Words & Pictures Adrian Hextall / (C) MindHex Media
For those who have followed the band, as I have for many years, you’ll know that the current lineup of The Wildhearts sees something of a re-vamp. Gone are established names, CJ, Danny and Ritch and returning on bass is none other than fan favourite ‘Random’ Jon Poole, guitarist Ben Marsden and, going forward, drummer Charles Evans. What could have been quite a hill to climb for Ginger and the band to impress on the fans the new identity has instead inspired the front man and resulted in a new album ‘The Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’ which, at the time of writing is set for a top 10 placing in the national album charts. No mean feat when you appreciate that this is a band that supposedly peaked in 1993-95, but then peaked again in 2003, split up, reformed and then peaked again in 2019 and now in 2025, appear to be on another high.
The UK tour sees them packing out some great venues including Nottingham’s famous Rock City and Sheffield’s Leadmill. Our show took place on the second night of the tour at another hugely popular venue, Junction 1 in Cambridge.
Openers Dirt Box Disco, regulars at Ginger’s Birthday Bashes over the years (NB: We need another one of these I think!!) hit the stage and finished before I managed to get into the venue (a 3 hour train journey didn’t help) but I walked in as Jim Jones and his All Star band started their set.
Jim Jones All Stars
When you’re known for pulling together that ‘big band’ sound, it came as no surprise that Jim Jones All Stars packed out the stage at the Junction. Now bear in mind, The Junction is no small place. A decent sized stage looked like it had been invaded at one point with eight of them on stage. Drummer, bassist, guitarist, keyboard player, backing singer, two saxophonists and off course Jim, front and centre. If you came expecting a wall of sound, then it’s fair to say you weren’t disappointed.
Over the years Jim Jones has created a rich musical history and if, like me, you know him for the furious energy on stage with The Jim Jones Revue, then you’ll welcome the All Stars band with open arms. Closer to the Revue in approach and style than the Righteous Mind sound, the Jim Jones All Stars played all of the right notes, in the right order and very loudly much to the enjoyment of the Cambridge crowd who started to pogo early on into the evening. It was also wonder to hear Jim delve into his back catalogue with ‘Shakedown’ giving a nod back to his old Hypnotics days from the early 1990s.
Jim Jones All Stars blend a modern sound with a dash of 60’s psychedelia but at its core, its a rock n’ roll band, with a garage rock vibe enhanced by the big sound of the horns section. Great vocal harmonies, high energy and a willingness to stand out make the band one to watch and with ‘Ain’t No Peril’ the All Stars debut album now available, there’s more to listen to straight away. They have some more tour dates after this run with The Wildhearts finishes and details can be found here:
SETLIST:
Intro
Cement Mixer (The Jim Jones Revue cover)
Goin’ Higher
Burning Your House Down (The Jim Jones Revue cover)
I Want You (Anyway I Can)
Soul Trader
Troglodyte (The Jimmy Castor Bunch cover)
Rock N Roll Psychosis (The Jim Jones Revue cover)
Shakedown (Thee Hypnotics cover)
512 (The Jim Jones Revue cover)
The Wildhearts
With a small lake of beer spilled on the floor during the Jim Jones All Stars set, The Junction was transformed into a proper sticky, sweaty and energised venue, the sort that bands like The Wildhearts thrive on. As nice as it would be to play, e.g. The Royal Albert Hall (and sell it out), heaving venues, sweaty punters, flying beer cups and blistering rock music sums up The Wildhearts perfectly and Cambridge delivered on all counts.
The line up (Ginger, Jon Poole, Ben Marsden and new drummer Charles Evans) brought their A-game (and whilst that might sound clichéd it’s also true). With the dependables of Oli and Dunc also on hand to make things sound and work as they should, there was a sense of calm in the venue as they started their set, safe in the knowledge that they were in good hands. Special mention as well to whoever was running the lights from the back of the venue. As I stood at the back watching the band, his hands were flying over the console, manually matching every note and beat with flashes of light perfectly. I missed most of The Jackson Whites on stage as I became mesmerised with the lightning fast handy work reminding us that without the team supporting the band there truly is no show!
Of the song choices for the setlist, what was reassuring to see (and hear) was the variety of tunes on offer cutting across the whole of the band’s career. The new stands shoulder to shoulder with the old and was performed with the same energy and gusto of a band just 1 or 2 albums into their career. Ginger may have passed the 6-0 mark now but he played with the power and energy of a man in his 30s. The youth and and vigour of the likes of Charles and Ben have clearly revitalised the front man and as for Jon, well he’s never needed to be recharged as he’s been running on Duracells for many years now.
Other subtle changes of note. The pork pie hat and bald head used to be to Ginger’s right. Those two elements now sit to Ginger’s left and serve to remind us of some of the old and the new, very much like the subtle nods that litter the new album. A bass line, a riff, a chug, a harmony, the album has so many references back to the band’s legacy (if you take the time to really listen to it) then it’s only fitting that the shows do as well.
There’s equally a sense of familiarity (especially with the two opening songs) as there is a sense of urgency and a desire to simply enjoy being in The Wildhearts in 2025. If the summer show last year hinted at another renaissance then I feel it’s one that will last for some time.
Five new songs from the album were aired including the epic 8 minute ‘Failure Is The Mother of Success’. Both ‘Troubadour Moon’ and ‘I’ll Be Your Monster’ trigger singalongs thanks to their exposure as singles early in the campaign. New for many ‘Maintain Radio Silence’ mentioned by Ginger as his favourite of the new material, was a weighty piece that saw people paying attention which then fed into “I’ve no idea which album this comes from” according to Ginger before the opening riff of ‘Vanilla Radio’ kicked in. Cue more spilt beers and flying bodies.
My favourite from the new album ‘Eventually’ formed part of the encore behind a glorious (cough) rendition of ‘Inglorious’ and ‘Dislocated’. That it sits so well in the setlist is proof positive that the new music is ‘Wildhearts’ music. Just in case there was any doubt!
After ‘Headfuck’ closed the night, the band departed, the staff started to sponge the floors of beer and the crowds departed. Judging by the miles of smiles, I would suggest that there’s many more miles in The Wildhearts yet.
More Info: https://www.thewildhearts.com/posts/
SETLIST:
Suckerpunch
I Wanna Go Where the People Go
Troubadour Moon
Diagnosis
Maintain Radio Silence
Vanilla Radio
Sleepaway
The Jackson Whites
Everlone
I’ll Be Your Monster
Mazel Tov Cocktail
Failure Is The Mother of Success
Chutzpah
Encore:
Inglorious
Dislocated
Eventually
My Baby Is a Headfuck
Our review of the new album is here:
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