As the Mr Jukes band took to the stage you knew instantly that what would follow would be a bit special. You could almost feel the energy coming from them as they bound into their places. They arrived in Glasgow a few nights into touring their debut album, God First.
That was one of the most surprising things about it all. You know with a new band, first tour and album, it’s like you expect them to be finding their feet, but at St Luke’s it was as if they have been together for a decade.
Fronted by Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club, the Mr Jukes band is his baby. He is at home on the stage surrounded by this band, the band he hand-picked. It may not be the same styling or sound remotely close to his previous work but his passion comes through in the music, especially playing to an audience of a few hundred people.
The band were set to play King Tut’s, which would have been a cosier if not wilder show, but due to demand the gig was upgraded to Saint Luke’s in the East End, which was just as fitting. The set list was filled with the album highlights, but there were also a few covers thrown in for good measure. After all who doesn’t love a bit of Lauryn Hill’s Doo-Wop (That Thing)?
Jazz is at the heart of this record and was at the centre of this show. With each song, the energy built up more and more until it came crashing back down with the final Song Grant Green. This show was a ride and the band knew how to command the audience, they took control from the moment they came on stage and there was no way they were letting you off gently. Mr Jukes will go on to bigger and better things, they will not be flying under the radar for long.
Setlist: Mr Jukes at St Luke’s
Somebody New
Fall in Love (Slum Village cover)
From Golden Stars Come Silver Dew
Leap of Faith
Magic
Tears
Strasbourg St Denis (Roy Hargrove cover)
Ruby
Doo Wop (That Thing) (Lauryn Hill Cover)
Angels / Your Love
Typhoon
Grant Green
Pictures by Andrew McCormack