Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Shepherds Bush Empire - July 11, 2002

from Sunday Mail July 14, 2002 edition

The punk revival is approaching the point where it is easier to see the giants of the genre in concert today than it was in 1977.

On the gig list at the Shepherds Bush Empire, Joe Strummer of The Clash is sandwiched between Siouxsie And The Banshees and The Damned. 'Look Dad, The Damned are on!' says a boy in the queue who turns out to be 12. Later this month, father and son are off to see the Sex Pistols.

Now, as then, Strummer stands out from the pack. The Clash outgrew punk after one album, opening their minds and raising their game to become probably the best rockabilly-reggae-R'n'B band of all time.

Alone among punk's big names they have resisted the temptation to reunite. The posturing kids have ended up showing a rare integrity. Probably only The Beatles and Abba have turned down larger inducements from American promoters.

A natural rock star, Strummer has settled for a niche on the lower slopes of success and the chance to carry on creating musical cross-breeds. The Mescaleros, five excellent musicians, are a rockabilly-reggae-R'n'B band with a dash of Mexican mariachi.

The beats mostly come from Bo Diddley, who once supported The Clash on a US tour. Often there are no drums, just maracas and tom-toms and driving guitars, spelling out Strummers' desire to go forward, along with a violinist who even fiddles away, Nero-like, during London's Burning.

At 49 Strummer looks much as he did in his 20's and his voice is as recognisable as ever, exuding a rugged gentleness.

Punk, for all its Jubilee resurgence, has aged badly, whereas reggae, which was never too fashionable, remains ageless. Apart from I Fought The Law, the high spots are all from the reggae end of the Clash oeuvre: Rudi Can't Fail, White Man In Hammersmith Palais, Police and Thieves, Bankrobber.

There are exuberant covers of the Specials' A Message To You Rudi and, more unexpectedly, Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side. The Mescaleros' own songs, while not as good as these, are not disgraced either, which is all you can ask.

Four stars out of a possible Five.