*** Many apologies for the delay in this review. I have had quite a few issues of late. ***
I love rock and roll,
so put another dime in the jukebox, baby.
I love rock and roll,
so come and take your time and dance with me.
When Joan Jett announced her first headline tour in 16 years, I knew I had to go. Like many artists who have been around since the 1970s, you do wonder how many more opportunities you will get to see them. So, third time for me with Joan and as good as ever. Better, in fact.
Kicking off with Victim of Circumstance, we were then treated to two numbers from Joan’s time with the groundbreaking all female band, The Runaways in Cherry Bomb and You Drive Me Wild. Then, we had hit after hit with the likes of (I’m Gonna) Run Away, Love is Pain and I Hate Myself for Loving You. Of course, it was obligatory that she would perform Bad Reputation and I Love Rock and Roll, which came towards the end of the evening, but my personal favourites of the night were The French Song and Fake Friends. French Song just shows the influence of JJ and the Blackhearts as you can hear the riffs in one of my other favourite bands – Green Day. Fake Friends was more a guilty pleasure, as it totally summed up how those I thought were friends, threw me under a bus a few years back. I guess that we have all been through it sometime or other.
Not known for vast interaction with the audience, Joan Jett let the music do the talking for most of the show, but it was nice to hear from producing legend, Kenny Laguna (Keys and percussion), reminding us of the influence that he has had over the years.
Hopefully, Joan will be around for a long time to come. She is only 67 after all, having begun her Runaways career at a ridiculously young age. But there was no sign of current age on view, or of slowing down. Joan Jet and the Blackhearts rocked Wolverhampton from start to finish, and here’s hoping for more in years to come.
Cheers.
Antony N Britt - Author 