Philadelphia Grand Jury, or the Philly Jays as they’re more affectionately known, broke up in earnest in November 2011 to peruse other projects.
The original line-up got back together a short while ago for frontman Simon ‘Berkfinger’ Berckelman’s solo project, Feelings, prompting a reunion tour. Joel ‘MC Bad Genius’ Beeson took time away from his remix work (under the monikor of Boyhood), while Dan ‘Dan W. Sweat’ Williams was fresh off recording Art Vs Science’s follow-up album.
When the lights illuminated the group, memories of how fun, energetic, and downright enjoyable they were live came rushing back.
The show was billed as Philadelphia Grand Jury VS Feelings. After support from Brisbane’s The Creases, the trio arrived on stage at the Corner Hotel. Instead of playing one set as Feelings and one as the Philly Jays, they cleverly intertwined the old and new songs, keeping the audience engaged (especially those in the crowd who hadn’t listened to any Feelings songs).
The opening Feelings song ‘Loosen Up’ got a better than expected reception, suggesting a few in the crowd had invested in the Feelings album Be Kind, Unwind. The first Philly Jays song of the evening was up next. ‘Ready To Roll’ was an appropriately titled song for the near start of the set, and the band certainly proved they were ready for a big night of live music.
The lead single ‘One In A Million’ from Be Kind, Unwind saw Berckelman adopt a falsetto that was brilliant in the live setting. While the Feelings album is brilliant, it does sound very different to the Philly Jays’ collection. However, when the songs were played next to each other, they could have easily been cuts from a new Philly Jays album.
The three-piece played every song you could want. The only notable omission from a personal point of view was the brilliant B-side, ‘Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls’. However, going to a gig and praying for a B-side to be played doesn’t often see you getting rewarded.
Highlights included ‘I’m Going to Kill You’, ‘The Good News’, and ‘Save Our Town’ from the Philadelphia Grand Jury catalogue. The latter even saw Berckelman meander into the crowd excitedly and sing/slow dance with this giddy reviewer (read: fan). It was just one of the times that the trio got to know the audience. The wonderfully energetic Beeson even ended the gig by hugging tens of people in the crowd as Williams kept drumming.
At one stage, and out of nowhere, Berckelman appeared at the sound desk and proclaimed that he didn’t know where Beeson went before thanking everyone wholeheartedly for coming.
The end of the set was unpredictable, hilarious, and thoroughly entertaining, as was the entire evening. One thing they also resurrected was Berckelman’s onstage recorded banter, that was played between songs while the band smiled along. That being said, Williams was always smiling, even during his exceptional drum solos.
One of the more memorable quotes was, “Ah Melbourne, I’m having so much fun, I’ve lost my hat!” The feeling was certainly mutual. On stage, Beeson’s and Berckelman’s bushranger beards contrasted with the youthful looking (and literally youthful) Williams, making the age difference more noticeable than ever. However, no matter the years, all three members played exceptionally well.
Despite Beeson falling over while attempting a backwards jump off the drum kit and Williams losing a cymbal early on, none of it came close to detracting from the gig. Instead, it just served to prove how enthusiastically the band were playing. They all looked incredibly happy to be performing together again.
Their eternally brilliant cover of Jay Z’s ’99 Problems’ was met with crazed cheers before they ended with the ironic ‘I Don’t Want To Party (Party)’, providing a fitting send-off.
The show was not only one of the most fun-filled weeknight gigs, it was the best gig that this reviewer has attended in a long while, proving that the trio have a rare chemistry. Simply put, they need to keep playing together, even if it’s not as regularly as before.
