[kj] Killing Joke/Turbowolf – London, The Roundhouse – 17 November 2018 (Uber Rock)

[Paul]

https://www.uberrock.co.uk/gig-reviews/15-november-gigs/20933-killing-joketurbowolf-london-the-roundhouse-17-november-2018.html

*Killing Joke/Turbowolf – London, The Roundhouse – 17 November 2018*

Written by Jim Rowland
Saturday, 24 November 2018 04:20

Blimey, are Killing Joke really 40 years old? Well, seeing as this is the
last date of their ‘Laugh At Your Peril’ 40th anniversary tour, clearly the
answer is yes. What I mean by that is that they don’t seem like a band
celebrating 40 years. Whilst we’ve had a fair few 40th anniversary tours in
recent years from punk bands with a clear air of nostalgia to them, Killing
Joke remain fresh, vital and relevant today, perhaps illustrated by their
last studio album, the excellent ‘Pylon’, now three years old. They have
retained their unique sound, and not many bands are able to do a 40th
anniversary tour with the complete original line up either.

[image: 1.jpg]

First up though are Bristol’s Turbowolf. I was very impressed with this
band’s third album, ‘The Free Life’, released this year. It’s an album that
is catchy, experimental, progressive and intricate in places, with some
impressive and original guitar work - a real interesting listen. Sadly
tonight, with the band let down a bit by the sound, those qualities don’t
quite shine through, and at times it’s a bit messy and muddy. Frontman
Chris Georgiadis is a character for sure, who may be a bit marmite. His
flamboyant demeanour, appearance and speaking voice in between songs
actually reminds me a lot of Justin Hawkins, although that’s where the
Darkness comparison ends. They get a good response from the audience, but
it’s clear they are splitting opinion.

Jaz Coleman seems in celebratory mood for the final date of the anniversary
tour. He refers to the audience, on more than one occasion, as Killing
Joke’s ‘extended family’, and the band are clearly grateful for the career
that family has given them. Although there have been a few hiatuses and
line-up changes along the way, the 40 years that Killing Joke have been
around have produced some truly ground breaking and exhilarating music.

[image: 2.jpg]

With the band back to where they started with the line-up of Coleman,
Geordie Walker, Paul Ferguson and Youth, it’s perhaps not too surprising
that a healthy amount of the set is filled with material from the first two
albums, with ‘Unspeakable’ kicking off a set that features ‘Requiem’,
‘Bloodsport’, ‘Follow The Leaders’, ‘Butcher’, ‘The Wait’ and ‘Pssyche’.
‘Autonomous Zone’ and ‘New Cold War’ are a reminder that KJ are still
penning quality tunes in the modern era, as does the excellent and very
timely ‘European Super State’. ‘Loose Cannon’, ‘Asteroid’ and ‘The Death
and Resurrection Show’ are welcome inclusions from that storming 2003
‘comeback’ ‘Killing Joke’ album, and one of the big hits, ‘Eighties’, gets
the audience bouncing. For the encore, the heavy hitters are brought out in
the shape of ‘Love Like Blood’ and ‘Wardance’, with ‘Pandemonium’ wrapping
it all up.

Jaz Coleman makes some interesting, politically-charged comments in between
most songs, with a statement that the twin towers fell down in five seconds
with nothing hitting it raising a few eyebrows, and warranting some further
investigation. Killing Joke have, of course, always made challenging,
politically charged lyrical comment, and songs like ‘Follow the Leaders’,
‘European Super State’ and ‘New Cold War’ show just how relevant this band
still are in today’s climate.

[image: 3.jpg]

What a way to celebrate 40 years, and on this form Killing Joke show no
signs of letting up any time soon. Let’s hope so – there’s more to come
from this superb and quite unique band.

• PHOTO CREDIT: All photos © Linda Heron/Über Rock. You can view our full
gallery of photographs HERE
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/uberrock/albums/72157698045728300>.
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