Live At Acton Town Hall London
Dark Horse, 2023
10/10
Listen to Live At Acton Town Hall London
A performance that certainly needed to be documented, these 16 songs were the last time Joe Strummer reunited with Mick Jones, and contains early versions of Mescaleros staples during this London benefit show.
“Shaktar Donetsk” opens the listen with Strummer’s immediately recognizable pipes alongside the cautious drumming and elegant violin, and “Bhindee Bhagee” follows with playful flute and crisp drumming that complements the rhythmic interaction of the vivid storytelling.
Deeper into the set, the warm strumming of “Mega Bottle Ride” carries plenty of melodic spirit amid the thumping drums, while the lively, early take on “Get Down Moses” comes with plenty of rich grooves and thick layers of well done and dense riffs.
Jones makes his appearances near the end, where “Bankrobber” is a reggae tinted classic that sounds just as great as it did in 1980, and the always wonderful “London’s Burning” exits with plenty of grit and no lack of punk spirit in the anthemic delivery.
This is the first time the album has been available on CD and vinyl, and the 2XLP package comes with clear wax, gatefold packaging, new liner notes and new photos- not that any fan of Strummer would need anymore reasons to pick this up.
Travels well with: Joe Strummer- 002: The Mescaleros Years; Joe Strummer- Assembly