getreadytorock.me.uk reviews The Big Area (Rhino/Warners)

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Then Jerico – The Big Area (Rhino/Warner)

Then Jerico is a pop rock outfit hailing from the 80’s and “The Big Area”, the band’s second album, is one of the fastest selling albums on the day of its release (1989), moving 100000 copies in 40 minutes!  The band has reunited and plans to play the album on tour in its entirety…

The album has been difficult to obtain for a number of years and it finally sees a re-release.  It still sounds remarkable and is well worth listening to, 23 years later.  Sadly, with all the Deluxe Editions hitting the shelves, it is disappointing not to see “The Big Area” get similar treatment…

Still a fine album and one which the younger generation should pick up and listen to.

****1/4

Nick van der Meulen
getreadytorock

Acoustic Review (Fiona Middleton)

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Sooooooo….almost 24 hours ago I was making my way to  the final gig of the Then Jerico Big Area tour…this was always going to be emotional. The acoustic gig to round off an amazing 2 weeks of O2 Academy arena dates. Having been to 3 of those, I was looking forward to the intimacy of this “farewell for now”  to the fans.

In contrast to the stomping, full on, sometimes fever pitch atmosphere of the Academy’s, the Bedford saw the TJ boys in a much more laid back, chilled environment. Very relaxed. Fans were seated. Up close and personal is an understatement. Everybody in the venue seemed within touching distance of the stage. Really could not have been any more intimate. The feeling was that the boys on stage were loving that just as much as we were!

This was the first time the TJ boys had done this acoustic set, but you would never have known, judging by the opening “Let Her Fall”. It was gorgeous. Softer, of course, but still as rousing….and gave us a flavour of what was to come. Mark N Rob, Jasper, Steve and Scott proceeded to keep us rocking with some more “First – The Sound Of Music” favourites, including a crowd pleasing Hitcher. They then moved on to the Big Area album.

From my seat, I’d had a sneak peek at the set list laying on stage (yes, we were ALL that close -lol!) …to discover Sugar Box was 11th down the list. Couldn’t miss that!  So 4th song in was when I went to get a round in, in the adjoining pub. Approx four minutes later, with beer in one hand and Jack Daniels in the other,  I walked back into the theatre to find tears down faces and Mark whispering out the last “Sugar Box” of this beloved song into his mic. :-(  Those naughty boys had played with order of play. Rebels!  Rock and roll!  LOL.

You can’t ask a die hard TJ fan what their favourite song is – there are too many. But for me, Play Dead was an absolute rare treat. Darkest Hour was outstanding. But Big Area…this acoustic, stripped down, haunting version, saw Mark and Rob quietly bringing some of the audience to tears once more. Never imagined this iconic, stomping  rock song, could ever sound like that. And I can’t wait for the DVD to come out to those fans who couldn’t make it. It’s a truly beautiful version. Half way through, the boys pumped it back up to full throttle for the fans to sing along loud and proud and partake of some air punching.  :-)

As with the previous gigs, Mark, Scott, Steve, Rob and Jasper  gave us a rousing Reeling. Oooohhhh YEAH  baby!

At the risk of being cheesy (to go with  crackers)  there was a buzz on the stage between the boys. Lots of love and affection there. Great to see. But also, between the fans and the boys.

The arena gigs were brilliant, but this intimate one was a real treat on so many levels. For the fans, a one off.

Come back boys!  Let’s do this again some time. What a brilliant fortnight. What a brilliant band.  Never thought I’d see this again – all these great songs live. Absolutely superb. I won’t forget it.

THANK YOU…

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We had an amazing evening at The Bedford Theatre last night, filmed and recorded for CD / DVD available to pre-order from the webstore.
It was a unique and beautiful moment in TJ history ; our acoustic début…(albeit a rather loud rock’n’roll acoustic début!)Thank you to all of you who managed to come down to support us and all you Pledgers. You will of course receive the CD / DVD Set before the rest of the world…
On behalf of all the TJ members I would like to thank the lovely people who made it possible : Tony Moore, Nat and Lauren and all the staff at The Bedford, Gary Langan, Nikki Eede, Lewis Young, Sue Kennedy, Lynda Bennett, Kenny Reid and his brilliant film crew, the Pledge Team, Bruce McKenzie, James Downes and Jedi at Pancentric Digital and of course the multi-talented Mr. Kyron Armstrong.

M.S.

Sheffield o2 Academy: Review and photos by Laura Patterson

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The O2 Academy in Sheffield provided an intimate setting for the return of Then Jerico. The gig was one of a series of eight shows by the band at O2 Academy venues across the country, to mark the 25th anniversary and digital re-release of their debut album ‘First (The Sound of Music)’. All of the original band members have reunited for the first time since 1990 for this tour. To read the full review please visit: http://www.themidlandsrocks.com/then-jerico-ian-britt-o2-academy-sheffield-24-september-2012/#.UGXtoLtZ54p

 

Then Jerico: Debut Acoustic Live Performance 3rd October, London

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*Important Announcement*

As requested a ‘PAY AT THE DOOR’ option has now been made available for tonights performance.

Show Details:

Doors will open at 7.00/7.30pm and the venue closes at 11pm, although the adjacent bar is open from 5pm until midnight!

The Bedford is a really atmospheric, intimate venue, perfect for filming, with excellent nearby transport links to the Northern line tube and Balham main-line train station and buses; which are just a few of the reasons why TJ have chosen to play there as the final show of the TJ reunion tour 2012.

There is a bar and food available both in the theatre and in the adjacent rock ‘n’ roll bar, and there are tables and seating downstairs – although these cannot be reserved in advance. And there is also a balcony upstairs with 20 seats and plenty of standing room for those of you who like to watch from above.

Those of you who have pledged for tickets, please all bring your Pledge receipts with you and ID, and you will be asked to produce it at the venue door.

We’re looking forward to an unusual and fantastic night… and we will be working hard to get it edited and the audio CD mixed, and all the artwork designed, and the entire product created and dispatched to you all as soon as we possibly can…( and if you’re there, you may even be on the DVD when it’s finished ! ).

Please visit: www.thebedford.co.uk/ for more information about the venue.