Over the last week Juke have
suitably announced their intentions for the year with two gigs, the first to
feature the new line up with Dale Holt-Mead taking his place as new guitarist
and permanent replacement for Kieran Brown and with Miles once more bossing the
bass. ‘Warm-up’ gig at the Edge in Basildon highlighted a heavier and more
polished sound, the band more confident and assured. Juke played Mojo, How
Long, Take on the World, Head Full of Nothing, Elevate Me, Put Me to Sleep,
Broken Bone Blues, Shelter & Pins and Needles. The new songs were
instant and seamless in the set. Here are a couple of pics and a video of ‘Shelter’.
A week later and the band take to
the stage and the Dublin Castle in Camden, a famous venue that was crucial in aiding
acts such as Madness, Blur and Amy Winehouse establishing themselves. And Juke
killed it just as much as the enthusiastic crowd lapped it up. The sound was
crisp, the drums bellowed, the bass ruled, the guitars blazed and the vocals
soared. I’ve said it before but you’ve really gotta see this band in such
intimate settings while you still can. Here’s a couple more pics and a video of
set opener ‘Mojo’ in its blazing 2015 form.
