JET at the Horseshoe, August 11. Tickets: $10. Attendance: 300. Rating: NNN Rating: NNN
another rock band riding in on the 70s retro wave? I’ll admit I was dubious about the whole Jet thing. After seeing all the crap bands that get compared to AC/DC and the Stooges come and go, even those of us who were praying for a rock revival are now wishing it would go away and leave us the hell alone. But guess what? Jet don’t suck. Hoorah!
Instead of beginning with an abrasive barrage, they opened with a slow Stonesy roller – a refreshing start – then launched into a slew of loud, bawdy, rowdy stompin’ riff rock, drawing as much from southern rock and the Americana of, say, Creedence Clearwater Revival as from the Stones, Kinks and the rest of the British invaders.
Sure it was all completely derivative. At one point I think they swiped the bassline from Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life. But nobody ever accused the modern-day rock revivalists of being original. At least Jet can play their instruments and don’t simply make noise.
Nope, Jet are some talented boys, obviously well schooled in rock from the rockabilly roots of That’s Alright Mama to the drawn-out psychedelic jam style of Pink Floyd and beyond. With just the right amount of rock ‘n’ roll posturing coupled with the perfect amounts of humour and affability, Jet have an appeal that most posing rock revivalists don’t.
And there’s just something about scruffy Australians. You don’t marry ’em – Aussie boys are the kind of guys you fuck. Jet just may corner the wet panty factor. elizzardbreath72@yahoo.com
