Review By Stephanie Thorburn.
Over the past decade I must have sought out Chris Jagger’s ‘Atcha!’
at least half a dozen times. The first occasion was a tantalisingly brief
set tucked up at The Garage near Highbury and Islington, and the second occasion
in 2002 was at The 100 Club, Oxford Street forming the basis of a live recording
for the band. Prior to the unfortunate closure of The Torrington, Atcha! also
graced the boards unexpectedly in replacement of one of their peers, possibly
Chris Farlowe as I recall, for an outing on a Sunday evening at the venue.
The exact date wouldn’t be hard establish because it was the night before
an MA thesis deadline and represented some personal hardship as I was prompted
by lack of time to tail cut my appendices and reflections to an abrupt conclusion.
Nevertheless, watching the evolution of this band has been a thoroughly worthwhile
journey, with a sense that as a musical unit, they are now not only performing
to their full potential, but also resonating tremendously well with one another
as individuals.
The Loft Club is an intimate, community venue for most bands to play and seemed
to tickle Chris’s imagination as he introduced himself to Barnet. A
high-octane couple of hours unfolded with relaxed ease and a sense that we
were indeed all amongst friends. Charlie Hart and Chris Jagger’s songwriting
partnership has maturated like a vintage wine since the release of Atcha!
in 1994, and Channel Fever, 2001. Hart and Jagger’s individual approach
to combining Louisiana Zydeco, Cajun and R & B styles is a preoccupation
that has earned them quite a bit of attention in the ‘niche’ market,
with the balance they have achieved between these essential elements forming
almost an educational experience for listeners in the UK and Europe. In truth
Atcha! are even more of a musical force than they have been credited with.
Eccentric Anglo-centric ditties like ‘Stand Up For The Foot’ rest
well on stage with equally burlesque numbers such as, ‘Will ya won’t
ya’, ‘Channel Fever’, ‘Monique’, all displaying
an energetic mixture of beauty and disaffection; characteristics and contradictions
that form the basis of any strong rock n’ roll rebel’s performing
persona. Chris remains charismatic if a little chaotic in presentation on
occasion, endearing traits that emerge between vocal offerings and alternate
dexterity on the washboard. It is the back-to-basics ethos of Atcha!, mastering
instruments in an organic cultural blend between harmonica, accordion and
the old wash boards that lead the ear toward glimpses of 1950’s skiffle
and perhaps a reminder too that these veterans have now witnessed some thirty
(or so) years in the music industry. Time and the benefits of continuing raw
talent are definitely still on their side. In fact, hasn’t Chris recorded
on the ‘Latent Talent’ label? Well, there has actually been little
down time for him during the course of his career, it has just taken the media
too long to develop a healthy interest in his endeavours away from the shadow
of brother Mick.
The steam certainly rose as the gig drew to a real crescendo in The Loft of
our Barnet outpost towards the conclusion of the night’s spectacular.
‘Hot Tamale Baby’ formed a saucy classic that could have been
a catch line to describe the evening; definitely hot and complete with a full
range of cross- cultural vibes and sophisticated rhythms, even a little country
blues. “Who thinks the drums should be less loud”, quipped Malcolm
Mortimore. It would certainly be possible to draw a very full rock family
tree from the extensive biographies of all Atcha! members, with Charlie’s
roots in bands like Slim Chance/ Juice On The Loose and Malcolm’s discography
boasting namedroppers from Ian Dury to Tom Jones. Malcolm and Jim Mortimore
indeed offer some sterling input to the Chris Jagger band. Fortunately there
was no sign of Malcolm’s snappy, vibrant drums being phased to a silter,
the sound was just finely balanced as Jim’s soloing offered some minor
miracles on guitar, but all in a very low-key capacity.
It is indeed heartening news to learn that a new album is about to be unleashed
on us by Chris’s Atcha! by this Spring. The line-up sounds promising,
featuring guest appearances from Billy Jenkins, Dave Gilmour and Sam Brown,
with Mick Jagger exercising his lungs on harmonica. Well, I look forward to
the new offering boys in anticipation, and if there are more titles like ‘Libido
Blues’ and ‘Allons Joujette’ in the pipeline I might just
be seeking an audience with the band for another few years. From the sound
of the handful of numbers given an airing at The Loft Club, I have a feeling
that a more relaxed, warm and earthy approach may shape up Atcha’s musical
persona in the near future and I’m sure it will be a genre no less grounded
in rhythmic dynamism.
* Many thanks to Charlie Hart for his notes and thoughts in providing a set
list.
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