Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Saturday November 13

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Joe Strummer: Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Martyn Slattery: Lead Guitar, Keyboards et al
Anthony Genn: Guitar
Scott Shields: Bass Guitar
Pablo Cook: Percussion
Smiley: Drums

Rock review, Joe Strummer at Metro
By Joshua Klein - Tribune Staff Writer

At the height of its creative powers and popularity, The Clash was considered in many circles to be "the only band that matters." The operative word being, of course, "band": since its anticlimactic dissolution in 1986 the careers of the four Clash principals have ranged from erratic to non-existent.

Singer/guitarist Mick Jones' underrated Big Audio Dynamite was perhaps the most successful of the bunch. Bassist Paul Simonon briefly anchored the group Havana 3 A.M., while drummer Topper Headon, for all intents and purposes, simply vanished back into the British woodwork.

The Clash's other singer/guitarist, Joe Strummer, released one solo album,
"Earthquake Weather," 10 years ago, but since then he has spent his time doing soundtrack work, acting and adamantly denying an imminent Clash reunion. The fact that The Clash hasn't yet cashed in on its myth in an age when even former punk rockers get nostalgic, no doubt, has played a large part in keeping that myth intact. Yet Strummer, appearing Friday night at the Metro with his new band, The Mescaleros, had no problem bolstering his set with several of The Clash's greatest songs.

Beginning appropriately enough with "Diggin' the New," a slow song from a second solo album slated for a fall release, Strummer attempted to balance the unfamiliar new material and the tracks that made The Clash so legendary. Such ringers as "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" and the haunting "Straight To Hell" were played early, with Strummer ad libbing a good deal during an epic rendition of the latter.

A riled up "London Calling" so galvanized the crowd that Strummer ended up playing it a second time. That song sounded apocalyptic in 1979, and 20 years later its message of "out with the old and in with the new" strangely enough still resonates strongly.

The new songs "Tony Adams," "Forbidden City," "Techno D-Day On Omaha Beach," and "Yalla Yalla" were eclectic, uneven, and heartfelt - just the qualities that still make later Clash albums such as "Sandinista!" and "Combat Rock" such adventurous listening.

Yet predictably enough, none of the new numbers could really compete with such Clash standards as "Brand New Cadillac," "Bankrobber," or "Rock the Casbah." With each Clash riff, the young faces of Strummer's five bandmates would light up, inspired by the presence of one of their most valued pioneers. Scottish bassist Scott Shields in particular beefed up the reggae-tinged songs, while guitarist Martin Slattery - doubling on keyboards - gleefully pounded out the honky tonk infused piano part from "Casbah."

With four guitarists up front and two drummers in the back, how could the propulsive "Tommy Boy" go wrong? Similarly, with so many classic Clash songs at his disposal, the nearly 50-year-old Strummer was unstoppable.

The legendary Joe Strummer and his newly formed Mescaleros lived up to expectations Saturday night at the Metro. Combining a mix of infamous Clash tunes and new material, Strummer managed to satisfy the likes of die-hard Clash fans as well as those thirsting for fresh tracks.

The sold out crowd managed to conquer their sauna like experience with a vengance. From topless females scaling above the crowd to skinheads chanting the rude boy anthem, there was never a dull moment. Middle aged men with mullets and wives reminisced as Strummer wailed all those “back in the day” tunes. “Rock the Casbah” and “London Calling” sent those punk rock fogies back into their anthem days, throwing fists in the air and rockin’ out like it was 1984.

Of course we can’t forget the all-time skin head field day tune, “Rudy Can’t Fail.” The pit swelled with bald heads, plaid shirts and suspenders as the Mescaleros did a fine rendition of the notorious tune. The material from their newest album, Rock Art and the X-Ray Style, came off a bit country sounding. “Nitcomb” and “Yalla Yalla” quieted down the crowd with their new, unfamiliar sonic territory.

I’m wondering how many people actually own the new album? Attempting to engage the audience, Strummer went on and on about how ‘The Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll” confused Johnny Cash. Stories of drunken night at bars with stars seemed amusing. Regardless, the audience kept busy between songs by deciphering Strummer’s mumbling ramblings. What the hell was he saying anyway???

Pulling together all aspects of quality entertainment with precise instrumentation, energy and harmony, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros blew the crowd away with favorites “Tommy Gun” and “Brand New Cadillac.” Strummer closed with a fully revved up anti-authority anthem, “I fought the law and the law won,” expertly fusing together the crowd’s intensity with his own.

CONCERT REVIEW - The Metro, Chicago 07/12/1999
By Tim Sheridan
Connoisseurs of punk's golden age know the subtle shading of its great singers: the sugary pop bent of Joey Ramone, the snarling vitriol of Johnny Rotten, and the basso-warble of Iggy Pop. But no punk belter was more passionate than Joe Strummer. The former frontman for the Clash burned through signature tunes like "London Calling" and "Tommy Gun" with a raspy intensity that made these songs unforgettable classics. Now, after nearly 10 years, Strummer is back and, as his second live U.S. date with his new band proved, he's more passionate than ever.

Perhaps the boldest choice of the evening came at the opening of the show, when Strummer rejoined his fans with a (gasp) slow number, fittingly titled "Diggin' The New." With a rather melancholy tone and determined lyric, the song came off as a mixture of retrospection and optimism. But rather than possibly lose his old fans, Strummer proved the new outfit could nail it to the wall with a blistering rendition of "London Calling." The pattern for the evening was now set: tempering new material with classic Clash tunes. After an energetic "White Man In Hammersmith Palais," the band offered the new "Tony Adams," a cinematic soccer saga rich in detail and atmosphere. All the while Strummer was committed to the performance, putting his all into old and new material alike.

"London Calling" "Tommy Gun" "Magnificent Seven" While the new material (from a new disc due in the fall) is uneven, several tunes were quite promising. However, none matched the fire of Clash classics, as evidenced by a tour-de-force delivery of "Straight To Hell" from Combat Rock. Over the rigid rhythmic spine of bassist Scott Shields and drummer Steve Bernard, ornamented by Antony Genn's guitar figures, Strummer extended the song with extemporized lyrics, sounding like a beat poet with a gun to his head. Besides the curious decision to play "London Calling" for the second time in one evening as an encore, the show was a promising sign of the future. So even if Joe Strummer isn't ready to take off his Clash training wheels, he can obviously still ride with the punk kings.

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