The Gift.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 Saturday 24th June 2006.

Thankfully in the past couple of years Esquires has eradicated from Level II the steady stream of tribute band that used to appear here with monotonous regularity. Tonight THE GIFT was a 'semi-tribute' to the sound and body or work of The Jam. However, when the drummer is a certain Rick Buckler then I suppose you can get away with it. Although with no main support and priced at a ludicrously high 14 quid per ticket, the poor turn out gave testament to the fact that people were not prepared to pay over the top money for Rick Buckler's pension fund.

With a couple of Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton doppelgangers in tow, the whole musical story of one of the country's most successful bands was covered in full. Twenty three songs, including the classics 'Modern World', 'Going Underground', 'Start', 'Eton Rifles' as well as an acoustic 'That's Entertainment' mixed with some lesser known tunes 'Pretty Green', 'Dreamtime' and 'Running on the Spot', plus a three song encore ending with 'Funeral Pyre sends The Jam fans home satisfied and sated with the added bonus of gaining Mr Buckler's autograph. Perhaps they all had a marvellous and nostalgic night. I just found it very tiresome.