After hearing so much about these guys on the live circuit from a number of people it was great we both finally got to see this amazing and exciting band at The Pemberton. The night was filled with sad emotion as Andy and Paula who have being booking bands for this venue for a number of years finally hung up their diary and retired, we have known them both now for a while and we have shared several opinions together and yet they will be sadly missed but as they told us The Pemberton will be still hosting live music at this great venue and the good news although this was their last night they will still be there as punters, maybe a few reviews from Andy in the near future….

Knee Jerk Reaction were performing tonight’s gig to a well-packed audience, they too have been friends of Andy and Paula and the present they gave for their support was a fitting tribute. This band can only be described as a four-piece up-tempo rock/pop band that plays foot tapping hit music for all tastes and cultures. Their act is different from bands we have seen in the past and they bring a breath of fresh air to the night’s performance.
 
 
 

The band consists of Richie (vocalist) ex member of Rock Solid who has real grit to his vocal sound; his facial expressions when executing those high notes are a fitting to his enthusiasm for his love of music. He performed with excellent high and low register tones and had a much needed break when the soundman Gareth took to the stage towards the back half of the set with his version of Green Days ‘Basketcase’ armed with step ladders he took the punk age to the limit, 

 

Graeme (Lead Guitar and Keyboards) a man with hidden talents his fretwork was exciting for a punter to watch and yet he can juggle both guitar and keyboard playing with ease giving us goose bumps throughout the night. This guy has the talent as an excellent musician with great facial expressions as his mouth moved with his guitar finger work. 

Ed (Bass Guitar) ex Gunslinger who gave a great solid back line, all to often the bass player stands so rigid that its hard to give them as much praise and yet it was great to see he gelled with the rest of the band in a party swinging mood which we like to see.
 
 

Last member is Alun (Drums) ex Gunslinger and Spook and The Ghouls. He wears no shirt tattoos and piercing galore (definitely one for the ladies) his workmanship on the drums with his manic frenetic enthusiasm during what be described tonight as awesome We feel this guy is the most exciting drummer we have seen over the years on the live circuit. Those sticks were twirling so much with his fast performance, made us sweat just watching him work, Part of the nights performance is setting alight his symbols which wont go down well if they set the fire detectors off in a venue, but we can tell you is worth watching. He beats those skins like Animal from the Muppets and even carries an animal figure placed on his main drum for all to see. 

The set starts with U2’s ‘Vertigo’ following with ‘All Along The Watchtower’,’Light My Fire’,’Word Up’, Green Days ’American Idiot’, had the crowd tapping along, ’Eruption/You Really Got Me’, ’Dakota’, ’Substitute’, ’Everything AboutYou’, The Monkees ’I'm A Believer’, by this time everyone was in party mood, a slower tempo with, Cheap tricks ’I Want You To Want Me’, then back to Green Day when the soundman came in with his version of ’Basketcase’ armed with step ladders. ’Born To Be Wild/Eleanor Rigby’, T Rex ’20th Century Boy’, ’Bohemian Like You’, ’My Sharona’, Billy Idol ’Rebel Yell’, ’Teenage Kicks’, The Buzzcocks ’Ever Fallen In Love With Someone’, ’Come As You Are’, Thin Lizzy’s ’The Boys Are Back In Town’ and ’Whiskey In The Jar’ and finally to finish ‘Sweet Child Of Mine’.

This was an amazing night of Knee Jerk Reaction in which the band gave an excellent showmanship performance not only for their musical talent on show but their own style that was refreshing to an appreciated audience who were certainly in a party mood. In our opinion this was a must see band after all the hype giving to us we were certainly not disappointed. We both spoke to the band afterwards and they are a good bunch of lads to chat too. So if these guys are on near you get out to see them.