Jason and the Scorchers Norwich Arts Centre April 30th 2008 Does it annoy anybody else when bands feel that they have to make up for their total lack of talent by babbling constantly about who knows what whilst on stage? Seriously, I want to hear your music, not your life story. At times it can seem escapable in this Chris Martin influenced world where most front men could do with taking personality lessons from a lettuce. Fortunately for a packed Norwich Arts Centre, this doesn’t seem to be a problem for Jason Ringenberg, who strides onto the stage with a ‘Cheers mates, we’re Jason and the Scorchers’, before the band launch into the rather brilliant rawkus country-punk of Absolutely Sweet Marie. Ringenberg has certainly got the sweet as hell dance moves down to the core, and his onstage antics are perfectly supported by guitarist Warner E. Hodges, who spins around so much during songs it is a wonder that he remains standing. This is the Scorchers first tour in ten years, albeit it with a new line up, and they are certainly all about the music. They play two sets, full of favourites and spot-on, hectic covers, including Jerry Lee Lewis’ Great Balls Of Fire. Here is a band that at times it seems ridiculous that they are not playing stadiums, as it is so easy to imagine thirty thousand people jumping in unison to Shop It Around (which was after all a UK chart hit at no. 38), whilst in their more frantic moments they seem as if they would be more suited behind chicken wire in a tiny Southern American bar, proven when they play That Night In Georgia, so much that it isn‘t surprising to see the occasional barn dance break out amongst the audience. It would be safe to bet that When The Angels Cry is what Gram Parsons would sound like if he’d survived the seventies, whilst testament is paid to the legend himself with a couple of covers in the second set, most notably Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man. Possibly the night’s most poignant moment comes midway through the second set when the Scorchers play Good Things Come To Those That Wait. Indeed they do, good sirs, indeed they do. Mick B. Next Past Reviews: March 07, April 07, May 07, June/July 07, Sept/Oct 07, Dec07, Jan08, Feb 08, Mar 08