June 6, 1980 Gusto concert review: The Jags at Stage One



A billing of New Wave bands that flashed across the scene like comets and disappeared.

June 6, 1980
Headliners can't make it,
so opening acts take over
The bad news was posted at the door at Harvey and Corky's Stage One in Clarence Thursday night. The tripleheader had become a doubleheader. The Cretones were sick. Mark Goldenberg had been felled by strep throat. (So that's why he wasn't at the Elektra Records promotional luncheon.) Too bad. Nice guys, the Cretones. Three of their songs are on the most recent Linda Ronstadt album. Maybe next time.
Despite the absence of the Cretones, most people stayed. No longer was there any doubt as to who was the headliner. It would be the British quintet, the Jags, who have just released their first album here on Island Records. But before them were the Toys, two sets of the Toys.
While some professed to being tired of this ambitious local New Wave outfit, there was no denying their energy or their wacky, rudimentary appeal. Operating from the assumption that the lowest common denominator can be fun, fun, fun, the four of them warmed up for a weekend engagement in Toronto by lambasting the gathering of 350 or so with liberal doses of lunacy and rapid-fire rhythm guitar. Garish New Wave fans responded by jumping around the floor in manic delight.
Guitarist Mick Tyler and bassist Meat Cleaver cavorted like a fraternity-house chorus line as singer Rocky Starr screamed out "Instant Suicide," the Cyrkle's old "Red Rubber Ball" and Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life." Tyler was a pretty mean man at the mike himself in early Beatles numbers like "Slow Down" and "Bad Boy."
People didn't dance too much to the Jags, though they could have. Instead, they studied them. The British quintet lived up to its name by playing jaggedly, with much staccato and frequent percussive guitar, behind an insistent vocal harmony that was heavily reminiscent of Elvis Costello, complete with gushes and gulps. The force of the guitars almost totally obliterated the keyboards and, after one rather rudimentary solo, one wondered why they have a keyboardist at all.
The Jags pushed forward fitfully, with occasional stops for tuning, decisions and insecure ad libs. They gained the most ground with two of the best songs off the debut album – "Woman's World," which came early, and "I've Got Your Number Written on the Back of My Hand," which roused the audience enough to bring them back for an encore.
Part hard, part ingenuous, the Jags were not without their appeal though, like the Cretones, they've been pretty much overlooked in this period of slump in the record business. It stands to reason, though. When fans are given a choice between the star and the derivative, the derivative is the one who takes the back seat.
* * * * *
IN THE PHOTO: Cover photo from the Jags’ album, “Evening Standards.”
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE: The Cretones, who disappeared after two albums, are another one of those lost jewels. What drew me to them was singer and guitarist Mark Goldenberg, who gave the cutting edge and the title track to "Mad Love," Linda Ronstadt's venture into New Wave.
The Cretones went on to tour briefly with her. Goldenberg later co-wrote a hit for the Pointer Sisters, "Automatic," played on recording sessions for everyone from Bob Dylan to William Shatner, and was lead guitarist in Jackson Browne's band from 1994 to 2010.
The Jags also lasted for only two albums and are best known for their perky single, "Back of My Hand," which was produced by Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes of the Buggles, who gave us “Video Killed the Radio Star.” It peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 100 and has been aptly described as "one of the best records Elvis Costello didn't write.

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