19 December 2024 (gig)
5 h
There’s always something magical about Johnny Hates Jazz gigs.
The band, featuring original members Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito, have a magnetising presence on stage, and a deep connection with their fans which always makes for a memorable gig.
Thursday’s gig at the O2 Indigo was no exception, marking two firsts for the band – the conclusion of their first ever headline tour and the first ever live performance of their UK No 1 and globally-acclaimed 1988 album Turn Back The Clock in its entirety.
Their 80s candle burned brightly for two years but Johnny Hates Jazz split before they ever had a chance to tour, so for fans, this was a gig worth waiting for.
Returning to the O2 Indigo, for the first time since 2018, Johnny Hates Jazz welcomed as their support act, Astral Drive, featuring former member Phil Thornalley, Clark’s replacement after he left the band. Phil showed his songwriting prowess with a paired-back keyboard performance of songs like Summer of ’76 and Wishing I Could Change the World.
Johnny Hates Jazz opened the momentous gig with the first song from the Turn Back The Clock album, Shattered Dreams, an absolute classic which reached No 5 in the UK charts and became a signature anthem for the band.
This song set the tone for the rest of this album’s catchy and well-crafted tracks, from the funky Heart of Gold (one of our favourites!) to Foolish Heart, their first release which for some unfathomable reason did not achieve chart success.
This album, which also features other classics including I Don’t Want To Be A Hero, really deserved its No 1 spot, and has stood the testament of time with four million global sales.
Joining the band on stage for the title track of their album Turn Back the Clock was the band’s old friend Kim Wilde (who back in the 80s was the girlfriend of former band member Calvin Hayes), who did the original backing vocals on the song. What a fantastic reunion of 80s greats and it must have been an emotional moment for them all to literally turn back the clock.
The Indigo crowd were also treated to Kim’s festive rendition of Wham’s Last Christmas, which was a great tribute to the late great George Michael and gave the audience a big dose of Christmas cheer.
The second half of this iconic gig saw Johnny Hates Jazz take their fans on a musical journey of Clark and Mike’s renewed partnership, having reunited in 2009 after a hiatus of 20 years.
One of the songs performed, The Road Not Taken, was written by Clark before he and Mike got back together – a pivotal song in the JHJ journey as it addressed Clark’s feelings about the band’s unfulfilled potential.
The song was included on the band’s third album Magnetised in 2013, their first LP for 22 years. The album reached number 23 in the UK indie albums chart but failed to reach the top 100 of the UK charts, probably in part due to the landscape of the UK charts changing irrevocably since their 80s debut.
Demonstrating the band’s musical diversity, the album also included gems such as Lighthouse, a song with catchy dancebeat rhythms and a singalong chorus which got the audience chanting in unison.
It’s a mystery as to why this album did not achieve the acclaim it so richly deserves, including hits such as the title track Magnetised and the pandemic lockdown song Spirit of Love, which boosted fans’ morale during that challenging time.
Another special guest on the night via a pre-recorded video message, was DJ Mike Read, an ambassador for heritage acts courtesy of the Heritage Chart, who wanted to mark this historic evening with a fitting tribute to his friends.
The popular DJ also applauded the achievement of the Datchler musical heritage with both Clark and his dad Fred (of The Polka Dots and The Stargazers) gaining No 1 singles, a rare feat in the music industry.
Thanks to Mike, heritage acts are given a platform on which to shine and we hope other DJs take his lead to ensure that class acts like this are given mainstream appreciation. While the later material of Johnny Hates Jazz is just as well-crafted, both musically and lyrically, as their earlier work, it fails to get the airplay it deserves on national channels.
Kim Wilde joined Johnny Hates Jazz on stage for the finale with a repeat of the opening song of the night, Shattered Dreams, but this time the much-loved classic had the Wilde touch, a novel and well-received collaboration for the fans.
Special mention on the night must also go to Nick Keeble, the band’s long-standing tour guitarist who is a firm fan favourite.
It was billed as an iconic night, and it certainly lived up to expectations. While Paul McCartney was performing in the main O2 arena, Clark thanked the audience for choosing Johnny Hates Jazz as their entertainment choice.
And while he said this tongue in cheek, the JHJ faithful wouldn’t have had it any other way, and were delighted to have been able to turn back the clock, just for one night.
