would be "Seeing Red") but it’s still a great racket... all chugging Geordie guitar, growled Jaz vocals telling it like it IS (and if you don’t see this... you fucking SUCKER!), rumbling Raven bass, creepy keyboards and Ben doing his utmost to emulate Dave Grohl’s drumming (and getting there!). It’s a fucking crusade alright...Back again to the days of yore... that keyboard intro that never fails to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up..."Requiem". It strikes me how slow many Joke songs are... this adding to the creeping malevolence that I find myself bringing up again and again (like some nefarious bile!).  That wonderful Geordie guitar... the "sound of a thousand orchestras" isn’t QUITE there as much as it used to, but that Gibson ES-295 just rings out, hanging in the air. Actually, I know how Geordie gets that amazing sound...and will tell you... for a price! Better deals than the devil ever gives! Now a couple of real treats for the Killing Joke aficionado... first in the shape of "Butcher", from "What’s THIS For?". I’ve never seen them do this one before, and it really shows how far advanced the band were way back in ’81. Sparse rhythm, discordant guitar, throbbing synth heaven (or hell!). I don’t think "What’s THIS For?" was a particular favourite album of the crowd as it seemed most people didn’t know what it was. Ach well, I fucking enjoyed it anyway! The next added bonus was the smack-you-in-the teeth of "Money Is Not Our God" from the absolutely brilliant "Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions". They’ve not played anything off this album since the Extremities tour way back in 1991, and as a favourite of mine, it was about time something returned to the set.

It was full speed ahead too, losing none of its energy 14 years in the wilderness later. "Frenzy" was the one and only appearance of anything off 1983’s "Fire Dances". Once again it showcased Geordie’s chiming guitar, and the speed up at the end was nothing short of frantic.  Another recent one "Asteroid" kept up the pace, with some outstanding drumming from Ben. Man, you must have to be fit to play this stuff. Killing Joke have always had the drums as a huge part, and Big Paul Ferguson had pretty big shoes! Only once have I seen them with anything less than a fucking great drummer, and I’m glad to say that’s in the distant past! The intro to this also gave Jaz opportunity to tell us some of his theories...now it’s not for me to explain them to you, but guess what? We’re all fucked... and this time it’s coming from the skies! The latter part of the set certainly upped the antae in terms of pace, with "Whiteout" being as full on as it always is. Not my favourite at the time, this one has grown on me over the years... kinda like some weird fungu. A simply wondrous trio of songs finished off the set, taking us back to those glorious Ladbroke Grove days. Oh those naughty boys... "The Wait" had a purposely false start to catch us out and give Jaz an opportunity to berate us Scots about our lack of independence. Normally this sorta thing would get a Sassenach lynched, but y’know, it was Jaz... he MEANS well, despite the cackle! Back into the song... this time for real! And as ever, it got a great crowd reaction... always been a fave. Relentless tribal drumming with some great abrasive guitar and a strange pounding/loping hybrid bassline! Yeah! Next was "Complications", yet another first album stormer. "Enjoy yourself, this is the new age"! This stuff sounds as fresh as the day it was spat out, a true testament to how great the Joke were in their early days, and just how great they are NOW. Some bands sound like they’re doing covers of their own songs, but none of this pish with Killing Joke boy! Not one to be fooled by caricature-of-their-former-selves bands, I declare the Joke have still fucking got it! It’s incurable! But here we are... always the set highlight for me... and it’s a b-side! Ah remember those days?! Yes, time for... "PSSYCHE"! Another crowd pleaser, always with as much venom being spat towards the stage as is coming off it. "You’re alone in the pack, you’re feeling like you wanna go home, you’re feeling like finished, but you keep on going, the reason is there, but you won’t find it ‘til you’ve been and gone, ‘cos you’re living a hoax... SOMEONE’S GOT YOU SUSSED!" Ah, fucking brilliant! Just try and keep still to this masterpiece!

Yeah, I miss Big Paul doing one of the verses, but pah, merely a minor gripe, that’s not even worthy of mention. So forget that part eh?! This saw the end of the set, though of course no-one now thinks it’s the end of the gig. I was a bit worried that the usual Garage curfew would see a shortened encore (it did last time). Fucking disco dancing cunts... just make the little twats wait outside so us lot that have paid a lot of money actually get the full show we’ve paid for. It’s a fucking joke (pun/no pun... it’s up to you) how many gigs I’ve seen cut short ‘cos of this bullshit. If the John Travolta’s and Olivia Newton Johns of the new millennium are so desperate to get into their poxy disco, let them come in and stop the gig themselves. Oh go on, let them try! Otherwise, wait outside for an extra 15mins you wankers, while those with taste get their money’s worth. There, that’s better. Who needs medication when you have bile? Rare treat time again, with another "Extremities" song making its first appearance in 14 years; the dark menace of "Inside The Termite Mound". I remember them coming on with this back in 1991, the start of a gig showing a true return to form. So it’s always had a place in my heart, not just for the fact it’s a great song. Slow and brooding, I felt maybe the encore shoulda had a more energetic feel, but once again, a very slight gripe. It was great to hear this gem again. I was dreading the "you have one more" sign, but thankfully we got two more. First, another just-try-and-keep-still number from the first album..."Bloodsport". THIS is dance music! Irresistible! Time for the final song of the evening, but not before Jaz mentioned the Killing Joke webmaster, Jester, a fine Texan chap was has cancer. Living in the Land Of The Free (where funnily enough, nothing is free, in every sense of the word) he faces huge medical bills.

There was a collection every night to pay some of his costs (and the Joke also did a great benefit gig for him, where he even got to play drums). Jaz encouraged people to either donate some money, or if skint, to write a message of support. Then it was into the man’s favourite Killing Joke song, "Pandemonium". The haunting intro, then measured pace keeping the intensity levels in the red. Middle-eastern melodies swirling round the throbbing bass. "I can see tomorrow, I can see the world to come, I can see tomorrow, hear the pandemonium". Yeah, me too, me too! We ARE fucked! And so soon, it was over! But yet again the Joke truly delivered. They never fail to these days, and if you’ve not had the twisted pleasure off seeing/hearing this... make sure you rectify this next time. A unique band, still at the top of their game. Over a quarter of a decade in now, here’s to another!

Dave Gin Goblin

www.gingoblins.com
Picture of Paul Raven:Simon - www.disturbing.org.uk

(Jester - you're in our thoughts Joe.  hope all's well across the pond. Cheers, Chay)