Love for the Joiners

And so do so many others judging by the outpouring of love for The Joiners since the revelation that it was facing a difficult future.

It may only be bricks and mortar, but this sweaty, atmospheric little venue means a great deal to a great many.

Frank Turner led the way with two fundraising benefit gigs in December. A regular club night Green Circles, which continues tonight, is going great guns and all the talk among Southampton’s music lovers is of how to keep the place alive.

Thankfully Young – and drummer Pete Robertson – remembered their roots in the city and offered their support by way of a one-off not-for-profit gig to help with the cashflow.

Considering they are due to play to 20,000 at London’s 02 Arena in just a few months’ time, this is likely to be the one and only chance to catch them in front of an audience of just a few hundred.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this week’s gig – and nor have Joiners bosses in all their time there.

Apparently Young’s drummer got barred during his first gig with his college band for letting people in through the roof.

Any attempt to attend this week’s gig would not have surprised me. Crazy doesn’t come close to describing the atmosphere as hundreds of bodies crammed into a tiny room, jumping, dancing and singing along.

“Without places like this, bands like The Vaccines wouldn’t exist,” the energetic lead singer also mused.

And he is right. Everyone has to start somewhere and Oasis, Kings of Leon and Manic Street Preachers started right here.

I’ve always thought the great allure of The Joiners for fans and musicians was that you could be experiencing the sounds of the next big thing.

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